Gender-critical Feminism and TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) Ideology

News:

Dr. Kathleen Stock, a gender-critical feminist academic, faced opposition and protests during her talk at the Oxford Union.
Stock has been criticized for her view that biological sex is more significant than gender identity, although she supports the protection of trans people from discrimination.

What:

Positions like Stock’s are often labeled as TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) in social-media parlance.
TERF refers to feminists who advocate for women’s rights but exclude the rights of transgender individuals, particularly trans women.
Gender-critical feminism: A feminist theory critical of the social uptake of gender identity and emphasizes the importance of recognizing biological sex in feminist issues.

When:

TERF ideology emerged during the feminist movement in the 1970s, focusing on the “female essence” and opposing patriarchal constructs of feminine traits.
The term gained prominence in 2008 when blogger Viv Smythe used it to criticize the exclusionary policies of the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival towards trans women.

How:

Gender-critical feminism is critical of the social uptake of gender identity and argues for the recognition of biological sex in feminist discourse.
Activists criticize gender-critical feminists for not recognizing gender identity and sex as distinct, which they believe hinders the fight for transgender rights.

Glossary:

TERF: Trans-exclusionary radical feminist, a term used for feminists who exclude transgender individuals, particularly trans women, from their advocacy.
Biological sex: The classification of individuals as male or female based on physical attributes, reproductive organs, and chromosomes.
LGBTQIA+: An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual, representing diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

Question:

Consider the following statements:

Gender-critical feminism argues for the recognition of gender identity over biological sex in feminist discourse.
The TERF ideology emerged during the feminist movement in the 1980s.
TERF ideology supports patriarchal constructs of feminine traits.

How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (b) Only two

Explanation:

Statement 1: Incorrect. Gender-critical feminism is critical of the social uptake of gender identity and argues for the recognition of biological sex in feminist discourse.

Statement 2: Incorrect. The TERF ideology emerged during the feminist movement in the 1970s, not the 1980s.

Statement 3: Incorrect. TERF ideology focusing on the “female essence” and opposing patriarchal constructs of feminine traits.