The Women's March And Transgender Inclusion

I was listening to a talk show this morning and the host was talking about the women's marches that took place all across the country.  Of course, he's not talking very positive about it because somehow they are not valid if they aren't singing the praises of Donald Trump.  I don't think it's fair to expect all women to agree anymore than it is all men, and some women feel they have issues that the new president will not address to their satisfaction or will even make it worse.

Many people from the transgender movement participated in the matches as well.  I'm going to talk about anatomy for a moment, more to make a point than anything else.  We had women marching in vagina costumes and women talking about their periods.  They feel they must do this to make their case.  In marches of any nature, you get this type of thing.

On one level, isn't it a bit silly to dress up as a vagina?  I understand that, given Trump's leaked comments that have been used to further demonize him (not arguing one way or another here), they think this makes an important statement of empowerment.  I was thinking how silly it would look if men dressed as penises and marched.  Then again, I'm sure that has happened at Pride Parades through the years.  Also, culture through the years has glorified the penis through art and architecture.  So, if a woman feels this empowers her when she's marching for women's causes, she should express herself that way.  However, I fear that most men will not take this woman seriously.

Now, the talk show, which is a bit transphobic in my opinion, insinuated that transgender people are  all offended by women marching in vagina costumes, talking about their periods and other issues biologically unique to a genetic or cisgender woman.  The host and two of the women he hired for his show suggested that all in the transgender movement are offended by that and want women to stop it because it makes them feel bad.  That's a broad statement.  Do all male to female transgender women feel that way?  It's ridiculous to make such an assumption.

This is a difficult topic, because there are differing opinions, from the more demanding and in your face to the live and let live as long as you don't prevent me from being me.  I think the ultimate goal for many is to transition, have gender reassignment surgery, blend in with women and not have to make an issue of it.  No bathroom debate or anything.  She just wants to be.  She's a woman, end of story as far as she is concerned.  If the topic comes up in her circles, she may still hear somebody invalidate her very femininity because she wasn't born with a vagina.

Now, that particular segment of the movement is not alone in believing gender identity is not determined by the sexual organ you are born with.  This is still difficult for those to grasp, and some insist that these women have mental problems.  No.  Those ignorant people have the problem, not the transgender women.  Imagine being naked and looking into a mirror.  You feel that you are a woman.  Everything you think and feel tells you that.  Then, you see that reflection in the mirror and are disgusted by it.  Your body doesn't conform to your mind, and you begin your journey to change that.  I can't even begin to get into the things a transgender woman goes through, transgender men as well.

Are transgender women a threat to cisgender, genetic women?  No.  The idea that the whole transgender movement demands that their cisgender counter parts stop talking about what they were born with is untrue.  There are some who wish they had that and hate to hear about those who do.  They might ask them to be silent, but not all transgender women would do that.  Women should never be afraid or ashamed to discuss who they are.

The problem is, there are many facets to this discussion.  There are cisgender women who first of all hate the term.  You might even hear, "I'm a woman, call me a woman."  And, to this type of woman, transgender women do not belong.  They will go so far as to say they are objectifying women and hijacking their femininity.  In her mind, "How dare you do that.  Get out of my march."  She doesn't speak for all women, but she is there with her beliefs.

In India, they have the third gender of transsexuals.  Would that work in this and other countries?  Should that be the goal?  You'll hear some who express that opinion.  A female to male or male to female is the third gender of transgender, or the third and fourth.  You know what the real problem with that is?  This suggests that you are transitioning to transition.  You aren't transitioning to become a woman but rather to become the third gender.  It's difficult to imagine everybody in the transgender community is happy just being transgender and establishing that gender as the goal.

If third and fourth genders become officially recognized, you'll still have transgender women who want to be recognized as females.  They want an F or an M, not MtF Transgender or FtM Transgender.  We may very well head down the path of that debate, but there will be resistance.  Take gay marriage, as an example.  The compromise that was floated was one where they get the same rights as heterosexual couples, but it's not called marriage.  This was not acceptable, and the fight continued until it was won.  The gender identity battle is next.  There will be resistance from those who fear it, maybe even more than gays.

On Sunday, many in the transgender community marched hand in hand with cisgender women.  In making their points, some of the women used their anatomy and certain biological functions to express themselves.  This isn't something you can or should stop, because it is unique to cisgender women.  As transgender women take their place next to cisgender women in the debate about women's issues, they share an important point.  They will not be marginalized or invalidated, which is what the Sunday marches were speaking against.  Both groups of women have been victims to that.  Both groups have had struggles unique to them and their anatomy, and neither should feel pressured not to speak to that when they express themselves.