How Do You Respond to Transphobic Arguments?/I'm back!

[Bittersmart]

It's hard to argue someone into being a more open minded person about such matters. If you are trying to get someone that you are close with to become a more open minded it's better to get them to empathize with the people. This is how most past-homophobes lose their homophobia. It's not that they come to some sudden intellectual realization, it's that they end up with a gay kid, or their close friend comes out of the closet and they realize that it's just not all that important. If you know any transgendered people just hanging out would probably be the way to go. If not your local college probably has GBLT talks where they could get some exposure.

I realize that. I'm asking for a compelling argument that could get him, or me if I'm the one who's wrong, to think about the issue. I used to be pretty homophobic myself (then it turned out I'm bisexual), so I know it will take time.

They are not "sick in the head", they are born that way, and it is a well-documented natural phenomenon in humans, just like homosexuality. There are studies showing that transsexualism has biological causes; the brain is one gender while the body is another.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_t...d_theories

[Tonus]

Phobias sometimes stem from how a person views a situation, ethically. If he feels "it's wrong," there is no argument that will satisfy him.

I am of the opinion that we usually do not know the reason we take a particular stance on many issues, and since we are wired to HAVE TO KNOW, we mostly just invent motivations and then try to fit ourselves into them. A person may have completely irrational reasons to want to force the world to fit into his narrow viewpoint. Not knowing what they are, he will invent rationalizations that seem logical or at least defensible.

Not impossible to change a person's mind in that scenario, but it's not easy since we do not really know what arguments to use when they don't even know why they believe as they do.

[Diamond]

But, for education sake, maybe buy a book on this subject and read it

Any suggestions?

[*Deidre*]

Phobias sometimes stem from how a person views a situation, ethically. If he feels "it's wrong," there is no argument that will satisfy him.

I am of the opinion that we usually do not know the reason we take a particular stance on many issues, and since we are wired to HAVE TO KNOW, we mostly just invent motivations and then try to fit ourselves into them. A person may have completely irrational reasons to want to force the world to fit into his narrow viewpoint. Not knowing what they are, he will invent rationalizations that seem logical or at least defensible.

Not impossible to change a person's mind in that scenario, but it's not easy since we do not really know what arguments to use when they don't even know why they believe as they do.

That's true. Then it becomes an issue of how much effort you're willing to put into changing someone's mind. Sometimes, it's a matter if ignorance, which is fixable. If it is a matter of prejudice, it's not fixable by anyone but the person with the phobic issue.

[John V]

We build associations as children automatically. Tell him to deal with it.

The boyfriend could use the exact same argument.

[Bittersmart]

Phobias sometimes stem from how a person views a situation, ethically. If he feels "it's wrong," there is no argument that will satisfy him.

I am of the opinion that we usually do not know the reason we take a particular stance on many issues, and since we are wired to HAVE TO KNOW, we mostly just invent motivations and then try to fit ourselves into them. A person may have completely irrational reasons to want to force the world to fit into his narrow viewpoint. Not knowing what they are, he will invent rationalizations that seem logical or at least defensible.

This makes me think of what transphobic people really fear under all the rationalizations, and I think it might have to do with being afraid of being "duped" by a trans person. A few years ago I was in a discussion and there were a lot of people who very afraid of being "duped" into a relationship with someone who used to be a different gender, and the thought sickened them. And so, they said trans people were mentally ill and that they weren't going to respect their choice to become a different gender. "He can pretend to be a woman, but I'm still calling him 'sir'!"

[OGirly]

But, for education sake, maybe buy a book on this subject and read it

Any suggestions?

True Selves:
http://www.amazon.com/True-Selves-Unders...0787967025

[Psykhronic]

We build associations as children automatically. Tell him to deal with it.

The boyfriend could use the exact same argument.

And he would miss the application to transgenders if he did.

[My imaginary friend is GOD]

Oh, by the way, I think all people who are "trans" are incredibly sexy. It may be a fetish.

[*Deidre*]

But, for education sake, maybe buy a book on this subject and read it

Any suggestions?

Just googled this, and the book Transgender Realities looks like a great read! It is about not only explaining what transgender means but it discusses the judgements made. I think I'm going to read this, too. I'd start with something like that.

Check it out. :-)