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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022

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Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but I'm thinking about the trans rights debate.

How is asking women to give up their spaces for trans women different to how we asked white people to give up their segregated spaces to people of color back in the day?

  • -17

Your analogy does not really work at all. Racial segregation was not about providing white people with their own space; it was about excluding black people from otherwise public spaces, often because they were seen as polluting or unworthy in some way. Note also that early Jim Crow laws "classified Asian Americans, Native Americans, and all other people who were not Black—either explicitly or by default—as members of the 'white race.'"

In contrast, the purpose of women only "spaces" -- be they bathrooms or sports teams -- is to provide women with their own spaces. it is not about excluding a group deemed unworthy.

is to provide women with their own spaces. it is not about excluding a group deemed unworthy.

What is the difference between "Whites Only", and "Non-whites not welcome"? Or is there another distiction you are making here?

I think the idea meant to be is that women are inherently weaker and/or in some way less safe around men in a way that whites aren't comparatively to blacks. That the segregation is done for protection rather than... aesthetic? reasoning.

Liken it to boxing weight tiers, if you like. Segregate the heavyweights so they don't accidentally kill the featherweights.