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DiscussionThoughts on [Black] Feminist Texts that are Trans Affirmative?
One of my favorite kinds of books are Black feminist anthology series. I love reading books featuring different Black feminist authors across various time periods and contexts because it allows me to learn about new perspectives on topics I may or may not be familiar with.
My issue is that when trying to research books now, many include (or have been edited to include) essays by TIMs trying to discuss the experiences of Black women (or even other WOC). You can see this in “Colonize This”, “Black Feminist Sociology: Sociology Rewired”, and several others.
The crazy thing is that I used to be a TRA. When I was in high school, I had a “live and let live” approach to social and political issues. Early in college, I was a member of my college’s LGBT club, I researched trans issues, and had several trans friends and acquaintances. Having direct involvement with the community is what made me peak in the first place. Now, I can’t unsee everything I’ve learned about the misogynist and racist nature of trans ideology.
I’m conflicted because on one hand: I want to read these books to learn about perspectives from other Black women. On the other hand: do I really want to support books that uncritically include oppositional material as if they go hand in hand? Many of these essays discuss the abuse BW face based on our biology yet in later sections, have a male talk about how biology is irrelevant to oppression because “lived experience” and perceived oppression is more valid.
It’s difficult for me because I personally know some of the people who have essays in these books. Some of them have been colleagues, classmates, professors, etc. who I know have qualms with trans ideology but have been afraid to discuss it. By that point, I can understand pushing down your disagreement in order to get your (very important) researched published but is it really worth the long term effects?
More women are becoming aware of these issues with terms like “menstruator” and “chest feeder” becoming more prevalent and, in turn, criticized. We are seeing trans activist compare BW to biological males and make the claim that we need to support them because “transphobia” affects us too somehow. There’s richer discourse on how white male TIMs and drag queens use caricatures of BW for their onstage personas. Why engage in a short term gain when a long term loss is on the horizon? I worry that these things are going to further dissuade BW from feminism/womanism because many of our greatest minds are advocating for an ideology that masculinizes and stereotypes us.
Major qualifier: I am white.
Lesser qualifier: Also of a generation and place where censorship was an acute political issue.
Where I have come to rest with genderism and scholarship is that, I accept in principle ideas should be freely explored and there is greater harm from suppressing them than answering them.
Where I personally draw the line is actions. I know of someone who used her position of influence to target and organize others to target a more junior scholar for her work exploring the irrationality of genderism, because of "harm". I refuse to read or engage with that person's work any more.
I personally think it is good to read books that have opinions diametrically opposed to my own, even if I find them offensive.
"Why engage in a short term gain when a long term loss is on the horizon?"
Totally. Thank you for this thought provoking piece. It is a conundrum. Suggest you should read the books you want (taken from library perhaps) so that the harmful "gender identity" cult does not limit your life and not allow you to pursue your interests. Also good to keep in touch with all that is being said and written. Thinking all along how to get your views to your community when appropriate and possible.
Genderism is a pervasive new philosophy that in many circumstances can't be avoided without severely curtailing your ability to engage with the world around you.
If you let it interfere with your search for knowledge or your enjoyment of those things in this world that bring you joy, what good is that?
Obviously it depends on the person but as soon as someone mentions they're part of the cult, i lose all respect and interest for them and anything they have to say. It's like reading an interesting text that does have good points, but in the first sentence the author says they're pro forced birth, or QAnon. I just don't see the point engaging with someone this delusional.
OP was talking about a collection of essays where only some of these authors have anything to say about trans, though. She doesn't have to respect the genderists to appreciate the essays that are relevant to her.
This is especially galling because of one major issue Black women face: The high maternal complication & mortality rate.
This problem is directly related to sex. Black women can't identify out of it. And its an especially big problem in the wake of Roe being overturned. So its depressing to see Black intellectuals cave to the White Nonsense that is trans ideology and pretend that a man who chooses to be a 24/7 drag queen is just as oppressed as a Black female who doesn't have the luxury of removing her oppression costume if it doesn't fit her inner self
Imagine if a tenth of the energy put into trans issues went into creating a system of maternal pre and post natal healthcare. And why stop there?
Its a distraction from women's rights.
Amen
Not only that. Think about how much better off we'd be if even a fraction of that energy went to advocating that the disabled receive the care & medications that they need to literally stay alive. Its an outrage that many diabetics ration insulin and people go bankrupt getting treatment for chronic illnesses. But many states will pay for healthy teenagers to remove their breasts and take hormones that will actively damage their health