#trans men in physics are so valuable

[michael-pemulis]

Reminder than when I talk about minorities in physics, specifically gender minorities, that is especially about trans folks. Every issue women face in fields dominated by cis men is experienced and often amplified for trans people. Every improvement made by diversifying fields is made by actively including trans people.

As a trans man currently doing my PhD in physics I REALLY understand your 'is coming out a betrayal' post. Everyone tells me how incredible it is for me to be a Woman In Physics, and how I'm an inspiration to other girls, all that. Am I betraying them? Am I robbing younger girls of a role model they might desperately need in such a male-dominated field? I know it's a bullshit line of reasoning but at the same time it's so hard to brush aside. It's a very insidious uncertainty.

^^ I'm glad I'm not alone. trans men in stem deserve so much more recognition.

[fozmeadows]

TERFism really is just white beauty politics in a pseudo-feminist hat, because there's simply no escaping the fact that every concern-trolling argument TERFs make against transition, and particularly towards trans men, boils down to the worst thing you can be is an ugly woman, where "ugly" is code for "insufficiently young, white and/or traditionally feminine."

The ridiculing of trans women, for instance, centers disgust at the idea of anyone with traditionally "masculine" features attempting to pass as female, which - as has been well-documented by this point - frequently sees butch women, women of colour, older women, tall women, strong women, and any other woman who doesn't fit this dogwhistle standard of prettiness caught in the crossfire. Masculinity is incompatible with beauty, this logic goes, and all women must be beautiful. Ergo, the more masculine you appear, the less female you are. TERFs, of course, will try to deny their active participation in anything so ragingly unfeminist as policing women's bodies in pursuit of a narrow physical ideal, and yet, as the recent furor over Imane Khalif has roundly shown, this is exactly what they end up doing: an endless reinvention of new and shittier forms of phrenology to explain why this woman or that is not, in fact, really a woman.

Accepting trans women who don't, by conventional standards, pass, means accepting the femininity of women - both cis and trans - who diverge from these beauty standards: who have facial hair or receding hairlines, deep voices or big hands and feet, who are muscular or tall or strong-jawed, who are either incapable or undesirous of pregnancy, or one of a thousand other things we're told (despite the fact that humans are not a strongly dimorphic species) are exclusively masculine traits. But trans women who do pass engender a different terror: the fear that beauty is not an exclusively "feminine" inheritance, such that someone deemed a man might natively posses it and thereby render "real" feminine beauty somehow less special.

And then we have the scaremongering around trans men, which frequently presents as "concern" over, specifically, impressionable girls and young women being tricked into harming their healthy bodies by the nefarious Trans Cabal. That this same concern is never extended to adult women is the giveaway, because adult women are, by this reckoning, inherently less valuable, being neither as pretty nor as fertile as their younger counterparts. It's already too late to prevent their inevitable descent into the ugliness of ageing, and either they're parents already (in which case, their biological purpose has been served, thus rendering their identities past that point moot) or else have been written off as too old for childbearing anyway (which adds to their irrelevance).

Which makes it all the more ironic how many of the stated negatives of transition for trans men dovetails with things the cis female body normally does as it ages and/or postpartum. Long-term binding is decried for the way it causes the breasts to sag or deform and the nipples to enlarge, for instance, when this is exactly what happens as a consequence of pregnancy and breastfeeding. An increase in facial and body hair is common for post-menopausal women, let alone those with PCOS. Plenty of women naturally have deep voices, with many growing raspier regardless with age, while both ageing and childbirth inevitably alter the appearance of genitalia, sometimes radically. Even top surgery, the procedure most maligned as "butchery," has its cis analogues: not only for survivors of breast cancer or those who, due to genetic predisposition towards aggressive forms of it, opt for preventative mastectomies, but those who undergo breast reduction surgery, whether for cosmetic or health reasons - while some women, on yet a third hand, are natively flat-chested.

Taken together, then, what unifies the demonizing fear of trans women and the infantilizing dismissal of trans men by TERFs is an obsession with a specific, youth-and-Eurocentric-based notion of female beauty, where being deemed too masculine in either direction is the disqualifying factor. In TERFlandia, masculinity therefore becomes a synonym for ugliness: trans women can't shed it sufficiently to be counted at any age (unless they pass, which is a prospect too terrifying to countenance), while trans men must be stopped at all costs from embracing it (unless they're already old, in which case they no longer matter). Which is not to say that transphobia more broadly lacks for other avenues of attack; it's just that concern around trans bodies and the necessity of controlling them inevitably circles back to beauty, youth and fertility as the abiding hallmarks of womanhood, and as soon as you point this out, all the other arguments start to unravel.

[tirfpikachu]

whats a tirf

a tirf is a trans-inclusive/nuanced radical feminist!

many of us tirfs have been harmed by both normie tra spaces and normie radfem spaces, so we want our own corner. many of us are detrans, trans, or have a lot of trans friends we cherish, and we're building a corner of the radfem community dedicated to figuring out the increasingly bothersome issues between the feminist community & the lgbt community and boosting all misogyny-affected voices.

nuancefems - radfems who are often shamed for their nuanced takes, especially but not exclusively on tra/lgbt topics - in general might agree with us on a lot of things, but tirfs are those who focus a significant part of their activism on tra-radfem relations and actively fixing all the rampant issues between the two communities. we deeply care about all misogyny-affected people, homophobia-affected people, exclusive same-sex attracted folks and all gnc people. we are against the rampant misogyny & homophobia of tra spaces, while also not believing in the typical terf rhetoric and demonization of dysphoric people & trans/nonbinary-identified gnc people. we believe that despite what mainstream lgbtq/tra spaces may have forced on us, it'll always be essential to discuss sex-based ("agab" based, anti-ofab/female) oppression, and homosexual (what you may call exclusive afab4afab & amab4amab) rights in feminism. we also believe that in our tirfy corner of radical feminism, it's important to discuss the complex experiences that trans people may have under the heteropatriarchy and support dysphoric people and try to find productive solutions to all these struggles. we also try to educate more tras on what radical feminism actually is.

