Men in Ewes' Clothing: The Stealth Politics of the Transgender Movement Author(s): jennie ruby and karla mantilla Source: Off Our Backs, Vol. 30, No. 4 (april 2000), pp. 5, 8-9, 12 Published by: off our backs, inc. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20836589 Accessed: 13-05-2015 12:12 UTC

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This content downloaded from 130.209.6.61 on Wed, 13 May 2015 12:12:53 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Men in Ewes' Clothing:

The Stealth Politics the of

Movement Transgender

Backlash is everywhere these days. understood what a horrific violation it transition, have the right to be at the matter of profound socialization (not of Its latestmanifestation is the transgender would be for a woman to be confronted Michigan Womyn's Music Festival? biological or hormonal origin). However, movement, which iswreaking havoc with a strange naked biological male, many (but not all) transgender people liberals and other so and when she herself is themselves in terms. among , penis all, identity as stealth explain essentialist But an intellectual slight of hand politics occurs over thismatter of identity? O^vvvv. one (V^vv-u ^^^A* (Vavyv (Wvv First, of the ways transgender explaining oneself in thisway neatly V^r Snr Snr SrV rr w rr w mtf activists have managed to confuse avoids dealing with thepolitical lesbians who know that there is implications of one's identity. If identity something wrong with lettingmen, is held as a given, it is off-limits to however altered, intoMichigan is criticism or analysis. If, for example, I called progressives. It comes right on unclothed and vulnerable. The through framing their position as one of hold Catholicism as my identity rather the heels of (and is no doubt born of) mtfs'concern with their own movement identity.The argument is that they are, thanmy choice, then I avoid moral postmodernism. Once again, we've been and liberation came at the expense of in some fundamental way, really a accountability for the various beliefs and movement as women had. This presents itself trying for just one week in one woman inside a male body. That is their political stances go along with it.And if radical?indeed as themost radical remote corner thing of the United States to identity. It is taken as a given that one I demand that other people respect my an going?but it is really insidious form feel completely safe frommale violence. must not question another person's identity as a catholic, then I demand that of liberalism which translates paralyzing they accept without protest the politics into ultraconservatism in action. that I choose along with my catholic I know these are strong statements, identity,even while I pretend my but the movement has been transgender is a stealth Catholicism is not a political choice, only taken so to heart so politics unquestioningly by Identity a matter of identity. Identity politics is a many lesbians, feminists, and maneuver that demands, in the stealth maneuver that demands, in the progressives, there is such dogma name of tolerance, that others do not and there is such a surrounding it, taboo name of that challenge my politics. on that I am to tolerance, others do challenging it, unwilling Rather than accepting that a person even a little on how it fudge dangerous not just is transgender as a matter of is to and women. my challenge politics. identity, I believe it is imperative to the movement Although transgender examine the politics of being mtf. I is far from a unified I think some whole, maintain that there are politics inherent of the analytical confusion surrounding in the choice to be mtf, that is, there are ithas been due to of mtfs To theworst or thinking me, thing about the fact assertion of his her own identity. ways of looking at theworld, at gender, and ftms that (male-to-females) (female-to mtfs have violated thewomen-only But what does itmean to "be" a at identity,and at power relations in that as of the same at the festival is now man or a males) part phenomenon. space that you woman? Radical feminists choice. Yet identitypolitics disallows I believe these two of the never a parts know whether theremight be have long been the ones accused of political analysis or criticism of identities movement men in one or transgender (like gay man, form another, there.One being essentialist, that is, reducing the which are profoundly political. The and are distinct of themost women cause lesbians) conceptually important things get of human behavior to innate tactic of holding identity as separate and have different ramifications. As I from to is the of essences. going Michigan feeling Radical feminists have been from politics and above analysis is a talk about thismovement Iwill address men complete safety from and misconstrued as saying thatmen are politics in and of itself?and it is these two phenomena separately for patriarchal rape culture. Now that safety clarity. has been eroded. Now even ifa man rwvvvv rwvvvv fWvvvu* rV^vvvv. fWvvvu isn't there, there is in our minds the i--^ir P'^^P^^ (Wyv of a mtfs invade michigan possibility violation?that male 'Snr Snr Snr Snr could be there. Look at what at the happened How in theworld has this come Michigan Womyn's Music Festival last about? And how is it that so many well mtfs entered year. Apparently, pre-op lesbians have into the meaning bought competitive, aggressive, and violent generally a politics of conservatism to the festival and disrobed by the showers arguments for inclusion of mtfs at because they are men. (This is one of hold areas as off limits for where women were also naked scrutiny. michigan? Clearly, trans people, (like all themany examples where radical Leslie inTrans Liberation, to shower. If these wannabe Feinberg, preparing deserve basic human feminists are attributed with some people) rights, idea admits s/he has heard transwomen being "women" had any real understanding of such as access to jobs, health insurance, that they in fact do not hold and then criticized for too much what it is to be a woman in "taking up space patriarchy and freedom from In respectful treatment, smeared for it.) truth, radical or being overbearing because theywere theywould have respected, not violated, living in fear of hate crimes and feminists are among the only ones socialized as men," s/he that it women's and would have yet says space, they violence. But do at of that a man or woman a mtfs, any stage arguing being is is "prejudiced" for nontrans people to continued on page 8 april 2000/offour backs/page 5

