Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Voyeurs take note

Courtesy of Ann Althouse, comes this fascinating paragraph from the Harvard Crimson:
"So many people I know, including many women who are not trans-identified but whose gender presentation to some degree transgresses the gender norms of their context, have had the experience of being asked if they are in the ‘right bathroom’ or told they are in the ‘wrong’ one..."
That's written in a language that isn't quite English.  If we decode it the gist of it is that on places like the Harvard Campus, the really cool kids believe that anyone who thinks of themself as outside "gender norms" should be able to use the women's washroom. So here is Jill, formerly Bill, but Jill has not had an operation yet and may never. Jill defines herself as trans and that is the only authority Jill needs to earn a right to use the women's washroom.

And I love the phrase " whose gender presentation to some degree transgresses the gender norms of their context". By that standard, could bearded, 250-pound Frank put on some neutral lipstick and claim he he to some degree transgresses the gender norms of his context? I don't see why not.

And if women aren't comfortable with this? Well, as Althouse puts it:
... now, it seems that what the good people are supposed to believe is that only retrograde women are worried about sharing the bathroom with men. 
I'll tell you who has already made note of this: voyeurs. Every woman in the world may as well get used to the idea that in the future to use a public washroom or the change room at the pool will be to run a substantial risk that you will be watched and quite likely recorded on video for some voyeur to"use" for his personal enjoyment and probably to share with friends.

And there is nothing you can do about it.

Well, nothing expect stop using public facilities. And I expect that many upscale businesses would/will respond to such changes by offering women private facilities such as secluded toilets and change rooms.

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