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Transandrophobic Fundamentals and the Intersections of Trans Masc Marginalization:

THIS IS A L O N G POST. I'm mobile-only, apologies in advance for the near-novel.

Tw for discussion of systematic racist violence, medical abuse, and genocide. All forms of transphobia (and exorsexism, ceterophobia), TERF/TIRF shit, Baeddelism, and other radfem nonsense. Sexual violence, intersexism, gender essentialism and bioessentialism, lateral violence, transmedicalism, fatphobia, lesbophobia, suicide

First of all, none of what is about to be said is to generalize or accuse trans fems of being a monolithic source of this issue, they are indeed mentioned here in great capacity, which I regret to inform you all is the result of many trans fems being just as capable of lateral violence as other trans people. Cis people are always the source of the oppression, and trans fems do not possess systemic power to oppress other trans people. Do not accuse me of claiming so. HOWEVER, other trans people don't have that power either and we're all capable of lateral violence. I am not claiming trans mascs have it "Worse". I don't do trauma Olympics. The fact I must make this disclaimer says a lot about itself.

This essay tends to center on trans mascs with uteri or who are "AFAB", but it should be noted from the beginning that not all trans mascs have uteri and not all trans mascs are "AFAB", furthermore people who don't identify as trans masc but are otherwise GNC or trans can have transandrophobia weaponized against them by confused assailants.

Keywords, terminology, and definitions for the unfamiliar or for secondary English speakers:

Trans Masc/Trans Masculine: a transgender person of a masculine alignment, including but not limited to trans men.

Trans Fem/Trans Feminine: a transgender person of a feminine alignment, including but not limited to trans women.

AGAB/AFAB/AMAB- assigned gender at birth, assigned [female] at birth, assigned [male] at birth.

TERF- Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists

TIRF- Trans Inclusive Radical Feminists

Radfem- Radical Feminists, a political cult known for perpetuating the idea that all men are inherently abusive or immoral.

Transmisogyny- discrimination or bigotry directed at people perceived to be trans fem.

Transandrophobia - discrimination or bigotry directed at people perceived to be trans masc. (Some use transmisandry, transandromisia, or virilmisia, though I default to transandrophobia)

Exorsexism - discrimination or bigotry directed at people of a Nonbinary or abinary gender, or people assumed to identify as such.

Ceterophobia- discrimination or bigotry directed at people who possess multiple or "contradictory" gender identities.

Intersexism- discrimination or bigotry directed at intersex people or people perceived to be intersex.

Lateral violence- violence committed by one oppressed person onto another, not to be mistaken for oppression itself. This includes social violence.

White femininity- the historical oppression or marginalization of masculine POC (predominantly black men and black masculine presenting people) at the hands of white fems. This idea hinges on "protecting the innocent and feminine whites" from the "degenerate and hypermasculine people of color".

White Supremacy in Transandrophobic Context, Sex Based Colonialism, Forced Sterilization, Forced Childbirth, and other Reproductive Hate Crimes

Racism, white supremacy, eugenics, and the relation of this to the systemic policing of trans mascs with uteri is a material concern. I want to highlight this Front And Center as a primer to this topic before we even begin, as I see this is one of the most deeply ingrained issues at hand, yet these material problems are being swept under the rug by many.

Trans mascs of color are far too often coercively or forcefully sterilized even if they WANT to bear children, meanwhile white trans mascs are encouraged (or forced) to detransition and make more white babies, no matter how much they may not want to. This ties into "white genocide" conservative racism and the belief that POC are too populous. There is a conservative belief that the existence of trans mascs "steals and ruins their white women" while trans mascs of color are perceived as predators/dangerous and are viewed as luring the "precious white women" into trans masculinity and deviance, because they're often perceived as being adjacent to lesbian women of color regardless of how they may identify. This also lends further to this "predatory" stereotype because the observing bigot projects assumptions about trans masculine sexuality and behavior through a racialized lense (in most cases trans mascs of color are more highly infantilized and oversexualized than white trans mascs).

White trans mascs are centered as "needing to be saved" from transness until we're not compliant enough or act too "aggressive", meanwhile trans mascs of color are subject to disproportionately direct violence compared to their white trans masc peers no matter what they do, and are twice as likely to be completely erased from any platform for being POC and for being aligned with men. This is not "white boys whining bc they're not the center of attention". It's mascs of color begging to be heard as all trans mascs including (and especially) them are sidelined, then secondarily it's white trans mascs standing with our brothers and siblings who get the blunt end of the stick.

Forced reproductive abuse of trans mascs is materially and systematically enforced. There is undeniable refusal of transitional care, abortions, and related healthcare needs on the basis of "protecting" our ability to reproduce, and there are equally undeniable cases of forced sterilization (especially for POC, disabled, and intersex people, at a particularly high rate this applies to trans mascs with uteri and cis women). Trans mascs are forced to give birth without consent when we don't want to, tokophobia is forcefully repressed or "cured", or alternatively we are denied the right to give birth if we DO want to while presenting as men, on the basis of being considered "unfit" for Parenthood in our deviation. Male pregnancy is considered repulsive. These facets coexist and are unequivocally affected by how we as trans masculine people are perceived racially and in our gender within medical and legal environments, and how that affects the pathology of cisnormative and white gaze on trans mascs.