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are not make this observation (by theway, that biographies, theway subtle and constant sexual orientation. While these as if there is a misuse of the word prejudice; it is acts of racism invade the hearts and bad goals in and of themselves, the on comes Acting notpre-judging, it is simply making an minds of people of color. emphasis "freedom" from the is no observation). In thismanner, the power How superficial, individualistic, and discourse of the privileged and of problem as a implications of taking up too much simplistic itwould be forme, white liberalswho while thinkingof a as with male space are ruled exempt from critique. american raised by white family, to themselves "good guys," don't really was a status at One of the political problems that I come to feel that I really black challenge the quo all. see violence and see with the whole notion of transgender person inside, to change my skin color It becomes easy to how as as as politics is the idea that by changing and other features to begin passing something positive sounding can as if one's appearance, presentation, or body, black, and to demand to enter people of freedom of choice be inherently case we aggression, one can change one's gender. As a color space! In that could supportive of privilege and power when a women are not radical feminist, I believe thatgender clearly see how outrageous such we look at economic libertarians (who, does not reside for themost part in our demand would be. Being black in the by theway, tend to identifymore closely under the bodies?it resides in our heads, where United States (and elsewhere) is so with republicans than democrats). more a living gender socialization occurs. So formtfs much than matter of adopting Economic libertarianism calls for an threat of it every to focus on physically passing as skin color. It is insult and themark of freedom from undue governmental women rather than on overcoming privilege tomiss that point so entirely. imposition on economic matters, so that of their lives, unwitting vestiges of internalized day masculinity and power and control as if the problem sidesteps the real problems with As a radical I believe that gender?how we come to feel and think feminist, of patriarchy is inside. The fact that so much emphasis does not reside for the is on physical presentation instead of gender merely one of critiquing masculinity, power dynamics, most in our bodies?it and patriarchy shows little part of feminism. exclusion and understanding resides in our heads, where not of power and a politics of socialization occurs. individualism gender violence, as if If people are not born with a certain This situation is exactly analogous strict libertarians oppose income tax, the male gender orientation, but instead are to mtfs trying to gain access to minimum wage, indeed any constraints on socialized into theirgender, shouldn't we Michigan. Sure theymay have done whatsoever economic transactions. socialization is then embrace mtfs intowomen's space? much to oppose gender oppression, This means those who have money After all, these are biological men who sure, theymay pass as women and would not be constrained in any way not go so far to renounce masculinity that therefore experience some of what from engaging in unfair work practices, intimately a many actually undergo surgery to have women-born women experience. But if and could pay laborers $1.00 month if linked to power their penises removed. This should be they really "got it," theywould never the laborers entered freely into the just what we want, more people wishing have shown up naked at the showers at arrangement. Such "freedom" relations and to join the social category of female. Michigan. Even as a committed radical empowers those with power and That would be true, except it feminist woman, I have trouble prevents measures to empower the rooted involves a very superficial understanding overcoming the feminine socialization in disempowered, like labor laws, fair deeply of socialization. Socialization, especially my own head, it is so deep and wage laws, maternity or sick leave, and an a even in those something as profound as gender automatic. It is naive and insulting for a overtime pay. If individual needs job socialization, cannot be totally overcome man to think by becoming or passing as to survive, what power does she have to who wish to by a conscious or intellectual decision to a woman, she has, presto change-o! bargain with a corporation for a living be different. The idea that this could overcome deep overdetermined internal wage without labor laws or unions? It is exchew it is a occur so easily comes in part from the socialization as a man. Sure, easy to see how economic libertarianism extremes towhich privileged people do transwomen have taken a step in the empowers those with money and power smokescreen for not understand how deep oppression right direction and I applaud that, but it to exploit those without. runs. is simply not that easy. Would that it Poor women have long criticized the conservative were. freedom of choice argument about abortion as liberal: it it's a woman thing, being fundamentally forces in the a retains the rights of those already you wouldn't politics of to have children to choose libertarianism empowered understand when to have their but does guise of children, I had a white friendwho felt The transgender movement of today nothing to address those who are too is libertarian in its stance, poor to ever be in a to care for radicalism to offended when, years ago, many african largely political position that itadvocates freedom from the children have or want to have. americans wore shirts that read "It's a is, they destroy the few black thing, you wouldn't understand." He (along with many other white people) vestiges of felt that he was being slighted, and that r\^^^^^^ of course he could understand if itwas feminist space just explained to him. As a white person, I believe there is no way to really "get oppressive gender roles and freedom to The transgender movement, by that we have. it," to really understand the insidious and make choices about gender identity and dwelling so much on freedom of choice pervasive way racism shapes entire

