WLRN interview with Charlie Rae & Sam Reitger about Changing Minds
Sep 21, 2017
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In a compelling discussion, two radical feminists dive deep into the complexities of transgender activism and its implications for women's rights. They challenge the narrative that the trans movement is a civil rights crusade, exploring the moral ambiguities involved. The conversation highlights the risks of medicalizing gender nonconformity in minors and the reality of violence faced by women voicing dissenting views. They also touch on reclaiming controversial terms like 'TERF' to strengthen feminist discourse, advocating for respectful dialogue in these contentious arenas.
Charlie Rae and Sam Reitger challenge the notion of transgender activism as a civil rights movement, arguing for a critical evaluation of its implications.
They differentiate between 'bad' transgender activism that undermines others' rights and 'good' activism that focuses on protecting vulnerable individuals.
The speakers advocate for open dialogue around gender identity issues, aiming to create understanding and defend women's rights while addressing transgender needs.
Deep dives
Introduction to Changing Minds and Activism
The podcast features a discussion with two activists who are co-authoring a book titled 'Changing Minds,' focusing on resisting gender identity doctrine and politics. They share insights into their backgrounds, revealing how their friendship blossomed from initially debating opposing views on social media. Emphasizing their activism, the speakers discuss their shared focus on transgender politics, highlighting issues often overlooked in mainstream discussions. Their collaboration reflects a desire to bring attention to pressing concerns within the framework of gender identity and its implications for broader societal norms.
Distinguishing Between Types of Trans Activism
The speakers delineate between two distinct forms of transgender activism—one deemed 'bad' and ideologically driven, often conflicting with others' rights, and the other considered 'good,' centered on protecting vulnerable individuals. They describe how the problematic activism promotes an ideology that ignores biological realities and could harm vulnerable sections of the LGBTQ+ community, such as youth experiencing gender nonconformity. In contrast, they advocate for support of activists working on practical issues like violence against transgender persons and employment discrimination. This distinction is critical in navigating the complex landscape of gender politics.
Potential Dangers of Trans Ideology
The conversation addresses the potential dangers associated with trans ideology, particularly concerning the medicalization of gender identity among youth. They argue that pushing for early transitions could lead to a misunderstanding of gender nonconformity, often leading to gay or lesbian identities being pathologized. They emphasize that many children reportedly outgrow gender dysphoria, suggesting that transitioning at a young age might be misguided. Through this discussion, they raise concerns about the broader societal implications of medicalizing gender identities at such an early stage.
Flexibility and Double Standards in Gender Identity
The speakers explore the inherent flexibility within transgender identity rhetoric, highlighting how personal interpretations of gender can create double standards. They illustrate how individuals may face criticism for questioning identities while simultaneously being told to validate others' claims to gender. This inconsistency suggests that many activists might prioritize emotional experiences over biological realities, complicating debates on rights and definitions. By pointing out these inconsistencies, they argue for a need to clarify discussions around gender identity to protect women's rights without dismissing transgender individuals' experiences.
Activism, Dialogue, and Future Goals
The discussion culminates in a vision for future activism that emphasizes encouraging open dialogue about gender identity issues. They highlight the importance of questioning established narratives and creating spaces where differing opinions can coexist without fear of label-driven backlash. The speakers express aspiration for their book to serve as a tool for raising awareness and fostering discussions about resistance to current gender doctrines. They call for a broad coalition of radical feminists and others to unite in this aim, ultimately fostering understanding and defending women’s rights while considering transgender individuals' needs.
On August 26th, WLRN's Thistle Pettersen got to talk with Charlie Rae, journalist with the Fifth Column, a popular indie media news service online, and with Sam Reitger, also with Fifth Column, and co-author of Changing Minds: A Guide to Confronting Gender Doctrine.
Relevant work by Charlie at Fifth Column: http://thefifthcolumnnews.com/2017/08/are-there-good-reasons-to-oppose-transgenderism/
And by Sam: http://thefifthcolumnnews.com/2017/07/liberal-silence-on-transgender-violence/
In the interview you will hear these two dynamic and articulate radical feminists debunk the claim that the trans movement is a civil rights movement, talk about how they came to question what they call the gender doctrine, and analyze the ideology behind the trans movement that fuels sexism and homophobia but also could potentially fuel ableism and racism as well.
You won't want to miss a second of their sharp-cutting thought that aims to give you a glimpse of what they will cover in their book to come out in 2018.
Charlie Rae is a New Englander who now lives in the South. She goes to school to study Communication and is a member of the National Academic Honor Society, Tau Sigma. Rae was featured on WHUS Radio and in the Uconn Free Press for her writing on activism and coverage of the events in Ferguson. Rae also has an Associates Degree in Visual Fine Arts, and has worked as the Art Director for local campaigns. She now writes for independent news source The Fifth Column, running a feminist faction called The Fem Column with her working partner Sam Reitger. The two of them work remotely on a collection of projects, and their main endeavor is this work-in-progress book discussed at length during the interview.
Sam Reitger is a California native and continuing student, presently seeking to complete her major in Sociology. She is a social critic and writer, working as a freelance journalist for The Fifth Column and assistant editor to Charlie Rae at The Fem Column. She founded and co-runs an online question and answer forum on Facebook called “Ask Radical Feminists”. She is also an aspiring videographer, and is working on a series of short videos that explore topics in radical feminist political theory. In addition, she works with Edgewater Press, where she plans to publish her upcoming video projects.
To contribute to their campaign to get this book published, click on this link: https://www.patreon.com/charlierae
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