for us, we use male to mean what you'd call amab or tma, but we'd call male people omab as sex is observed, not assigned, unless it was done so wrongly in intersex/dsd cases. and ofc female = afab/ofab. while trans men might be ofab, or female, they are still men in the gender category or strongly align with it due to dysphoria. even if they aren't transitioned, we as tirfs see their dysphoric experience as often being different than normie female experiences and deserving proper gendering and accommodations. the same of course goes for trans women who are omab/male yet also often transition into facing misogyny, thus very much needing feminism & deserving their voices heard as well; and even if they don't transition, they still have dysphoric gnc experiences that can have them face horrific harm, and by existing as gnc, as transfems, they are going against the patriarchy by aligning with the "lower" class. transmascs who haven't transitioned yet or never plan to are also still deviating from the path set ahead for female/ofab people as well, and the experience of dysphoria - social and/or physical - is still often very debilitating and deserving of analysis and compassion from the tirfy side of radblr.

we tirfs may talk a lot about gnc and trans topics, but we care first and foremost about misogyny-affected individuals in our radical feminism. we still deeply care about gnc, trans & detrans people as well though, and believe that hearing them out can often provides us valuable information that may help us better understand the patriarchy. we believe in tangible experience: whoever faces the blunt of gncphobia - including transmisogyny - should speak on it the loudest, and whoever is born into facing misogyny from a young age due to their female body, or who has experienced tangible misogyny in their day-to-day life, should have their voices boosted on those specific issues in tirf spaces. others should learn to be good allies. if someone is marginalized one way and not the other, they still need to put in the work and become a strong ally, not just idly stand by.

sex-based oppression is something only ofab/female people face (and intersex ppl in some cases). by this i mean misogyny from birth or even before birth, facing childhood misogyny, and misogyny related to female bodies such as genital mutilation, reproductive misogyny, medical misogyny against female people specifically, historical misogyny and its long-lasting effects on female folks, sexual abuse and slavery meant specifically towards female-bodied people, and all abuse involving the person's femaleness in ways that don't include non-intersex male people; transfems might face related misogyny if they're assumed to be female, but if it refers to female functions they do not have this is misdirected misogyny. in the same vein as how transmasc people who transition and are still feminine might face horrific transmisogyny if assumed to have a gnc male body, they usually know it is misdirected, conditional transmisogyny. it can obviously still be incredibly harmful, but in this case you are still not the intended target. and for example with abortion rights it would be highly inappropriate for transfems to center themselves in the discussion when they cannot truly face this form of misogyny.

tirfs believe that while cis/bio women and transmasc people should actively learn to be good allies to transfems, be respectful, and moderate the rampant transmisogyny in their spaces, transfems also need to learn to be good allies to us and recognize their privilege from not facing misogyny in childhood and not having female-unique issues. they also need to moderate their own spaces for the awful "cotton ceiling" rhetoric, threats and sexual violence from transfems with a penis, guilt-tripping into male/female sex especially with homosexual female/ofab people, misogynistic views of female bodies, openly agp creeps positioning themselves as transfems, and anything involving transfems who did not do the work to unlearn their omab upbringing. it's unfortunate that this even needs to be moderated, and i don't believe most transfems are like this, but it is a huge issue that is going unaddressed and it's a big reason why cis/bio women and transmasc people are flocking to radblr right now.

for those who do not agree with terf rhetoric, tirfism is carving out a space for those tras to find shelter and recover from the misogyny & homophobia they faced in tra spaces. we also take in transfems who are tired of their nuanced voices getting shut down or being called bootlickers for speaking up for female/ofab rights and being a good ally. tirfs at the end of the day want equal allyship between female people, homosexual ppl, transfems, transmascs and all gnc people, as we are all affected by the heteropatriarchy. we also want proper care for trans people and preventative measures within healthcare and in tra communities to prevent more heartbreaking detransitions, which harm not just detrans people but also add to trans stigma.

people might say we're not radfem enough for radblr, or too radfem for lgbt or queer spaces, but we're too tired of the bullshit to give up.

side note - not all tirfs are as nuanced. there have been waves in the past of self-proclaimed tirfs that were decidedly not radical, and constantly downplayed female (and homosexual) rights. my kind of radfeminism includes misogyny-affected transfems, but my fellow tirfs and i do not just want to water down radical feminism or enable people to cause more harm to female folks. as a detrans lesbian i know firsthand how much harm libfem tras can cause. tirfism is about including misogyny-affected dysphoric voices into the conversation, and exploring diverse experiences. some issues are unique to female people and homosexuals, and that's alright! some issues are also unique to transfems, to transmascs, or to all trans ppl. we want to put an end to all misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia/stigma.

that's tirfism to me, anyways!

[ventbloglite]

Honestly I'll never get over how some people turned on Cavetown so quickly when it turned out he's not cis. Like I'm not saying that he never had people who didn't like his early music, because music is art and art is subjective and thus everyone's opinion is going to differ, just that it's very telling that he became a prime target for those who want to belittle trans mascs/trans men as a whole.

And it's frustrating that 'Boys will be bugs' is the song they point out as 'a stupid ukelele song about bugs' because like, I don't think he could have made it any more clearly NOT about bugs? Tell me you've only read the title without telling me you've only read the title.

The first verse clearly states a bunch of 'accepted' stereotypes about teen boys especially as perceived by a young teen boy who desperately wants to be seen as tough and 'a real boy/man' and directly tells us that this is bullshit thinking because the boy also admits that he can't admit that he is insecure about himself nor can he be open about needing physical contact with others i.e. toxic masculinity is already threatening his sense of self and place in the world and leading him down a road that doesn't benefit anyone except the patriarchial system whilst making him worse and his relationships worse especially with girls whom he's been taught are the enemy and it's ok to make them cry and aaaaaah

It's such a good song okay. The lyrics are so simple, on purpose, so that anyone could grasp the concept even if you're not a man (cis or trans), trans masc or weren't raised a boy (regardless of actual gender) so didn't experience any of this.

