Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists and Conservatives: Ideological Cousins

  The term 'radical' tends to make people think “opposite of conservative,” especially with the generally pro-choice and pro-homosexual stance of radical feminists. But TERFS, Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists, share with conservatives a view called biological essentialism. They believe that gender assigned at birth is unchangeable, that a woman is reducible to parts. Apparently petty infighting between feminists is really a battle for transgender people's basic rights, undermined by radical feminists, who affect legislation. As Tina Vasquez points out in her Bitch Media article, "It's Time to End the Long History of Feminism Failing Transgender Women," transphobic feminists occupy influential positions as lawyers or professors. Cathy Brennan is the most well-known "TERF.” When someone shows disapproval of her politics, she makes an attempt to showcase them on her websites, like Gender Identity Watch, or dox (out) them to their family or employer, misgendering them throughout. She holds the unfounded view that transgender individuals are actually perpetrators of violence in restrooms or that violent cisgender men scheme to invade female spaces through drag. 

 In the book Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, an entire chapter is devoted to Gender Defenders, those defenders of the current gender system. She suggests that even if transwomen do bring male privilege into women's spaces, the issue is the male privilege, not the transgender community. 

  Though they aim to abolish gender, TERFS cling to the idea that a penis equals man, which equals oppression. TERFS don’t see the irony in wanting to eliminate society’s rules about their bodies (like wearing makeup) but adamantly defend discrimination based on trans* bodies. They only recognize "women born women," a nonsensical identifier, since infants are essentially genderless before socialization, and since all women have different gender experiences anyway. Smashing the patriarchy involves divorcing biological essentialism and regarding gender as an identity.

Bornstein, Kate. "Gender Terror, Gender Rage." Gender Outlaw. S.l.: Vintage, 1994. 72-85. Print.
Vasquez, Tina. "It's Time to End the Long History of Feminism Failing Transgender Women." Bitch Magazine. Bitch Media, 17 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.