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This content downloaded from 130.209.6.61 on Wed, 13 May 2015 12:12:53 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions to as whatever identify gender you privilege. Such a system values whatever values they choose including cultural values of power as embodied in takes our off the over want, eyes competition connection, control the values of power: they can be patriarchy, not to liberate people to be of choices and the over over consequences way cooperation, aggression controlling, disconnected from others, free from the constraints of gender roles.

a inclusion Inclusion is the very opposite of the whole Michigan politics of men is the it's what experience. Excluding point: Finally, for all the lip service paid to makes it the Music Festival and not challenging gender stereotypes through Michigan Womyn's transgression, there is remarkably little a mall. analysis about male power, oppression, shopping and patriarchy in its politics. The transgender movement is really a liberal platform?a movement for inclusion in our choices are structured over or by oppressive compassion, and individualism aggressive if theywant to. the existing social structure. forces, in short, itdoes nothing to interdependence. Freeing people from The liberation movement Iwant to a on eliminate system based power and gender roles means they are free to hold join is to dismantle the underlying what's so bad about inclusion?

I have always been skeptical of the sudden interest in "equality" evinced by white people who feel that affirmative = action is not fair towhites. The Identity Politics: A Personal argu Story ment goes, after all, ifwe want equality a between all kinds of shouldn't I grew up torn-boy, loving Clearly the politics and community of Iwould go to drag-king shows and people, we start all now? Softball,pocketknives, and tree-climbing the time largely formed my "identity." glory in how masculine I could look or treating people equally This strikes me as md hating frilly dresses and dolls. In Along the way I confronted the fact act. I would not confront the internal self-interestedly I a woman It is like a basketball college fell in love with and that internalized misogyny had made me ized misogyny thatmade me neglect disingenuous. game inwhich one team is forced to with )ymy early20s I had two love reject qualities or behaviors associated housework, hate children, and avoid play women. one hand tied behind their back until half relationships with with femininity that could have im making my home warm and comfort When I came out as a time. At half time the score is accord and proved my life. Thus, for example, my able. I could easily come to the conclu iiscovered lesbian in the was a uneven. Then, after half community mid home not comfortable and sion that Iwas really a man, and simply ingly drastically 1 discovered feminism at when the first team to 1980s, the nurturing space but a frat-boy-like crash embrace masculinity whole-heartedly. time, finally gets same time. first contacts with the ifa came to use both hands, the second team it My pad where person visit there And instead of having a feminist critique says esbian were the were no we ran is unfair to ask to even the score?after community through clean towels, out of of patriarchy, Iwould simply be seeking shouldn't score Washington Area Women's Center, toilet paper, and we ordered out for an individual accommodation within it. all, the be tallied purely which at ran - on shouldn't be treated that time the Lesbian pizza instead of eating home-cooked But I believe thatwho I am is a merit, they Resource Center. Iwent to how the second team coming-out healthy meals. And I preferred mascu process, not a product. I am a string of equally? Funny discussions the women's line as didn't feel merit and were so sponsored by values such toughness, individu decisions and choices made to prefer equality and I discovered feminism the first half. as center, right alism, and not being dependent, so that, one thing over another, to spend more important during Acting with has been reached along lesbianism. for example, when my truck got stuck time on some things and less time on though equality already The out was me and now should needs to be extended coming process for in the snow, I could not ask for help but others. I am part consciousness, part a of an Itwas to towards the belies how process adopting identity. had try to brave itout, shoveling by feelings, part intellect, part practice. Oh, oppressor group a of racism still is and is a of process discovering various role myself in the freezing snow. yeah, and part biology. pervasive way models for various were efforts to racism. ways of being and If I coming out inmy early Choosing to see myself as a lesbian undermining challenge which ones fit. The women I 20s I would I believe thatwomen's is a deciding today, find that the organi radical feminist instead of transgendered space met the center a , which is evident through women's had nation formerly known as the Lesbian means I have a political commitment to powerful strategy, feminist of thereforewe because it is so attacked both point view, had Resource Center at theWashington Area critique patriarchy and society, instead virulently a of butch- from without the critique role-playing, Women's Center andjun by feminists is of making accommodations to society (by rightwing?see the 2000 of on [twas not cool to be butch or femme. now part of theWhitman-Walker Clinic, by alteringmy identityor my body. February issue oob Mary We were an and fromwithin androgynous. organization originally formed by and It is part of the human repertoire to Daly) (theglbt Imade choices inmatters men It seems tome that daily large forgay todeal with theAIDS be tough, nurturing, independent, loving, movement). just and small that an name when women eek out an expressed androgy crisis. The is about to be changed vulnerable, individualistic, controlling, finally nous From to tone to infinitesimal amount of to persona. clothing of avoid the term "lesbian" because dependent. We need to evaluate the space voice to one week from types of purchases to ways of women participating in or using its values that underlie all of these human experience measly away to to to acting, these choices were political. I services do not identify as "lesbian." traits and behaviors and decide which patriarchal culture, begin try was even the score of five thousand of rebelling against femininity because has largely disap ones we want to emphasize in our years the refrain has 3f its association with oppression and peared. selves?not whether we are masculine patriarchy, suddenly become how unfair it is not to be staying away from being too much like a If I were coming out today, I would or feminine. We need to choose whether man because Iwas a I not inclusive. There is a lot of liberal feminist. decided find lesbian feminist role models. I we want to adopt competition or 3n an out rhetoric about identity,hammering in long, would findthe politics of gay identity.I cooperation, aggression or nurturance, nondiscrimination, late-nightdiscussions with other would find that theway to understand individualism or communitarianism as diversity, and inclusion just at the time feministswhether I was a radical lesbian my rejectionof femininityin childhood we seek to create a better world for all when we have started tomake a little or a was Not that these aren't feminist, radical feminist who was to discover that I was humanity. headway. ultimately also a or a lesbian with but it strikes me with lesbian, feminist transgendered. This would have influ Ultimately, we choose our values positive values, (as politics. Itwas clear that "merit" and in the case of very "identity" enced my choices about what to wear and they become out identity. "equality" was on affirmative action for african also politics. I finally settled and how to act, and ultimately, would byjennieruby abolishing a callingmyself lesbian radical feminist. have determined my politics. continued on page 12

