TY - JOUR
T1 - TERFs aren’t feminists
T2 - lesbians stand against trans exclusion
AU - Rogers, Baker A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - In this article, I examine lesbians’ solidarity with trans people in the United States. Trans exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) are feminists who believe that there is a stark difference between the biological reality of sex and the socially constructed nature of gender. They argue that sex is essential and innate. This leads some feminists to the argument that trans people are trying to infiltrate sex exclusive spaces. While TERFs are not always lesbians, lesbians are assumed to make up a large proportion of TERFs. As Thomsen and Essig argue that current ideologies within the media are allowing for the slippage between the terms “lesbian,” “feminist,” and “TERFs.” Some scholars are suggesting that equating lesbian identities with transphobia and trans exclusion is but a new form of lesbian marginalization. I utilize 49 in-depth, qualitative interviews with lesbians across the United States to interrogate the stereotype that lesbians are largely TERFs. Through the voices of lesbians across the United States, I illustrate how many lesbians despise TERF ideology and argue that lesbians must stand in solidarity with trans people in the fight for social justice.
AB - In this article, I examine lesbians’ solidarity with trans people in the United States. Trans exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) are feminists who believe that there is a stark difference between the biological reality of sex and the socially constructed nature of gender. They argue that sex is essential and innate. This leads some feminists to the argument that trans people are trying to infiltrate sex exclusive spaces. While TERFs are not always lesbians, lesbians are assumed to make up a large proportion of TERFs. As Thomsen and Essig argue that current ideologies within the media are allowing for the slippage between the terms “lesbian,” “feminist,” and “TERFs.” Some scholars are suggesting that equating lesbian identities with transphobia and trans exclusion is but a new form of lesbian marginalization. I utilize 49 in-depth, qualitative interviews with lesbians across the United States to interrogate the stereotype that lesbians are largely TERFs. Through the voices of lesbians across the United States, I illustrate how many lesbians despise TERF ideology and argue that lesbians must stand in solidarity with trans people in the fight for social justice.
KW - LGBTQ+
KW - social justice
KW - solidarity
KW - Trans
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85170109189&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10894160.2023.2252286
DO - 10.1080/10894160.2023.2252286
M3 - Article
C2 - 37679960
AN - SCOPUS:85170109189
SN - 1089-4160
VL - 28
SP - 24
EP - 43
JO - Journal of Lesbian Studies
JF - Journal of Lesbian Studies
IS - 1
ER -