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Are We Imposing On Women's Rights?

After reading a completely negative diatribe by a well known and respected women's advocate Karla Mantilla, I had to take a break to let my blood pressure settle.  In her article "Men in Ewes' Clothing" she assaulted the transgender population on every conceivable level from social to political.  While presenting good argument, and acknowledging some of the positions of the transgender community, she completely missed the point of what transgender is and is not.  Most poignantly she totally ignored any reference to Female to Male Transsexuals.  Therefore, her argument is not about transgender but about M2F transsexuals specifically, and even more pointed, the bad behaviour of some of that population.  I am sure I could equally find similar bad behaviour among genetic women and not have to look too far to find it.

First, transgender is not a choice, it is a medical condition.  She makes the suggestion that M2F transgendered people are making a choice to "invade" traditional women's territory.  She makes a very strong case regarding socialization but she also confuses socialization with life experience.  There is a significant difference and that difference is felt by every M2F who undergoes transition.  There is no question that we do not feel that difference no matter how "deeply stealth" we might be.  We do not have the same life experiences; but then the life experiences of a female from Asia are totally foreign to one from North America.  This is often characterized by the lack of mingling between cultures.

She also misses the point that many prominent, transitioned women are also ardent feminists, just as many non ops are.  I have to believe that her judgment is clouded by a general lack of knowledge and or research into this area.  The fight for equality is not the exclusive domain of genetic women.  Many men who are not trans are also on that same path of equality.  Is their contribution then not welcomed?  Is their support moot because they dont "get it"?

She also paints the population politically with very broad brush strokes, again confusing her own ideals with the political ideals of people in general.  I know transsexuals who are conservative, liberal, libertarian and even communist.  Again she has failed miserably in her research and allowed her own opinions to overshadow not only reality, but also critical thought.  Of course her references are generalized by attempting to categorize the M2F transsexual population.  However, she does seem to miss the point that while seeking an equality of human rights, our political position is non existent.  We lobby for these rights through appropriate means and organizations.  It could be said that her affiliations are no different in this circumstance.

She also assaults sexual orientation in her discourse, ignoring the fact that gender identity and sexual preference are not intertwined.  Not all transitioned women are lesbians any more than they are bisexual or heterosexual.  Her ignorance in this area is certainly above reproach.  It would appear to this writer that Ms. Mantilla is basing her opinions largely upon a single event that occurred at a Michigan gathering of Feminists where some "gurls" disrobed at the showers exposing themselves.  THIS should be her objection and the actions of these people is objectionable even to me.  However to judge an entire community based upon the misplaced actions of a few is totally wrong.

What the transgender population wants is to be left alone.  We want to live our lives peacefully and without the prejudices we experienced through most if not all our lives.  We dont want it from militant feminists any more than we want it from religious or secular society.  We dont want to be victimized because we are women any more than the author does.  Neither do we want to be victimized by genetic women such as her.  Like it or not, she has shown herself to be as intolerant and prejudicial as the boys in a biker bar.

Still, why should I be surprised?  Some of our best minds argue similar if not even more ludicrous points of discrimination.  She has my pity; she deserves it.