Transfeminism
Transfeminism is the application of
transgender discourses to
feminist discourses, and of feminist beliefs to transgender discourse. It also concerns the establishment of transfeminism within mainstream feminism, having specific content that applies to
transgender and
transsexual people, but much of which is also applicable to all women. (Hill 2002)
In the past few decades the idea that all
women share a common experience has come under scrutiny by
women of color,
lesbian women, and
working class women, just to name a few.
Transgender women are also questioning what it means to be a woman, and are challenging
gender as a biological fact. They are insisting that their unique experience as women be recognized as part of the feminist cause. (Gluckman & Trudeau 2002)
Transfeminism envelops all major themes of
third wave feminism, including
diversity,
body image, and
female agency. Transfeminism is not about merely merging trans concerns with
feminism concerns, it is a critical analysis of
second wave feminism from the perspective of the third wave. [
1] Transfeminism critiques mainstream notions of masculinity and argues that women deserve equal rights. It also sees gender as a
patriarchal social construct used to oppress women.
In many ways transfeminism is similar to more conventional types of feminism. Many feminists welcome their trans counterparts into mainstream feminism; however, transfeminism has also its opponents.
Similarities
One of the similarities between the two is their belief that women should be liberated from traditional
gender roles.
Transgender liberation theory, specifically, offers feminism a new perspective from which to view gender as a social construct and offers a new meaning of gender. (Gluckman & Trudeau 2002) The idea that women should not be held down by traditional
gender roles plays a major role in feminism, transfeminism presents a new way to view this belief. Trans individuals are forcing society to question their conventional views of
sex and
gender and what it means in much the same way that feminists are trying to do. Feminists and transfeminists, together, are fighting against the idea that biology equals destiny. [
2] Feminists who were born women want to be judged on their character and merit, not gender. Transfeminists wish to be judged in the same manner, not by the sex they were born into, nor the sex/gender they have become, but as their whole person.
Gender identity disorder is currently listed as a diagnosable
mental disorder by the
American Psychiatric Association. Both transfeminists and traditional feminists often agree that this disorder should be removed from the list. (Crabtree 2002) Transfeminists argue that being gender different is not simply a "trans right" it is the right of a woman too. [
3] This is another similarity between the two types of feminists, females are considered "gender different" simply because they are not males, while trans people are gender different because they do not see themselves as the gender they were assigned.
Differences
Despite the similarities, there are also differences between traditional feminism and transfeminism. Some feminists, such as
Janice Raymond, wonder whether trans issues even belong in feminism [
4], though others consider Raymond to be
transphobic.
Feminists who oppose the
objectification of women may find it bothersome that some
transwomen seek to be viewed as objects of desire. Some transwomen exaggerate feminine traits in themselves. [
5] This may be because hate crimes are rampant against trans people, and so trans people may feel safer when they make their gender unambiguous.
Janice Raymond, among others, argued that the feminist movement should not concern itself with the needs of transwomen. [
6] This opinion is based on the idea that only "women born women" can fully identify with the experience of being a woman. Opponents of that view have argued that
"women born women" differ greatly from each other as well, and that excluding transwomen from women's spaces denies them their right to self-identification.
Transfeminists are currently undergoing a struggle to be accepted completely into mainstream feminism. While some feminists, such as the
Lesbian Avengers, accept transfeminists with open arms, others are more skeptical of the idea. Arguments over females being seen as an object of desire and the idea the only women who are born women can fully relate to the feminist cause are pinned against similar ideology and the shared experience of oppression of a patriarchal structure.
*
List of transgender-related topics*
transgenderWorks Cited
* Crabtree, Sadie. (2004). Finding common ground between movements for reproductive freedom and transgender/transsexual liberation.
The fight for reproductive freedom. p. 9-11.
* Gluckman R., Trudeau, M. (2002). Trans-itioning feminism: the politics of transgender in the reproductive rights movement.
The fight for reproductive freedom. p. 6-8.
Further reading
*
Menacing Feminism, Educating Sisters by Robert J. Hill -
As PDF file*
Transfeminism: Let Her Rip by Hanne Blank *
Intersex Society of North America
