Transfundamentalism

[ameliabee]

Seeing as you all love to debate...

part two: cis people force the creation of trans orthodoxy
it’s pretty simple: the demands of cis people for compliance from trans people, especially trans women, are what leads to the toxic orthodoxies that permeate the trans community. i’m not saying that trans people who do bad things are blameless, but i am saying that in behaving the way they do, they’re merely submitting to what cis people want us to do and demand from us. in other words, they’re doing the work of the kyriarchy, consciously or unconsciously. i want to remind y’all that while we should consciously resist kyriarchy, i do understand that people sometimes have trouble unlearning kyriarchical values, especially when they get in the position of enforcer for a smaller community and thus believe that this is how they’re supposed to act rather than question and destroy things which in turn oppresses them. in other words, the enforcer believes that their actions and their enforcing defends them from the kyriarchy when it merely holds kyriarchy’s rage in abeyance. in other words, your complicity will not protect you on a permanent basis.

Full article: http://inchoaterica.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/thats-me-in-the-corner-losing-my-religion-on-transfundamentalism/

[Dawn cd]

Not entirely clear what this is about, since it uses its own list of code words and phrases. Which "toxic orthodoxies permeate the trans community"? And is kyriarchy your term for patriarchy?

[LeaP]

Interesting read, but all it really amounts to is a rant that projects the ills of various categories of trans people on to the cisgendered population. Also, I don't find complex constructions like "kyriarchy" helpful as they introduce yet another framework - hence another debate - that you have to assent to before you can even have the discussion.

The blame game is problematic because the cisgendered world has its own legitimacy and we, as social animals, naturally have affinity for that world. Aside from that, there is a biological (not social) drive in transsexuals to bring their bodies and minds into agreement. When it happens, the wish to be stealth isn't due to some dark conspiracy - its because to be within the norms of society is an instinctive impulse. Many of the syndromes the article describes are consequences of that. Some unpleasant, to be sure, but not quite as conspiratorial as the author prefers to believe.

As a pragmatist, I believe some of the groups cited exist because of material differences and less because cisgendered society has magically imposed its views on, say, transsexuals. Gender queers and transsexuals have some common interests and characteristics, for example, but there are things the typical gender queer will never have to deal with that the transsexual will (and I'm not going to list them).

One should look to the easiest, most plausible answers first. Is it easier to believe, for example, that a transsexual might overreach in presenting because of clumsy inability and a lack of knowledge from having been raised male? Or a vast kyriarchical repression machine?

Nope. Not buying.

[Julia_in_Pa]

It appears that the link you have provided led me to a person that loves to wear a giant "T" on her chest.
According to the article I am one of those that believe in a " transfundamentlistic " order and believe that there is a hierarchy within the context of trans society.

Usually those that are the most vocal about not subscribing to such a hierarchy are those that do not pass well, do not believe in successful medical guidelines concerning transition and or are projecting their own weaknesses or lower runged existence upon those that actually followed the prescribed path.

It's always something coming from the " We are all in this together bull Sh7t crowd " that pollutes the minds of those weakest amongst us.
I never drank that cool aid and neither should anyone who actually wishes to successfully transition and live their life in normal everyday society.


Julia

[Frances]

In before the lock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[juno]

The article referenced is rather convoluted. I think the general concept is that conformance is the enemy. That applies to all people of all sexes and genders. People should strive to just be themselves, not some made-up personality invented to fit nicely into society.

Of course, this only applies to artificial idealogies of correctness. You do have to respect other people.

[Jorja]

Just try to be who you are and the best person you can be. Let all the BS fall by the wayside. You will find life is much easier that way.

[Kathryn Martin]

So much of what Jorja said. The article is clearly from someone with way too much time on her/hir/his/zee hands. My head hurts.........


Just try to be who you are and the best person you can be. Let all the BS fall by the wayside. You will find life is much easier that way.

[ReineD]

This is a new term for me, and I looked it up:

Kyriarchy is a neologism coined by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza to describe interconnected, interacting, and multiplicative systems of domination and submission, within which a person oppressed in one context might be privileged in another. (Widipedia)

Frankly, it describes just about any social system. I'd say it's human nature to find our place in any pecking order.

The author you link to makes a statement without elaborating. I wonder in what way, exactly, does she feel that cisgenders are demanding compliance from transwomen? As Lea pointed out, is it not transwomen who are demanding compliance from themselves, if this is about being stealth?

[docrobbysherry]

Even with Reine defining "kyriarchy", this is STILL a, WHOOSH, for me!

[AllieSF]

Reine, I think it is less demanding but rather society exerting the "majority rules" mentality to put pressure on the non-conformists to conform. Since since in broad terms LGBT folks are the minority and in general are considered outside of what is considered normal by many, that basically only leaves the straight, thus cis-genders, around to make up the rest of the "conforming" majority.