I just--- it's very telling that some have decided to not think about this message, a message which is valuable in a fight against patriarchy if nothing else --- and weaponise the TITLE and GENRE of the song to belittle trans mascs something that was not done when he wasn't out of the closet.

( btw before anyone is like oh boo hoo is this the worst trans mascs have to worry about??? no it's not but oppression is laid brick by brick my friends and every brick weighs down on the foundation)

[batbeato]

I've talked briefly before about intersex Sayo, but... There's a lot you can read into regarding her relationship with her intersex status and with the perisex expectations she grows up with.

(This post reads Sayo using an intersex lens, as their experiences are analogous to real-life intersex people and can be seen as a metaphor for them, even if Sayo is never confirmed to have been born intersex.)

Sayo grows up with all sorts of expectations centered around the perisex 'AFAB' body: she will have a feminizing puberty, she will develop hips and feminine fat distribution, she will grow breasts, she will have periods, she will be capable of having children. But it goes beyond that - these are not only expectations Sayo has for herself, but expectations that society has for them, as well. People raised as girls are told that breasts and hips and fertility and vaginas will make them attractive to men, defines them as women, and makes them valuable - and thus the inverse is also the case: that without these things, they are not attractive to men, they are not women, and they are not valuable.

This equivalization of sex to gender means that Sayo, as they grow older and do not experience the perisex puberty promised to them, begins to feel unattractive, de-gendered, and worthless. This feeling only grows, and culminates in their self-definition as 'furniture', once they realize that they not only will never experience perisex puberty, but also will never be capable of reproducing. They say that "this body... isn't even capable of love" - "love" as is defined by the capacity to perform (heterosexual) sexual acts that can result in procreation. This can also indicate that Sayo wasn't physically capable of receiving vaginal penetrative sex. If Sayo was born perisex and AMAB (my personal preference), their vagina was surgically created. It may not be capable of pleasurable intercourse, or may not be able to fit a penis at all (or at least, without further procedures, such as dilation). If Sayo was born perisex and AFAB, their injuries and subsequent surgery may have resulted in a similar state for their vagina: one where vaginal penetration is painful or impossible.

(I personally believe Sayo to be AMAB, owing not only to the "man from 19 years ago" but also to Lion's status as the heir and more masculine-leaning presentation, something that would likely have been discouraged or looked down upon if Lion had been AFAB. I also lean towards it because of how AFAB Sayo/Lion has been used in the past to deny and discredit Sayo's trans identity and to enforce cishet norms onto Beatrice/Battler's and Will/Lion's relationships.)

Regardless of Sayo's assigned gender at birth, Sayo, both before and even moreso after the reveal of their past, felt unattractive, degendered, and desexed. In their attempts to claim identities that conformed to the allopericishet patriachy they grew up in, they lived their life as Shannon, Kanon, and Beatrice.

Shannon represents the ideal femininity: she has large breasts, she is submissive, and she is kind and emotionally mature. Beatrice's body, much like Shannon's is sexualized - blonde, blue eyes, large chest, all for the sake of feeling attractive - though she is allowed to express non-feminine behaviors so long as she is not made visible to anyone. Through Shannon and Beatrice, who are both imagined to be perisex ideals, the intersex Sayo is able to reclaim her sexuality, though fear of being sexless remains.

In EP2, Beatrice taunts Shannon with how animalistic the desires of men are - "the black-as-tar lust of that glasses man behind you", "men are flies and maggots that get caught in your scent and gather around you". I believe this is a combination of things: fear of sexual assault, as her mother and potentially grandmother were assaulted; shaming of her own sexuality and desire to be seen sexually; and an affirmation that she is, in fact, sexually desirable. Beatrice, in saying that Shannon is an object of sexual desire, no matter how negatively framed, is affirming that if Sayo presents as a cis perisex woman, she is able to become attractive. She is able to escape being the sexless, genderless 'thing' she feels that her intersex status makes her.

In contrast, Kanon, who is masculine, is not ideal: he does not have large muscles, he is not emotionally mature, and he is effeminate. He is a man, but he is also not one who would be valued in the patriarchal society due to his lack of 'proof' of manhood (in strength, in sexual conquest, in appearance, in partaking in toxic masculinity). He is the closest Sayo comes to acknowledging their status as intersex and gender non-conforming - as someone who does not neatly fit into the biological sex binary or the constructed cisgender binary. And he is the persona who does the "dirty work" that stained his soul long ago, the persona who takes no active action and instead denies Jessica's affection, the persona who does not present himself as a sexual being at all.

The most we have is when Kanon takes out his blade in front of Jessica in EP2: the innuendo there is that he is exposing his status as furniture - his (intersex) body, and (intersex) genitalia - to her. He is displayed as a heroic knight who protects Jessica, thus reinforcing his masculinity (men and the masculine as the protecting force for the frailer, feminine idols). Only in Sayo's fantasies can their intersex body "pass" and fit into the cissexual ideal.

So Sayo finds their sexuality in presenting as perisex: their 'true' intersex self, disabled and degendered and desexed, is hidden away and removed from the perfect Golden Land.

I believe many intersex people can resonate with Sayo's feelings: sometimes to be intersex is to be hypersexualized, to be seen as "having both". But to be intersex can also mean to be degendered, desexed, and othered. It can mean that you are not seen as, or do not feel like, someone capable of being an object of sexual or romantic desire. Our genitals and non-conforming sexual characteristics are "freak shows" that need to be "fixed" for us to be "normal" and to engage in heterosexual relationships, and those efforts to "fix" us may only increase those feelings of being degendered, desexed, and othered.

