Transfeminism

Transfeminism, or trans feminism, is a branch of feminism focused on transgender women and informed by transgender studies.^[1] Transfeminism focuses on the effects of transmisogyny and patriarchy on trans women. It is related to the broader field of queer theory. The term was popularized by Emi Koyama (involved in the ISNA) in The Transfeminist Manifesto.

Transfeminism describes the concepts of gender nonconformity, notions of masculinity and femininity and the maintaining of sex and gender binary on trans men and women. Transfeminists view gender conformity as a control mechanism of patriarchy, which is maintained via violence against transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals as a basis of patriarchy.^[2]^[3]

Tactics of transfeminism emerged from groups such as The Transexual Menace (name from the Lavender Menace) in the 1990s,^[4] in response to exclusion of transgender people in Pride marches. The group organized in direct action, focusing on violence against transgender people, such as the murder and rape of Brandon Teena a trans man. The Transsexual Menace organized protests and sit ins against the medical and mental pathologization of trans people.^[5]

Trans people were generally excluded from first wave feminism as were lesbians and people considered "queer." Second wave feminism saw greater level of acceptance amongst some feminists, however "transsexuality" was heavily excluded, and described as an "illness,"^[6] even amongst feminists who supported gay liberation. Third and fourth wave feminism have generally been accepting of transgender people, and see trans liberation as an overall part of women's liberation.^[4]^[7]^[8]

In 2006, the first book on transfeminism, Trans/Forming Feminisms: Transfeminist Voices Speak Out edited by Krista Scott-Dixon, was published by Sumach Press. Transfeminism has also been defined more generally as "an approach to feminism that is informed by trans politics."^[9]

^ Erickson-Schroth, Laura, ed. (2014). Trans bodies, trans selves : a resource for the transgender community. [S.l.]: Oxford University Press. p. 620. ISBN 9780199325351.
^ Draper, Suzanne C.; Chapple, Reshawna (April 25, 2023). "Resistance as a Foundational Commons: Intersectionality, Transfeminism, and the Future of Critical Feminisms". Affilia. 38 (4): 585–596. doi:10.1177/08861099231165788. S2CID 258340922 – via CrossRef.
^ Hereth, Blake; Timpe, Kevin (September 4, 2019). The Lost Sheep in Philosophy of Religion: New Perspectives on Disability, Gender, Race, and Animals. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-66355-0 – via Google Books.
^ ^a ^b Enke, Finn (February 1, 2018). "Collective Memory and the Transfeminist 1970s: Toward a Less Plausible History". Transgender Studies Quarterly. 5 (1): 9–29. doi:10.1215/23289252-4291502.
^ Scott, Bonnie Kime; Cayleff, Susan E.; Donadey, Anne; Lara, Irene (May 24, 2016). Women in Culture: An Intersectional Anthology for Gender and Women's Studies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-119-12071-1 – via Google Books.
^ Raha, Nat (2017). "Transfeminine Brokenness, Radical Transfeminism". South Atlantic Quarterly. 116 (3): 632–646. doi:10.1215/00382876-3961754.
^ Ruth Pearce (2012). "Inadvertent Praxis: What Can "Genderfork" Tell Us about Trans Feminism?" (PDF). ISSN 1939-330X.
^ Mann, Susan Archer; Huffman, Douglas J. (January 22, 2005). "The Decentering of Second Wave Feminism and the Rise of the Third Wave". Science & Society. 69 (1): 56–91. doi:10.1521/siso.69.1.56.56799 – via CrossRef.
^ Scott-Dixon, Krista, ed. (2006). Trans/forming feminisms : trans/feminist voices speak out. Toronto: Sumach Press. ISBN 9781894549615. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009.

[1] Erickson-Schroth, Laura, ed. (2014). Trans bodies, trans selves : a resource for the transgender community. [S.l.]: Oxford University Press. p. 620. ISBN 9780199325351.

[2] Draper, Suzanne C.; Chapple, Reshawna (April 25, 2023). "Resistance as a Foundational Commons: Intersectionality, Transfeminism, and the Future of Critical Feminisms". Affilia. 38 (4): 585–596. doi:10.1177/08861099231165788. S2CID 258340922 – via CrossRef.

[3] Hereth, Blake; Timpe, Kevin (September 4, 2019). The Lost Sheep in Philosophy of Religion: New Perspectives on Disability, Gender, Race, and Animals. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-66355-0 – via Google Books.

[Enke-2018-4] Enke, Finn (February 1, 2018). "Collective Memory and the Transfeminist 1970s: Toward a Less Plausible History". Transgender Studies Quarterly. 5 (1): 9–29. doi:10.1215/23289252-4291502.

[5] Scott, Bonnie Kime; Cayleff, Susan E.; Donadey, Anne; Lara, Irene (May 24, 2016). Women in Culture: An Intersectional Anthology for Gender and Women's Studies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-119-12071-1 – via Google Books.

[6] Raha, Nat (2017). "Transfeminine Brokenness, Radical Transfeminism". South Atlantic Quarterly. 116 (3): 632–646. doi:10.1215/00382876-3961754.

[7] Ruth Pearce (2012). "Inadvertent Praxis: What Can "Genderfork" Tell Us about Trans Feminism?" (PDF). ISSN 1939-330X.

[8] Mann, Susan Archer; Huffman, Douglas J. (January 22, 2005). "The Decentering of Second Wave Feminism and the Rise of the Third Wave". Science & Society. 69 (1): 56–91. doi:10.1521/siso.69.1.56.56799 – via CrossRef.

[scott-dixon-9] Scott-Dixon, Krista, ed. (2006). Trans/forming feminisms : trans/feminist voices speak out. Toronto: Sumach Press. ISBN 9781894549615. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009.

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