Sometimes I look at old photos of women who are taking testosterone in an effort to look male, and I’m saddened by how naturally beautiful they used to be.
Instead of society fighting to reject oppressive stereotypes of women and female beauty, it has taken the opposite perspective. Trans ideology treats those stereotypes not as social constructs that are grounded in a politics of sexuality, but as objectively, almost materially, real. Trans ideology couldn't be further from 'non-binary' because it begins with the reification of a polarised continuum of gender stereotypes and imagines an esoteric middle by rejecting the reality of biology. In other words, trans ideology reinforces a stereotypical gender binary, rejects the truth of sexual dymorphism, and demands that women choose a stereotypical side. It creates a social context in which women and men who don't fit one of two oppressive stereotypes must switch to the other, and brutalise their bodies as part of the process.
Welcome to "Misogyny: Upgraded Version". Not only will you hate yourself, but you'll butcher your body in the vain hope that it will help you love yourself more.
I'm not sure you're right about that. Non-binary is itself a gender stereotype with a limited range of potential expressions. It also has associated nullification surgeries. There are only two sides available under the ideology, transgender or non-binary. If the definition of cisgender is when the identity matches the body, a fully transitioned person would be cisgender, but no-one makes that claim. So being cisgender is never valid.
These are really interesting points. Thank you. I think on a practical level you're right. There is a binary of trans v nonbinary. But on a more theoretical level, saying you're trans is a way of defining yourself as something particular, but saying you're nonbinary isn't actually defining yourself as something, but as what you are not. Non binary just means you don't fit into the stereotype of man or woman or trans (which is simply choosing the other side of the binary you are), but it leave the ground between those polarities as undefined and theoretically open to anything. We hear that New York has recongised something like seventy genders, from moons to trees to whatever. So what I'm saying is that this empty middle ground is limitless because it only creates a void in which the sky (the galaxy?) is the limit. But again, I agree that in practice, the options for nonbinary are somewhat limited.
This is such an interesting view point. I’ve had cosmetic surgery myself, and I am not unhappy with the results. 20 years down the line and I accept my less than ideal choices made when I was young and the body I have now. I don’t think any cosmetic procedures should be taken lightly or idealised or with any hope for anything other than superficial change. It won’t make you love yourself whatever you believe. As an older woman, I feel compassion to the young women swept up in whatever trend they are adhering to, but also sad as they can’t see their beauty and by the time they realise they had it it will be gone.
I’m reclaiming womanhood, as the effects of testosterone and surgeries linger in my voice, the flatness of my chest, the physical pains and vaginal atrophy, my hair loss and the journey to regrow—they remind me daily of the pain I went to insane lengths to alleviate. The pain waited for me to see it, compounding all the while. What I know more than ever is my own resilience as I practice gentle loving kindness and having compassion for myself, as I forgive myself my humanity.
I was told transitioning was taking the harder path, the high road, realizing my “true” self. In a circuitous way I’ve been lead to that very place—the place where faith and surrender hold the most power. The divine feminine is sought to be eradicated in all her ethereal nooks and crannies—I’ll spend the rest of this lifetime embracing her, clearing space in my life and body for her to inhabit as fully as she will. So many young women and girls are groomed into this, told there’s a golden ticket to escape. I don’t blame us for wanting that escape.
Thank you for this post! Astute, clearly written and 100% true. When I see a young woman so at odds with her own self that she has trapped herself in an enormous lie I feel sad for her and society. We have failed these kids so badly.
"Everyone trans" includes women who identify as men. Women, regardless of identity, are the most harmed by this movement and they deserve compassion. I center these women in this post and in some of my work. I understand being fed up with the trans movement but if you cannot extend "sympathy" for these women then you're unfortunately part of the problem.
Please don't ignore the fact that "everyone trans" now includes untold thousands of young women and men groomed since childhood to reject themselves and embrace this cult. The compassion you rightly urge (for the harm they're doing themselves) is a key motivator to keep fighting this movement.
In practice there's no hard boundary between transgender and transsexual, just a change in terminology over the decades. If being transgender ruled out hormones and surgery, I would agree with you, but people who consider themselves transgender are getting blockers, hormones and surgeries much quicker and at a younger age than old-school transexuals could.
So many forms of beauty, so variable across time and myriad other influences. To me, the most beautiful is s/he who honours what s/he brings to the world: head, hands & heart. All else is fashion, but because we are human, we judge ourselves and each other on the manufactured definitions that are fashion. As an older guy who eschews labels and lives monogamously so folks see what they will in the 2-3 loves over a lifetime, I know that experience, capacity to keep learning and sincerity, especially spiced with a sense of humour, are all the beauty I need. For the record, fashion is fun, but I do not mistake it for a representation of what is real, true, enduring. It is a sorrow when people get so immersed in a fad, imbuing it with a "good intent" religiosity that it shapes their future and the future of those navigating the stages of life.
