Table Of Content• •t • r• • •a • • •n • • • s• • •f • •e • • •m • • • • • i• •n • • •i • •s • • m• • • • • :• •
a collection
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Featuring:
The Transfeminist Manifesto
An Open Letter to Alix Dobkin
Whose Feminism is it Anyway?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Written & Compiled by Emi Koyama <[email protected]>
http://eminism.org/ * Putting the Emi back in Feminism since 1975.
The Feminist Conspiracy Press, PO Box 40570, Portland OR 97240
Index
The Transfeminist Manifesto 3
Reprinted from The Transfeminist Manifesto and
Other Essays on Transfeminism, March 2000.
An Open Letter to Alix Dobkin 12
Reprinted from An Open Letter to Alix Dobkin,
April 2000.
Whose Feminism is it Anyway? The Unspoken Racism
of the Trans Inclusion Debate 19
Reprinted from Whose Feminism is it Anyway?,
October 2000.
About Eminism.org 27
© 2000-2001 Emi Koyama / The Feminist Conspiracy Press
PO Box 40570, Portland OR 97240
Get more of Emi – visit www.eminism.org
email: [email protected]
2
The
By Emi Koyama
[email protected]
Originally Published: October 1999
TransfeminisLast Etdited: July 2001
Manifesto
Introduction less as women despite their birth sex assignment
to the contrary. “Trans men,” likewise, is used to
The latter half of the twentieth century describe those who identify, present, or live as
witnessed an unprecedented broadening of men despite the fact that they were perceived
American feminist movement as a result of otherwise at birth. While this operational
the participation of diverse groups of women. definition leaves out many trans people who
When a group of women who had previously do not conform to the male/female dichotomy
been marginalized within the mainstream of or those who are transgendered in other ways,
the feminist movement broke their silence, it is our hope that they will recognize enough
demanding their rightful place within it, they similarities between issues that we all face and
were first accused of fragmenting feminism find our analysis somewhat useful in their own
with trivial matters, and then were eventually struggles as well.
accepted and welcomed as a valuable part of the Transfeminism is primarily a movement by and
feminist thought. We have become increasingly for trans women who view their liberation to be
aware that the diversity is our strength, not intrinsically linked to the liberation of all women
weakness. No temporary fragmentation or and beyond. It is also open to other queers,
polarization is too severe to nullify the ultimate intersex people, trans men, non-trans women,
virtues of inclusive coalition politics. non-trans men and others who are sympathetic
Every time a group of women previously toward needs of trans women and consider their
silenced begins to speak out, other feminists are alliance with trans women to be essential for
challenged to rethink their idea of whom they their own liberation. Historically, trans men have
represent and what they stand for. While this made greater contribution to feminism than
process sometimes leads to a painful realization trans women. We believe that it is imperative
of our own biases and internalized oppressions that more trans women start participating in
as feminists, it eventually benefits the movement the feminist movement alongside others for our
by widening our perspectives and constituency. liberation.
It is under this understanding that we declare Transfeminism is not about taking over
that the time has come for trans women to existing feminist institutions. Instead, it extends
openly take part in the feminist revolution, and advances feminism as a whole through
further expanding the scope of the movement. our own liberation and coalition work with all
“Trans” is often used as an inclusive others. It stands up for trans and non-trans
term encompassing a wide range of gender women alike, and asks non-trans women to stand
norm violations that involve some discontinuity up for trans women in return. Transfeminism
between one’s sex assigned at birth to her or embodies feminist coalition politics in which
his gender identity and/or expression. For the women from different backgrounds stand up for
purpose of this manifesto, however, the phrase each other, because if we do not stand for each
“trans women” is at times used to refer to those other, nobody will.