Americentrism, eurocentrism and westernized perspective also cuts out vast swaths of the intersection of colonialism, class, ethnicity, and nationality with trans masculine identity. (This includes but is not limited to: Erasure of trans mascs in ""undeveloped"" countries*, as well as erasure of trans mascs who live in fascist, authoritarian, theocratic, explicitly and violently transphobic nations, alongside the erasure of nationally displaced or refugee trans mascs, and similar intersecting results of our oppression- you get it. If you don't you're beyond me.)

*I say undeveloped very loosely and sarcastically as these nations are being ROBBED by global superpowers and I recognize the diminutive and condescending tone in the usual use of the phrase.

White Femininity and Transandrophobia

Weaponization of femininity, shielding fems from accountability, and normalization of fem abusers is pervasive in feminist spaces. Particularly this applies to the weaponization of white femininity against trans mascs of color (and let's be real, cis men of color too.), including white trans fems against trans mascs of color, they are not immune to racism nor from weaponizing their status as white women or white people aligned with femininity. Especially when directed against people perceived as "scary hypermasculine people of color". Even if they're trans women/fems they are abusing their white privilege and calling back to terribly familiar history (Emmett Till for an obvious example) when they speak over trans mascs of color about the intersection of their gender and race and paint them as evil predatory bastards for the slightest infraction.

Black trans mascs are seen as dangerous, as are all other non-white ethnicities such as Latine, Indigenous, Arab, south and east Asian, and far more. Asian trans mascs in general, especially east Asian trans mascs, are infantilized and sexualized possibly more than any particular niche of trans mascs if we're honest though this isn't quantifiable, and that's saying something because we are all sexualized to different degrees through various racialized lenses. You cannot assume based on the white privilege of trans mascs such as myself that no other trans mascs experience intersections of racism and transandrophobia. All POC experience racialized oppression that intersects with all other oppressed status that applies to them whether this be orientation, gender, disability, or beyond. To acknowledge this we must also elevate trans mascs of color more than we have in recent times and acknowledge the existence of a specific term to refer to the oppression directed at projections of what white colonial cisnorm assumes us to be as trans masculine people. Transandrophobia, transmisandry, virilmisia, transandromisia? I don't care what we end up using most often in the language of this discussion. I care about trans masc people being listened to for once. I care about material action and solidarity.

Hilariously to the contrary I've seen people reverse this and attempt to say that trans mascs are "weaponizing white womanhood" (verbatim quote, pictured below.) yet don't recognize how hypocritical it is to indirectly misgender us without our consent in the same breath that they imply we have "male privilege". Trans mascs of color led this conversation, and white trans mascs are coming in with them because we stand together. Get it right.

Many people speaking on this aren't trans masc at all, which immediately nullifies their input on the matter frankly, ESPECIALLY cis "allies" who are turning on us in the name of radfem parroting. Stop speaking over and witch hunting us for using our voices on ourselves, especially considering many of us have repressed all agency and self advocacy because of this culture of misinformed dogma that encourages trans mascs to self destruct and overextend for our peers.

Transmedicalist Lateral Violence

Transmedicalism is also deeply transandrophobic in nature due to the proportional capacity at which it permeates our space, many trans mascs commit lateral violence against one another through this, and they're not off the hook. Other trans mascs can call out our own when they're being abusive and show internalized transandrophobia. Transmedicalist trans mascs are often guilty of harassing and abusing other trans mascs that they decide aren't valid enough as a toxic and addictive means to feed their self validation and "cope" with dysphoria. They treat "tucutes" like me as if we're just women stealing their shit, and this is transandrophobia too.

The root of this sideways boxing sits firmly within the confines of cisnormativity, and is the result of these individuals weaponizing their own internalized transphobia and self-loathing. They want to be cis men so badly they actively throw their fellow trans men and mascs under the bus without a second thought. They actively pathologize the transgender experience and view it through a lense distorted by the cisnormativity, ableism, and sanism surrounding the academic discussion of gender dysphoria. They believe being trans must be a result of mental illness, which is as good as taking a gun, shooting themselves in the foot, then turning the gun on their peers to blame us for the injury.

An Abridged Introduction to TERF Leakage, Baeddelism, TIRFism, and Radfem Dogwhistles

Firstly, Baeddels and TIRFS are not identical in ideology, but the two overlap heavily in how they behave and use conjecture. Most of the (predominantly white to my knowledge and experience) trans women that happen to be involved with the use of these concepts being rebranded and introduced to queer spaces covertly are either baeddels themselves, or hang around them and absorb their ideas (if you don't know what the baeddel community is, you should. Baeddel.txt is an archive blog that stores baeddel posts to prove they're still a surprisingly active political cult within the trans community, and Nothorses has several very comprehensive and informative breakdowns of this movement specifically from start to present).

