Lots of chat today in the news about what makes a real
woman.
This comes after comments in a national newspaper by Dame Jenni Murray
saying that trans women weren't real women.
So yet another day where I woke up and had to justify my existence and experiences as a woman
to someone who knows nothing about my innate sense of self
and telling the world that I am not real.
So what is a real woman? Because to imply that there is such a thing as a real woman
means there must be a false or fake woman.
Cause let's face it, women come in all shapes and sizes. Tall, short, fat, thin, butch, femme, cis, trans.
They're all women, and all their experiences are real.
But what Murray states in her article is that trans people should only be defined as trans man and trans woman.
And references conversations she's had with trans people that she felt
were misogynistic and anti-feminist.
For example, she'd taken issue India Willoughby, a broadcaster's comments,
after a news story broke about
a hotel demanding women shaved their legs.
Now India replied that she thinks that women should shave their legs.
But here's the thing, that's her opinion. Just the same
as there are cisgender women out there, who have the same opinion that
women should be well presented and whether or not we should bow down to patriarchal standards of beauty.
I mean I know cis women that don't shave their legs, or their armpits. I'm cool with that. It's their choice, it's their experience as a woman.
Just as some women feel that that is dirty and they need to shave their armpits and legs. It's personal choice.
But one thing I would never do is question the validity of these women as women.
Let me put it another way. Replace the word trans with gay. Do gay people exist? Are gay people real?
Do they have the right to be gay?
It sounds stupid when you say it like that, right? So how is this any different with trans people?
Trans people are real and valid.
Yes our experiences may be different, just as any cis women's experiences may be different.
But that doesn't invalidate our lives and who we are.
Now no one person can speak for the entire range
of trans experiences there are out there.
Just as no woman can speak for all women.
As a woman who also happens to be trans, I will not have my identity questioned anymore.
Trans lives are not up for debate.
Today I will go about my day and I will
be me, I will be authentic to myself.
Authentic and female.
Just like all my sisters out there, no matter what their assignment at birth.
Till next time social folk!