individuals who identify, present or live more or
3
Primary Principles we find ourselves constantly having to negotiate
our need for safety and comfort against our
Primary principles of transfeminism are simple. feminist principles. Transfeminism challenges all
First, it is our belief that each individual has women, including trans women, to examine
the right to define her or his own identities how we all internalize heterosexist and
and to expect society to respect them. This also patriarchal mandates of genders and what global
includes the right to express our gender without implications our actions entail; at the same
fear of discrimination or violence. Second, we time, we make it clear that it is not the
hold that we have the sole right to make responsibility of a feminist to rid herself of
decisions regarding our own bodies, and that every resemblance to the patriarchal definition
no political, medical or religious authority shall of femininity. Women should not be accused
violate the integrity of our bodies against our of reinforcing gender stereotypes for making
will or impede our decisions regarding what we personal decisions, even if these decisions
do with them. appear to comply with certain gender roles; such
However, no one is completely free from a purity test is disempowering to women because
the existing social and cultural dynamics of the it denies our agency, and it will only alienate a
institutionalized gender system. When we make majority of women, trans or not, from taking
any decisions regarding our gender identity or part in the feminist movement.
expression, we cannot escape the fact that Transfeminism believes in the notion that
we do so in the context Transfeminism holds there are as many ways
of the patriarchal binary of being a woman as
gender system. Trans that nobody shall be there are women, that
women in particular are we should be free to
coerced into or out
encouraged and make our own decisions
sometimes required to of personal decisions without guilt. To this
adopt the traditional end, transfeminism
definition of femininity regarding her or his confronts social and
in order to be accepted political institutions that
gender identity or
and legitimatized by the inhibit or narrow our
medical community, expression to qualify individual choices, while
which has appointed refusing to blame
as a “real” feminist.
itself as the arbiter of individual women for
who is genuinely woman making whatever
enough and who is not. Trans women often find personal decisions. It is unnecessary -- in fact
themselves having to “prove” their womanhood oppressive -- to require women to abandon
by internalizing gender stereotypes in order their freedom to make personal choices to be
to be acknowledged as women or to receive considered a true feminist, for it will only
hormonal and surgical interventions. This replace the rigid patriarchal construct of ideal
practice is oppressive to trans and non-trans femininity with a slightly modified feminist
women alike, as it denies uniqueness of each version that is just as rigid. Transfeminism
woman. believes in fostering an environment where
Transfeminism holds that nobody shall women’s individual choices are honored, while
be coerced into or out of personal decisions scrutinizing and challenging institutions that
regarding her or his gender identity or limit the range of choices available to them.
expression in order to be a “real” woman or
a “real” man. We also believe that nobody The Question of Male Privilege
should be coerced into or out of these personal
decisions in order to qualify as a “real” feminist. Some feminists, particularly radical lesbian
As trans women, we have learned that our feminists, have accused trans women and men of
safety is often dependent on how well we can benefiting from male privilege. Male-to-female
“pass” as “normal” women; as transfeminists, transsexuals, they argue, are socialized as boys
4
and thus given male privilege; female-to-male assert that our experiences represent a dynamic
transsexuals on the other hand are characterized interaction between male privilege and the
as traitors who have abandoned their sisters in disadvantage of being trans.
a pathetic attempt to acquire male privilege. Any person who has a gender identity and/or
Transfeminism must respond to this criticism, an inclination toward a gender expression that
because it has been used to justify discrimination match the sex attributed to her or him has a
against trans women and men within some privilege of being non-trans. This privilege, like
feminist circles. other privileges, is invisible to those who possess
When confronted with such an argument, it. And like all other privileges, those who lack
a natural initial response of trans women is to the privilege intuitively know how severely they
deny ever having any male privilege whatsoever suffer due to its absence. A trans woman may
in their lives. It is easy to see how they would have limited access to male privilege depending
come to believe that being born male was on how early she transitioned and how fully she
more of a burden than a privilege: many of lives as a woman, but at the same time she
them despised having male bodies and being experiences vast emotional, social, and financial
treated as boys as they grew up. They recall disadvantages for being trans. The suggestion
how uncomfortable it felt to be pressured to that trans women are inherently more privileged
act tough and manly. Many have experienced than other women is as ignorant as claiming
bullying and ridicule by other boys because they that gay male couples are more privileged than
did not act appropriately heterosexual couples
as boys. They were made because both partners
to feel ashamed, and Our experiences have male privilege.
