There is some implicit notion that when a woman becomes more masculinity it is good, and trans men somehow embody the ultimate apotheosis of a woman (i.e. a woman who achieves manhood), it all just reeks of misogyny and transphobia to me. This thinking seems to hate femininity and it negates the male gender identity of trans men.
It’s certainly not a notion I hold.
My own stance on this is strictly from the “harm done” angle. Transitioning is already incredibly tough to do. You’re probably losing friends. You’re probably losing family. Everybody around you is looking at you with different eyes, many of which are hostile.
To suddenly lose an entire community that was supportive (presumably) as well? That would be nasty!
Yes, and being a man is very alienating and lonely … that aspect of transitioning to be a man can be a bit of a shock I’ve heard.
I think the rule should allow those people to decide to what extent they belong in a womens-only community, and that gives them the space to make that decision … there is also the fact that in my mind a big reason for a womens space is to provide a space where people who have been oppressed as women can talk away from the oppressors, and trans men typically have a history of living as a woman and thus having had the experiences of that social oppression (despite being men).
Either way, allowing people to self-identify and choose themselves whether they belong in a women-only community (rather than gatekeeping others identities) seems like the right approach to me.
It’s certainly not a notion I hold.
My own stance on this is strictly from the “harm done” angle. Transitioning is already incredibly tough to do. You’re probably losing friends. You’re probably losing family. Everybody around you is looking at you with different eyes, many of which are hostile.
To suddenly lose an entire community that was supportive (presumably) as well? That would be nasty!
Yes, and being a man is very alienating and lonely … that aspect of transitioning to be a man can be a bit of a shock I’ve heard.
I think the rule should allow those people to decide to what extent they belong in a womens-only community, and that gives them the space to make that decision … there is also the fact that in my mind a big reason for a womens space is to provide a space where people who have been oppressed as women can talk away from the oppressors, and trans men typically have a history of living as a woman and thus having had the experiences of that social oppression (despite being men).
Either way, allowing people to self-identify and choose themselves whether they belong in a women-only community (rather than gatekeeping others identities) seems like the right approach to me.