When I see Breklor posting trans activism stuff on his LJ I really do want to thank him. Not only does he not directly benefit from this, he is (theoretically) opening himself up to being seen as queer-er himself. He's taking time out of day to benefit me. I think that gratitude is appropriate because I think people should be rewarded for community involvement, not just because it's fair, but because by rewarding someone with praise, it means that they are more likely to keep doing it. And since Breklor doesn't really benefit himself from trans activism, I want to make sure that he gets something for his trouble - so that he'll stay involved.
This is relevant to me because the Trans Alliance Society is so small as to be barely functional, and I think this is in part because it's bad at being cis-inclusive. Not only does this make genderfucked but non-medical tg'ers suspect, but it also excludes friends, family and significant others who may actually get a worse ride than the trans person themselves - e.g. I live in Vancouver; my mother, in Kelowna. I get along okay in the TAS because people either know that I'm just starting, or assume that I'm a transmale with poor taste in clothes. But they also see that I volunteer my time... so maybe that approach really does work. But if I were to rag on cis folks, though I might be angry at MSP and anyone who voted for the Campbell Government, if I wasn't careful, I could be burning bridges.
With the women's studies ally stuff, I want to see men being included because the current identity politics framework is alienating both men and women. I want to see sensible men being rewarded because that way men will be more likely to straighten up their shit. I want to see majorities being included so that (after some proper education) we/they can help kick some ass.
It's understandable that people are cautious. There has to be some kind for outlet for that anger, and I want to hear about why people are angry, but I see identity-factionalism repeatedly destroying any chance of progress. And people from outside the demographic see this, and reinforce it by staying out and encouraging each other to stay out. And, as a consequence, the status quo goes unchallenged. That's why it frustrates me. That and the fact that I'm not really sure what to do about it.
"How can I trust that you will not come here, with your agenda from your point of priviledge, and how can I trust that you're willing to give that priviledge up, and how can I trust you to be part of our community and commit to that, as we who have no alternative have commited to it?"
Thank you very much for this perspective. It makes more sense.
For clarification, when I was referring to being read as female, I didn't mean so much as by activists as just in-general. It just pisses me off whenever I'm reminded. If the grocery clerk calls me "sir," the food will taste worse - that sort of thing. Totally irrational.
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branchandroot
"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it"
Date: 2007-04-10 01:05 am (UTC)This is relevant to me because the Trans Alliance Society is so small as to be barely functional, and I think this is in part because it's bad at being cis-inclusive. Not only does this make genderfucked but non-medical tg'ers suspect, but it also excludes friends, family and significant others who may actually get a worse ride than the trans person themselves - e.g. I live in Vancouver; my mother, in Kelowna. I get along okay in the TAS because people either know that I'm just starting, or assume that I'm a transmale with poor taste in clothes. But they also see that I volunteer my time... so maybe that approach really does work. But if I were to rag on cis folks, though I might be angry at MSP and anyone who voted for the Campbell Government, if I wasn't careful, I could be burning bridges.
With the women's studies ally stuff, I want to see men being included because the current identity politics framework is alienating both men and women. I want to see sensible men being rewarded because that way men will be more likely to straighten up their shit. I want to see majorities being included so that (after some proper education) we/they can help kick some ass.
It's understandable that people are cautious. There has to be some kind for outlet for that anger, and I want to hear about why people are angry, but I see identity-factionalism repeatedly destroying any chance of progress. And people from outside the demographic see this, and reinforce it by staying out and encouraging each other to stay out. And, as a consequence, the status quo goes unchallenged. That's why it frustrates me. That and the fact that I'm not really sure what to do about it.
"How can I trust that you will not come here, with your agenda from your point of priviledge, and how can I trust that you're willing to give that priviledge up, and how can I trust you to be part of our community and commit to that, as we who have no alternative have commited to it?"
Thank you very much for this perspective. It makes more sense.
For clarification, when I was referring to being read as female, I didn't mean so much as by activists as just in-general. It just pisses me off whenever I'm reminded. If the grocery clerk calls me "sir," the food will taste worse - that sort of thing. Totally irrational.