Feminists and trans women shouldn’t be at odds – we share struggles
I was incredibly pleased to see the Women’s Institute (WI), the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK, reiterate their support for trans rights and trans people last week, after alleged reports of a ‘revolt’ regarding their inclusive policies.
Melissa Green, the CEO of WI, said that trans people have been allowed to be a part of the organisation since the 70s, and a policy back in 2015 confirmed their inclusive stance – and they have no intention to change, something Green says is backed by the majority of their membership.
Seeing such a prominent women’s organisation take an unequivocal stand in favour of trans members is incredibly heartening, and to me shows those in the feminist movement who oppose trans rights will always be a vocal minority.
The WI was founded in 1915 and has since then campaigned on a huge variety of issues affecting women and girls across the globe.
Now, however, a campaigning group called the Women’s Institute Women’s Declaration has said that their trans-inclusive policy puts the organisation in an ‘untenable position’ and has called for a moratorium on trans women joining.
Green summarised her view succinctly as ‘Being part of the WI is about the experience of being a woman, and that is a combination of both biology and lived experience. For us, transgender women are women and we want to share and celebrate their experience with them.’
Her words capture quite easily what being a woman is about – which is not just one thing or one experience and it was a reminder of how someone can clearly and concisely state their values of inclusion without getting dragged into a false debate that’s framed against trans people from the start.
We don’t exist in society just as bodies – we exist as people, with diverse lived realities, nuances and complexities.
It is only by standing together in solidarity against systems of oppression that we can bring about the change we need
In the end, trans and cis women share experiences in a society that still doesn’t treat women as equal – and instead of wrongly targeting and excluding trans people, we should be standing together in solidarity and fighting for causes that still need campaigning for.
That includes things such as eradication of sexual violence and domestic abuse, unequal pay, a lack of women in positions of power, countless other issues of equalities.
If you don’t know any trans women it is easy to have misconceptions about their lived realities – especially if your only information is from parts of the media or arguments online, which in my experience can be a gateway to transphobia.
That’s why understanding others’ lived experience is so crucial – I defy anyone who listens to the stories of trans women, and reads research about their lives to credibly deny that those experiences intersect with other women – whether that has to do with experiences of domestic violence and sexual abuse, or how they are treated in society in general.
As explained by the WI, this vocal minority does not reflect the view of their members of the work they do, and certainly, the Women’s Institute Women’s Declaration petition on this issue has around 2,600 signatories, compared with a WI membership of over 180,000.
That minority doesn’t reflect my experiences of the feminist movement, where I have always felt welcome and appreciated – and I know my trans friends share the same sentiments.
I’ve found that most campaigners and organisations who really take the time to understand and challenge their own perceptions and privilege find themselves becoming the staunchest trans allies.
I think that perhaps one of the reasons this handful of feminists opposing trans rights do it so strongly is because trans women may feel like an easier target than dealing with structural issues.
In the UK, opposing trans rights can often give you a platform that, as I know from personal experience, is otherwise hard to maintain if you’re just discussing women’s issues in general.
Trans women have therefore become a lightning rod for a number of issues – and I’ve found from interactions on social media and elsewhere that right wing people and those saying they are ‘gender critical’ have found common ground, despite most of the time being on opposing sides on human rights and equality.
I strongly believe that the narrative that’s been created – that feminists and trans people are at odds with each other – is misleading, again pushed by a vocal minority.
The feminist movement needs to stand strongly together, and as the Women’s Institute has, be unequivocal in our support of trans rights.
It is only by standing together in solidarity against systems of oppression that we can bring about the change we need.
I hope more organisations and activists will follow the example of the Women’s Institute, and will see this anti-trans rhetoric for what it truly is – an anti-human rights narrative that will not just stop at at removing rights for trans people like me, but will continue to chip away at other groups until we put a stop to it.
It’s not too late to take action – we just need to stand together, vote for parties that champion inclusion and human rights, and push for change in our communities, at work, and at home.
Like Green said, their views and values as an organisation that’s been campaigning for over 100 years come from a ‘strong democratic process’, and that they ‘are not afraid to tackle things that cause us or other people discomfort in an effort to inform and educate to move society forwards.’
All it takes is getting to know people as people, and listening to their experiences and stories without judgement. We all share so much, and that should be our focus, rather than what tells us apart.
More organisations need to take heed and stand against this wave of anti-trans rhetoric, and say it clearly and unequivocally that trans people could, should and must be made welcome if we want to move towards a safer, fairer and more free society for everyone.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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