How the Transgender Movement Undermines Real Feminism

First of all, the transgender movement erases the reality of womanhood. In an effort to be more inclusive, they've decided that a woman is anyone who identifies as a woman. The problem with this definition is that it's circular and lacks objective meaning. In order for words to have a clear meaning, they need to be defined by facts, not by feelings or identity. Also, inclusivity is not always a good thing. Language is exclusive by its very nature. The purpose of language is to convey a clear, specific message. If words have no objective meanings and boundaries, then they are meaningless. 

"Woman" and "female" are not an exception to this rule; they, too, need to be objectively defined. Womanhood is a biological reality, not a feeling or a social construct. A woman is an adult female human. Females are people who take the default, estrogen-dominated path of development from conception onwards. Women and girls belong to the sex that produces egg cells and gets pregnant. Even if a woman is unable to get pregnant, she still has the chromosomes, hormone levels, and other physical traits of a female. 

Without an objective definition of man and woman, we cannot enforce sex-based protections that keep women safe. There is a reason why women have our own restrooms, locker rooms, dorm rooms, prisons, and domestic violence shelters. The reason is male violence. Males commit the vast majority of rape, sexual harassment, and child sexual abuse; and girls and women make up the vast majority of the victims. And if males can enter women's spaces just by saying they "feel like a woman," then there is no way to guarantee women's safety and privacy. 

Second of all, the trans movement promotes harmful gender stereotypes that erode the very foundation of feminism. Feminism is based on the idea that girls (and boys) shouldn't be limited by traditional gender roles, but the trans movement supports the idea that there's something wrong with a child if he or she doesn't conform to gender roles. Symptoms of being transgender include a preference for clothing or toys that are associated with the opposite sex. If a girl refuses to wear pink frilly dresses or play with dolls, her behavior is viewed as a sign of mental illness rather than a healthy variation in personality. In their push for "progress," trans activists are promoting regressive stereotypes that harm gender non-conforming people, especially children. 

There is no right or wrong way to be a male or a female. "Feeling like a woman" is a meaningless term, since there is no feeling that is exclusive to males or females. All healthy humans can experience the same range of emotions. The idea of a "male brain" or a "female brain" is questionable at best. Plus, even if brain wiring explains why some people believe they're the wrong sex, it still doesn't mean that their belief is correct. A schizophrenic person's delusions may be caused by the chemicals in his brain. But that doesn't mean that he's really the King of England or that aliens are really sending him secret messages through the television. Yes, people who identify as transgender should be treated with compassion. But there is nothing compassionate about reinforcing self-hatred and science denialism. 

The transgender movement is a misplaced response to society's rigid, oppressive expectations of men and women. Rather than trying to fix the real problem (rigid gender roles), trans activists focus on "fixing" the individual. They assume that if an individual doesn't fit in with the rest of society, then something is wrong with that individual. But that assumption is false. As a feminist, I am appalled at the idea that people can be born into the wrong body or with the wrong personality. Everyone should be free to embrace their whole selves—mind, body, and spirit.