Originally Posted by
AgentDaleCooper
F.A.O. archie:
So what is the intention? And why the implication that it's akin to racism to contest it? Why can't people choose how they are described rather than having it imposed?
the BLM example i gave was to do with people taking umbrage to something based on a misinterpretation. in this case, the misinterpretation is that 'cis' diminishes one's woman/manhood, when if you look at both the meaning and the way in which the term is used, it absolutely doesn't.
That's fine, but again you are trying to determine how people define themselves. It's not a neutral term.
right, here's the tricky bit...i don't think 'cis male' is as much a definition of identity as it is a differentiation. i can't identify as 'cis male', it's just who i am - it would be literally impossible for me to identify as a 'trans male', because i can never be one. the 'cis' part isn't about identity - it's about creating a distinction that allows trans people to be included into the gender with which they identify. the upshot of refusing this is actually what determines how people define themselves - because it excludes trans people from identifying with their desired gender. so objecting to the word 'cis' isn't actually about how one is defining ones self - it's about refusing to allow other people do define themselves as they wish.
the word 'cis' itself, as i have blabbed on about, is very neutral in terms of its denotation - it just means 'not trans'. i get that connotatively it has acquired other meanings to a lot of people, that it somehow qualifies or diminishes their own gender identity - but it really doesn't in any meaningful way.
I don't know the detail of the rape crisis centre you refer to. Most initially came out of the womens movement in the 70s. So that is some stretch. The case by case issue is much wider than the assessment. there needs to be a comprehensive set of criteria and a legally robust process underpinning it to make it work. I think you are seriously underestimating the task here.
I'm pretty sure it's the one in Edinburgh.
R.e. the case by case thing - I think the only thing that needs to be assessed is whether they are a risk to women. perhaps i'm being simplistic - but that is the outcome we're both aiming at, isn't it? are we just disagreeing on how best to reach that outcome?
I'm confused here. Semantics is about the meaning of language. Surely that is central to this? If you want solutions you must be clear on what you are wanting to solve.
without wanting to be utterly nebulous and unconstructive, these sorts of 'concepts' like gender really do break down to dust when you start applying thorough going philosophy of language style analysis. there's much smarter people than me who would disagree with that, i'm sure, but as far as i can see, any line that is drawn is bound to be somewhat arbitrary, unless it's a line that excludes people that should not be excluded. i think if someone has been living as a woman/man for 2 years/6 months, whatever, that's fine, so long as practical safeguards are put in place in areas housing people who could be at risk of predators looking to capitalise on ambiguity.