Women are oppressed. If trans women are choosing to identify as women, they’re opting into oppression. What does that say about the billions of cis women throughout history? Have they chosen to be oppressed? It sort of seems like trans identity is sexist, no?
The above statement is a summation of a common gender critical talking point. It positions trans women against cis women, and trans women against feminism. It’s an absolutely absurd argument, and often used in bad faith. However, there are some gender critical people acting in good faith. Here’s my response to those people.
Gender identity has nothing to do with power.
Gender roles are connected to power. Stereotypes are. Gender identity is not. So, when someone says that billions of people identify into their oppression, they’re confusing gender identity for gender based roles. They’re completely different domains of human experience.
When a person identifies as a woman, they aren’t making a social statement. They’re making a subjective statement. They’re saying, “This is who I am inside”. The fact that trans people choose to transition socially and medically should tell us just how strong that inner knowing is. As trans women, we’re willing to face oppression to honor that inner knowing. That doesn’t mean we want oppression. In an ideal world we’d transition, and then we’d be treated equally.
I would literally die to be who I am.
I would literally burn at the stake to be who I am.
That’s not a desire for oppression. It’s an inner knowing so strong that I’m willing to face whatever outer obstacles and suffering are necessary to honor that inner knowing of my gender identity.
Imagine a world where where cis women and trans women stand side by side against sexism. That world will be possible when we see that we our existence and positions aren’t in opposition. They can fit together.
