This piece of writing will look at the concepts of sex and gender according to second and third wave feminists before applying these notions to female only spaces and the issues which may arise from these places. The territory of this essay is looking at what issues the transgender community may face and the more specific object being female only spaces and the issues that transgender women may face when attending such places.
The first part of the essay includes typical views of sex and gender that second and third wave feminists had. It will also explore how the views of second wave feminists could be seen as similar to those of today’s critical feminists or trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs). Within this section is the views of third wave feminist Judith Butler on sex and gender. Her distinctions of sex and gender became helpful in understanding more about the transgender community.
The definition of transgender is presented in this essay as an umbrella term which includes many different aspects. It is understood that the recent growth in acceptance for the trans community has emerged from the media as well as politics. While acceptance has increased recently, there is still a minority that do not accept the transgender community. Some organisations have attempted to exclude trans women from female only spaces and attempt to ensure these spaces only welcome biological women.
Throughout the essay it is clear that, based off their views, second wave feminists would not include transgender women in female only spaces perhaps at all or especially if they only self-identity as a woman as opposed to having had surgery or hormone therapy. Third wave feminists, including Judith Butler, would oppose this view and suggest that all transgender women, whether they self-identify as a woman or have undergone surgery, should be welcomed into female only spaces.
Suggested solutions to these issues which ensure both sides are happy include creating spaces where people who are comfortable around transgender women can go, as well as spaces for people who are not. As well as this, the essay explores the idea that education is key to the acceptance of the transgender community today.