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There is no cisphobia
Sep. 11th, 2008 03:15 pmI've been seeing this idea being spread around a lot lately. The idea that there is no such thing as "cisphobia" or "heterophobia" or "reverse racism" or "reverse sexism" or any of that, and frankly, I find the idea really disturbing and distressing.
I'm not disagreeing with the idea that these words are ill conceived. As I understand it, words like "homophobia," "transphobia," "racism," "sexism," etc. are referring to cultural patterns of oppression and privilege from an oppressor class towards an oppressed class that are not necessarily overt displays of prejudice and bias. These phobias and -isms cannot be used to refer to bias and hate against the oppressor class. When a trans person makes sweeping generalized statements or acts with bias against cis people, they are not displaying "cisphobia," because they are not acting out a general pattern of oppression and privilege towards cisgender people. In this sense, then, there is no such thing as "cisphobia."
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I'm not disagreeing with the idea that these words are ill conceived. As I understand it, words like "homophobia," "transphobia," "racism," "sexism," etc. are referring to cultural patterns of oppression and privilege from an oppressor class towards an oppressed class that are not necessarily overt displays of prejudice and bias. These phobias and -isms cannot be used to refer to bias and hate against the oppressor class. When a trans person makes sweeping generalized statements or acts with bias against cis people, they are not displaying "cisphobia," because they are not acting out a general pattern of oppression and privilege towards cisgender people. In this sense, then, there is no such thing as "cisphobia."
( Read more... )
