On Privilege, and Its Endless Stupid Iterations
Following is a list of cisgender identity privileges (WARNING: MASSIVE GASLIGHTING BULLSHIT AHEAD INTENDED TO VALIDATE YOUR IFFY CHOICES AND DEMAND THE WORLD VIEW YOUR UNREALITY AS ACTUAL REALITY). If you’re not familiar with the term, “cisgender” means having a biological sex that matches your gender identity and expression, resulting in other people accurately perceiving your gender (WOW, YOU DID THE BAIT AND SWITCH WITH BIOLOGICAL SEX AND GENDER IN THE SAME SENTENCE. DID YOU SEE IT??). If you are cisgender, listed below are benefits that result from your alignment of identity and perceived identity (I HAD AN ALIGNMENT IN DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS. IT WAS CHAOTIC GOOD. TBH, I MUCH PREFERRED PLAYING A LAWFUL EVIL CHARACTER SOMETIMES). If you identify as cisgender, there’s a good chance you’ve never thought about these things (WAIT A SECOND. SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS SOME CRAZY TRANS PERSON WHO THINKS WEARING CLOTHES IS LIKE A MAGIC CLOAK THAT MAKES HIM THE OPPOSITE SEX TELLING US WHAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT? OK). Try and be more cognizant and you’ll start to realize how much work we have to do in order to make things better for the transgender folks who don’t have access to these privileges (LOL FOREVER). If you’re unsure of what it means to be “transgender” you can read about it in our gender identity guide (TL; DR, TRANSGENDER MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU ARE SORRY).
Please comment below if you have any additions or revisions to make!
Use public restrooms without fear of verbal abuse, physical intimidation, or arrest (SO, I AM FAIRLY CONFIDENT WOMEN FEAR VERBAL ABUSE AND PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION GOING INTO AND COMING OUR OF RESTROOMS, DEPENDING WHERE THEY ARE, BECAUSE WOMEN ARE TRAINED TO KNOW WE ARE TARGETS. ALSO, HELLO, GENDER NONCONFORMING WOMEN, WE HAZ BATHROOM ISSUES.)
Use public facilities such as gym locker rooms and store changing rooms without stares, fear, or anxiety. (IF YOU ARE IN THE GIRLS LOCKER ROOM BALLS OUT, IT'S NOT AN IMPOSITION FOR PEOPLE TO (RIGHTLY) STARE AT YOU FOR BEING A PERVERT)
Strangers don’t assume they can ask you what your genitals look like and how you have sex. (UM, WOMEN ARE IMPOSED ON LIKE THIS ON THE REGULAR. HOW MANY YOUNG GIRLS HAD LABIAPLASTIES LAST YEAR? ALSO, LESBIANS, HELLO!!! WE ARE CONSISTENTLY ASKED ABOUT HOW / TOLD HOW WE SHOULD HAVE SEX - USUALLY BY PERVY MEN/TRANS WOMEN)
Your validity as a man/woman/human is not based on how much surgery you’ve had or how well you “pass” as non-transgender. (SORRY, BUT THIS IS BULLSHIT. YOUR INTERNAL SELF CONCEPT IS YOUR ISSUE. YOUR VALIDITY AS A HUMAN COMES BECAUSE YOU ARE A HUMAN)
You have the ability to walk through the world and generally blend-in, not being constantly stared or gawked at, whispered about, pointed at, or laughed at because of your gender expression. (WOW, I THOUGHT I WAS A DYKE, BUT NOW I THINK I MUST BE A TRANS MAN BECAUSE OF THIS HELPFUL LIST)
You can access gender exclusive spaces such as the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, Greek Life, or Take Back the Night and not be excluded due to your trans status. (ONLY IN ENTITLED MALE BRAINS IS IT OPPRESSIVE FOR ACTUAL WOMEN TO ORGANIZE AWAY FROM MEN)
Strangers call you by the name you provide, and don’t ask what your “real name” [birth name] is and then assume that they have a right to call you by that name. (WOMEN ARE ASKED ALL MEASURE OF INVASIVE PERSONAL QUESTIONS, USUALLY RELATING TO WHEN WE WILL FIND A MAN TO MARRY AND/OR HAVE BABIES WITH)
You can reasonably assume that your ability to acquire a job, rent an apartment, or secure a loan will not be denied on the basis of your gender identity/expression. (NO OFFENSE, BUT WE ARE STARTING TO THINK MANY TRANS PEOPLE CAN'T GET JOBS FOR OTHER REASONS... ALSO, HELLO, MANY PEOPLE CANNOT GET JOBS. ETC. BECAUSE OF IRRATIONAL DISCRIMINATION. ARE TRANS PEOPLE SOMEHOW MORE OPPRESSED THAN, SAY, WOMEN OR BLACK FOLKS IN THIS REGARD?)
You have the ability to flirt, engage in courtship, or form a relationship and not fear that your biological status may be cause for rejection or attack, nor will it cause your partner to question their sexual orientation. (NO OFFENSE, BUT HOMOPHOBIA BY STRAIGHT MEN AGAINST TRANS WOMEN ISN'T THE FAULT OF WOMEN)
If you end up in the emergency room, you do not have to worry that your gender will keep you from receiving appropriate treatment, or that all of your medical issues will be seen as a result of your gender. (IF YOU ARE A WOMAN, YOU ARE TREATED AS A BABY RECEPTACLE AND YOUR TREATMENT FLOWS FROM THAT "UNDERSTANDING.")
