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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   32824 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022

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Actually listening to a detransitioner will quickly disabuse you of any simplistic ideology-driven views (whether lefty or conservative)

Could you explain?

This is probably on the more obvious side, but if you come from a left-wing view, the existence of detransitioners is the first problem. Progressives are relying a lot on the idea that gender identity is immutable, and that affirmation is the best treatment, so someone regretting their decision is a punch to the gut from the get-go. Another thing is that over the years they painted a very rosy view of how rigorous the transition process is, while a common theme among detrans stories is they're being waved through straight to hormones, or even to surgeries, with no one being particularly interested in any other issues they might have.

On the other hand, if you're right wing, you'll quickly discover you can't use detrans people to score an easy win either. While there's a good deal of social contagion going on, some of these kids do feel a deep discomfort with their bodies, and are just choosing to live with it. So also right off the bat, if you want to dismiss dysphoria as a whole, you'll be in for a surprise. Another common theme in the detrans stories is that apparently 2010's feminists had a point, because a lot of the stuff they were complaining about back then, from representation in the media to sexual harassment, is what drove some of these girls to want to opt out of girlhood. Another thing is that despite all the rainbow flags, there does seem to be some background homophobia in society, to the point some people prefer to give it a shot to transition to be "straight" rather than just come out as gay. So if conservatives want to stop kids getting transed, they might need to take a look at how they approach these topics.

On the other hand, if you're right wing, you'll quickly discover you can't use detrans people to score an easy win either. While there's a good deal of social contagion going on, some of these kids do feel a deep discomfort with their bodies, and are just choosing to live with it. So also right off the bat, if you want to dismiss dysphoria as a whole, you'll be in for a surprise. Another common theme in the detrans stories is that apparently 2010's feminists had a point, because a lot of the stuff they were complaining about back then, from representation in the media to sexual harassment, is what drove some of these girls to want to opt out of girlhood. Another thing is that despite all the rainbow flags, there does seem to be some background homophobia in society, to the point some people prefer to give it a shot to transition to be "straight" rather than just come out as gay. So if conservatives want to stop kids getting transed, they might need to take a look at how they approach these topics.

So not exactly a refutation or weakness of the detransition thing, but more that it highlights uncomfortable questions? I can agree with that.

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