I see videos of Crowder types asking randos on the street to do it, and of course, they always stutter and stumble their way around what it is (if they're well intentioned - of course lots just say the usual man = penis and woman = vagina answer.)
Most of the people that get caught out are just well intentioned people whose philosophy on questions like this is 'who the fuck cares' (which is valid).
However, I'd rather not be caught out. Usually I try to immediately split it into sex Vs gender by just asking them to clarify - "what is a woman according to sex or what is a woman according to gender" and then I try to go from there.
What's a good line to trot out in answer to stuff like this? It would be nice if it could become almost a set phrase answer so it could catch on easily.
wait a minute, maybe im just a bimbo but did you change your pronouns 👀
I did! Ty for noticing it actually means a lot—posts by you and the hexbear transfemme folks in general have had a big impact on me as far as figuring it out. Still an ongoing process but I don't think I can really kid myself any longer about who I am
The sissy hypno is working :sicko-fem:
Fr tho I'm glad for you, hope you feel better about stuff soon 🤗
"Like any broad social category, a single definition is guaranteed to be both too vague and too precise. Why don't you start?"
They'll say something about vaginas or ovaries, and then they're immediately on the defensive. Point out the obvious gaps they don't feel comfortable facing - women with reproductive issues, XY women, women who have had an ovarectomy, etc. Eventually they'll get to something that either resembles a purely social category, and therefore includes trans women, or an extremely long and unwieldy biological category, which you can rightly point out doesn't provides any much useful information about the actual gender role or reflect the social elements of "womanhood" they actually care about. Basically, don't define woman. Force them to do it, whittle at their arguments, and finish by saying something like "the pursuit of definitions is a waste of time on situations like this/that has no moral or cultural value".
When arguing with a reactionary, never let them set the terms for the debate. Redirect the discussion instead of playing their games.
If that's the case then there's not even the pretense of a debate, tell them to lick your ass
I've often heard a response along the lines of "well my definition excludes anyone born with a penis. "
Options:
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"Why?" Again, put them on the defensive.
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"How will you implement that definition in practice? How will you determine who is a woman when it comes to access to space?" Address the practical horrors of the things they advocate for. It's either invasive genital tests and/or an intense system of government surveillance and documentation.
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tell them to go fuck themselves into a deep pit and never come out. the marketplace of ideas can suck my asshole.
Speaking as a trans woman, my answer is that gender is an imaginary concept that has no definition and only Satan's glorious mind can truly comprehend it. Alternative answer: a woman is the friends we made along the way.
“A featherless biped” and then you shit in your hand and toss it at them
Edit: Actually, I had an edgelord acquaintance ask me this at a DND gathering I no longer play with and tbh my answer was, “someone who identifies as a woman”. Of course, he was instantly like, “Well what if I told you I identify as a woman? What would you say then?” and I told him that quoting Matt Walsh would be a very sad way to tell someone you’re trans.
I think if I could do it over, I’d just ask for his pronouns and try to convince my friends to be overly welcoming about his “gender exploration”.
You don't argue with people when they try to argue like this, you "Yes, and" them with kindness.
If it is asked in good faith, I would probably talk about how definitions aren't that useful when it comes to stuff like that, then say maybe something about gender/sex as an abstraction.
If it is asked in bad faith, I would just make fun of the person asking the question, it's a pretty silly thing to ask so it should be pretty easy.
Mine is "a woman is anybody who understands themselves as one". It rules out bad faith actors who go "oh well i'm a woman now :very-intelligent: " and it works better to describe my experience than "feeling like a woman" or "identifying as a woman" or anything like that.
This stuff is hard to package in single sentences. There's always so much going on, this trans stuff really cracks the entire gender thing open and you can see all the parts laying there, and it's a ton of parts, and all of them are moving and interlock. It's really no surprise chuds are so scared of trans folks, just us going about our day can wreck a hundred things they took for granted.
"Anyone who identifies as one in good faith. Now question for you, why is it always 'what is a woman' and never 'what is a man'?"
the definition is on that wall, right behind you, please turn around and read it :xi-gun:
What is a woman?
A woman is something that dries up around you.
Depending on context but
someone who won’t fuck you
Might be good if they’re harassing you. You could also lure them into inane details and tangents so they don’t get to harass others but you might suffer psychic damage and end up on a YouTube video. These people tend to be trained or have experience dealing with hecklers.