Instead of society fighting to reject oppressive stereotypes of women and female beauty, it has taken the opposite perspective. Trans ideology treats those stereotypes not as social constructs that are grounded in a politics of sexuality, but as objectively, almost materially, real. Trans ideology couldn't be further from 'non-binary' because it begins with the reification of a polarised continuum of gender stereotypes and imagines an esoteric middle by rejecting the reality of biology. In other words, trans ideology reinforces a stereotypical gender binary, rejects the truth of sexual dymorphism, and demands that women choose a stereotypical side. It creates a social context in which women and men who don't fit one of two oppressive stereotypes must switch to the other, and brutalise their bodies as part of the process.
Welcome to "Misogyny: Upgraded Version". Not only will you hate yourself, but you'll butcher your body in the vain hope that it will help you love yourself more.
I'm not sure you're right about that. Non-binary is itself a gender stereotype with a limited range of potential expressions. It also has associated nullification surgeries. There are only two sides available under the ideology, transgender or non-binary. If the definition of cisgender is when the identity matches the body, a fully transitioned person would be cisgender, but no-one makes that claim. So being cisgender is never valid.
These are really interesting points. Thank you. I think on a practical level you're right. There is a binary of trans v nonbinary. But on a more theoretical level, saying you're trans is a way of defining yourself as something particular, but saying you're nonbinary isn't actually defining yourself as something, but as what you are not. Non binary just means you don't fit into the stereotype of man or woman or trans (which is simply choosing the other side of the binary you are), but it leave the ground between those polarities as undefined and theoretically open to anything. We hear that New York has recongised something like seventy genders, from moons to trees to whatever. So what I'm saying is that this empty middle ground is limitless because it only creates a void in which the sky (the galaxy?) is the limit. But again, I agree that in practice, the options for nonbinary are somewhat limited.
This is such an interesting view point. I’ve had cosmetic surgery myself, and I am not unhappy with the results. 20 years down the line and I accept my less than ideal choices made when I was young and the body I have now. I don’t think any cosmetic procedures should be taken lightly or idealised or with any hope for anything other than superficial change. It won’t make you love yourself whatever you believe. As an older woman, I feel compassion to the young women swept up in whatever trend they are adhering to, but also sad as they can’t see their beauty and by the time they realise they had it it will be gone.
Astute. You make the 'not good enough ' connection with body image so well. But with compassion too.
Thank you, Anne 💜🙏🏾
Thank you for this.
I’m reclaiming womanhood, as the effects of testosterone and surgeries linger in my voice, the flatness of my chest, the physical pains and vaginal atrophy, my hair loss and the journey to regrow—they remind me daily of the pain I went to insane lengths to alleviate. The pain waited for me to see it, compounding all the while. What I know more than ever is my own resilience as I practice gentle loving kindness and having compassion for myself, as I forgive myself my humanity.
I was told transitioning was taking the harder path, the high road, realizing my “true” self. In a circuitous way I’ve been lead to that very place—the place where faith and surrender hold the most power. The divine feminine is sought to be eradicated in all her ethereal nooks and crannies—I’ll spend the rest of this lifetime embracing her, clearing space in my life and body for her to inhabit as fully as she will. So many young women and girls are groomed into this, told there’s a golden ticket to escape. I don’t blame us for wanting that escape.
Thank you for sharing your journey so beautifully. I'm glad you're finding your way back home to your true self within your own body. 🌺
Thank you for this post! Astute, clearly written and 100% true. When I see a young woman so at odds with her own self that she has trapped herself in an enormous lie I feel sad for her and society. We have failed these kids so badly.
I do lack sympathy with TIM males who are encouraging women,s sacrifice to feed their fetish.
I ra out of sympathy for everyone”trans” a long time ago.
"Everyone trans" includes women who identify as men. Women, regardless of identity, are the most harmed by this movement and they deserve compassion. I center these women in this post and in some of my work. I understand being fed up with the trans movement but if you cannot extend "sympathy" for these women then you're unfortunately part of the problem.
Please don't ignore the fact that "everyone trans" now includes untold thousands of young women and men groomed since childhood to reject themselves and embrace this cult. The compassion you rightly urge (for the harm they're doing themselves) is a key motivator to keep fighting this movement.
In practice there's no hard boundary between transgender and transsexual, just a change in terminology over the decades. If being transgender ruled out hormones and surgery, I would agree with you, but people who consider themselves transgender are getting blockers, hormones and surgeries much quicker and at a younger age than old-school transexuals could.
Great points in both of your comments! Thank you for sharing.
So many forms of beauty, so variable across time and myriad other influences. To me, the most beautiful is s/he who honours what s/he brings to the world: head, hands & heart. All else is fashion, but because we are human, we judge ourselves and each other on the manufactured definitions that are fashion. As an older guy who eschews labels and lives monogamously so folks see what they will in the 2-3 loves over a lifetime, I know that experience, capacity to keep learning and sincerity, especially spiced with a sense of humour, are all the beauty I need. For the record, fashion is fun, but I do not mistake it for a representation of what is real, true, enduring. It is a sorrow when people get so immersed in a fad, imbuing it with a "good intent" religiosity that it shapes their future and the future of those navigating the stages of life.