Relationship between Transgender and Feminism - Essay Example

Transgender and feminism By: In recent times, the North America region, especially the U.S, has witnessed unprecedented expansion of American feminist movement. Studies point to participation of diverse groups of women as the reason for this development. A study by Connel (2012) noted that some women who had previously been marginalized from the mainstream of the feminist movement decide to break out of their silence, demanding more participation in the movement. They were often accused of fragmenting feminism with trivial matters (Connell, 2012). However, at the end of the day, they were accepted into the movement. That said, one notices that diversity indicates strength, not weaknesses. Despite polarization and fragmentation, no force can nullify inclusive coalition politics (Connell, 2012). This paper will talk about transgender, with transgender feminists being marginalized from the mainstream of the womens movement. It will then explain relationship between transgender and feminism. Transgender individuals have been subject to extended scrutiny. Feminist literature is among the examination of these individuals. These literatures are the first to expose the antagonistic relationship between feminism and transgender individuals (Riley, 2015). A study by Butler (2010), defined transgender as ‘those who gender identity, expression, or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth (Butler, 2010, pp 2). Every time the transgender feminists, who had been previously silenced, begin to speak out, some feminists begin to rethink on what they stand for or who they represent. In many cases, the idea of rethinking by feminists leads to the painful realization of their biases. However, in the end, the feminists would have widened their perspectives and constituency (Butler, 2010). Studies indicate that, feminists movements that have expanded their views are encouraging transgender individuals to take part in the feminist revolution (Connell, 2012; Riley, 2015). This expands the scope of their movement. The feminism movement formed by transgender individuals is called transfeminism as noted in the study by Koyama (2001). In the past, trans-men have contributed significantly to feminism than trans-women. Experts believe that is important for more trans-women to participate in feminism movements in order to increase the chance of liberating the women (Koyama, 2001). Many people think that transfeminism is in place to take over the existing feminist institutions. However, this is not possible because transfeminism is there to extend feminism as a whole (Koyama, 2001). The movement stands for transgender individuals and asks non-transgender individuals to stand up for them. Sociologists note that transfeminism embodies the feminist coalition politics (Riley, 2015). The politics insist that women from different backgrounds have to come out and stand out for each other (Riley, 2015). Transfeminism is expected to champion laws that protect transgender youth. For instance, a transgender teen in the US, Leelah Alcorn, committed suicide because her parents punished her for coming out to them as a transgender at the age 14. Additionally, her parents stated that they would only take her to a ‘Christian therapists’ to treat her depression (Riley, 2015). Alcorn was referred to as a ‘boy’ by many people (Riley, 2015). Her real name was Joshua Ryan Alcorn. As a matter of fact, after her death, her mother posted the message on Facebook referring to her as a boy. Her mother wrote, ‘Joshua Ryan Alcorn went home to heaven this morning. He was out for an early morning walk and was hit by a truck (Riley, 2015). The death of Alcorn spread in the social media very fast. Transgender feminists such as Jennifer Finney and Janet Mock showed support for Alcorn’s family (Riley, 2015). In her suicide note, Alcorn preferred to be remembered as Leelah. She admitted to be a transgender person, whose female sexuality had been trapped inside a boy’s body (Riley, 2015). From Alcorn’s story, it is evident that transgender individuals are troubled by their identity and look to rebel. For the case of Alcorn, some parents of transgender children use religion as a tool to discourage their children from embracing their identities. The death of Alcorn came a challenging time for individuals with gender dysphoria (Riley, 2015). Statistics in the US indicate that 58% of families reject their transgender children who come out (Connel, 2012). 41% of children from these families are suicidal (Connel, 2012). Feminists came together after Acorn’s death and urged communities to work together to reduce the above stated statistics. Therefore, transfeminism aims to reduce the statistics. The movement should petition law makers to enact laws that protect transgender individuals. For instance, in the US, the change.org is enacting the Leelah’s law (Riley, 2015). Transgender human rights activists are calling for the president and the leadership of both the senate and the house to ban a practice called ‘transgender conversion therapy (Riley, 2015). They believe this will help save the lives of transgender individuals. The family of Alcorn has been targeted viciously by the public after the death of their daughter (Riley, 2015). Thus, families have to show support for the gender transition of their transgender children. Parents are supposed to lead the fight against prejudice, bullying, and discrimination of a transgender child (Riley, 2015). To offer good parenting to transgender children, they should continue to love and support them for being themselves. Parents should not panic but rather educate themselves about the transgender situation. After realizing one of their children is a transgender, the parents should try to visit a therapist who has experience working with the families (Pepper, 2015). Parents should be able to tell if one of their children is a transgender. For example, if they have an affirmed young girl wanting to grow her hair out and wearing traditional girls clothing, they are demonstrating specific markers of gender variance (Pepper, 2015). These types of girls will insist they are girls but distressed by their boy body parts. At the same time, affirmed young boys will be comfortable with traditional boyish clothes. If parents note these markers, they should consult with a gender specialist. Parents should be aware that the world is changing for transgender children. Gone are the days when transgender children felt isolated and afraid in many communities (Pepper, 2015). Brave parents are the ones responsible for making transgender a non-issue is some districts. These brave children advocated for the rights of their children. Their children are no longer hiding, and others have been reported to come out as transgenders at a very young age, say five years (Pepper, 2015). Parents of transgender children have to find out the things they find to be easiest and the most difficult. Definitely, the current society is still learning