Your identity is not considered a mental pathology (“gender identity disorder” in the DSM IV) by the psychological and medical establishments. (YOU NEED A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS TO TREAT YOUR "CONDITION" - WHAT SHOULD IT BE? ALSO, YOU SEEM UNFAMILIAR WITH FREUD AND THE WHOLE MAKING WOMEN SEEM HYSTERICAL AND UNRELIABLE SCHTICK)
You have the ability to not worry about being placed in a sex-segregated detention center, holding facility, jail or prison that is incongruent with your identity. (WOMEN GET RAPED IN PRISONS)
You have the ability to not be profiled on the street as a sex worker because of your gender expression. (WOMEN ARE TREATED AS SEXUALLY AVAILABLE BY DEFAULT - HELLO, STREET HARASSMENT)
You are not required to undergo an extensive psychological evaluation in order to receive basic medical care. (YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS TO ACCESS TREATMENT FOR YOUR "CONDITION" - THAT'S NOT OUR FAULT)
You do not have to defend you right to be a part of “Queer,” and gays and lesbians will not try to exclude you from “their” equal rights movement because of your gender identity (or any equality movement, including feminist rights). (NO OFFENSE, BUT YOUR APPROPRIATION OF OUR MOVEMENT PISSES US OFF. THE FACT THAT WE NOTICE YOUR APPROPRIATION DOESN'T MAKE US PRIVILEGED, IT MAKES US OBSERVANT))
If you are murdered (or have any crime committed against you), your gender expression will not be used as a justification for your murder (“gay panic”) nor as a reason to coddle the perpetrators. (UM, DID YOU REALLY JUST SAY THIS TO WOMEN?)
You can easily find role models and mentors to emulate who share your identity. (WHERE? WHERE THE FUCK ARE THESE ROLE MODELS?)
Hollywood accurately depicts people of your gender in films and television, and does not solely make your identity the focus of a dramatic storyline, or the punchline for a joke. (LOL FOREVER THAT YOU ACTUALLY SAID THIS TO WOMEN)
Be able to assume that everyone you encounter will understand your identity, and not think you’re confused, misled, or hell-bound when you reveal it to them. (YOU KNOW WHAT. YOU ARE RIGHT. THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT NARCISSISTIC SSHOLES WHO DON'T HAVE EVOLVING GENDERS MAKES US PRIVILEGED OVER YOU)
Being able to purchase clothes that match your gender identity without being refused service/mocked by staff or questioned on your genitals. (WHY ARE YOU SHOWING YOUR GENITALS WHEN SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES? WE THINK YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG)
Being able to purchase shoes that fit your gender expression without having to order them in special sizes or asking someone to custom-make them. (THIS IS ABOUT MEN WANTING GIRLY SHOES, ISN'T IT? SORRY, WE WILL MOCK YOU)
No stranger checking your identification or drivers license will ever insult or glare at you because your name or sex does not match the sex they believed you to be based on your gender expression. (THIS RENDERS THE EXPERIENCE OF BUTCH DYKES IRRELEVANT. ASSHOLES)
You can reasonably assume that you will not be denied services at a hospital, bank, or other institution because the staff does not believe the gender marker on your ID card to match your gender identity. (SEE ABOVE)
Having your gender as an option on a form (GENDER IS NOT SEX).
Being able to tick a box on a form without someone disagreeing, and telling you not to lie. Yes, this happens (THEN STOP MAKING SHIT UP).
Not fearing interactions with police officers due to your gender identity (FORGET ABOUT FEARING INTERACTIONS WITH COPS BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE, THAT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO GENDER IDENTITY, AMIRITE???).
Being able to go to places with friends on a whim knowing there will be bathrooms there you can use (...).
You don’t have to convince your parents of your true gender and/or have to earn your parents’ and siblings’ love and respect all over again (WHETHER OR NOT YOUR PARENTS LOVE YOU, IT DOESN'T MAKE OTHER PEOPLE PRIVILEGED OVER YOU. MAYBE YOU HAVE SHITTY PARENTS. MAYBE I DO. GOOD PARENT PRIVILEGE ISN'T A THING).
You don’t have to remind your extended family over and over to use proper gender pronouns (e.g., after transitioning) (HOW DARE YOUR EXTENDED FAMILIY NOT BE IMMEDIATELY UP TO SPEED? THEY ARE TERRIBLE PEOPLE. ALSO, SEE ABOVE).
You don’t have to deal with old photographs that did not reflect who you truly are (I DON'T KNOW, THOSE 8TH GRADE PHOTOS OF ME WITHA PERM DEF DO NOT REFLECT WHO I TRULY AM).
Knowing that if you’re dating someone they aren’t just looking to satisfy a curiosity or kink pertaining to your gender identity (e.g., the “novelty” of having sex with a trans- person). (ALL HUMANS HAVE DOUBT)
Being able to pretend that anatomy and gender are irrevocably entwined when having the “boy parts and girl parts” talk with children, instead of explaining the actual complexity of the issue (one “how-to” in the comments below). (WHAT?????)
titsay
gummygunk
janainaart
theartofmadeline
