3 ms·

I think where the activists went wrong was in trying to increase acceptance of gender identity, rather than acceptance of diverse gender expression. We can see

I think where the activists went wrong was in trying to increase acceptance of gender identity, rather than acceptance of diverse gender expression. We can see that distinction very clearly in the increasingly influential 'TERF' movement: being radical feminists who are deeply critical of gender stereotypes, they of course have no problem with men wearing dresses or other gender non-conforming accoutrements. But men saying they are women, that is where the line is drawn, as these men are identifying into an already existing, and marginalized, group. "Stop bullying cross-dressers" would have been a far more effective model of acceptance than "men can be women if they say they are".

eyelidlessness 4y ago
That’s fascinating. So my “activism”—spending my entire life in no way identifying as “man” other than being told I was, and very quietly telling my closest friends and family that’s how I feel, and inviting them to embrace that if they choose or change nothing if that’s more comfortable to them—that’s why I have to call women men? This is the most vocal I’ve ever been on the topic. And I never felt like I was a “cross dresser”. Hell, as much as I enjoy occasionally going out fem, most of the time I’m just quietly being nonbinary with my (really nice full) beard and keeping to myself. But I guess my activism of “being who I am” really ruined it for people who expect me not to. And I guess fuck people who have more at stake in who they are… how dare they exist? Right?