Can you be trans-racial?

[gsdx]

“The term ‘transracial’ was originally used to describe cross-racial adoption, such that the adopted children were seen to be spanning their own and their adoptive parents’ racial categories,” explains Mikhail Lyubansky, PhD, a member of the teaching faculty in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign who specializes in the psychology of race. “In this sense, yes, of course there are transracial individuals.”

But Lyubansky explains that the use of the term nowadays is not as simple as that: “With the greater visibility and growing acceptance of people who identify as transgender, the word ‘trans’ has largely evolved to refer to those whose gender identity is different than the one assigned to them at birth, which is sometimes described as feeling/believing/knowing that they are one kind of person" stuck in another kind of person’s body.

“This description … makes sense when describing both trans men and trans women, meaning that it fits equally well regardless of direction. Applying this concept to race makes little sense to me. ‘Trans’ refers to a lack of fit between biology and identity, but there is no biology involved in race.”

Lyubansky says the use of the word “transracial” in regards to Dolezal “is logically flawed and socially problematic in that it ignores the oppression of both those who are transgender and those who have had to live with real racial discrimination.”

Just as quickly as some on Twitter promoted the concept of Dolezal as transracial, others used the social media platform to critique the utilization of the term in a way that minimized and disenfranchised the transgender community.

“This is a dumb thing to say. Don’t say this,” tweeted Citizen Radio’s Allison Kilkenny of those arguing that if it is possible to be transgender, it is just as possible for Dolezal to be transracial. “Trans women are women. What #RachelDolezal did is blackface.”

https://ca.shine.yahoo.com/can-rach...or-is-white-privilege-to-blame-130545887.html

 

[xbuzzerx]

“This description … makes sense when describing both trans men and trans women, meaning that it fits equally well regardless of direction. Applying this concept to race makes little sense to me. ‘Trans’ refers to a lack of fit between biology and identity, but there is no biology involved in race.”

Precisely right. There are many different components to what is socially recognized as race, few groups share exactly the same criteria: some involve legal category components, political or nationality components, religious components or geographical components. Many people would watercooler define it as visual skin tone or blood quantums, but these are not universal markers either, even within a given group.

This is a dumb thing to say. Don’t say this,” tweeted Citizen Radio’s Allison Kilkenny of those arguing that if it is possible to be transgender, it is just as possible for Dolezal to be transracial.

Also precisely right. The people posing this question of "if you can be transgender because you feel like the wrong gender, why does it not work that way for race?" as if it's a "gotcha" moment are only illustrating two things: their ignorance of the social complexity of race as a construct, and their ignorance of the fact that transgenderism is a direct disconnect between biochemical and psychological identity with the gender people assign by physical genitalia. The two things are not remotely the same thing whatsoever.

 

[luckynumbah7]

(I'd argue against defining the trans thing as biochemical for two reasons. In no particular order, first because there might one day be a test based on brainscans and I'd rather trans people not get denied if they don't 'measure up', and two, because too many people loath us and I dunnwanna give them any more ideas or encouragement about how to weed us out.)

 

[nycguydowntown]

The woman grew up with 3 adopted Black siblings---something obviously happened in her childhood ---some deep psychology that changed her---some "experts" think the same happens to trans people--so who knows?

 

[sixthson]

Let's see how she milks her 15 minutes of fame by spinning this lie.

 

[Soilwork]

no, you cannot be trans-racial, and obviously this woman has some very deep-seeded issues that she's working through. I don't excuse what she did, although aside from making an ass of herself, I don't think she's really done any real harm and I'll admit that it's certainly made us confront cultural appropriation.

 

[luckynumbah7]

The woman grew up with 3 adopted Black siblings---something obviously happened in her childhood ---some deep psychology that changed her---some "experts" think the same happens to trans people--so who knows?

I do. Generally people who have deep psychological reasons for transitioning (that's also code, if you didn't know, for 'someone did something wrong to that poor child, Lordy Lordy' - and they usually blame gay people and sexist gendered notions for trans people's existence, I'd think you would've realized that by now) anyway, those with internally personal gendered stereotype or expectation issues who fast track transitioning not only regret transitioning, the pricks actually blame the the doctors and other trans people for going through an entirely elective medical practice and campaign to get all of it more heavily restricted than it already is. It took me 12 years to get hormones and I'll be damned if inconsiderate asswipes connect me to blackface because they want to ignore what trans people actually say. Those are the people that rush to get surgery in a 3 month 'revelation' window while totally ignoring any common sense whatsoever.

Experts think my ass.

Mind you, some people do detransition, which is certainly allowed at any given point, but the ones who do detransition usually do so for a set number of reasons. Psychological issues can be one of them, in which case they detransition because they realize they're not trans. Detransition itself is damned rare, from what I understand. Needing to play your old gender for family/job/what have you is much more common. I know of exactly one person personally who has detransitioned for psych issues (getting other things mixed up with being trans) and it took her a bit of time to figure out what the issues were. Hormones take as long to finish as a regular puberty, however, so it isn't as if there's not time enough to (usually) explore what transitioning means for a person before permanent changes occur. You can also take lower hormone doses if you're unsure which transitioning path, if any, is right for you.

But nooooo, someone says 'experts!' As if trans people haven't reiterated the same message for decades.

 

[luckynumbah7]

I mean specifically, that people not-gay often blame trans people's existence on same sex pedo behavior. Nothing like seeing that in a gay forum. Damned ironic, lemme just say.

