Some great (and not so great) discussion on various feminist and trans blogs. Gudbuytjane writes about transmisogyny in a Lady Gaga video here. Great, thought-provoking post, and some pretty thoughtless comments (which she dissects here).
You can read the comments below her post, but basically they can be summed up as:
- You are being oversensitive, and seeing things that aren't there.
- You are too angry.
- Educate me! (But don't challenge me)
- I'm cisgender but I don't experience privilege.
- Transpeople must educate me. (I can't possibly listen and learn all by myself.)
And so on...
These are pretty typical comments also used against People of Colour, feminists, women and People with disAbilities (and so forth). And they are used to not only dismiss criticism and challenges but to put the focus on people with privilege (and their needs/desires).
As a white woman, I have learned that when a Person of Colour says something is racist, they are probably right. And as a cisgender woman, I have learned, also, to believe transpeople when they call something transphobic and/or transmisogynist.
A lot of wasted energy is used defending one's privilege - energy that should be used to educate oneself (and not expecting others to do it for us).
Blogs created by transpeople are a great opportunity for self-education, provided cisgender people stop arguing and start listening.
For some other blogs and websites on transphobia and transmisogyny, visit:
Questioning Transphobia
Taking Steps
AlbertaTrans.org
Survivor Project
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