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It's not really something that can be well summarized in a hn comment, but basically, it re-enforces the idea that men and women are actually so different that
by spiznnx 9y ago
It's not really something that can be well summarized in a hn comment, but basically, it re-enforces the idea that men and women are actually so different that you have to be a certain gender just to do something you want to do (gender essentialism).
My main point is, if it were acceptable, my s.o. would have a blog post about it that I could just link you to.
- Cookingboy 9y agoJesus, that logic just broke my brain, and I'm not saying that dismissively. Now I need to really think about this...
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- edmccard 9y ago>basically, it re-enforces the idea that men and women are actually so different that you have to be a certain gender just to do something you want to do (gender essentialism) Do you think there's a difference between thinking you have to be a woman because you want (for example) to be a nurse, and thinking you have to be a woman because you want to be a woman?
- spiznnx 9y agoYes, there is a difference. But you really have to think about what being a woman means, if those aspects should really be attributed as those of women, and why you want those aspects (do you really have a fundamental desire to have breasts, or do you really want to be a nurse, and feel alienated by not having them when other nurses do).
- ggg9990 9y agoYes, you should listen to the Gondolier episode of Radiolab. But if transgender people feel that that is true, and maybe it is true, and maybe it does weaken feminist goals... Why should the impact on feminist goals be relevant to the conversation? I.e., is society's benchmark the advancement of feminism?
- spiznnx 9y agoThanks for the Radiolab episode recommendation, I'll take a listen. >Why should the impact on feminist goals be relevant to the conversation? Because feminists are members of the society, and they hold those views for a reason. I think you already know why feminists think that feminism is good for society. Of course, it is a valid opinion to hold that women and men are fundamentally different. The problems arise when this limits people's freedom. As a technologist I look forward to this problem disappearing. When switching genders is like switching an outfit, then all these concerns will become irrelevant :)
- pjc50 9y ago> As a technologist I look forward to this problem disappearing. When switching genders is like switching an outfit, then all these concerns will become irrelevant :) You said upthread that transgender thought should be socially unacceptable, so why do you hold this view?
- gaius 9y agoif it were acceptable, my s.o. would have a blog post about it that I could just link you to Not to deny your lived experience or anything but (purely for the sake of providing a reference for discussion and not taking a position either way) TERF content is widely available on the Interwebs.
- spiznnx 9y agoI can't find any because I don't know what TERFs call themselves (the term appears to be solely used by their detractors). Maybe my google-fu is lacking, but it seems to be hard to find. When I google things like "transgender and gender existentialism" I get only (unsatisfying) rebuttals and some poorly-thought-out complaints about trans people. I think my s.o.'s viewpoint is a little more nuanced than "trans women aren't real women"
- gaius 9y agothe term appears to be solely used by their detractors I didn't actually know that, interesting. Maybe my google-fu is lacking, but it seems to be hard to find It's entirely possible that your fu is fine and this material is pushed down the index as a matter of policy.
- gjjrfcbugxbhf 9y agoBigots usually wrap their hate in fancy words. It doesn't make their hate less hateful.