Key terms Transgender or trans (adj) umbrella terms for people who are not cisgender - it generally means your gender is different to the gender you were assigned at birth. There are trans women, men, and nonbinary people.
Nonbinary (adj) people are outside the gender binary of women:men.
Cisgender (adj) people who are not trans and/or non-binary
Transphobia (noun) fear of/hatred of/invalidation of trans people and their genders
Deadname/birthname (noun) name that a person used before coming out/transition, name that parents imposed on them before they were able to assert their gender
Transphobia in statistics
What I aim to learn
Why I want to learn it
What does gender mean to me?
Chromosomes Pronouns Genitalia Reproductive capacity Presentation Internal sense of self Wardrobe
Access to spaces Sex and gender binaries hurt everyone
CIS ALLY Dos Reflect on my behaviour as an ally – and try to be consistent with my actions. Challenge transphobia and the spread of transphobic misinformation whenever I can. Share my resources and opportunities with trans people ask what they need, and offer what I can. Do my own research, listen to different peoples' experiences, try to stay up to date with language, and have empathy. Not all trans people are the same, so should listen and be open to learning about differences!
CIS ALLY DON’Ts Don't expect every trans person I meet to be willing to help me learn about trans experiences. Don't ask inappropriate questions about someone's medical history. Don't speculate about people's genders, or question whether trans people 'look like' the gender they are. Don't mock or invalidate nonbinary people or gender neutral pronouns. Don't use someone's old name or pronouns on purpose! Don't use being an ally for my personal gain, or to talk over trans people about trans experiences.
REFLECTIVE Qs What transphobic ideas have I learned from my culture/society? How can I address transphobia in myself and in others? Is there ongoing institutional transphobia in my place of work/study/living? What the main emotions that I feel about being an ally to trans people?
Testosterone levels not accurate predictors of performance; segregation is arbitrary & racist
Transition regret
That’s not how it works. It’s not how any of this works
Pressure 2 be trans
Transphobia hurts both trans and cis women (see misogynoir), while trans rights do not infringe on others
Privilege Privilege is being in a position in society where a particular kind of oppression doesn't harm you. Privilege can be hard to notice. Privilege is an energysaver and a stress-saver - it lets one move easily through social spaces.
Privilege doesn't mean one has an easy life. Having privilege around one part of your identity doesn't mean you don't experience different forms of oppression. For example, cis people might experience discrimination in the job market for many reasons - but not because of transphobia.
Kimberley Crenshaw's concept 'intersectionality' explains that different forms of oppression (racism, classism, homophobia, ableism etc) and privilege are not separate - they merge with each other.
What does my cisgender privilege look like?
Questions about sexuality
Reproductive rights
Clothing that fits
Medical access + knowledge
Unquestioned name and pronouns ID and biographical documentation
Gender stereotypes (looks, activities)
Gender-segregated spaces Opportunities
What did I learn?
How can I put this learning into practice Be visible as an ally
Reach out to a trans friend
Pay a trans educator/artist
Support trans-led initiatives
Keep my knowledge and language up to date
Challenge misinformation
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