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continued from page 11 Movement Transgender men to act violently? How about "As a woman, Iwould offer continued 9 Fuck inclusion! We'll have inclusion my from page men create war, we addressing why rape, hand to Serb women as that iswhat americans) as more than a little when live in post-patriarchy. traffickwomen, and batter, just to get women are so should do?build bridges, help," coincidental that they being touted started? said Doctor Flora Brovina, recently jailed much at this time. as if particular Acting the problem of ftms Leslie Feinberg writes inTrans for 12 years a Serbian court for there is no with male violence by problem the of avoids Liberation, "There are no rights or care to Kosovo women. and as ifwomen are not Again, politics identity providing aggression, for choices and wrongs in the ways people express their Would we to for under it taking responsibility go jail providing living the threat of every day of own Like hell there ain't! their political implications. For a woman gender style." care and shelter to women and girls their lives, as if the problem of to "feel" more like a man, towant to be // is wrong to oppress others, and escaping state-sanctioned forced patriarchy ismerely one of exclusion gender, particularly masculinity, is a psychiatric treatment? Itmay come to primary locus of oppression. Are ftms that.Will you be there? really facing what iswrong with Remember our Your slogan, "Keep masculinity and how it is the root of Laws offOur Bodies?" Let's bring itall Srr irr Snr Srr Snr Srr Snr Srr human misery and injustice? Are mtfs together by adding, "And Out of Our really about overturning patriarchy and Minds!" moving away from the enormous I am for Today ethical, responsive, destruction men in the a man, is profoundly political. To ignore wrought by choice-oriented, label-free mental health and not of power and violence, as if thatmen and have been world? Are intersexed and other trans for women. I also continue to male is not masculinity supports socialization intimately linked about struc oppressors of women and to people overturning power for much more feminist to relations and rooted pretend hope thinking power deeply or do want to be free to thatwanting not to just identifywith the tures, they just and action in the context of the emo even in those who wish to eschew it, is but become like do their own thing and get their piece of tional lives of mental health a oppressors, actually women, smokescreen for conservative forces the them is, ifnot anti-feminist, then at least pie? policy, and practice. The label-oriented, in the guise of radicalism to destroy the oblivious to feminism. To as a The insistence of mtfs on being of few of feminist thatwe identify isolating, drug-the-feelings approach vestiges space included in is a man in a woman's body as an essential women-only space Patriarchy will never replace themental have. means never to face or rebellion against women's rebellion, and, health which came women This is a real of the identity having through danger like a double ends be accountable for taking on the privi negative, up being working together in community, across transgender movement. Somehow we and sometimes behav conservative, working against the a leges oppressive differences. We must go there again. On have movement whereby men's women iors of men. The ftm "is" a man, so liberation of from patriarchy. By behalf of I invite to interests have found a clever to just Unruly Women, you way women's ifhe swaggers, doesn't do the dishes, challenging space, transgender join us. siphon off lesbian and feminist energies and is silent and uncommunicative with activists act the same as social conser into a liberal of agenda identitypolitics, vatives. Because as partners, oh well, he just "is" thatway. theymasquerade by sasha claire mcinnes individual freedom, and inclusion which And that there is progressives with a shared political Footnotes make us about anyone suggesting forget altogether are the threat to 1 = something wrong with masculinity in mission, they biggest psychiatrized abused, violated, re challenging patriarchy. To the extent and with women women's