For me there is something that I deeply relate to in Sayo's perception of their (analogous to) intersex body, and in their attempts to present as perisex in order to "fix" what is "wrong". But in the end, even Kanon, the most unlovable, intersex persona of them all, is loved in the Golden Land.

[gerardpilled]

Kat of the band Scowl posted this after they’ve been accused of basically being industry plants and I thought it was interesting.

Transcribed:

I am sick of hearing the phrase "Industry plant" every single time Scowl experiences success.

Our friends bands- bands commonly full of men, will sign brand deals, have a song in a commercial, get a co-sign from massively successful musicians, etc... yet I never read whisperings of whether or not they deserve those successes, whether or not they are valid enough, GOOD enough, or worked hard enough to be deserving of that success. Is our success never valid enough for you? Why is this competition created between us and our community, specifically femme-bodied individuals?

A competition I never participated in, a patriarchal competition I challenge by questioning my thoughts, actions, and insecurities every single day.

The message I receive is that I am not granted independent success as a woman. Am I never grateful enough? Hard working enough? Confident enough?

I'm grateful to be a part of a community we have ALWAYS contributed to lifting. By the way it isn't that hard to do... If you believe in yourself and your friends you've done half the work! If you believe in your scene, walk through that door, buy that t-shirt, and maybe even gather up the confidence to make a new friend or dance along to your favorite song you are CONTRIBUTING to something bigger than yourself.

Starting a band was the best decision I ever made, it saved my life in many ways and it helped me find confidence in myself that I never believed I formerly had.

I am happily part of a scene filled with beautiful, intelligent, unique and inspiring people. A scene that could have never blossomed without every single individual.

Is it so hard to believe that a woman-led band can be a hardworking and organic success?

Is it so challenging to grasp a womans success that you have to create a fantasy that the music industry had a hand it?

An extremely male dominated music industry by the way...

That being said:

My life and my bandmate's lives would be SO MUCH EASIER if we had industry backing! I garnered the little confidence I had, not without the emotional support of my friends and my scene, in May 2019 to play Scowl's first show. My life has changed so much since that day, but it would've never been possible without my friends in the bay area/santa cruz hardcore scene.

The women/femme/trans individuals who I've embraced all around the world that have always had my back and saw me for my genuine self.

Those individuals will always come first to me.

Scowl has worked tirelessly to be in the position we are in. We have practiced late into the night, day after day. We have relentlessly toured. Last year I had bronchitis for months on tour, l've blown my voice out a handful of times, we have experienced exhaustive physical injury, blah blah and only dropped ONE SHOW due to those circumstances the past two years. Not even counting the depression, anxiety, grief and other general human sufferings experienced thousands of miles away from home. Slept on countless floors, gone hungry for a little too long, been in the negatives on my bank statements, etc. Is that punk enough for you? We do this because we LOVE IT. Because it makes us happier than anything else. I have the privilege to play music for a living! Of course l'm gonna chase my dreams!

The most valuable lesson I learned from hardcore is that if you have something to say, scream it into a microphone.

I would be nowhere without the countless BIPOC/trans/femmel gender nonconforming individuals that l've shared the stage with and have had meaningful conversations & relationships with.

I'm so grateful to music for giving me the opportunity to form those connections.

You have all collectively inspired me to never ever give up!

Whether we talk all the time or have had a short swift encounter, you know who you are and I LOVE YOU!

You remind me that l'm never alone.

[ironmyrmidon]

I like the small ways cis people express their gender identity, even if they don't understand that's what they're doing.

Cookouts are a ritual performance of masculinity.

The principal point of focus is the man hosting the event. He demonstrates his ability to skillfully perform a masculine task (grilling), using a masculine instrument (the grill) to cook a masculine food (meat). If he successfully performs that task, then he distributes the rewards of his masculine talent and receives in turn compliments affirming that he is masculine.

Other men at the cookout can, and usually do, express their own masculinity. They gather around the host to talk amongst each other. They comment on the way the host is performing his masculinity by grilling the meat, expressing their belief that the host is masculine and demonstrating that they too know how to perform these masculine acts. They tell each other stories of times that they demonstrated their masculinity in the past and the sometimes hilarious results. This conversation allows them to express their own masculinity and affirm the masculinity of the other men in the conversation.

Feminine individuals wait in the periphery of the ritual, until it is time for them to eat food and express complimentary affirmations of the host's masculine skill. If feminine individuals cook at all, it's exclusively sides that compliment the main focus of the meal and very little focus is put on that task. It's a nice thing for a feminine person to prepare these sides, but ultimately peripheral to the masculine ritual.

None of these tasks are inherently masculine. There is nothing to physically prevent a feminine woman from grilling meat or to comment on someone else's grilling. However, I have been to a normal amount of cookouts in my life, and I have never seen a woman grilling or commenting on someone else's grilling beyond asking when the meat will be ready. Someone with a feminine gender identity has less to gain from ritualistically performing masculinity, because they don't want to be perceived as masculine.

Before concluding, let me preempt some arguments. My experiences are universal. If you have seen a woman grilling, that was an illusion and you are a fool for being tricked so easily. I'm not reading too much into this, because this is all self evident if you think for like a second. If you disagree with anything I said, it is because you are blinded by your preconceived notions or political beliefs. I'm very talented at performing my masculinity and my penis is normal.

I think it's valuable to understand that performing gender is a universal experience. It's not just something aberrant trans people do, cis people do it too.

[rotationalsymmetry]

Ayyy.

So I got a little into the tags on this one. And it's wild. (Transphobia discourse ahead including brief mentions of sexual violence, physical violence, and police and prisons. feel free to scroll past if you don't want to see it.) (btw I'm talking trans fem and trans masc a lot and I realize some non-binary people don't think either term is really applicable to them and...I think that's legit I just don't know what to say about it. Apart from yeah exorsexism is also its own thing. Sorry.)

