I agree that the pattern of aggression by male trans activists matters. I think it's less about them being male, and more about the malignant culture of trans activism and how it specifically elevates anti-social people into leadership. Male leadership is a common feature in a lot of movements but rarely is characterized by this degree of anti-social behavior, so there's a sickness to the culture and values of trans activism. This is a movement with too many prominent trans figures who want to impose their belief system through fear and intimidation. They are breaking a social contract of civility and nonviolence in far more serious ways than the women who refer to them, in reaction, as "he." There is some social benefit when women refer to anti-social trans women as "he" because it is the only negative feedback that many of these trans women ever receive. Also, as many of you point out, it clarifies the situation when a male person is fighting to enter female spaces. I personally don't do sex-based pronouns but I respect women who use male pronouns. They have a persuasive argument when they explain that they're being true to their own belief system (that sex matters) and their values of resisting intimidation and abuse. Women get too much intimidation and abuse and more men need to start relating to why women would become "rude" to the perpetrators. Instead many liberal men have developed a rich language of contemptuous terms for these women, and yet they have nothing comparable for the aggressors.
That being said, I think we could all respect that Jesse and Katie have reasonable explanations for their use of preferred pronouns, too. I don't think I've ever heard them condemn women who use sex-based pronouns and that respect could be mutual.
The violence of trans activism began with its leaders harangueing people for not using approved language, and now I'm wary when other movements do the same.
Male aggression matters. Leaving that fact out makes a world of difference.
I agree that the pattern of aggression by male trans activists matters. I think it's less about them being male, and more about the malignant culture of trans activism and how it specifically elevates anti-social people into leadership. Male leadership is a common feature in a lot of movements but rarely is characterized by this degree of anti-social behavior, so there's a sickness to the culture and values of trans activism. This is a movement with too many prominent trans figures who want to impose their belief system through fear and intimidation. They are breaking a social contract of civility and nonviolence in far more serious ways than the women who refer to them, in reaction, as "he." There is some social benefit when women refer to anti-social trans women as "he" because it is the only negative feedback that many of these trans women ever receive. Also, as many of you point out, it clarifies the situation when a male person is fighting to enter female spaces. I personally don't do sex-based pronouns but I respect women who use male pronouns. They have a persuasive argument when they explain that they're being true to their own belief system (that sex matters) and their values of resisting intimidation and abuse. Women get too much intimidation and abuse and more men need to start relating to why women would become "rude" to the perpetrators. Instead many liberal men have developed a rich language of contemptuous terms for these women, and yet they have nothing comparable for the aggressors.
That being said, I think we could all respect that Jesse and Katie have reasonable explanations for their use of preferred pronouns, too. I don't think I've ever heard them condemn women who use sex-based pronouns and that respect could be mutual.
The violence of trans activism began with its leaders harangueing people for not using approved language, and now I'm wary when other movements do the same.