The involvement of many radfem lesbian separatists both cis and trans, TERF and TIRF- can't go unnoticed. This is lateral violence. This is punching sideways and then acting surprised when you get hit back with sharp criticism and refusal to fold.

Baeddelism/TIRFism and TERFism, all of this "Gender traitor" radfem rhetoric– places all manhood or alignment adjacent to it as inherently "unethical" and claims that gender is a conscious choice, therefore that all trans mascs are making an unethical and immoral "choice" to be men. "Trans men have male privilege" rhetoric ignores that the majority of young trans mascs especially are non passing, and may not want to pass in the first place. People will have "TERFs DNI" in their bio then literally rehash their ideas almost word for word. It's performatism without critical engagement.

Examples of Baeddel arguments and concepts will be in the notes of the post, there are too many photos to attach in one go to the original through mobile, so I'll leave them in there for education's sake. As mentioned, more can be found on @baeddel.txt's archive blog, and a deconstruction of their beliefs can be found on @Nothorses blog.

De-trans sockpuppet TERF/TIRF accounts that pretend to be "ex trans men", spread false information and propaganda. They target trans mascs with harassment and psyop tactics (misinformation about binding, phalloplasty, testosterone, top surgery, and far more) to "save us" and this isn't harmless to us. No RF harassment is fucking harmless. This is killing us. Look at the trans masc suicide rates, then also remember how many trans mascs we know aren't counted. Pull your heads out of your asses and look at the material reality of what we are living with.

Trauma from men is weaponized to deflect accountability for abusing others by fems both cis and trans. However I also WILL point out just as readily and firmly that baeddels specifically abuse and target all trans people who disagree with them or aren't yet among them with different intentions, as well as anyone who is cis including other queer and MOGAI people, and many are openly racist. These groups lack any capacity to advocate for anyone but themselves unless they leave these ideologies. They actively seek to harm and divide other queer, trans, and otherwise MOGAI people, particularly through indoctrination, isolation, and exploitation of their trans fem peers, as well as subjugation and manipulative coercion of anyone else near them. Topped off with very prominent invalidation and hate speech directed at trans mascs and many nonbinary or abinary people. All in the name of their trauma as well as their extreme, distorted, and restrictive views.

It's also necessary to acknowledge that the word baeddel itself was a slur directed predominantly at the existence of intersex people that would also sometimes be thrown at others deemed too androgynous, but this group has taken to claiming it belongs to trans women and fems alone. This is historically incorrect and is perforated misinformation, that is to say– it's full of holes.

Former baeddels who were groomed or coerced into the baeddel scene in Portland were brutally abused by their own comrades in many cases and have attested to this. Trans mascs brought under the group also found themselves guilted into positions that allowed the trans fems of the group to push them around, including but not limited to: forcing trans mascs in the group to work and do chores exclusively as apology for their "male privilege", sexual abuse, and psychological abuse in the form of convincing these trans mascs their only worth is in being subservient to fems.

I have personally been friends with a self declared baeddel (who shall remain unnamed) before I knew what the group believes, and she abused the power she found in how I respected her as a trans person several years my senior. She spoke over trans mascs of color regularly in my discord server and attempted to force me to kick or deplatform my indigenous trans masculine mod for calling her out on it because to her transmisogyny is more critical and important than racism or anything else in the world and he shouldn't have spoken over her– even though she spoke over him about his race. This white British woman spouted many varieties of exclusionary dogma and would perform anti-racism while actively being racist to her peers. She personally harassed me and dogpiled her friends into my DMs for questioning my identity and wondering if I may identify as a trans masc lesbian. I don't, that was incorrect and doesn't fit me, but she and her little cult of personality had no right to police me or compromise my mental health and tell me "kill yourself lesbophobe/die transmisogynist" the second I "stepped out of line". Trans masc lesbians are real. Get over it, maybe.

Out of respect I won't be relaying the explicit details of what the survivors in the case of the Portland baeddel group faced, only the truth that there were many cases of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse involved. The information is there, I assure you it's not that cryptic to find just because it doesn't present itself openly and it's not my job to spoon feed anyone citations as this is meant to be centered on the issue of transandrophobia, not the history of Baeddelism. Like I mentioned, Nothorses has a comprehensive series of posts about the movement, seek those.

Dogma and misinformation among other queer people is leveraged against trans mascs, and this has become almost completely normalized in certain spaces, in this case particularly it's usually along the lines of "listen to trans women and fems, even if they're speaking over you about your oppression, trauma, psychology, identity, and experiences that don't have anything to do with them directly while claiming all trans fems agree with them. Make yourselves small, demure, and diminutive or else you're a transmisogynist." [Baeddel primer that I myself dealt with from my aforementioned "friend". This is intended to erode one's boundaries, forming a significantly higher pressure to never disagree with any trans fem EVER.]

