trans safe feminism - improving access to feminist spaces for transgender people cisgender,...

IMPROVING ACCESS FOR TRANS PEOPLE

What is “trans safe feminism”?

Not just about “including” trans people

Not just about “including” trans people Reflecting on our choices when we set up

a space

a space Reflecting on language we use

a space Reflecting on language we use Reflecting on assumptions made

a space Reflecting on language we use Reflecting on assumptions made Challenging hierarchies – who gets to

speak for whom?

a space Reflecting on language we use Reflecting on assumptions made Challenging hierarchies – who gets to

speak for whom? Consultation, education and listening to

marginalised voices

It’s all about access

It’s all about accessThis should be part of any process of forming a group, action, publication, conference or meeting: to consider the impact on and needs of minority groups

It’s all about accessThis should be part of any process of forming a group, action, publication, conference or meeting: to consider the impact on and needs of minority groups People of colour Disabled People Transgender People Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay People Neurodivergent People People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds Etc . . .

Some thoughts

Is nominal inclusivity enough if trans women don’t attend?

Some thoughts

Are we ignoring the needs of trans men, non-binary and intersex people when we define spaces?

Some thoughts

Do we stop to consider what might be the access barriers for trans people?

Some thoughts

Do we stop to consider what might be the access barriers for trans people?

Do we put trans people outside of our “circle of concern”?

Some thoughts

Some observations

We don’t hear transfeminist voices in the mainstream movement

Some observations

We routinely allow people opposed to trans people to speak for and over them, unchallenged

Some observations

We are reluctant to admit that there is a thing called cisgender privilege

Some observations

We are reluctant to admit that there is a thing called cisgender privilege

This reluctance often runs alongside a lack of intersectionality in general

Some observations

(Intersectionality explained)

Intersectionality is a term that was coined by American professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989.

Originally used to highlight the additional oppression of women of colour in the women’s movement.

Inherently an academic term that can be used to highlight all instances where different oppressions intersect with each other in complex and often cumulative ways

What can we do to improve access?

Always consider trans people when we define space

End trans-oppressive language

End trans-oppressive language Empower and promote trans voices on

trans issues and issues relevant to trans people

End trans-oppressive language Empower and promote trans voices on

trans issues and issues relevant to trans people

Support trans people when they articulate their oppression

Considering trans people when we define a space

Considering trans people means . . .

Listening to, researching and consulting trans people’s views and needs

Having a new process of reflection each time we set up a space, service, meeting, group or conference

Taking all transgender people into account and holding in mind their vulnerability and oppression

Being prepared to develop and evolve thinking, not just sticking to the old ways

Including trans men in services/discussion of pregnancy, gynaecology, and abortion

Including trans women in “women only” space

Including trans women in “women only” space Considering making the space inclusive of all

trans people and women if looking at wider gender oppression

Including trans women in “women only” space

Considering making the space inclusive of all trans people and women if looking at wider gender oppression

Considering non-binary and intersex people in our discussion

Including trans women in “women only” space Considering making the space inclusive of all

trans people and women if looking at wider gender oppression

Considering non-binary and intersex people in our discussion

Not separating and distinguishing AMAB* from AFAB non-binary/intersex people

*assigned male at birth

“But what if people aren’t comfortable with a trans

woman?”

woman?” People might equally be uncomfortable

sharing space with a black person or a lesbian – how would you handle that?

woman?” People might equally be uncomfortable

sharing space with a black person or a lesbian – how would you handle that?

Remember a trans women is likely to be terrified of coming into cis-dominated women’s space, don’t judge her for having her guard up; make her comfortable

“Why should we have to include people who aren’t feminist in feminist space?”

You shouldn’t. If your space is for feminists, it’s okay to exclude people who are not open to feminism, because their reason for being present may be dubious and potentially disruptive.

“Why should we have to include people who aren’t feminist in feminist space?”

You shouldn’t. If your space is for feminists, it’s okay to exclude people who are not open to feminism, because their reason for being present may be dubious and potentially disruptive.

Just don’t make assumptions about who is and isn’t a feminist!

“But shouldn’t we exclude trans women for

safety reasons?”

Many minorities are over-represented within the criminal justice system

safety reasons?”

Many minorities are over-represented within the criminal justice system

At times other minorities have been excluded from spaces due to a perception of inherent unsafety. We now understand the issues of increased minority offending are complex and linked to their oppression.

That being said . . .