Here look. Do trans women and trans femmes have some pretty epic issues that are much more a thing they face than a thing that trans mascs face? Of course. If I walk down the street in a short haircut and a binder, I'm not going to be especially worried that a cop will decide to harass me because they think I'm a sex worker. I'm not at especially high risk of a lover murdering me because he's so freaked out at the idea of maybe being a little bit gay because the woman he fucked turned out to not have been born in a body the doctors recognized as female. If I get arrested, well, a lack of hearing about transmasc prison horror stories does not mean they don't exist, but I have heard transfem prison horror stories and they are horrific.

Plus the extra layer of some feminists (terfs) being utterly convinced that trans women are a unique and terrifying threat to feminism and should not be allowed in women's spaces or to even, like...work for feminist organizations? Anyways. It's a whole thing.

And I've known about at least some of this stuff for as long as I've known about any trans issues. And it's horrifying and very much worth talking about and doing stuff about. And it also as far as I can tell does get talked about extensively when people talk about trans issues at all. Which I mean. They often don't.

At the same time, I have also seen a sort of overcorrection, more from cis people than trans people I think, to go "well ok clearly we have to draw the line somewhere, if feminism can include trans fems we have to exclude someone so I guess that means feminism does not apply to trans mascs."

Which is ludicrous.

Misogyny affects trans fems. Street harassment and job discrimination and a million other feminist issues affect trans women. (In fact, trans fems often offer a uniquely valuable perspective on these things, as they can compare how people treat them at different stages of how other people see them.) Misogyny affects trans fems, again not surprisingly because is there any group of women that misogyny does not affect, so feminism should include trans fems.

And misogyny affects trans mascs. Abortion access and contraception access affects us. The restrictions placed on girls affect us, since most of us didn't transition at age two. Clothes without pockets often affect us. Sexual harassment and sexual assault and unfortunately in some cases corrective rape affect us. And here look, I pretty much look like a cis woman who doesn't shave her body hair, but trans masc who look like guys have this really unpleasant problem where often they still need "women's health care", Pap smears and whatnot, because "women" need a lot of health care, while looking like guys, where the worst scenario is getting refused care and the next worst one is getting care but being misgendered the entire time and the best case scenario of getting appropriate care and not being misgendered and also not being slammed by dysphoria or the psychological residue of past health care experiences too hard, is hard to find. Ok?

If misogyny affects trans mascs, and again it does, then trans mascs belong in feminism, ie the struggle against misogyny.

If misogyny affects trans mascs in a way that intersects with transphobia -- if trans mascs get special experiences that are much more common for them than for either cis women or trans fems or cis men -- then there should be a word for that. And in theory you could talk about transmisogyny to cover both, because hey intersection of transphobia and misogyny what else are you going to call it, but a lot of people are deeply convinced that transmisogyny means specifically the oppression that trans fems expeiences so it's almost less effort to just coin a new term than to fight over what transmisogyny should mean. So. Here we are.

It's really wild that any of this is controversial. Let alone that people will get so intensely angry about it.

[rinwellisathing]

Get to know my OCs: sibling relationships:

Sentry Ojeda:

Sentry is set as Chosen to be in charge of all of his Bhaalist siblings, their perfect prince of slaughter. Tomi and Gabraela follow him without complaint, both of them fond of him in their own way with Gabraela feeling protective of him as he is a fellow tiefling young enough to be her son and she was forced to kill her own child. Tomi has a more doting older sister relationship with Sentry, content to simply be a respected daughter of Bhaal and left to her own devices until things get serious. Orin used to adore Sentry when they were younger and they would create art together and he would protect her, but Sarevok turned her against him, bitter in his own way that Sentry was so favored by Father and also that Sentry escaped the role of breeder he was born into and that Bhaal simply allowed Sentry to 'decide to be a man'. Jackal is violently jealous of Sentry and hates him, wanting nothing less than to put him in his place. Sentry has a soft spot for Orin and Tomi, but Gabraela's mothering annoys him and he wants to kill both Jackal and Sarevok painfully.

Jaina Thalassia:

Jaina and Tiburon Thalassia have probably the most normal, relatable sibling relationship. They love and care for eachother, they played together happily as children, but Tibs underestimates Jaina and views her as fragile and flighty, in need of protection and meanwhile Jaina views Tibs as foolish and content with the drudgery of being a Flaming Fist as opposed to trying for something more. They tease and needle eachother, but the family bond is there. Also part of Tibs overprotectiveness of Jaina comes from the fact that he did accidentally nearly kill her once when they were children, not that she holds it against him since it led to her being named Umberlee's chosen.

Kroger and Octavia of Creche K'liir:

While technically they are siblings by virtue of being born into the same clutch, they actually consider themselves and Lae'zel siblings because of a bond forged across battles and journeys together. They were usually grouped together in a party and worked well together/trusted eachother. Also Lae'zel saw the potential in the two despite neither being physically strong.

Ilya Barghest:

Although Ilya considers every fellow paladin trainee he studied with at The Open Hand Temple a brother in arms, he had the closest relationship with Sentry as they were both tieflings, both orphans, both trans men, and both in relationships with wealthy, powerful men. Although Sentry mostly views Ilya as an annoying pretty boy, he does have a soft, protective spot for the younger man and Ilya, completely oblivious to how he annoys Sentry, views the older paladin as his very best friend and a close confidant. Ultimately, this relationship shakes out in a positive way when all is said and done and their friendship becomes close and unbreakable. Even if Sentry still can't help but see Ilya as an annoying little brother.

Jackal Silk:

Jackal hates and resents every last one of his siblings, jealous and angry that even as a Bhaalspawn he cannot escape the role of unimportant and unimpressive extra son who exists to serve a more powerful and valuable sibling. If he had his way he would torture and murder them all, but he knows Gabraela would easily kill him and now that Sentry is fully grown and not a scared child anymore so would he. Tomi and her poisons could rob him of his mind and control of his body just like the medicines and treatments back at the madhouse, Orin is too heavily guarded by Sentry when she was young and by the cult when she becomes chosen, and Sarevok...well, Jackal figures it would be a waste since he's already come back a few times.

