Throwaway to avoid getting doxxed

I know there are probably arguments against centering biology in the discussion about trans people (and if you want to make these arguments to me please do, I'm all ears), but I have found that many transphobes are brought to reflection when told that transgender feelings have a congenital basis, like homosexuality. I have been testing this. Again, I realize this might be a flawed or wrongheaded approach and I am open to criticism.

Anyway, my issue is that, while I have read some research, I do not have a strong enough grasp of the field as a whole to be forceful with this rhetoric. If I start posting studies, I might end up cherrypicking a position that is open to strong criticism.

I realize the research itself is unsettled and many questions remain, but I just want enough to inspire doubt. I want people to doubt that their current understanding of trans people is correct.

This study published in nature found correlations in the parietal lobe that might be associated with perception of one's own body, but I do not feel comfortable posting studies anywhere until I feel more confident that I know what I am talking about.

*got rid of the word "transsexual"

  • throwaway_159246837 [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    What are your thoughts on this thread?

    I tend to agree with you, but on the other hand I'm the person who might be construed as "just asking questions" about who is allowed to identify as trans, because I centered biology by posting this thread

      • throwaway_159246837 [none/use name]
        ·
        2 years ago

        biology is definitely an easy answer, which I think is what led me to it.

        some vague mention of transphobic rhetoric

        Much of the transphobic rhetoric online posits that trans people are either delusional or have various strange motives. Many transphobes are christians who think trans people are an affront to god.

        A biological basis swats much of that aside, but it also potentially restricts socially acceptable expression of sexuality, like you mentioned, especially if the biological basis is one we claim to fully understand. We end up with an approved list of ways people can be, and it'll be a list reactionaries can attempt to modify.

        What do you think about the following middle ground approach: I point to some biological patterns that have been found and say "obviously at least some trans people were born this way and have no control over it" but then add "it'll be a long time before we fully understand all the biological factors that contribute, so maybe we should just let people live their lives how they want to as long as they are not hurting anyone. There aren't that many, and overwhelmingly they are not hurting anyone. Trans people have been around throughout human history, this is just part of the human condition."

          • throwaway_159246837 [none/use name]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Yeah, that is the idea. Instead of transmitting an entire worldview, I just want to prove that their current one cannot be correct. Based on feedback from this post, I'll also prioritize not setting anyone up for a truscummy, trans-medicalist view in the future.