about the transgender issue. Therefore, parents find most things in this issue as hard. The hardest thing noted by most parents is letting go of the dreams they had for the child. Additionally, use of new names and new pronouns is very difficult for the parents (Pepper, 2015). Therefore, to avoid these difficulties, studies recommend parents to understand the role of unconditional love. Parents have to be aware that there is no greater possible source of love in their life than for their children. Despite the gender situation of children, parents can derive happiness from them (Pepper, 2015). Parents have to accept their child’s affirmed gender identity. Though acceptance takes time, parents should use their unconditional love for the child to develop their own self-understanding. Accepting their child’s gender situation will smooth the way for the child, and minimize the trauma one will experience in future (Pepper, 2015). Parents have to share their child’s transition with relatives and the wider community. This will reduce the anxiety within the parents of whether and how to disclose their child’s affirmed gender identity. However, they should be careful with the disclosure in order to balance their child’s privacy and emotional well being. Studies indicate that, the more the parents of transgender children talk about them, the more they accept the child (Pepper, 2015; Butler, 2010). Parents of transgender children should learn how to prepare their children for the path ahead of them. It is recommended that parents have to assist their transgender children develop coping mechanisms (Riley, 2015). This could be done effectively by spending time with them. The transgender children should develop strong sense of self esteem and learn resiliency in the face of adversity. Parents are supposed to offer these lessons (Pepper, 2015). Parents have to join hands with feminists in protecting the rights of transgender individuals. They have to understand what transfeminism stands for and support the movement’s activities. There are various primary principles of transfemisnism. These principles are very simple. (Koyama, 2001) The first principle is that each individual has the right to define ones identities. Furthermore, each individual has to expect the society to respect them. The first principle expects each person to have the right to express their gender without fear of violence or discrimination (Koyama, 2001). The second principle is that each person has the sole right to make decisions regarding their bodies. There is no any political, medical, or religious authority that can violate the integrity of one’s body against their will (Koyama, 2001). Despite the two principles stated above, transfeminism also abides by the existing social and cultural dynamics of the institutionalized gender system (Koyama, 2001). Feminists often encourage transgender individuals to adopt the traditional definition of femininity. This will enable the community accept them and be legitimized by the medical community. Normally, the medical community believes it is the one to decide who is a genuine woman and who is not. In many cases, transgender women, find themselves in positions that demand them to ‘prove’ their womanhood. This leads to transgender women adopting gender stereotypes to be acknowledged as women. Conversely, some receive hormonal and surgical interventions (Koyama, 2001). There are critics of transfeminism. These critics argue that trans-women benefit from male privilege. According to these critics, trans-women are socialized as boys. Therefore, they receive male privilege. These critics label trans-men as traitors. They are seen as individuals who have abandoned their sisters in an attempt to enjoy male privileges. There is increasing demand for transfeminism to respond to these claims by critics. Many people use these claims to justify discrimination against transgender individuals (Connell, 2012). Transfeminism believe that sex and gender are socially constructed (Koyama, 2001). Many transgender individuals use the concept of gender as a social construct. This has proven to be useful in changing the traditional attitude towards women’s capabilities. However, many people use this concept of gender as a social construct to discriminate the transgender individuals (Koyama, 2001). Studies indicate that the social construct of gender is more than an observation. It is a real thing, and many intersex people experience it (Pepper, 2015; Riley, 2015). The society does not have a place for such people; therefore, the medical community is given the power to manipulate them into living in an assigned sex. The medical community and the society do not give the transgender people the freedom to decide for themselves on how they wish to live (Koyama, 2001). Statistics indicate that transgender people are not comfortable with the sex assigned to them (Koyama, 2001). Some transgender people identify and live with members of sex different from what they were assigned to them. Transfeminism has a big role in giving back the transgender individuals the right to define themselves. The world has experienced many transgender individuals beginning to organize politically. This will allow them adopt the notion of gender identity. Many media outlets have popularized the cliché that transgender individuals are people trapped in women bodies. Such case has seen the society accepting many trans-women than trans-men. The role of transgender feminists is to resist the cliché from spreading more (Koyama, 2001). Feminists tend to be comfortable with their bodies. However, this is not the case for many women, especially, trans-women. Many trans-women are so uncomfortable with their bodies that they decide to isolate themselves from the public. Others decide to undergo hormone therapy, electrolysis, or surgical interventions in order to modify their bodies. A closer analysis of these procedures finds out that they are very expensive, painful, and time consuming. Doctors warn that these procedures could lead to permanent loss of fertility and other serious complications There is need for transgender feminists to enable the society honor cross-gender identities. They have to advocate for laws that protects the transgender individuals from harm, and champion for equal treatment of all the people. Transfeminism should claim a position in feminism in cooperative ways. Definitely, the rejection of early transgender feminists is normal because so many times the feminism movements have been betrayed by pro-feminist men (Koyama, 2001). References Butler, J. (2010). Gender Trouble. New York and London: Routledge. Connell, R. (2012). Transexual Women and Feminist Thought: Toward New Understanding and New Politics. Chicago Journals, 37(4), 857-881. Koyama, E. (2001). The transfeminist manifesto. Pepper, R. (2015). 10 things every parent of a transgender child needs to know. Pepper stories. Riley, N. S. (2015). Exploiting Tragedy: Transgender teen’s suicide poses parenting puzzles. New York Times. Read More