[lunarsilkscreen]

What am I good at?

This is a narcissistic post, me grandstanding on my abilities and discerning why people compare me to Jesus, Prophets, and Messiah (Messengers)

I'm writing this because people tell me it "Needs to be said". I'm writing it so they stop bothering me about it (they will never stop bothering me.)

This is a collection of Historical Account, Fictional Descriptions, Biblical Understanding, and my own personal methodology. [citation needed]

First; The Definition; What is a "Messenger". The brief explanation is that it's a person who can see patterns between truths, or patterns between patterns.

In our typical understanding of the world we have "Strong Man" and "Smart Man" who are the typical tribal leaders. The "Fitest".

Consider a caveman with no parents; no knowledge about how the world works. How does he learn to hunt, track, build tools and weapons, farm and forage?

You might say "Well, that's what smart people do. Learn things." Except you're thinking about today's smart people, those that learn from books. The ones who get straight A's and retain all the knowledge they can, but they sometimes don't have a "Working Knowledge" or "Street Smarts" or the ability to perform.

The "Strong Man" has the ability to perform, but low ability to retain knowledge and no ability to discern patterns and create knowledge.

The key phrase here "Create Knowledge" where Knowledge is everything written down in books, or taught between people.

While these people tend to be afraid of the natural world, and each other; the third Type "Messenger" who might be considered "Spiritual" before that word became synonymous with Religion and God.

They, to others, are seemingly unafraid. They learn how to scare off predators, they observe nature and learn how to track and hunt and forage.

And to solve many tasks; they need a smart man to remember the things they routinely forget, and a strong man to perform tasks they physically can't.

However; when all the patterns are memorized by the smart and strong men; they tend to forget why they need the spiritual one in the first place.

He is no longer valuable afterwards.

Messengers tend to be the first to be ostracized for various reasons; non-conformity being the biggest one. They also aren't typically muscular and tend to lose focus, marvelling in the seen and unseen worlds *more* than the one the other deem as "Real".

Autism, Queer, Whatever... The ones who fit those categories AND are Messengers are commonly seen as "Unfit".

And because they're more interested in things other than social relationships; they're easy targets. And so they are either exiled or killed.

Now the unsavory History;

Many times, and if you read the new testament a certain way, Messengers are Queer coded. And oftentimes trans women.

Why this distinction? Probably because of the otherization of women into a fourth category "Birthing Person", which includes any other queer coded individual that doesn't fit Strong or Smart.

This is an observation you can read about in cultures around the world, from native Americans to Mythos held by the Samurai.

And this is where the problems start; because they believe these people have "Special Magic Powers". Society has tried to *create* Messengers.

Through castration of children. This is the historical context. And then they realized you can't create Messengers that way, so they were discarded and became prostitutes.

In Europe (and other places) It seems that people like me were accused of being Witches. "Trapping men in Succubus pseudo-sexual conquest" because "Gay doesn't exist and neither do trans women".

We are often persecuted; and that persecution leaves us in a perpetual mindset that means it doesn't matter what we do; because it's a crime to exist.

And that's why it seems to be a magical event when a Messenger gains prominence.

Why it seems magical that I did.

Because whatever gender I am coded as was long thought a myth lost to time.

I use Gender here as "Classification of Human".

That's terrifying to me.

But what is it that I'm good at? Why does it seem that I'm good at everything and the defacto "Magical Tranny Archetype in the Flesh?"

I see patterns between truths. I have trouble memorizing things; because I see the world differently.

My brain collects A LOT of data about myself, my surroundings, the people around me; but physical information, like words in books are hard to remember.

I have to memorize them by learning the steps that created that knowledge; in essence, to learn anything I need to discover it myself from scratch. And develop tools and methods that are kind of cumbersome for others to use.

And because of this; it's incredibly hard to communicate with people sometimes. Because they don't see the patterns.

Some have suggested this kind of intelligence is a form of evolution. But that would only be true if this was a repeating thing where somebody like me appears and then every new person is like me or better.

I don't think that's it.

Because we've existed before. And we exist Today. I'm just really good.

But that also means I'll continue to be scrutinized till the end of my days, with little peace...

And then subsequently forgotten; because that's what happens to Messengers, they are forgotten, persecuted, otherized, discarded, and all context around us is lost.

Or at least; that's how I've come to understand whatever*this* is through or collective historical texts and tall tales.

I don't really wanna be a Prophet or a Messiah or the president or a king, you can call me a Messenger if you want.

I'm just Melin.

Please don't glorify me; It's upsetting.

[mascula-sappho]

I'm tired of being underestimated and treated like my only physical talent is having babies. Excuse me, I like to be just as fierce, stubborn, and dominant as the boys. I have struggled my whole life with what I know myself to be (a cis girl who doesn't care at all for gender roles and likes being tough and strong while wearing makeup and likes being muscular and likes competition - and is a lesbian) vs. what a "woman" is supposed to be (small, weak, AFAB, gentle, slow, soft, most valuable body part is her genitals, there for men, dresses for men, acts certain ways for men, obviously she is not as good as a man in anything or at anything she is just there to smile) I mean, I am AFAB, but not only does that not matter about me being a girl (it confers a slight advantage in me not having gender dysphoria and having privilege) it shouldn't have this whole mythology about what seems to me to be sacred weakness and idolized dehumanization, because if we focus on the person's body functions (having a period, giving birth, etc.) and we idolize that, we don't have to think about the person's soul, or how they have thoughts and feelings and are valuable for who they are not what their body could be capable of doing. I'm tired of being assumed by men to be this doll who is flattered to have their attention, because I'm 1. not wearing a crop top to attract you, it's for the girls and NBs, and 2. I'm wearing it so you feel slightly insecure about my muscles and body hair. I like being pretty (makeup, clothes, jewelry) but I don't like being "feminine" in the way it's commonly thought of, as I think femininity has become a cage for women, especially as it is thought that it is innate. I love suits just as much as dresses guys. I'm sorry I just needed to get this off my chest. Thank you to all my trans friends who by existing helped me unlearn the toxic sexism I was stuck in. I 💕 you guys so so so much.

