Women's History Month is meant to honor women's contributions to society, but a persistent divide between cis and trans women has complicated that mission. Ben Bishop, a graduate researcher at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Communication, is adding his voice to the debate.
His critical feminist research focuses on the emerging anti-gender movement, and more specifically on discussion around detransition and how ideas of gender transition are utilized in the movement.
Ben’s most recent publication, TERF by Any Other Name: The Constitutive Rhetoric of Gender Critical Feminism, is a constitutive analysis—an evaluation that allows one to envision themselves as a co-participant in a movement—of the gender critical movement. It encompasses the shift from Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF) to Gender Critical Feminism. The work took shape in late 2022, as a response to a book titled Gender-Critical Feminism by Dr. Holly Lawford-Smith, an Australian feminist philosopher. Ben was awarded Feminist Scholar of the Year Award from the OFRGC, via TERF in winter of this year.
“It was an interesting retelling and primarily recycling of ideas that were much older,” Ben said, “yet it was given this new name, and the name seemed to be gaining traction. There was something appealing [to certain activists] about this reimagined feminism that was ‘critical’ or exclusionary towards trans people.”
Connecting this idea with constitutive rhetoric, Ben began to mold his thesis. He turned to Sylvia Wynter for another key components, suggesting that gender critical feminism is identifiable through transantagonism, or dismissiveness towards trans people. Ben also argues that Gender Critical Feminism is also steeped in whiteness; the author being white herself. Ben explained that the joining of white, cisgender women or white feminists created yet another component, stating in relation to Wynter’s concept of overrepresentation, “gave that subject internal justification to assert itself and dominate other collective subjects.”
Discourse on the Gender Critical Feminism is politically and socially relevant, not only in Women’s History Month, Ben addresses complexity as a messenger.
“I don't think the gender critical movement is particularly invested in listening to trans people. I am not the ‘speaker’ that this ‘audience’ is probably most receptive to.”
While a challenge, Ben finds an interest in this identification and disaffiliation, and while they might cause in creating effective political collaboration, such as a more representative evaluation of critical feminist research, it certainly propels further discussions.
“If we're going to change things for the better, combat fascist feminisms for example, what feels much more important than just identity is trying to think through what affinities we share with each other, and what world we want to see. How do we want the world to be, what do we need? And organize ourselves that way.”
Women's History Month offers an opportunity to reflect on whose stories are being told — and who has sometimes been overlooked. For Ben, his critical feminist research is a way to engage with those questions and examine the divisions that have affected trans communities, as well as contribute to broader conversations about inclusion.
Written by Giulia Siegfried and Katherine Slavin for COMMRC Connect