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Challenging Monosexism & Cissexism within Women's Studies

"women in general" is a code phrase for exclusion

Forum: WMST-L
Date: 04/16/2008

On Apr 16, 2008, at 9:37 AM, M. Breschard @ 52 Women wrote:

I've rarely, if ever, heard anyone argue for greater inclusion of trans/bi concerns in these forums that was not arguing on the basis of pure self-interest.

Ah, it's unfortunate that the monosexual, cisgendered majority is so silent about resisting and uprooting their unearned privileges, isn't it?

I would argue that the discussion of trans and bi issues is somewhat disproportionately over-represented in women's studies arenas

Could it be because bi and trans people face disproportionately large obstacles in the society, that addressing these issues has become important for feminism?

On Apr 16, 2008, at 7:04 PM, M. Breschard @ 52 Women wrote:

So the question still stands: Can someone argue on the basis of numbers how women in general benefit from a widening of the area of trans/bi study and how WS will be helped in both enrollment and budget by further expanse in this area.

Your construction of "women in general" seems to exclude bi and trans women, even as you state that you are all for "inclusion." And of course challenging monosexism and cissexism benefits "women in general," however construed, much as challenging sexism ultimately benefits men as well as women (and others).

However, I believe for the sake of transparency and complete forthrightness that Jessica should have volunteered to all in her last email that she is a founder of the NWSA Bi/Trans Interest Group and participated in the discussions on the NWSA forum and asked Leni (on the discussion board) to post here. She's not simply responding to Leni's inquiry as I was but is part of the interest group behind Leni's email.

Full disclosure: Like Jessica, I am also one of the founding members of the NWSA Bi/Trans Interest Area Group, or at least I was there when we discussed forming it. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Caution: contents may be hot. Your mileage may vary. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. I'm Emi Koyama and I approve this message.

Seriously, let members (and potential members) of the Bi/Trans group discuss what they want to see happen, and then when there's an actual proposal, we'll have the opportunity to talk about various competing priorities and cost-benefit analysis among the community at large.

Emi Koyama
http://eminism.org/ * Putting the Emi back in Feminism since 1975.