There’s a reason the language of gender identity is so compelling to so many girls and young women. Gender identity names and seeks to make sense of experiences that the current wave of mainstream feminism utterly fails to take seriously. According to mainstream feminism—we could also call it ‘choice’ feminism or third-wave feminism or (god forbid) ‘
The patriarchy has put women in double-binds for centuries: telling us we're "powerful" seductresses but also that the "wrong" type of sexual behavior will get us raped, telling us we're pushed around because we're not assertive enough but we're "strident" or "mean" if we're too assertive, we're prudes if we want to cover up and sluts if we show too much skin. No wonder girls are searching for escape. Double-binds are a hallmark of oppression because they destabilize one's sense of self and create hopelessness, leaving us vulnerable to control. In our confusion and desperation, we will grab onto anything that looks like freedom or safety. But the promises of freedom and safety if we align ourselves with the "right" cause or identity are hollow -- if we step one foot out of line, we're outcast.
This message — that being female is a repulsive negative — aligns with the narrative that it’s not okay to break with gender stereotypes, and reeks of self-loathing females and males who view periods and female puberty as disgusting. These are the messages now being “affirmed” by clinicians. It’s a monumental tragedy.
Wow, what a site ("Everyday Feminism")! Gee, I wonder who funds it...?...hahahaha! Second-wave feminism had this third-wave glued on BY THE SAME ORGS that tacked QT2+ onto LGB.
Was never organic or grass-roots. The post-modern oppression model was tacked on to serve a transhuman agenda from DARPA/WHO. What a grift!
I want to understand how this happened. I grew up with second wave feminism. My sister found feminism in the 70s, and I encountered feminism myself in the late 70s/early 80s at college. As a left wing man, I had sympathies with feminism, though I have always had my differences. But I don’t really get third wave feminism.
I also have a close friend I met in college who I would consider second wave, and she seems to me to have been captured by trans ideology. She was the one arguing that we had to accept trans women was women, and she resisted the idea that the trans movement is profoundly misogynistic. She thought I was lying -- or misinformed perhaps -- when I told her about men being placed in women’s prisons. It was so weird. Why Was I the one sticking up for women’s rights, and she was telling me, it’s not that bad?
So what happened? How did feminism evolve to this point? What preconditioned this change? Ideologically? Socially?
These are the questions I hope that you can address.
The patriarchy has put women in double-binds for centuries: telling us we're "powerful" seductresses but also that the "wrong" type of sexual behavior will get us raped, telling us we're pushed around because we're not assertive enough but we're "strident" or "mean" if we're too assertive, we're prudes if we want to cover up and sluts if we show too much skin. No wonder girls are searching for escape. Double-binds are a hallmark of oppression because they destabilize one's sense of self and create hopelessness, leaving us vulnerable to control. In our confusion and desperation, we will grab onto anything that looks like freedom or safety. But the promises of freedom and safety if we align ourselves with the "right" cause or identity are hollow -- if we step one foot out of line, we're outcast.
This is incredibly insightful. Thank you for posting it.
This message — that being female is a repulsive negative — aligns with the narrative that it’s not okay to break with gender stereotypes, and reeks of self-loathing females and males who view periods and female puberty as disgusting. These are the messages now being “affirmed” by clinicians. It’s a monumental tragedy.
Wow, what a site ("Everyday Feminism")! Gee, I wonder who funds it...?...hahahaha! Second-wave feminism had this third-wave glued on BY THE SAME ORGS that tacked QT2+ onto LGB.
Was never organic or grass-roots. The post-modern oppression model was tacked on to serve a transhuman agenda from DARPA/WHO. What a grift!
Wonderful post, thank you!
I want to understand how this happened. I grew up with second wave feminism. My sister found feminism in the 70s, and I encountered feminism myself in the late 70s/early 80s at college. As a left wing man, I had sympathies with feminism, though I have always had my differences. But I don’t really get third wave feminism.
I also have a close friend I met in college who I would consider second wave, and she seems to me to have been captured by trans ideology. She was the one arguing that we had to accept trans women was women, and she resisted the idea that the trans movement is profoundly misogynistic. She thought I was lying -- or misinformed perhaps -- when I told her about men being placed in women’s prisons. It was so weird. Why Was I the one sticking up for women’s rights, and she was telling me, it’s not that bad?
So what happened? How did feminism evolve to this point? What preconditioned this change? Ideologically? Socially?
These are the questions I hope that you can address.
I'm going to have to bookmark this. Very insightful, thank you.