frequently suffered from Tensions often arise
represent a dynamic
depression. Even as when trans women
adults, they live with interaction between attempt to access
the constant fear of “women’s spaces” that
exposure, which would male privilege and are supposedly designed
jeopardize their to be safe havens from
the disadvantage
employment, family the patriarchy. The
relationships, friendships of being trans. origin of these “women’s
and safety. spaces” can be traced
However, as back to the early lesbian
transfeminists, we must feminism of the 1970s,
resist such a simplistic reaction. While it is true which consisted mostly of white middle-class
that male privilege affects some men far more women who prioritized sexism as the most
than others, it is hard to imagine that trans fundamental social inequality while largely
women born as males never benefited from it. disregarding their own role in perpetuating other
Most trans women have “passed” as men (albeit oppressions such as racism and classism. Under
as “sissy” ones) at least some point in their the assumption that sexism marked women’s
lives, and were thus given preferable treatments lives far more significantly than any other social
in education and employment, for example, elements, they assumed that their experience
whether or not they enjoyed being perceived as of sexism is universal to all women regardless
men. They have been trained to be assertive and of ethnicity, class, etc. – meaning, all non-trans
confident, and some trans women manage to women. Recent critiques of the 1970s radical
maintain these “masculine” traits, often to their feminism point out how their convenient
advantage, after transitioning. negligence of racism and classism in effect
What is happening here is that we often confuse privileged themselves as white middle-class
the oppression we have experienced for being women.
gender-deviant with the absence of the male Based on this understanding, transfeminists
privilege. Instead of claiming that we have never should not respond to the accusation of male
benefited from male supremacy, we need to privilege with denial. We should have the
5
courage to acknowledge ways in which trans experiences in which physical sex is felt more
women may have benefited from male privilege artificial and changeable than their inner sense
-- some more than others, obviously -- just of who they are.
like those of us who are white should address Social construction of biological sex is
white privilege. Transfeminism believes in the more than an abstract observation: it is a
importance of honoring our differences as well physical reality that many intersex people go
as similarities because women come from variety through. Because society makes no provision
of backgrounds. Transfeminists confront our for the existence of people whose anatomical
own privileges, and expect non-trans women to characteristics do not neatly fit into male or
acknowledge their privilege of being non-trans female, they are routinely mutilated by medical
as well. professionals and manipulated into living as their
By acknowledging and addressing our assigned sex. Intersex people are usually not
privileges, trans women can hope to build given an opportunity to decide for themselves
alliances with other groups of women who how they wish to live and whether or not they
have traditionally been neglected and deemed want surgical or hormonal “correction.” Many
“unladylike” by white middle-class standard of intersex people find it appalling that they
womanhood. When we are called deviant and had no say in such a major life decision,
attacked just for being ourselves, there is whether or not their gender identity happen to
nothing to gain from avoiding the question of match their assigned sex. We believe that genital
privilege. mutilation of intersex
children is inherently
Deconstructing the abusive because it
Trans liberation is about
Reverse unnecessarily violates
Essentialism the integrity of their
taking back the right
bodies without proper
While the second wave to dene ourselves consent. The issue is
of feminism popularized not even whether or
from medical, religious
the idea that one’s not the sex one was
gender is distinct from and political authorities. assigned matches her or
her or his physiological his gender identity; it
sex and is socially and is whether or not
culturally constructed, it intersex people are given
largely left unquestioned real choice over what
the belief that there was such a thing as true happens to their bodies.
physical sex. The separation of gender from sex Trans people feel dissatisfied with the
was a powerful rhetoric used to break down sex assigned to them without their consent
compulsory gender roles, but allowed feminists according to the simplistic medical standard.
to question only half of the problem, leaving the Trans people are diverse: some identify and live
naturalness of essential female and male sexes as members of the sex different from what was
until recently. assigned to them by medical authorities, either
Transfeminism holds that sex and gender with or without medical intervention, while
are both socially constructed; furthermore, others identify with neither or both of male and
the distinction between sex and gender is female sexes. Trans liberation is about taking
artificially drawn as a matter of convenience. back the right to define ourselves from medical,
While the concept of gender as a social religious and political authorities. Transfeminism
construct has proven to be a powerful tool views any method of assigning sex to be socially
in dismantling traditional attitudes toward and politically constructed, and advocates a
women’s capabilities, it left room for one social arrangement where one is free to assign
to justify certain discriminatory policies or her or his own sex (or non-sex, for that matter).
