“Feminist views on transgender topics vary widely. Third- and fourth-wave feminists tend to view the struggle for trans rights as an integral part of intersectional feminism. Former president of the American National Organization for Women (NOW) Terry O'Neill has stated that the struggle against transphobia is a feminist issue, with NOW affirming that ‘trans women are women, trans girls are girls.’ Several studies have found that people who identify as feminists tend to be more accepting of trans people than those who do not.”
This and the next are direct quotes from the Wikipedia.org article “Feminist views on transgender topics. Of course, as with any topic, there are a variety of differing opinions.
From that same article: “There is a school known as gender-critical feminism that holds that womanhood is defined on the axis of sex, and thus asserts that trans women are not women, trans men are not men, and opposes trans rights and rejects the concept of transgender identities.”
This somewhat technical introduction to my opinion is to lend balance to the piece written by Sean Swope in last Saturday’s edition of The Chronicle.
For him to suggest that some of us may be misguided is incorrect or perhaps his misguided opinion. I am a practicing member of a large faith community that values unity in diversity and grants each member of humanity their dignity.
While I am happy to hear Mr. Swope’s wife and daughters are comfortable in their status of gender equality, it would have carried more weight to hear from the female members of the Swope household rather than the “man of the house” about their successful navigation of a system that rarely grants equality to anyone without a concerted, tireless effort.
It is also my opinion that, while Mr. Swope is entitled to his say on any matter he feels compelled to express, with the position he holds as a Lewis County commissioner, his guest commentary takes on the tone of a “bully pulpit.” I appreciate the efforts of Centralia College to offer a full-fledged celebration of womens’ accomplishments last week.
I might suggest that Swope attend to the economic business of the county and leave us of the “fairer sex” to fend for ourselves and perhaps like cream we will rise to the top.
All this is expressed without any rancor — just trying to balance the scales.
Sonja McCully
Centralia
