TERF: The Politics of Marginalization and Dissent

by KJ Freeman

In contemporary discourse, TERF has evolved into a term used to vilify cisgender women who express rhetoric or hold positions perceived as counter to the inclusionary ideologies promoted by trans activists. This marks a departure from its original usage, which described self-identified trans-exclusionary radical feminists such as Germaine Greer, who openly rejected the legitimacy of trans women’s gender identity by referring to them as men and denying their lived realities as women assigned male at birth. The term’s radicalization reflects broader cultural and ideological shifts in the fight for trans rights, where it functions both as a means to defend trans identity and as a critique of the perceived appropriation of trans politics. However, this evolution also illuminates tensions within feminist movements, particularly the difficulty of reconciling trans-inclusionary frameworks with the structural critiques historically central to radical feminist theory. Intersectional factors, including race and socioeconomic status, further complicate these debates, offering a more nuanced lens that both affirms trans-exclusionary feminist concerns and upholds the position that trans women are women.

The Trump administration ushered in a series of executive orders that directly targeted the transgender community, ranging from the denial of “X” gender markers on passports to federal interventions barring transgender girls from participating in gender-segregated sports. These legislative moves, though presented under the guise of protecting societal norms, echo historical patterns of systemic oppression, such as those observed in Nazi Germany, where marginalized groups were similarly scapegoated and excluded from public life. The acceleration of trans rights over the last decade has placed these issues at the forefront of cultural and ideological battles, fueling the rise of controversial intellectuals like Jordan Peterson and amplifying the influence of redpill communities. These misogynistic platforms not only target women but also weaponize anti-trans rhetoric to perpetuate broader forms of social control and exclusion.

Social media platforms and YouTube have emerged as critical battlegrounds for these debates, hosting a diverse array of voices ranging from far-right trans activists like Blair White to leftist academic think pieces on channels such as Contrapoints. These debates frequently focus on polarizing issues such as public bathroom access and pronoun usage, reducing complex questions of identity and rights to contentious soundbites. While these debates have been exploited by the far-right to justify policies of exclusion and violence, trans activists and their allies must also reflect on the unintended consequences of their strategies. For example, the carceral tendencies of online discourse—where differing opinions are often met with social ostracization—can alienate potential allies and push them toward reactionary ideologies. The case of J.K. Rowling illustrates this dynamic: her public “cancellation” has not diminished her influence but instead entrenched her in anti-trans rhetoric, which further fuels a dangerous cycle of polarization.

One of the more troubling aspects of contemporary transphobia is its conflation with the concept of TERF, as well as the disproportionate focus on cisgender women as perpetrators of harm against trans individuals. This framing often ignores the most significant source of violence against trans women: cisgender men. Statistically, trans women are most likely to be killed by heterosexual men(who seek sex with all genders) in acts of gender-based violence, which parallels the ongoing epidemic of violence against cisgender women. By excluding men from these conversations, a crucial element of systemic violence is left unaddressed, creating a wedge between the shared concerns of femmes across the spectrum of gender experience. Trans men, often perceived through the lens of their assigned sex at birth, are similarly subjected to misogynistic violence, underscoring the intersectionality of gender-based oppression.

Transphobia, as a systemic phenomenon, mirrors the structural dynamics of racism while retaining distinct and unique characteristics. Unlike racism which historically rejects medical frameworks as a justification for subjugation, the discourse surrounding transgender identity often oscillates between critical theory and medical science to affirm or challenge gender. This dual reliance creates a paradox: identity becomes both a deeply personal, internal experience and a construct that demands external validation. Those who fail to affirm these identities, whether through ignorance or dissent, are frequently labeled as morally bankrupt or socially unworthy, perpetuating cycles of exclusion even within progressive spaces.

While the aim of these approaches is to protect an already vulnerable population, they often alienate the broader public through their reliance on hyper-academic frameworks that are inaccessible or unrelatable to many. This also complicates the internal dynamics of the transgender community, where identities are sometimes commodified or weaponized within larger cultural debates. The erasure of diverse motivations for transitioning further exacerbates this issue. Transitioning may occur for a variety of reasons, including alleviation of gender dysphoria, subcultural affiliation with art, fashion, or ballroom scenes, or even within the context of sexual dynamics, such as BDSM. Controversial discussions surrounding phenomena like “sissy hypno” pornography highlight the complexity of how transitioning is perceived, experienced, and policed both within and outside the queer community.

The queer community itself remains divided over how to frame these issues in ways that garner mainstream acceptance and protection. This internal paradox reveals a broader societal challenge: how to address the violence experienced by trans people as part of a continuum of gender-based violence that also affects sex workers, cisgender women, and others who occupy marginalized identities. Femicide, a persistent global issue, intersects with the marginalization of trans identities, particularly for those who exist at the nexus of sex work, race, and poverty. These realities complicate the notion of a distinct “trans genocide,” suggesting instead that these acts of violence are part of a larger, systemic pattern of gendered oppression.

At the heart of the debate lies the question of identity: “What is a woman?” This question, weaponized by puritanical conservative regimes, reflects a broader effort to dismantle decades of feminist and LGBTQ+ progress. Pronouns and identity politics have become lightning rods in these culture wars, often overshadowing the systemic and structural issues that underpin violence and exclusion. For trans activists, the challenge lies in navigating these external assaults while addressing internal fractures within their own community, all while advocating for a vision of justice that recognizes the shared humanity and dignity of all marginalized people.