Thanks for the definition, I was too embarrassed to let on how ignorant I am of certain "mainstream" terminologies!

[Michelle.M]

part two: cis people force the creation of trans orthodoxy

Hmmm . . . maybe I need part one for this to be cogent.

Sounds like another flavor of "let's throw our imaginary oppressors off our backs". That we have somehow been duped into actually being their lackeys in some Orwellian transgender-distopic sub-society simply makes this too hard to sign up to.


Nope. Not buying.

Me neither.

IBTL!

[ReineD]

Reine, I think it is less demanding but rather society exerting the "majority rules" mentality to put pressure on the non-conformists to conform. Since since in broad terms LGBT folks are the minority and in general are considered outside of what is considered normal by many, that basically only leaves the straight, thus cis-genders, around to make up the rest of the "conforming" majority.

Thanks for the definition, I was too embarrassed to let on how ignorant I am of certain "mainstream" terminologies!

Ah yes. The majority rules and it decides what is "normal". Well, this is not a position cast in stone. Things are changing, although slowly, with inroads made by the scientific community. In the 1970s homosexuality was seen as a mental disorder, but not any more. Now, concerned parents are helping their young TS children to cope and are preparing them for early transition. There is a transwoman in the current administration. More is being discovered about being trans and IS every year. Some schools are beginning to advocate for more comprehensive education about gender and sexual non-conformity in the classrooms. Laws are being changed, protecting transgender rights. More young TSs who grew up with the internet having always known they were TS, are reluctant to go stealth. There will continue to be nay-sayers all along the way, and it might take generations for significant changes to be made in the mainstream, but already my SO and I can go out and interact with some people who know she is not a genetic female, and who still look upon us kindly.

IMO the person who wrote this article would be better served if she stopped spewing big words, and if she instead devoted her energies into helping to make concrete changes, even if they are small.

[KellyJameson]

A great deal of conformity is self imposed but whose responsibility for conformity is than projected onto the (more powerful other) to escape the corresponding shame of experiencing fear that other shame traps you into avoiding so you enter into a self reinforcing shame loop.

This is learned in childhood as a coping mechanism and prevents personal empowerment in adulthood.

[Sharon]

For those who think the article is confusing, just read the last paragraph. It neatly sums up enough to catch the gist of everything ranted about without all the BS. Now then -- the author not so succinctly states that trans people must overturn the "kyriarchy" (seriously?) while offering no way to do so other than by simplistic and unrealistic methods. It's up to us to discuss matters with "transfundamentalists" and show them the error of their ways. Yeah, that always turns out well. And Inchoaterica also addresses all the transfundamentalists (I bet you could count them on less than one finger) who read the blog and tells them to question their beliefs. Really?

The best way to show society that we deserve a place in the world is to act as if you already do have a place. Be yourself. Be proud. Live your life. Do not ask for permission or for acceptance from others -- just do it.


IMO the person who wrote this article would be better served if she stopped spewing big words, and if she instead devoted her energies into helping to make concrete changes, even if they are small.

Amen! It's funny that the author's nom de plume means "not fully formed or developed," which is a rather apt name in my opinion.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

its a big woosh for me too

I checked the wiki too...i went to talk to my liberal arts degree hanging on the wall for wisdom on this matter, and it wilted in shame

[Jonianne]

.....Things are changing......Some schools are beginning to advocate for more comprehensive education about gender and sexual non-conformity in the classrooms. Laws are being changed, protecting transgender rights........already my SO and I can go out and interact with some people who know she is not a genetic female, and who still look upon us kindly.....



.....The best way to show society that we deserve a place in the world is to act as if you already do have a place. Be yourself. Be proud. Live your life. Do not ask for permission or for acceptance from others -- just do it......

Yes, things are changing. Even here in the super conservative state of Virginia. A couple months ago one of the school systems was going to ban any sort of crossgender apparel in high schools, but with just the resistance some of the gender and social rights groups, they ended up not making that rule.

Also just yesterday, after the DMV changed the rules about the gender marker, I was given a letter from the medical department of the DMV to take to the local office and went through the process of changing my gender marker to female and changing my photo with the customer representivities not so much as blinking an eye. I even had some nice comments on what I was wearing.

The same at the local court house, where I went to begin the process of changing my name. I was treated just like any other female or male for that matter. Things are changing especially on the official levels and even in my interactions with people everywhere, people look me straight in the eye, smile and rarely give any facial clues that they have a problem. And I'm talking about medium size cities (mine is mostly rual), a life time away from metro areas like DC or NYC.

Not enough can be said, though, for those (many of you!) who have pioneered the way for those of us who are following after and made the trail so much easier.

It's OK to be who you are and like Sharon said "Just do it."