Trans women are women
Trans women are women, and that’s that! Anyone who identifies as a woman is a woman, regardless of the sex they were assigned at birth. This is because gender identity is all about what gender we feel we are on the inside, and has nothing to do with our body parts. When we refer to people as ‘women’ this is always inclusive of trans women. Learn more about gender identity and the difference between ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ here.
What’s the relationship between trans identity and feminism?
Trans inclusivity and feminism go hand-in-hand. As the celebrated actress and trans activist Laverne Cox explains, being trans is all about defining gender on your own terms, and that in itself is a feminist act:
“I think trans women, and trans people in general, show everyone that you can define what it means to be a man or woman on your own terms. A lot of what feminism is about is moving outside of roles and moving outside of expectations of who and what you’re supposed to be to live a more authentic life.” — Laverne Cox
If you ever hear people doubting your gender identity or that of others, remember that they are making false claims and many people are here to support you. Feminism is about advocating for all genders to have equal rights and opportunities, and respecting the diversity of women’s experiences. Being trans-inclusive is a vital part of intersectional feminism, which recognises that different forms of discrimination overlap. For example, someone might experience discrimination based on their gender as well as their race, class, and ability.
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These different factors that make up a person means there are wide-ranging levels of privilege within the feminist movement. Intersectional feminists acknowledge this, and advocate for an inclusive feminism. This is really important, as some feminist movements have prioritised more privileged women (e.g. cisgender non-disabled white women) while excluding historically marginalised women (e.g. First Nations women and trans women). Learn more about intersectional feminism here.
As the famous intersectional feminist Audre Lorde states:
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” — Audre Lorde
What is a TERF?
You might’ve heard the term ‘TERF’ before, but what does it actually mean? Well, TERF stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, and it refers to people who call themselves ‘feminists’ while excluding and discriminating against trans folk. TERFs incorrectly believe that trans people post a threat to cisgender women, and have used dangerous and extreme tactics to campaign against trans folk. This includes things like campaigning for bathroom bans, trying to ban trans athletes, doxxing trans activists, and spreading hate speech online.
It might be confusing that TERFs refer to themselves as feminists when they are excluding trans women. This is because they are disguising themselves as ‘feminists’ and want to appear like they are fighting for the rights of women, when they’re actually not. TERFs often use particular language that’s useful to look out for, such as being ‘gender critical’ or an ‘adult human female’, and say that they believe in things like ‘sex-based rights’ and ‘LGB rights’.
As feminist writer Rebecca Solnit explains, you can’t be a real feminist if you are trans-exclusionary:
“Trans women do not pose a threat to cisgender women, and feminism is a subcategory of human rights advocacy, which means, sorry, you can’t be a feminist if you’re not for everyone’s human rights, notably other women’s rights.” — Rebecca Solnit
TERF ideology is very dangerous and harms trans communities. Remember that like most extremist groups, TERFs don’t share opinions with the majority of society, and there is really strong support for trans rights. It’s normal to feel upset from seeing anti-trans rhetoric in the media — so if it’s getting you down, take a break and prioritise looking after your own wellbeing. Talk to a trusted person like a friend, family member, or school counsellor, and remember that free and confidential support is available. We also recommend checking out our articles on practising self-care and how to deal with transphobia.
Trans pride
Being trans is a beautiful thing, and there are so many amazing trans women out there that are paving the way for trans-inclusive and intersectional feminism! It’s completely valid to feel down from experiencing transphobia or being subject to TERF ideology, but remember that there are many steps you can take to look after your wellbeing and live proudly as your authentic self. Trans women are women, and remember that the fight for women’s rights and trans rights are one and the same.
We will leave you with a quote from feminist writer and scholar, Sara Ahmed:
“Trans women and cis women have been marching side by side for so many years, fighting for [a] world in which we get to live on our own terms” — Sara Ahmed
