Understanding Transfem Hypervisibility/Transmasc Invisibility
I'd like to take a moment to discuss the relative visibility of transfeminine and transmasculine people, and in particular I hope to clear up some common misconceptions I see regarding these terms.
It is generally understood that trans women and transfems are often the subjects of hypervisibility, while trans men and transmascs more often deal with invisibility. But what do we actually mean when we say "transfem hypervisibility" and "transmasc invisibility"?
I frequently see people interpret the concept of "visibility" to mean "representation in media," and while representation - good or bad - is certainly part of what visibility is meant to describe, it's only a small piece of a much more complex phenomenon.
For the sake of clarifying these terms, I'd like to suggest some additional/alternative language that feels more straightforward in my opinion: Scrutiny and Erasure
I'll start with erasure because this is a term that is already fairly well established within some transmasculine circles. So what does the term "erasure" convey that "invisibility" doesn't?
"Invisibility" has a passive connotation, implying that transmasculine invisibility is merely an unintended consequence, or that it is the natural state of things. In contrast, "erasure" has an active connotation; trans men and transmascs are being actively erased, ergo there are systemic forces that deliberately and intentionally attempt to erase trans men.
On a similar note, "invisibility" can imply that transmasculine people are not noticed or targeted for their transmasculinity. This leads to the belief that trans men simply "fly under the radar," or that it is relatively easy for trans men to pass and live completely stealth.
Not only are these misconceptions entirely false, but accepting these public misconceptions and treating transmasculine people as if they are privileged because they "have it easier" is in fact actively participating in their erasure. Trans men who try to explain that they are not actually targeted less than any other trans person, just that they are targeted in different, more covert ways, are dismissed and silenced by those who have fallen for the "transphobes don't target trans men" narrative, thus perpetuating the cycle of erasure.
A historically very similar example is the belief that lesbians face less struggles than gay men due to gay men being more publicly targeted. Nowadays most folks understand that lesbian erasure and invisibility aren't a privilege but rather a fundamental component of their oppression, and we need to reach this same understanding with regards to transmasculine experiences.
This one is, as far as I'm aware, a term that I made up myself to elaborate on "hypervisibility," similar to the way that some transmasculine people have started using erasure as an alternative/additional explanation for invisibility. With that in mind, if there are other terms I'm not aware of that are already more established, or if folks have any feedback/alternative suggestions, I am all ears.
I chose the term "scrunity" because I believe it more accurately reflects the ways in which transfeminine people are thrust into the public eye, most often in a very negative context. I think it captures the fact that the "hypervisibility" experienced by trans women primarily involves being subject to harsh criticism, judgement, and accusations over every little thing.
Similar to "erasure," "scrutiny" also presents a more active framework. Trans women and transfems are not hypervisible by accident; they are forcefully dragged into the spotlight and made into a public spectacle so that they can be scrutinized by the public and painted as "dangerous predators" or other negative stereotypes. This constant public scrutiny is a fundamental component of their oppression.
"Hypervisibility," much like "invisibility," is also often misunderstood as a privilege. Some people falsely believe that because trans women are more visible, they have a relatively easier time accessing resources and support. Trans women and transfems are also told they are privileged to have so much representation in media, while the majority of that "representation" comes in the form of stereotypes and caricatures that feed into and support bigoted narratives.
When people fall for these misconceptions and treat trans women and transfems as if they are privileged for their hypervisibility, they are actively contributing to the violent cycle of scrutiny and oppression faced by transfeminine people.
Neither hypervisibility nor invisibility are a privilege. Both are forms of oppression, with the main difference being how publicly those systems of oppression operate.
These concepts are not a black and white binary, they just describe a general pattern. There are plenty of instances where transfeminine people are also subject to erasure, and transmasculine people are also subject to scrutiny. Trans people who do not fit cleanly into the transfem/transmasc binary also have experiences with these oppressive forces.
Erasure and scrutiny are two sides of the same coin; the ways they are applied to various groups of trans people are inconsistent because they are largely dependent on what makes a more convenient narrative for bigots.
I am open to any good faith feedback or further discussion on these concepts, so if you have anything you'd like to add please feel free to contribute your thoughts.