Or the idea that "trans men and mascs being lesbians or dating lesbians is lesbophobic/transphobic inherently even if both parties are enthusiastic and willingly consenting to the relationship." [Denial of self determination and autonomy of others, entitlement of identity, thinking somehow your consent and approval is needed for two other people to be in a healthy relationship. Ironically the people who say these dogmatic things are acting out exactly what they accuse radical inclusionists of, internalized and/or outwardly projected lesbophobia and transphobia, as well as direct disrespect to queer elders and predecessors.] This idea is not unlike the idea that the use of "queer" as an identity is "inherently" bad, even when the subject claims it and consents to it, this is an example of the radfem connection, as radfems are the origin of the vitriol flung at the reclamation of queer, as well as the origin of lesbian separatist movements that contribute to the same problems. We'll return to this issue shortly down the line.

"MLM trans men are homophobic because they want to force cis gay men to be attracted to vaginas." OR "Trans mascs are just fujoshi yaoi freaks who want attention- everyone point and laugh at the Aidens." Are also examples of rhetoric that can't go unacknowledged.

There's even the demonization of testosterone and the generalized idea that "T is poison", as well as "forcedfem" jokes thrown around carelessly despite being radfem in origin. [Then defended as a "coping mechanism" (toxic coping mechanisms exist) even when trans mascs clearly state discomfort with this mentality or feel reasonably and deeply threatened by it as an affront to who we are, and an attack on what so many of us suffer to have access to. If we started saying estrogen is poison we'd be crucified, and considering E can be DIY'd legally and T can't, the double standards are tangible, but we're told to swallow our discomfort. This self-righteous justification of bigotry against one's peers is NOT it.]

This is what trans mascs get to see our own community saying about us. We can't even look in our own tags without this shit. Why is it okay when it's us? Why are we suddenly being shoved out like we're not even trans people? Why are we only acceptable when submissive and passive?

Why is it this position takes the word of the trans mascs who deny transandrophobia, but who are also quite clearly vulnerable to fawning out of fear of retaliation if they don't loudly deny its existence? Those of you denying transandrophobia are holding a figurative gun to all of our heads and telling us that the ones who respond with self defense are inherently bad, while those who fawn to the duress and pressure that deny transandrophobia are justification for the aggression. Look at how we're treated recently and really tell me we're all supposed to feel safe to speak honestly and sincerely without clouded judgement and self-blame, without unfair retaliation and harassment. I will not allow the voices of some to be tokenized to silence the rest of us. Point the gun at the system, not the people on your side.

Cis Gaze, Intersex and Nonbinary Trans Masc Erasure, Logical Fallacies, and Radfem Dogma with Respect to Transandrophobia

Now let's circle back to cisnormativity and cis people, who are the reason for it all and the ultimate antithesis of our goals as a cohesive and inclusive community moving forward. Fetishization at the hands of the cis is yet another prominent and undeniable form of transandrophobia. Such as; "You're not like Other Men" AKA distancing trans men from "real manhood" and deriving gratification from that without consent, or "cuntboy" porn made for cis gaze, among other things. "Corrective" sexual assault is among the more likely hate crimes that trans mascs will experience, and is a leading cause of suicide.

Non "passing" trans mascs are also often subject to the "manic pixie dream girl" treatment in the eyes of many cis people (predominantly men). We can be perceived as a quirky "weird girl" to latch onto with unhealthy expectations that we educate them, better them, extend ourselves to them and receive little in return. Cis people will lure us into relationships then abandon us when we start taking T or cut our tits off (or want to top a man). They don't take us seriously. They see us as tomboys until it's more than pronouns and a name.

Intersexism and the erasure of the experiences of intersex trans mascs is also a particularly obvious and glaringly overlooked issue with the reactionaries that attempt to delegitimize the need for this discussion. The legal gatekeeping of testosterone as a controlled substance, dick shaming, bald shaming, shaming of other intersex features, forced feminization, and much much more tie directly to transandrophobia specifically. (particularly and especially toward intersex trans masc people who are forcibly AFAB)

"AMAB" trans mascs (both intersex and dyadic) are also being erased, left out, intentionally attacked and excluded, or accused of being chasers/predators collectively, the same happens to anything close to self identified nonbinary men regardless of AGAB (if one applies. Some, especially intersex people, do not claim an AGAB). "AFAB" nonbinary women exist and nobody within the community bats an eye (except for open baeddels, binarists, and transmeds to be fair), but when an "AMAB" nonbinary man does it?

This is considered unacceptable beyond belief to many, even to supposedly "anti radfem" people bc "man bad always scary never good" is somehow able to exist in their biases while they pretend to be against radfems performatively without understanding how they operate on the same loathing of men and masculinity, the same assumption of predation. Somehow the closer you get on the spectrum to manhood the more radfems think you aren't allowed to exist, the difference is TIRFs and TERFs have very different perceptions of who counts as that masculine threat. This denial of individual self identification for an entire demographic is in direct antithetical contrast to the concepts behind trans liberation.