[frou-frou-deserved-better]

[Image ID: tweet from prance @bocxtop reading "regardless of the election's results it's obvious this country has gotten way more rightwing especially amongst men and i think a lot of that is what is fed to us online, we have to figure out a way to stop every dude under 35 from turning into crypto hitler" /end ID]

Teach men how hunting supports sustainability.

Show them community.

Give them compliments. Men and boys are told compliments are only for romantic interest, so they struggle to see how others value them.

Hug your brothers. Tell them you're glad they're here.

Celebrate their joy.

Commiserate about their boss and share how they can make their workplace better.

Show them how trans men celebrate and practice masculinity.

Teach them how partners should treat them.

Listen to their pain, and validate their feelings.

Educate them on sexual assault and violence; not as the assumed perpetrator, but as the possible survivor. Men are less likely to be victims than women, but that's still a massive amount of men.

Men and boys are hurting so much and have been taught by the right that the solution is anger. They've been taught by the left that there's no way back into community. Men are 4x more likely to die by suicide. That increases for men of color.

To be clear: this is not work for everyone to do. You are not responsible for giving support to people who wish to do you harm. You do not need to go to lunch with Nazis. You do not need to befriend a fascist.

But you do need to be kind to your coworkers and neighbors and cousins. Protect yourself, but we must have kindness.

What the right can offer men existing power structures:

Unfulfilling and empty relationships, including higher risks of unplanned pregnancy - i.e. potential child support, aluminum, and further financial straight.

Disconnection from their bodies and feelings outside of anger.

Abusive working conditions

Financial insecurity, housing insecurity, food insecurity, increased rural poverty and more.

Lack of access to healthcare, and alienation when disabled (which will occur for over 60% of them)

Constant paranoia and violence

Constant policing of their speech, interests, looks, and personality

High rates of incarceration leading to increased rates of SA, less access to routine healthcare, restricted future job opportunity, and decreased access to education

What an equitable future founded on Justice could mean for men (and the rest of us):

Safe, loving, and fulfilling relationships

Bodily autonomy, reduced trauma exposures and symptoms, walking communities, increased mental and physical health outcomes.

Power and autonomy and better conditions at work

Increased access to housing, work, food

Routine healthcare and support for disability inclusion

Psychological safety and community integration

A community that embraces and celebrates individuality

Vastly reduced incarceration

We have to show that what could be is so much more valuable than anything they would give up.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[penguins--39]

I think the rise in girls identifying as nonbinary is in a large part a direct response to TIMs. TIMs adamantly claim they're girls because they 'feel like girls' and that causes internal conflict in actual girls. They don't 'feel like girls'. Instead of coming to the conclusion that literally nobody 'feels like a woman' because being a woman isn't a feeling, it's a biological reality, they convince themselves that because they don't have those gender feelings, they're clearly not a woman. It's honestly really sad and a great example of female socialization. Don't question the mens, it's not your place to correct them and you don't want to cause problems by doing so, instead figure out why it's you who must be wrong. 'Look at this dumbass terf who cant even tell the difference between rape on video and acting. Like I think we would know if the actress was actually being raped for my cnc porn!' Even the ones who are "happy" will always make excuses and accept a certain amount of bullshit. This perfectly exemplifies the fact that trans identified transs do not resonate with women and girls and will never understand the female experience. The stagnation of online feminist spaces frustrates those who seek more meaningful action. While digital platforms are valuable for sharing ideas, feminists argue that true change requires collective, real world organizing. Without physical mobilization, there is a risk that feminist discourse remains performative rather than transformative.I think the rise in girls identifying as nonbinary is in a large part a direct response to TIMs. TIMs adamantly claim they're girls because they 'feel like girls' and that causes internal conflict in actual girls. They don't 'feel like girls'. Instead of coming to the conclusion that literally nobody 'feels like a woman' because being a woman isn't a feeling, it's a biological reality, they convince themselves that because they don't have those gender feelings, they're clearly not a woman. It's honestly really sad and a great example of female socialization. Don't question the mens, it's not your place to correct them and you don't want to cause problems by doing so, instead figure out why it's you who must be wrong. The stagnation of online feminist spaces frustrates those who seek more meaningful action. While digital platforms are valuable for sharing ideas, feminists argue that true change requires collective, real world organizing. Without physical mobilization, there is a risk that feminist discourse remains performative rather than transformative.

[drgyana]

7 Simple Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Heart Disease Risk

Heart disease is one of the top causes of death around the world, but many risk factors can be managed by making changes to your lifestyle. By adopting heart-healthy habits, you can lower your risk of developing heart disease. In this blog post, we will explore seven simple lifestyle changes you can make to improve your heart health, along with how working with the best cardiologist in Bhubaneswar, such as Dr. Gyana Ranjan Nayak, can enhance your preventive measures.

1. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

A well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is important for heart health. Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds, as these can help reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. Be mindful of saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium, as these can increase cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

2. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Carrying excess weight is a major risk factor for heart disease. Strive to keep your body mass index (BMI) in the healthy range by balancing what you eat with how much you move. Even a small amount of weight loss can help lower your risk. Speaking with a healthcare professional or the best cardiologist in Bhubaneswar can give you personalized advice on how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Stay Physically Active

Engaging in regular physical activity strengthens your heart, improves blood flow, and helps control your weight. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Also, include strength training exercises at least twice a week to further support your heart health.

4. Manage Stress

Long-term stress can harm your heart, often leading to unhealthy habits like overeating or smoking. Use stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises to help you relax and boost your overall well-being. Finding healthy ways to cope can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease.

