The amount of "terf is a slur!!1" comments I've received in my mentions in the last few days is making me really wonder if y'all need a basic primer on what a slur actually is...
me: gets called a "gook", "zipperhead", or "chink" online at least once a week
y'all: um excuse me being called a trans exclusionary radical feminist is the same thing even though i am literally a trans exclusionary radical feminist
y'all: um excuse me being called a trans exclusionary radical feminist is the same thing even though i am literally a trans exclusionary radical feminist
Historically, derogatory terms have been labelled slurs when there are oppressive power systems (often enforced by violence) in place to back them up. The N-word is a slur because it was enforced by centuries of slavery, rape, and violence. (3/?)
"Bitch" is often considered a slur because A. women have historically been oppressed legally and socially and B. we frequently have it used against us in abusive and/or violence situations.
There is no dominant ideology or social system in place that privileges trans people. In fact, trans folks (particularly trans women of color) face higher rates of sexual assault and violence BECAUSE of their trans status. (5/?)
To say that cis people complicit in upholding the dominant social belief that invalidates trans people ("trans women are REALLY men" etc.) and is used to justify violence against them (trans panic defense) are being silenced by the term TERF completely ignores power dynamics.
Transphobic beliefs are not fringe opinions. They're widespread and present in most depictions of trans people in media & news coverage. You're not being marginalized for your bigoted ideas — they're not uncommon or radical. That's why TERFS and conservatives often agree on this.
The vast majority of people in power are cis. This is true in every aspect of society, from our government to feminist movements. So to say that calling out certain feminists' transphobia is a slur or silencing tactic is completely at odds with reality.
What's worrying and unfortunate is that many movements centering bigoted ideas will take social justice ideas that are rooted in history/sociology and haphazardly apply them to fit their narrative. This is why white supremacists feel victimized by attempts to gain racial equity.
This is also why we see conspiracy theories about "the trans agenda" popular within TERF movements. In order to justify transphobia, they must believe that trans activists are somehow a dominant political group with perceived power over cis women. But this just isn't factual.
Anyway, this has been a thread by a queer cis woman who is very much not oppressed by trans women. Y'all are important and deserve to feel safe and represented within feminist movements and I will try to do whatever I can to make that possible.