Logical fallacies are also often being parroted by masses to silence trans mascs, I don't think I need to explain how beyond showing these graphics.

Bad faith reactivity, cult mentality, and witch hunts are directed at trans mascs disproportionately for speaking up or dissenting with popular opinion, trans mascs are also often demonized, unduly cancelled for life, and not given room to grow as people in general, even literal kids and teens. Trans mascs are seen as a monolith and an inherent potential threat, and this is somehow acceptable. Trans mascs can't even have a bad fucking haircut without everyone in proximity taking the piss out of them without consent or familiarity. Transandrophobia is connected in these contexts to the idea of parasociality. There's a disturbingly parasocial element to the way this presumptuous terminally online bigotry manifests, and it's yet another way for people to distance themselves from the way they abuse others with anonymity. (Such as the uproar of transandrophobic harassment hurled at Elliot Page)

The Myth of Trans "Male Privilege"

Infantilization, sexism, sanism, and ableism are prominent features of transandrophobia no matter which direction it's being hurled from. The idea that we're too "stupid" or "confused" or "naive" to "understand or speak for ourselves", as well as the perception of us as weak and frail, neurotic, hysterical, delusional "women." While on the other hand we're simultaneously perceived as "devious, predatory, deceptively manly unwomen who want scary ugly testosterone, nothing but ruined baby ovens who can't be controlled." Or to add insult to injury sometimes they throw us a bone, then promptly beat us with it in the form of the "failed man" treatment. Too weak, too effeminate, too expressive, too [insert thing that is unrelated to sex and gender]. Both by cis people AND many of our peers.

The stress of constant misgendering, as well as general lack of authority and agency over our own selves and lives often makes the symptoms of disability we possess even worse, which is why the intersection of disability is so important. Experiencing bigotry worsens one's condition, trans mascs are already at high risk for suicide. Disability on top of what we experience in our identity is often the final straw, and I know more disabled trans mascs than not. Many also report medical abuse as a direct result of their identity, not just their disability. This doesn't only come from doctors, but from their family "taking away" their medication, such as testosterone or prescribed steroids, or any meds they feel are making the trans masc subject too masculine and aggressive, or taking away their meds regardless of what they're for to "punish" them. This also includes spousal or domestic abuse that manifests itself in a similar way. This hatred for the idea of the subject virilizing or appearing "manly" takes precedence over needs and safety. Alternatively many are also equally forced into new medications they do not want, and many intersex people are forcibly administered estrogen, even covertly without their knowledge or consent. This all ties back into compulsive/coercive femininity, which we'll return to shortly.

Let's have a closer look at fatphobia and conventional body standards, shaming and erasure of fat trans mascs or trans mascs with "curves" or big breasts that get them clocked as trans. It's the refusal for many to draw us with breasts or fat in art, it's the shaming of wide hipped, big thighed, pouchy bellied, or double chinned trans masculine people. Fat trans mascs receive harassment and are frequently told they'll "never pass" unless they lose weight. Trans mascs disproportionately experience disordered eating and are often targets for pro-ana transphobes. This demographic that struggles more than many of us to try to "pass" is given so much extra grief for existing. Fat or large chested trans mascs often can't even access comfortable and safe binders in their size, which is tied deeply to this distortion of trans masculinity that seems to assume trans mascs are all AFAB dyadic A-B cups with waifish, petit, distinctly white bodies.

Denial and erosion of personal boundaries for trans mascs is yet another form of transandrophobia that has become so widespread it's unbelievable. Entire waves of trans mascs have been indoctrinated into this unhealthy and miserable rejection of sincere self advocacy because we're so frequently silenced that a majority just fawn compulsively out of fear. Many aren't even aware of this yet, they truly believe this shit and are internalizing all of this toxicity toward their own identities, especially the teens. They uncritically tokenize themselves vehemently for approval under standards that originate in radfem circles and are sold as progessive. Older peers can also in certain cases manipulate the youth and young adults of our community who are seeking validation through performing "good behavior" very easily.

There's heavy pressure to endanger and minimize ourselves for fems in order to be acceptable, what one might call transchivalry out of spite for all that Baeddelism and TIRFism stand for (I'm only half joking tbh). The idea of "trans male privilege" (TIRFs and Baeddels share this one) or "CAFAB/AFAB privilege" (Baeddel specific dogwhistle) for trans men and/or nonbinary mascs (as well as many transneutral/abinary people based on assumptions) often leads to this mindset, propping us up as obligate protectors of our peers meant to throw ourselves under the bus because "only women and fems experience REAL oppression." (Which is inherently racist in how it erases any person of color that isn't a woman or fem from the discussion). Meanwhile the very same ideology denies us our right to authentic self advocacy no matter the material conditions of our lives. If we're too loud, we get shot down. A large portion of us struggle to transition even if we want to and could "theoretically" access it, because of where we live, or because we live with an abuser. Social transition is denied to many no matter how far they've transitioned medically (if they have at all). Male privilege for trans mascs is a myth. Male privilege for ANY trans person is a myth.