structures as having a biological basis. It As trans people begin to organize politically,
also failed to address the realities of trans it is tempting to adopt the essentialist notion
6
of gender identity. The clich popularized by the for many women, including trans women.
mass media is that trans people are “women For many transfeminists, the issue of body
trapped in men’s bodies” or vice versa. The image is where our needs for comfort and safety
attractiveness of such a strategy is clear, as the directly collide with our feminist politics. Many
general population is more likely to become of us feel so uncomfortable and ashamed of
supportive of us if we could convince them that our appearances that we opt to remain in the
we are somehow born with a biological error closet or endure electrolysis, hormone therapy
over which we have no control over it. It is also and surgical interventions to modify our bodies
often in tune with our own sense of who we in congruence with our identity as women.
are, which feels very deep and fundamental to These procedures are costly, painful and time-
us. However, as transfeminists, we resist such consuming and can lead to the permanent loss of
temptations because of their implications. fertility and other serious complications such as
Trans people have often been described an increased risk of cancer.
as those whose physical sex does not match Why would anyone opt for such a seemingly
the gender of their mind or soul. This inhumane practice? While we might like to
explanation might make sense intuitively, but believe that the need to match our bodies to
it is nonetheless problematic for transfeminism. our gender identity to be innate or essential,
To say that one has a female mind or we cannot in honesty neglect social and political
soul would mean there are male and female factors contributing to our personal decisions.
minds that are different One such factor
from each other in some is society’s enforcement
identifiable way, which of dichotomous gender
Trans women should not
in turn may be used roles. Because our
to justify discrimination identities are
be made to feel guilty
against women. constructed within the
Essentializing our gender for doing whatever it social environment into
identity can be just as which we are born, one
takes for them to feel
dangerous as resorting to could argue that the
biological essentialism. safe and comfortable. discontinuity between
Transfeminism believes one’s gender identity and
that we construct our physical sex is
own gender identities problematic only
based on what feels because society is
genuine, comfortable and sincere to us as we actively maintaining a dichotomous gender
live and relate to others within given social and system. If one’s gender were an insignificant
cultural constraint. This holds true for those factor in society, the need for trans people to
whose gender identity is in congruence with modify their bodies to fit into the dichotomy
their birth sex, as well as for trans people. Our of genders may very well decrease, although
demand for recognition and respect shall in probably not completely.
no way be weakened by this acknowledgement. However, such reasoning should not be
Instead of justifying our existence through the used to hold back trans persons from making
reverse essentialism, transfeminism dismantles decisions regarding their bodies. Trans women
the essentialist assumption of the normativity of are extremely vulnerable to violence, abuse and
the sex/gender congruence. discrimination as they are, and should not
be made to feel guilty for doing whatever it
Body Image/Consciousness as a takes for them to feel safe and comfortable.
Feminist Issue Transfeminism challenges us to consider ways
in which social and political factors influence
We as feminists would like to claim that we feel our decisions, but ultimately demands that
comfortable, confident and powerful with our society respect whatever decisions we each make
own bodies; unfortunately, this is not the case regarding our own bodies and gender expression.
7
It is not contradictory to fight against the revealed. Murders of trans women, like that
institutional enforcement of rigid gender roles of prostitutes, are seldom taken seriously or
while simultaneously advocating for individuals’ sympathetically by the media and the authorities
rights to choose how they live in order to feel -- especially if the victim is a trans woman
safe and comfortable. Nor is it contradictory to engaged in prostitution.
