To get past anti-black bigotry, one can sympathize with what it’s like to be disrespected or judged unfairly. To get past anti-homosexual bigotry one can sympathize with what it’s like to have a sexuality that you didn’t choose. In these examples, you have to reexamine how you think of other people.
But for a cis person to get past transphobia, you have to reexamine your ideals about sex and gender; you have to change how you think of yourself. This is threatening to identity and ego. If you add in the rigid and strict gender norms of reactionary thinking, it’s threatening to the order of all things; a rebellion against God and country.
That’s a good point. Although Abigail Thorn (Philosophy Tube) kinda turned it on its head, apologies in advance for probably fucking up my explanation. 😅
If (e.g.) a cis woman has dark arm hair, peach fuzz, a “strong jaw”, etc, and is really bothered by it because it makes her feel less feminine or “man ish”… isn’t she basically experiencing gender dysphoria? And if she gets laser hair removal or whatever, isn’t that actually a type of “gender-affirming care”?
It made me wonder if that’s somehow the key to making people feel more empathetic, idk.
Transphobia is not like other bigotries.
To get past anti-black bigotry, one can sympathize with what it’s like to be disrespected or judged unfairly. To get past anti-homosexual bigotry one can sympathize with what it’s like to have a sexuality that you didn’t choose. In these examples, you have to reexamine how you think of other people.
But for a cis person to get past transphobia, you have to reexamine your ideals about sex and gender; you have to change how you think of yourself. This is threatening to identity and ego. If you add in the rigid and strict gender norms of reactionary thinking, it’s threatening to the order of all things; a rebellion against God and country.
That’s a good point. Although Abigail Thorn (Philosophy Tube) kinda turned it on its head, apologies in advance for probably fucking up my explanation. 😅
If (e.g.) a cis woman has dark arm hair, peach fuzz, a “strong jaw”, etc, and is really bothered by it because it makes her feel less feminine or “man ish”… isn’t she basically experiencing gender dysphoria? And if she gets laser hair removal or whatever, isn’t that actually a type of “gender-affirming care”?
It made me wonder if that’s somehow the key to making people feel more empathetic, idk.