5. Quit Smoking

If you smoke, quitting is one of the best choices you can make for your heart. Smoking damages blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and lowers oxygen levels in the blood, all of which contribute to heart disease. Look for support through quit programs or counseling to increase your chances of stopping.

6. Limit Alcohol Consumption

While moderate drinking may offer some heart benefits, too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, and other health issues. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation—up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine what’s right for you.

7. Regular Health Check-Ups

Regular visits with a healthcare provider are vital for keeping tabs on your heart health. Screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels can help identify any risks early on. Dr. Gyana Ranjan Nayak, an experienced interventional cardiologist, can offer tailored advice and treatments to help manage any existing conditions and lower your risk of heart disease.

Conclusion

Making these seven lifestyle changes can significantly lower your chances of developing heart disease. By focusing on a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, managing stress, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and having regular check-ups, you can take charge of your heart health. Don’t forget that consulting with the best cardiologist in Bhubaneswar, like Dr. Gyana Ranjan Nayak, can provide valuable insights and personalized strategies for a healthier heart. Prioritizing these changes today can lead to a healthier tomorrow for you and your heart.

[pashterlengkap]

Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe join hundreds of athletes rallying the NCAA to prioritize trans inclusion

More than 400 current and former NCAA athletes – including longtime partners and LGBTQ+ greats Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird – have signed on to an open letter urging the collegiate athletic association to stand up for trans inclusion in sports. The letter to the NCAA Board of Governors opens by reminding the group that the NCAA is “meant to serve athletes and our wellbeing, to ensure the lifesaving power of sport is accessible to all athletes who compete in the championship and emerging sports and for NCAA-member institutions – including transgender athletes.” It continues, “To deny transgender athletes the fundamental right to be who they are, to access the sport they love, and to receive the proven mental and physical health benefits of sport goes against the very principles of the NCAA’s Constitution.” The NCAA’s current policy on trans athletes has been in place since 2022 and allows the national governing bodies for each sport to set their own standards. For the decade or so prior to that policy, trans women were required to have been undergoing testosterone suppression for at least a year before competing. The letter comes as the NCAA Board of Governors is set to meet on Thursday at a time of year that is often a “key rules-making period for the NCAA,” according to The Washington Post. It also comes only a few weeks after the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) approved a ban on trans women participating in women’s sports. Under the new policy, trans women and nonbinary students receiving masculinizing hormone therapy will be banned from participating in interscholastic competition on women’s teams. Students who are receiving hormone therapy will still be allowed to take part in workouts, practices, and other team activities, as well as men’s events. The ban has sparked LGBTQ+ activists to push the NCAA to clarify its stance on trans inclusion and stand up for trans athletes. “We know that the value of sport goes far beyond the playing field,” the letter states. “Sport allows people to develop a sense of self and identity and to reflect what we value as a community. Sport is a tremendous enabler of physical and mental health, teaches valuable lessons on teamwork and discipline, and has brought us lifelong community. Every single student should have access to the lifesaving power of sports.” The athletes also pointed out the “methodologically flawed and misinterpreted” studies used to justify excluding trans athletes and said “anti-trans legislation is largely fueled by propaganda and deception.” Two other letters also urged the NCAA Board of Governors to protect trans athletes, one from over 50 LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations and spearheaded by Athlete Ally and the other signed by over 300 academic scholars. It is unknown whether the Board of Governors plans to discuss trans inclusion policies or not. But as LGBTQ+ activists rally for trans rights, those against trans inclusion are also trying to make their case to the board. U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist in Nancy Hogshead-Makar – currently CEO of the anti-trans organization Champion Women – has launched an email campaign asking folks to sign on to a form letter praising the NAIA’s trans athlete ban and encouraging the NCAA to follow suit. Earlier this month, House Republicans sent a letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker urging him to follow the NAIA and ban trans women from sports. The letter accused trans women of depriving cisgender women “of a fair opportunity to compete and achieve athletic success.” http://dlvr.it/T62pzs

[drsayyed]

Heart Health Month Tips: Taking Care of Your Cardiovascular Well-being

February is Heart Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular health and encouraging individuals to take proactive steps in caring for their hearts. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide, but the good news is that many risk factors are controllable with lifestyle changes. In this article, we'll provide you with valuable tips to help you prioritize your heart health.

Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet:

A heart-healthy diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugars. Opt for foods that are low in cholesterol and high in fiber, such as oats, beans, and nuts.

Get Regular Exercise:

Physical activity is vital for cardiovascular health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week. This can be as simple as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Exercise strengthens the heart muscle and helps maintain a healthy weight.

Maintain a Healthy Weight:

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of heart disease. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can significantly reduce this risk.

Monitor Blood Pressure:

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. Have your blood pressure checked regularly, and work with your healthcare provider to manage it if necessary. Lifestyle changes and medications can help control hypertension.

Control Cholesterol:

High levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. Regular cholesterol checks and dietary modifications, like reducing saturated fats and trans fats, can help lower your LDL cholesterol levels.

Quit Smoking:

If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart. Smoking damages blood vessels and reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, increasing the risk of heart disease.

Limit Alcohol Intake:

Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation, which generally means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.

Manage Stress:

Chronic stress can negatively impact your heart health. Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or hobbies you enjoy to promote relaxation.

Prioritize Sleep:

Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Poor sleep patterns can contribute to obesity, high blood pressure, and other heart disease risk factors.

Regular Check-ups:

Schedule regular check-ups with your healthcare provider. They can assess your overall health, perform necessary screenings, and provide guidance on maintaining a healthy heart.

Conclusion:

During Heart Health Month, and throughout the year, it's crucial to prioritize your cardiovascular well-being. By adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, managing risk factors, and seeking regular medical care, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and enjoy a longer, healthier life. Remember, your heart deserves the best care you can give it.

For more info visit here:-

Heart Health Month Tips

Hinsdale Primary Care Centre