provide peer support to each other so that we Trans women are also more vulnerable to
can build healthy self-esteem while embracing emotional and verbal abuse by their partners
individuals’ decisions to modify their bodies if because of their often-low self-esteem and
they choose to do so. We can each challenge negative body image. It is easy for an abuser
society’s arbitrary assumptions about gender and to make a trans woman feel ugly, ashamed,
sex without becoming dogmatic. None of us worthless and crazy, because these are the same
should be expected to reject every oppressive exact messages the whole society has told her
factor in our lives at the same time; it over many years. Abusers get away with domestic
would burn us out and drive us crazy. violence by taking away women’s ability to define
Sum of our small rebellions combined will their own identity and experiences -- the areas
destabilize the normative gender system as we where trans women are likely to be vulnerable
know it. Various forms of feminisms, queer to begin with. Trans women have additional
activism, transfeminism, and other progressive difficulty in leaving their abusers because it
movements all attack different portions of the is harder for them to find employment and
common target, which is would almost certainly
the heterosexist lose child custody to
patriarchy. Trans women, their abusive partner in a
divorce if there were any
like other groups of
Violence Against children involved.
Women women who suffer from In addition, trans
women are targeted for
Feminists have identified multiple oppressions, being queer.
since the 1970s violence Homophobes tend not
are particularly
against women was not to distinguish between
merely as isolated events, vulnerable to violence. gays and trans people
but as a systematic when they commit hate
function of the crimes, but trans people
patriarchy to keep all are much more
women subjugated. Transfeminism calls vulnerable to attack because they are often
attention to the fact that trans women, like more visible than gays. Homophobic terrorists
other groups of women who suffer from do not look into people’s bedrooms when they
multiple oppressions, are particularly vulnerable go out to hunt gays; they look for gendered
to violence compared to women with non-trans cues that do not match the perceived sex of
privilege. their prey, effectively targeting those who are
First, trans women are targeted because we visibly gender-deviant. For every gay man or
live as women. Being a woman in this misogynist lesbian whose murder makes national headlines,
society is dangerous, but there are some factors there are many more trans people who are killed
that make us much more vulnerable when we across the nation, even though there are far
are the targets of sexual and domestic violence. more “out” gays and lesbians than there are “out”
For example, when a man attacks a trans woman, trans people.
especially if he tries to rape her, he may Trans men also live in the constant fear
discover that the victim has or used to have a of discovery as they navigate in a society that
“male” anatomy. This discovery often leads to persecutes men who step outside of their socially
a more violent assault fueled by homophobia established roles. Crimes against trans men are
and transphobia. Trans women are frequently committed by strangers as well as by close
assaulted by men when their trans status is “friends,” and are undoubtedly motivated by
8
a combination of transphobia and misogyny, We must also address the issue of economic
performed as a punishment for violating gender violence. Trans women are often in poverty
norms in order to put them back in a “woman’s because as women we earn less than men
place.” do, because overt discrimination against trans
Because of the danger in which we live, people in employment is rampant, and because
transfeminism believes that violence against of the prohibitively high cost of transitioning.
trans people is one of the largest issues we must This also means that abusive partners of
work on. We may be hurt and disappointed that trans women have more leverage to control
some women-only events refuse to let us in, but and keep us trapped in abusive relationships.
it is the violence against us that has literally Transfeminism believes in fighting transphobia
killed us or forced us to commit suicide way too and sexism simultaneously in the economic
often for way too long. We have no choice but to arena as well as social and political.
act, immediately.
In this regard, cooperation with traditional Health and Reproductive Choice
domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers
and hate crime prevention programs is essential. It may seem ironic that trans women, who in
Some shelters have already decided to fully general have no capacity for bearing children,
accept trans women just like they would would be interested in the women’s reproductive
any other women, while others hesitate for rights movement, but transfeminism sees a
various reasons. We must deep connection
organize and educate between the liberation
existing agencies about As transfeminists, of trans women and
why trans women women’s right to choose.
we should not just
deserve to be served. First of all, society’s
We must stress that the demand that existing stigmatization of trans
dynamics of the violence existence is partly due to
against trans women is organizations provide the fact that we mess
not unlike that involving with our reproductive
services to us;
non-trans women, organs. Non-genital
except that we are often we should join them. cosmetic surgeries are
more vulnerable. And we performed far more
should also advocate for frequently than sex
services for trans men. reassignment surgeries,
As transfeminists, we should not just demand yet they do not require months of mandatory
that existing organizations provide services to psychotherapy. Nor are the ones who pursue
us; we should join them. We should volunteer cosmetic surgeries ridiculed and scorned daily
to assist them develop an effective screening on nationally broadcast trash talk shows.
