3 ms·
That's not exactly right. As I understand it, you sort of get to choose your gender, but society has to accept your choice. If I declare myself a woman but ma
by QualityReboot 8y ago
That's not exactly right.
As I understand it, you sort of get to choose your gender, but society has to accept your choice.
If I declare myself a woman but make no attempt to "live as a woman" as society sees it, I'll appear to be taking advantage of the system, and my choice will be rejected and there will be social consequences.
Conversely, if I do appear to be making an honest attempt to be a woman, and you don't accept it because of your conservative values, then you cannot reject my choice, because that's bigoted.
Yes, you can change your mind about your gender, but you really need to do it in a life-upending way that feels risky and permanent and committed, then you'll be celebrated. If you phone it in, people are going to be offended and you'll be rejected.
- identity-haver 8y agoWhat does it mean to "live as a woman" besides being called "she"? Wear lots of makeup and pretty dresses? I guess the XX women who don't dress like a 90s Barbie doll aren't "living as women", then.
- leereeves 8y agoHow would you define "live as a woman" in a way that would be acceptable to all women? It would be both sexist and transphobic to expect trans-women to "appear to be making an honest attempt to be a woman" by conforming to some outdated view of womanhood. Cis-women can do anything (including any traditionally male activity like date other women, wear jeans, like football and monster trucks, like anime and video games, and in some cases, even grow beards) so why can't trans-women?
- QualityReboot 8y agoTrans women can do whatever they want, all I meant is that if people are only changing their gender on paper to have more opportunities, that's considered dishonest and unacceptable... At least, I thought that's how it worked.
- malvosenior 8y agoPeople have been doing this for a very long time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling#Name https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling#Name As I mention in my other comments on this thread, it's not right to judge people on why they identify with a particular gender. Whether it's economically motivated or not, if you accept that people can choose their own gender, the reason for the choice doesn't matter.
- europsucks 8y agoSo they will create a transgender bathroom for you, but before you enter it you have to wonder if society will accept your choice? I think that is exactly not how it is supposed to work.