Cis women, trans people are so tired of your transphobia. This comes with genuine sadness, because the sheer amount of hatred and exclusion coming from cis women toward trans people, particularly trans women, is devastating.
In Bangladesh, being a woman already means navigating patriarchy, heteropatriarchy, misogyny, harassment, violence and endless policing of bodies and choices. Cis women know what it means to have society dictate what a “proper woman” should look like, wear, say, and do, and yet, some turn around and use the same patriarchal logic to police trans women.
“She is not a real woman.” “She doesn’t have a vagina.” “She doesn’t have female body parts.” “Why should we include them?” Suddenly, womanhood becomes defined by anatomy, biology and reproductive organs, the very things patriarchy has historically used to reduce women to their bodies.
Do you not see the irony?
You cannot fight against the policing of your own womanhood while policing somebody else’s. You cannot demand liberation from a system and then stand beside that same system when it gives you an opportunity to exclude someone more marginalized than you.
Having particular reproductive organs does not make discrimination progressive, feminist, or legitimate. Trans women do not need anyone’s permission to exist as women. Trans people do not need to prove their bodies to deserve dignity, safety and belonging.
To cis allies, feminists, queer women and everyone else who claims solidarity with marginalized communities: silence is not enough. When trans people are humiliated, excluded or publicly debated as though their humanity is negotiable, speak up. Challenge friends, colleagues, organizations and movements when they reproduce this hatred.
Liberation cannot be built on the premise that some people are disposable. If your feminism requires excluding trans people, what exactly are you trying to liberate?
Trans folks deserve better.
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— with Triaana Hafiz.