method in order to preserve safety as they Such hysteria over our personal choices is
expand their base. We should make ourselves fueled in part by society’s taboo against self-
available as crisis counselors and case managers determination of our reproductive organs: like
to other trans women in need. We should help women seeking an abortion, our bodies have
them fund trans-specific workshops for their become an open territory, a battleground.
staff too. We should develop self-defense courses Additionally, the hormones that many trans
for trans women modeled after feminist self- women take are similar in origin and chemical
defense programs for women, but which pay composition to what non-trans women take
special attention to our unique experiences. for birth control, emergency contraception, and
There may not be enough of us to start our own hormone replacement therapy. As trans women,
shelters from scratch, but we can work toward we share their concerns over safety, cost and
elimination of the violence against trans people availability of these estrogen-related pills. Trans
in the broader coalition toward the elimination and non-trans women need to be united
of violence against women and sexual minorities. against the right-wing tactics aimed at making
9
means and information to control our bodies movement also solves the strategic dilemma over
unavailable, if not illegal. pathologization of gender identity. For many
Of course, reproductive choice is not years, trans people have been arguing with
just about access to abortion or birth control; each other about whether or not to demand
it is also about resisting forced and coerced de-pathologization of gender identity disorder,
sterilization or abortion of less privileged which is currently a pre-requisite for certain
women. Likewise, transfeminism strives for medical treatments. It has been a divisive issue
the right to refuse surgical and hormonal because the pathologization of gender identity
interventions, including those prescribed for disorder allows some of us to receive medical
intersex people, and still expect society to honor interventions, even though it stigmatizes us and
our sense of who we are. negates our agency at the same time. Before the
During the 1980s, lesbians were purged from feminist critiques of modern medicine, female
some reproductive choice organizations because bodies are considered “abnormal” by the male-
they were seen as irrelevant to their cause. centered standard of the medical establishment,
But the right to choose is not exclusively a which resulted in the pathologization of such
heterosexual issue nor a non-trans issue, as it ordinary experiences of women as menstruation,
is fundamentally about women having the right pregnancy and menopause; it was the women’s
to determine what they do with their own health movement that forced the medical
bodies. Transfeminists should join reproductive community to accept that they are part of
choice organizations and ordinary human
demonstrate for choice. experiences.
A society that does not Transsexuality is not Transfeminism insists
respect women’s right to that transsexuality is not
an illness, but as much
make decisions regarding an illness or a disorder,
pregnancy is not likely a part of the wide but as much a part of
to respect our right to the wide spectrum of
make decisions about spectrum of ordinary ordinary human
medical interventions to experiences as
human experiences
make our bodies in pregnancy. It is thus not
congruence with our as pregnancy. contradictory to demand
gender identity. If we medical treatment for
fear having to obtain trans people to be made
underground hormones more accessible, while
or traveling overseas for a sex reassignment de-pathologizing “gender identity disorder.”
surgery, we should be able to identify with
women who fear going back to the unsafe Call for Action
underground abortions.
In addition, transfeminism needs to learn While we have experienced more than our
from the women’s health movement. Research share of rejection within and outside of feminist
on health issues that is of particular interest communities, those who remained our best allies
to women, such as breast cancer, did not have also been feminists, lesbians and other
arise in a vacuum. It was through vigorous queers. Transfeminism asserts that it is futile to
activism and peer-education that these issues debate intellectually who is and is not included
came to be taken seriously. Realizing that the in the category “women”: we must act, now, and
medical community has historically failed to build alliances.
address women’s health concerns adequately, Every day, we are harassed, discriminated
transfeminists cannot expect those in the against, assaulted, and abused. No matter how
position of power to take trans women’s health well we learn to pass, the social invisibility of
seriously. That is why we need to participate in trans existence will not protect us when all
and expand the women’s health movement. women are under attack. We can never win
Drawing analogies from the women’s health by playing by society’s rule of how women
10