Compulsory/coerced femininity is a common impact on trans men and mascs who are most comfortable with strict masculinity for their own preference or safety. This is often falsely assumed to be "toxic masculinity" no matter the context and they can then be passively or actively pressured to trigger their dysphoria. This is a distortion of autonomy. Men and mascs who aren't GNC enough for TIRF liking are shamed openly for this as if it's a "joke" that they're deeply uncomfortable and dysphoric about it, and then those who act this way have the audacity to act like they're "teaching" us something. Many people falsely associate all strictly masculine trans mascs with transmedicalism in many cases as well. Strictly masc presenting trans mascs aren't a monolithic army of Kalvin Garrahs. Many trans mascs who need binders have theirs (and other masculine "paraphernalia") confiscated by parents who think that it can't be done safely or as an outright bigoted punishment. (I experienced that one myself). For many the agency to be strictly masculine is empowering. There's nothing wrong with men and masc aligned people being femme or masc either one in their expression. Self determination of identity and comfortable presentation is essential for trans liberation.

The Tightened Leash on Trans Masc Advocacy and the Regressive Separation of the Lesbian and Trans Masc Communities

We are often in majority rejected or alienated from other queer men's spaces because of cis men while also pushed out of spaces for "non-men", even if we're multi-gender or nonbinary as well. We can then be accused of being exclusionary or transmisogynist if we form our own trans masc only spaces, blatant hypocrisy and prejudice. If it goes one way and people can choose to have spaces without us then naturally we will form our own. If you want to have those spaces then fine, knock yourself out, but the hypocrisy of those who complain about trans mascs forming a community centered on ourselves is tangible when some of y'all make it clear you won't advocate for us. We're not even supposed to do it ourselves. The fact that many trans mascs are also highly likely to fear, avoid, or feel uncomfortable with cis men is ignored, the fact most of us also have trauma from cis men is erased, and we are left in the dust in these scenarios where we are seeking support and safety, often in crisis.

Lesbophobia and transandrophobia is an overlapping Venn diagram that impacts the identity of trans men, trans mascs, and many lesbians (especially butch lesbians) in a mobius loop of feedback, this also overlaps and can reach out to affect other trans people who are perceived as one of us. These problems overlap and feed one another from the rooted fear of perceived "women" (in cisnormative gaze) taking cis men's roles in expression of sexuality and entering their gendered spaces. Both lesbians and trans mascs deviate from bioessentialist cishetnorm expectation while predominantly perceived as "women who don't know their place in sex and reproduction". As a result many people's identity falls along more than one of these on the axis. This is why lesbian trans mascs, butch trans men, and similar blurred labels between the two demographics exist. Trans women can be lesbians, trans men can be lesbians, and nonbinary or abinary people can be lesbians. Butt out.

All of this relates back to antimasculism as a whole. There's this idea that Trans men and mascs can't have healthy relationships with lesbians, which is just nonsensical if you look at it materially. These communities have always overlapped and shared many experiences and a sense of understanding and connection. These people exist, and if they're in happy and healthy relationships, fuck off and mind your business. Nobody is saying YOU have to date anybody. Funny how we have to tell y'all the same thing we tell transmisogynist TERF lesbians about trans women and fems.

These people don't need YOUR consent to exist and love one another. I as a trans man am not comfortable dating lesbians at this point in my identification and understanding of myself, but I don't shame my peers if they're comfortable with this and feel they're not being misgendered or mistreated, and I don't appreciate the narrative of either community being framed as inherently predatory to one another. This is counterproductive and regressive division between communities that have always shown up for each other. If a lesbian consentually wants to fuck or date a man (trans or cis) it's literally nobody's business. Keep that gold star shit to yourself. Action isn't identity and mspec lesbians, he/him lesbians, or any form of trans lesbians, aren't going to go away because someone else said they have to. Trans men who don't identify as lesbians are ALSO still allowed to date lesbians if everyone involved is comfortable, it is not that difficult. Both lesbians and trans mascs are Capable of predation, but both are also demonized from this exaggerated predatory angle and have always had strong ties that shouldn't be severed. To claim these relationships are invalid is disrespectful as fuck to so many of our elders. You can't intellectualize material reality away because you're uncomfortable about it. You have absolutely no say in a relationship that doesn't involve you when it exists harmlessly and in good faith.

It should always be kept in mind that transmisogyny, transandrophobia, exorsexism, ceterophobia, homophobia, biphobia, panphobia, aphobia, racism, fatphobia, ableism, classism, and all forms of systematic oppression always have and always will overlap and feed into one another in a web far more complicated than verbal dialectical theory can easily summarize. No matter how much one wants to falsely simplify the matter. This is supposed to be the point of intersectionality, it's meant to have nuance with room for subjectivity, overlap, and comorbidity of oppression from all directions. Yet it's being performatively misdirected by people who still retain exclusionary biases. No discourse is ever strictly in black and white and too many attempt to condense the issues beyond the reality with no conception of nuance for perspectives outside their own.

