Transphobic feminism as patriarchy

This is a follow on from Erica‘s brilliant piece on trans-exclusive radical feminists, “Doing the Patriarchy’s Work and Calling it Feminism“, which I highly suggest people read before reading this. It’s a brilliant post and should only take you a few minutes.

Finished it? Okay.

In a discussion between me, Erica, and Natalie, among others, last night, we touched upon the ideas of biological essentialism within the transphobic feminist movement as a way to always exclude trans women, no matter who else gets included or excluded. The general feeling was that it would still be horrible, but at least honest, if they were to just admit they don’t like trans women. And then Erica, being intersex and trans herself, recounted her own experiences with her and her (non-XX but cis) sister not being accepted as women on account of their chromosomal make-up. This was beautifully summed up in the following comment:

 The road bends the second they want to exclude. It’s how TERFpatriarchy works.

The idea has been pointed out by other people too. And so, with some inspiration from Derailing for Dummies, I present a comparison of examples of transphobia (essentially from the radical feminist side), racism, and sexism, and how they are very much like each other.

A earlier version had race as the second column; it was edited to homophobia after it was pointed out that comparisons to race tend to be problematic.

And these intersect, of course. Erica, for example, is a trans woman of color, and her tweets reflect the intersectional nature of how the patriarchy affects her, and conversely, how her politics have become more intersectional. The techniques used to oppress minorities are often the same basic arguments and logical fallacies, just slightly edited to set the sights on the people they want to oppress.

For example, religious texts have been used for centuries to oppress people, and selective reading of certain passages has been used to oppress Protestants, women, the disabled, people of colour, LGB people, trans people, while the oppressors pay no attention to the fact they’re violating several laws just verses away from the ones they love so much. The irony has not been lost on those people saying that Michele Bachmann’s entire biblical-based political career violates 1 Timothy 2:12.

The victimhood complex is one of the major trump cards in the armory of the patriarchy of recent times. Privileged people, especially those who deny part of their privilege, often make them out to be the most grievously oppressed. Rush Limbaugh crying over the fact that some people might need to fund vital medicine for women. Christians who see the rise in secularism as a direct war on their religion. White people seeing affirmative action as the most heinous form of “reverse racism”. And transphobic feminists seeing trans women wanting to be treated as women as a direct attack on their bodily autonomy. To sum it up in those five immortal words: “It’s political correctness gone mad.”

And all the while using divide-and-conquer tactics to set one against each other. The National Organisation for Marriage “driv[ing] a wedge between gays and blacks”. The BNP using Sikhs as a way of antagonising the Pakistani community. The Conservatives setting the working class against the disabled. The Radical Right mobilizing Christians and Jews against Muslims. Julian Assange supporters pitting feminists against anti-establishment Wikileaks supporters. Transphobic feminists using influence to set cis feminists against trans feminists. And it always results in one thing: the patriarchy keep winning. And unless the disprivileged can all unite, they’ll keep on winning.

I think it’s unwise to be involved in activism if you are prejudiced, especially against a characteristic that is either immutable or strongly ingrained. How can you take feminism seriously when you discount trans womens’ experience of sexism? How can you take anti-racism seriously when you don’t take into account how racism and other forms of oppression go hand in hand? How can you take secularism or atheism seriously when you ignore how sexism and homophobia are key tools of religious oppression? It goes on and on. Any activism done by or for disprivileged people does need to take into account the privilege of the activists themselves, otherwise it’s doomed to failure.

So, yes, I do agree that transphobic feminists form, at least right now, part of the patriarchy. The patriarchy is, after all, the home of the privileged who abuse or deny their privilege. And, indeed, transphobic feminists have done more to harm trans people than the Christian right have ever done. Why do 41% of trans people attempt suicide? Why are so many trans people forced into debt, into homelessness, to fund their transition? It wasn’t Ronald Reagan’s idea to cut Medicaid for trans women (and inspire insurance companies to drop coverage). It was Janice Raymond’s. Reagan just latched onto it.

But, as Erica points out, the power the patriarchy grants them is only illusory. Transphobic feminists should not be surprised when, after trans men and women have been beaten down into submission, the patriarchy turns on them. It’s how it’s always happened. And they better realise that and join the right fight before it’s too late.