Besides, most places don't do informed consent for hormones and it often takes decades to save for surgery. Most places hb soc and insurance, if it covers anything at all, make damned sure if you've any issues whatsoever they've been long worked through by the time they allow you to do anything. Same message = quit holding us to ignorant assumptions and for the love of Christ quit listening to cis 'experts'. And no pointing to behavior that you make us do in the first place to get treatment as a way of claiming those 'experts' are right. And quit comparing us to drag and blackface while you're at it.

Let's see how she milks her 15 minutes of fame by spinning this lie.

So far she's stepped down and said the work for racial equality is more important than her NAACP position. I'm going with liar plus complicated family relationship plus deep seated issues. I doubt 'they get more attention/sympathy/status' was her reasoning process. I tend to agree with one of her brother's takes on it.

 

[luckynumbah7]

Forgot to add for NYC downtown up there that most people with interracial siblings don't go on to lie and develop elaborate backstories about their race or ethnicity. Pretending that's what occurs is intellectually dishonest. If complicated family relationships were what caused people to ask their brother to lie for them then I think we'd have noticed the mixed family where some of them are liars and lo, they keep getting caught (and we would notice because both a mixed family and lieing about race/ethnicity are generally easily check able, and if one caused the other then there'd be a hell of a lot more people like the op's story.). Kindly note that it generally, ha, doesn't occur.

 

[sixthson]

It's funny how when a white woman lies about being black, the world has a discussion about the possibility of being trans-racial.
If a black person said they identified more as white, there would be accusations of self-loathing and shame. And rightly so.
This is like some form of reverse prejudice or maybe she just feels guilty for being born white?

 

[HoodedRat]

...maybe she just feels guilty for being born white?

I think this nails it. She seems to be a self-loathing, anti-white, racist.

 

[luckynumbah7]

Except nothing she did spoke to being racist against white people. Refusing to be identified as one thing doesn't necessarily mean you're racist against that thing. She was just fine being white until college, according to her own family's reports. Then she collected her personal history experiences, modified them, and nosedived. I'd think if she felt guilty she'd do one of two things - turn into Benvolio or become self flagelating with the 'please judge me, I've sinned I've sinned.' Meme. Contrary to popular belief most activists don't carry a whole helluva lot of guilt around. Why would we need to? It isn't like we consider taught attitudes, taught expectationa and shit that just sinks in throughout the day Original Sin or something.

 

[Taralen]

no, you cannot be trans-racial.

Why not?

 

[luckynumbah7]

Why not?

Well, that word already has a set meaning when used in a situation that involves race. Also, I'll cave when she manages to display at least one thing that means she's internalized some negative thing about herself being black. Key word being - herself -, not 'black people in general'. Everyone internalizes some sort of racist dogma that you have to work through, and good luck completely ridding yourself of all of an -ism. Any ism, take your pick. (I've never seen one it's possible to completely uproot when they're coded into every type and kind of sociall interaction while being shown and enforced in subtle and not so subtle ways daily.)

 

[luckynumbah7]

Mind you, I might, might be persuaded to give in on the not identifying as black but considering oneself culturally so - if she didn't grow up with white parents and if she wasn't living in a society where people specifically gave her an invisible knapsack, one that she's aware she had at the time and knows has existed since she was quite young - and she also knew receiving such was based on first impressions, which often mean looks. A black girl generally knows she's not white, even if she can pass, and so she internalizes shit about herself. Now, if there was a technically black parented girl who were raised by white parents, ie, adopted- and then grew up considering herself white and she passes because light skin plus race being one hell of a social construct, I'd say she was white.

The reverse like described in the op I've never heard of happening.

 

[luckynumbah7]

* And while such a girl can identify as black when she finds out her history, and it does happen, (hell, most things do) I'd be sure to point out she needs to shut up and sit down when people are discussing passing privilege. I've seen too many people do "I can say that because I'm x" to put up thoughtless opinions.

 

[MorrisseyX]

This woman quite trending in my local news- 2 days ago (she's from Spokane, WA)

http://www.today.com/news/rachel-dolezal-speaks-today-show-matt-lauer-after-naacp-resignation-t26371
and perhaps her news spread to entire nation(s)

She sparked debate whether one could become "trans-racial" by choice..?

Do you think that's possible? Or somebody could explain that to me?

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...tion-destructive-rachel-dolezal-spokane-naacp

No you cannot be transracial this lady is a racist and the enemy of the black community . When a black person tried to do this like michael jackson or latoya jackson people were not be supportive. People said michael and latoya jackson were mentally ill and ashamed of being black. Yet when a white woman appropriate black people there is more sympathy for her. I agree with the rapper talib kweli this woman is so typical of white liberals. Being black is now being ridiculed and turned into a fetish by this racist white woman. Rachel dolezal wants benefits for being black and not the burden of it. Glad this racist cow got fired from eastern washington university. So typical of white people to use their white privilege to harm black folks. This lady is a perfect example of racist white entitlement. So disgusting to see this bitch pretend to be something she is not!

 

[luckynumbah7]

Pssst, your sad sack of an ass can try not being horrifically misogynistic while the pot calls the kettle black regarding privilege, racial or otherwise. Wouldn't fuckin' kill ya, mr use any excuse in the book to call a woman a bitch.

 

[MorrisseyX]

Pssst, your sad sack of an ass can try not being horrifically misogynistic while the pot calls the kettle black regarding privilege, racial or otherwise. Wouldn't fuckin' kill ya, mr use any excuse in the book to call a woman a bitch.

You are an oreo so no surprise you would support rachel dolezal. You seem very white washed to me your response is no surprise.

 

[luckynumbah7]

I'm not black, you idiot.