Historical/Academic Erasure and Etymological Gatekeeping

Trans mascs are more often than not in historical records forcibly labeled "just tomboys playing dress up", or "just queer women", because cis women feeling represented is considered priority over trans masc representation. This girlbossification is transandrophobic propaganda, because if perceived "women" can become "men", the cis patriarchy is fundamentally destroyed. The erasure of trans masc history is prevalent in the way many frame them as mere "women in disguise for opportunities" or "empowered women", no matter how much they had insisted on self identification with manhood or masculinity in a way that precedes contemporary ideas of trans masculinity. Some of these figures were genuinely GNC women, and that's beautiful- but trans men and "AFAB" trans people of all kinds need representation too. Posthumous deadnaming, misgendering, and interpretation of these undeniably trans masc or ambiguous figures as always binary women is social violence and erasure.

Figures and historical icons like Dr. James Barry, Billy Tipton, Joan of Arc, Christina of Sweden, Julie D'Aubigny and Gentlemen Jack/Anne Lister are pushed into binary womanhood posthumously by many in a consistent and overt insistence on them being cis GNC, instead of understanding that if they'd had today's language many would have very likely identified aligned with trans masculinity (or otherwise not cis)- this also applies to the strong precedent of the figures among AFAB Kemetic/Egyptian pharaohs that are typically assumed to be "women" under colonial cis gaze even if they blurred the gender binary openly and undeniably. We can't soundly say whether they identified one way or the other, but the erasure of the potential for trans masculinity is violent, and there is high potential seen in evidence of how some pharaohs assigned female at birth presented themselves in art as between genders or particularly masculine, and how they expressed their Kemetic religious beliefs in relation to gender (Hatshepsut is the strongest example that comes to mind). Many assume this was "purely political, to quell people's dissent about the presence of a "female" ruler in a misogynistic society."

It should also be taken into account that the way some dismiss this as "merely religious expression of the Pharoah's connection to divinity" are immediately framing this from an outside perspective by implying that the Hatshepsut didn't truly believe their religion. If they believed themself to be a divine manifestation of a male god and distinctly portrayed themself as masculine in most idols, there is inherent implication of a precedent to trans masculinity underlying. To dismiss this is to dismiss the subject's Kemetic beliefs as well, which is a narrow minded erasure of how very Real this belief was to the subject. It's condescending toward the religion, and it erases trans masculine precedent. Hatshepsut seemed to have used feminine verbal reference/pronouns in sources I've seen but this isn't equivalent to a cisgender identity and could also be a contemporary outsider projection to some degree. Not all "female" Pharoahs chose to portray themselves this gender nonconforming way.

Many would rather push this narrative in every single case instead of acknowledging that maybe the evidence of dissent from some Egyptians against the subject was a sort of proto-transandrophobia intersecting with ancient misogynist perspectives. Transandrophobia is ultimately the cisnormative fear and bigotry directed at those who they assume to be women behaving too much like men, or toward trans masculine people perceived as "doing manhood wrong". This is why I acknowledge such a wide overlap with lesbophobia and other forms of transphobia, and I'd argue that even some cis women (both intersex and dyadic) can have this idea weaponized against them. However the concept hinges on the destruction of trans masculinity which is why in specific context referring to transandrophobia, trans masculine people are at the center of this form of bigotry. If "women" can "become men", they are a threat to the cisnorm.

This also applies to how cisnormative colonial binarism is forced upon all cultures that carry precedent for trans identity. From the many biomes and terrains of Africa, throughout Asia, across the Americas, in Australia- everywhere it is unavoidable that the effect of colonialism fundamentally and globally impacted the development of transphobic ideologies.

Mt. Everest already existed to the people indigenous to the region before it was "discovered" and named Mt. Everest by European outsiders. Think about that for a moment.

The binary cisnormative Eurocentric perspective assumes these figures were women "performing" masculinity no matter how much evidence favors a precedent to trans masculine identity. Openness to refer to ambiguous figures who aren't PROVEN to be trans masc as women is one thing, but with figures like Dr. Barry his masc identity is undeniable, and I assert strongly that to avoid the equal possibility of both womanhood and trans or nonbinary identity in the more ambiguous figures is erasure of our predecessors. It's exorsexism and transandrophobia.

Dr. James Barry, the first man to perform a successful European C section in the continent of Africa*, the man who berated Florence Nightingale for lack of medical hygiene, the man who helped popularize the practice of hand washing- one of the main founders of gynecology…yet the trans mascs after him have to fear being gatekept from gynecological care, now co-opted by cis men and women in legislation and medical jobs. All the while he's talked about like a woman, which he fought people over strictly and aggressively in life. Think about that, deeply for a moment. He was buried as "Dr. James Barry" as his will declared and still he is misgendered in death.