space since itbegan to be used traumatized and used for feminists in we general, especially profit. partake this, have nursed as a to 2 trying to take on oppressive characteris strategy fight patriarchy. coined by Sasha Claire Mclnnes a viper to our movement which is now 3 tics of or be actual men, Likewise the increasing popularity coined Eichler and Paula out to what little masculinity by Margrit destroy precious of lesbians transmen fore rather than taking on a political position, becoming Caplan women's space we have managed to eek is considered to be closes their forming solidarity with other out. We have not come a discriminatory long way, women and instead against an identity. against oppression Resources: baby, and we cannot afford to give our they join with the oppressors. There are movement over just yet to the boys, no the serious and deep problems with mascu [email protected] matter how they come dressed. biggest challenge: linity, its politics, ethics, and practice. I As for inclusion and http://www.madnation.org patriarchy would ask anyone, male or female, nondiscrimination at of all http://www.othersideresource.com Michigan, to embrace whole One of the serious problems with seeking masculinity http://www.somecrazydame.com places, thatwould destroy the very the movement is that it heartedly to give itup, not just for Your Be Your Problem: How and soul of the festival. The transgender Drug May meaning themselves but for masquerades as a progressive or even humanity. and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric whole point of the festival is to get a radical cause that confuses us to the To the extent we nurture this boy Medications. Peter R. M.D. chance to experience lifewithout male Breggin, where we that based glbt movement and take on its or the male violence. point forget patriarchy and David Cohen, Ph.D., Perseus oppression fear of as our we and oppression are the problem, not politics own, seriously imperil If the festival operated under the idea of Books, 1999 lesbians' failure to include in our ability to fight patriarchy and wouldn't we invite in transgender inclusion, why just male violence. The whole our feminist spaces. As Allan Johnson challenge those guys who ride cars up and down Post-script: Yesterday, January 18th, writes in The Gender transgender project is really faux the road outside the festival to Knot, 2000 I in-box and in the trying get liberalism dressed as a radical chic. opened my "Patriarchy's roots are also the roots of up a glimpse of naked women? Ifwe want subject line of one of the emails waiting most human and While claiming the opposite, itsactual all the to rural misery injustice, to be read was first inclusion, why go way up effect is conservative in that itdoes "Bigorexia." My including race, class, and ethnic oppres northernMichigan?we can stay at unruly thought was that this was the sion and the destruction of the natural nothing to challenge oppression and home and to a diverse next DSM label and that itwas formen simply go public And it is a and environment." These roots are deep and hierarchy. dangerous gathering of any sort. Inclusion is the using Viagra. In itswisdom, however, wide and it is this thatwe should be insidious diversion of lesbian energies very opposite of thewhole Michigan "science" is playing equal opportunity our on This away from feminism at a time when we men is the focusing energies undoing. and has as experience. Excluding point: can least afford it. labeling designated Bigorexia is precisely the truth that the transgender it'swhat makes it theMichigan themale counterpart to Anorexia. movement distracts us from. it Music Festival and not a Indeed, Womyn's no is coincidence that nearly all those by karla mantilla shopping mall. If having women's space who hate once a for a week in one perpetuate crimes, especially sasha claire just year place by mcinnis violent ones, are men. Ifwe really want in this country is so threatening that the freedom from hate crimes, how about boys have to find any way they can to attacking the root cause of what causes destroy it, I say let's have more of it! page 12/offour backs/april2000

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