That being said . . . A long history of trans women using toilets

and other facilities – no major issues have arisen*

That being said . . . A long history of trans women using toilets and

other facilities – no major issues have arisen* Unisex toilets more popular in most parts of the

That being said . . . A long history of trans women using toilets and

other facilities – no major issues have arisen* Unisex toilets more popular in most parts of the

world We allow boy children to use male toilets and

assume they will be safe

Unisex toilets more popular in most parts of the world

We allow boy children to use male toilets and assume they will be safe

We have laws to define how people should behave in public accommodations

We have security protocols to ensure safety

*Source: http://mediamatters.org/research/2014/03/20/15-experts-debunk-right-wing-transgender-bathro/198533

And remember

And rememberSex segregation of toilets and other facilities arose out of Victorian notions of propriety, not from a feminist analysis of women’s safety needs

“But I don’t want to see a penis”

That’s okay, most trans women would be as uncomfortable about you seeing their genitals as you – there’s a reason they are called “private parts”

If you don’t go out of your way to look at people’s privates, you will never know what’s down there.

If you are concerned about inappropriate behaviour, don’t be – we already have laws to cover that.

Consequences of marginalising trans people – impact on

trans people

trans people Poor awareness of trans issues and needs

trans people Poor awareness of trans issues and needs Social isolation

trans people Poor awareness of trans issues and needs Social isolation Poor mental health (social support

correlates to good mental health outcomes)

Lack of access to needed services

Lack of access to needed services Economic disparity

Lack of access to needed services Economic disparity Homelessness

Lack of access to needed services Economic disparity Homelessness Suicide

feminism

feminism Silencing of trans perspectives that could

enrich feminism

enrich feminism A lack of feminist awareness within the

trans community

trans community Trans people alienated from feminist

ideology

trans community Trans people alienated from feminist

ideology Bad PR for feminism – bullying a

vulnerable minority is a bad look

Ending trans-oppressive language

What is trans-oppressive language?

Any system of language/dogma that rules out the legitimate existence of transgender people

Language that classifies transgender people as their birth assignment rather than their self-identification (using either sex or gender to do so)

Speaking on behalf of the transgender community without being allied to the transgender community

Using individual behaviours to paint a picture of an entire group

Cont’d . . .

Cont’d . . . Assuming that we know better than trans

people about trans issues

people about trans issues Reducing trans people to body parts

(objectification)

(objectification) Sexualising or fetishising trans people and

their stories

(objectification) Sexualising or fetishising trans people

and their stories Infantilising trans people’s ability to

understand themselves or their situation

understand themselves or their situation Assuming a lack of academic knowledge

= a lack of self-knowledge

understand themselves or their situation Assuming a lack of academic knowledge

= a lack of self-knowledge Campaigning against trans rights or trans

inclusion

Empowering trans voices

How much power do we give trans

people?

people? Would we allow a trans person to take the lead?

people? Would we allow a trans person to take the lead? How much do we listen when trans people talk?

people? Would we allow a trans person to take the lead? How much do we listen when trans people talk? Do we belittle trans people in our head?

people? Would we allow a trans person to take the

lead? How much do we listen when trans people talk? Do we belittle trans people in our head? Do we belittle trans people in our speech and

body language?

people? Would we allow a trans person to take the lead? How much do we listen when trans people talk? Do we belittle trans people in our head? Do we belittle trans people in our speech and

body language? Do we make trans people feel safe, welcome

and comfortable enough to fully participate?

people? Would we allow a trans person to take the

lead? How much do we listen when trans people talk? Do we belittle trans people in our head? Do we belittle trans people in our speech and

body language? Do we make trans people feel safe, welcome

and comfortable enough to fully participate? Do we challenge our prejudices or look for

things that back them up?

people?

people? Do we take into account that trans people may

have other needs in addition to being trans – related to disability, autism and mental health?

Do we make sure that trans people always get to lead discussion of trans issues?

Do we only include/support trans people who align with us (tokenism)?

people? Do we take into account that trans people

may have other needs in addition to being trans – related to disability, autism and mental health?

Do we challenge trans-oppressive language?

people? Do we take into account that trans people

may have other needs in addition to being trans – related to disability, autism and mental health?

Do we challenge trans-oppressive language? Is deleting/calling out/opposing trans

oppressive language in our ground rules?

Supporting trans people when they

articulate their oppression

Do we accept trans people’s right to

protest cissexism?

protest cissexism? How angry are trans people allowed to be

about oppressive behaviour before being seen as “too uppity”?

Do we expect trans people to “know their place”?

Do we prioritise our own oppression issues and trivialise theirs?

When trans people state their access needs do we perceive them as being overly demanding?

“But trans people say bad things on

twitter!”

twitter!”Yes, some trans people really do behave

badly on twitter, just like lots of other people do.

badly on twitter, just like lots of other people do. However:

It wouldn’t be the first time the oppressing majority used the minority’s bad behaviour to ignore a civil rights issue – why do we focus on this?

It is unfeminist to focus on critiquing the way people articulate their oppression rather than focussing on the oppression itself

“People used to try and exclude lesbians from women’s spaces because they had “male energy”, but that’s a cheap shot – we were fierce, we had to be fierce to fight what was stacked against us. That needs to be remembered.”

Thank you for listening

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