*Dr. James Barry, while an important trans masculine person in history who improved the medical field vastly, was heavily involved in colonialism and I always want to acknowledge this so others know I do not glorify this aspect of his life at all, I simply value him as a precedent for my community, much like I admire Oscar Wilde's perspective and representation as an MLM creative for his time in spite of his glaring flaws. It should also be known that many African tribes practiced their own forms of C section that had been developed generationally and organically in their own communities. Dr. Barry specifically performed the first successful European developed C section in Africa and spared the child bearer's life as well as the child, which was exceptionally rare for the time.

Ableism, sanism, hystericism, and double standards of mental health are directed disproportionately toward trans mascs. Trans mascs who are autistic, disabled, or otherwise neurodivergent (esp with cluster B disorders or psychotic disorders) are cornered and dogpiled the second they make a mistake or crack under the pressure of their condition, even when they are doing the work to get better. Trans mascs are tone policed constantly even in our personal spaces, we are expected to walk on eggshells all the time.

We're allowed to be exhausted and sick of these unfair and hypocritical expectations.

Gatekeeping of language based on semantics and etymological rhetoric is just that: immaterial rhetoric that relies on ideals and abstractions more than objectivity and subjectivity of context. It's false equivalency. (Example: "Misandry doesn't exist against cis men, so trans men making a word for their oppression like transandrophobia is equivalent to conservative MRAs and incels insisting on systemic misandry existing against cis men"). Prioritizing the "sanctity" of language over the material needs and conditions of trans mascs is violence. Talking over us about what we're "allowed" to call our oppression is blatant hypocrisy.

Cis men do not accept trans men or mascs systemically. They don't want anyone but cis men to access their privilege. They do not want us, they generally do not consider us among their ranks and are most often passive aggressive toward us at best, and are actively hostile at worst unless they're the rare sincere ally. They don't just say "Oh you're a trans man? Right this way sir I'll show you to the male privilege." The system doesn't welcome us as men with open arms.

Trans mascs and neutrals marked "F" legally or who are closeted still experience wage gaps and almost all other bureaucratic discrimination that cis women face on top of experiencing adjacent abuse and predation as well as higher suicide rates and that's only what is reported. Trans mascs marked "M" can be denied necessary healthcare including for potentially fatal conditions, because if it's "women's" care to the insurance company, the subject will be denied on the basis of manhood, because the medical system presumes no men can need "female" healthcare.

Passing/stealth trans men granted CONDITIONAL favorable bias are an exception, not the rule, and even if they pass they are still subject to material trans oppression, and do not have systemic male privilege just because they possess one superficial advantage while still actively being oppressed. This is no better than implying that trans women and fems have male privilege when they present masculine. No trans person possesses access to systemic unconditional male privilege. Some are simply granted temporary false bias, pseudoprivilege if you will, if they look, sound, or perform in a certain "acceptable" or "passable" way.

Conclusion:

Maybe some trans mascs like me and others are tired of being shoved into the political equivalent of the "kiddie table" to "let the grown ups talk". Y'know, exactly what cis men also do to us when they think we're women. We can want solidarity with other trans people without folding and compressing ourselves to the point of self destruction.

If at this point you have read all of this, I want you to ask yourself if you're associating with safe people. Don't panic, but please remain more aware of these radfem biases, and call it out when you see it if you safely can, distance yourself from that. It is very easy to accidentally internalize these ideas, especially if you already have internalized trauma from men. As for the bad faith that I know is likely to roll in if this ends up on the wrong side of tumblr- I hope you know you'll be wasting your breath and I will simply block you if you come at me with full swing harassment. I take criticism, openly and eagerly- but I won't tolerate nonsense.

Transandrophobia is a very real and very urgent problem and we have to face it Now. If you have read this far, I hope you have truly absorbed my words if you didn't know where you stand, or perhaps that I might change some minds. All we need is to be heard. Recognize our good faith. Don't take frustration to be a sign that we're unworthy of being listened to. Trans masculine people deserve a voice.

Citations:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_killed_for_being_transgender

(note that most trans mascs listed here are POC, proving my point about inflated violence against trans mascs of color)

https://nwhn.org/trans-mens-health-is-a-womens-health-issue-expanding-the-boundaries-of-sexual-reproductive-health-care/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/.amp/golf-archives/2022/01/25/luc-esquivel-trans-sports-ban-boys-and-mens-teams-daily-cover

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26566683/

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?journal=Psychol+Sexual&title=Suicide+risk+among+transgender+individuals&volume=1&issue=1&publication_year=2010&pages=34-43&#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3DrmXm14RInGsJ

https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/collection-insights/2018/hatshepsut-female-pharaoh-egypt

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/11/21/564817975/health-care-system-fails-many-transgender-americans

I want to thank everyone who helped me with proofreading and peer review, what began at around 4000 words ended up well over 7000. Many of you brought up essential points that I was struggling to articulate or overlooked while drafting, I'm very grateful to @spoopy-sloth, @lifehasmanydoorsfuckboy, and all the rest who will remain anonymous.

#transandrophobia

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