It’s still popular to refer to the “opposite” sex (or gender), which represents the idea that femininity and masculinity are mutually exclusive. But when I think of a trans person, I see their capacity for a variety of gender performances. They contain multitudes? Their body is the site of aspects of both what is considered traditionally feminine and traditionally masculine?
There are no two trans people alike, but a feminist trans woman doesn’t change from considering herself a full (non-objectified) human being to a being that is as a collection of body parts (which must all be embellished to make them acceptable to the heterosexual male gaze). One would hope that the feeling that one is an integral, coherent organism would stay with her, no matter the new standard the world offers when she starts presenting as a woman.
To be awake to the possibilities of all things transgender is to enhance one’s feminism. It’s like a superpower. When emotions (like anger, or crying in sadness) aren’t tethered to gender, emotions can proliferate. Any person can contain the full emotional spectrum. Right now a traditionally gendered person cannot legibly claim possession of the full emotional spectrum, e.g. the ability to punch a wall in anger AND weep openly in public.
As far away as it may seem, I still think the best thing we can do for public health is to transition into a gender neutral society. Let today’s extremes of femininity and masculinity fade away. I, for one, won’t miss them. In my ideal future, I regard myself as an authoritative being, and am regarded as such by the people I come into contact with. I relate to those beings with kindness and empathy, humour and integrity. I have more freedom to move because my gender performance is not policed.
I think the more trans literate you are, the more pathways you create for reaching your full potential as a human.
