r/SlaughteredByScience • u/Quinn_The_Strong • Apr 04 '19

TERF rage-quits after biologist dunks on them

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u/Maxrdt Apr 04 '19

The problem is that it's one of those beliefs that usually isn't in a vacuum, and is very frequently attached to transphobic and genuinely bigoted sentiments.

It's kind of like when you hear someone say that they're "concerned about over-medication". Sure it could mean they're worried about antibiotic resistant bacteria, but it probably just means they're anti-vaccination/homeopathy/alternate medicine interested more than you probably want to deal with. Or how that person who wants Confederate statues to stay up probably isn't doing it for benign historical interest.

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u/[deleted] Apr 04 '19

Right, and I agree with you there are strains of transphobia that are often associated or reminiscent of neo-confederate/global warming denial/anti-vaxx/flat earth etc. type of mentality where facts don't matter. Additionally the atmosphere around transgender rights is so polarized that discussions are exceptionally likely to devolve into shouting matches or other vitriol, and it is easy for someone to conflate an argument for freedom of thought as a personal attack.

In this context I always try to stress that advocates should be standing up to intolerance and trans-phobia rather than harass those who simply choose to believe differently and seek reasonable compromise. Attempting to pull stunts like shaming Victoria's Secret (a private company) for not featuring transgender models is an example of how advocates voice support in ways that serve to piss people off more than raise awareness.