Wannabe Apparatchik
@apparatchikwannabe.bsky.social
he/him
History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.
History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.
on the other hand a permutation of this, described to me by several trans men, is a feeling that people view them as women and so resent them for *giving up the attractiveness and femininity which they owe society*, so they hardly escape that scrutinizing gaze either.
November 28, 2025 at 9:39 AM
on the other hand a permutation of this, described to me by several trans men, is a feeling that people view them as women and so resent them for *giving up the attractiveness and femininity which they owe society*, so they hardly escape that scrutinizing gaze either.
in either case the argument is that gender is an Essential Truth which it brings danger upon others to deviate from, because society works a certain way and can only ever work that way.
November 28, 2025 at 9:27 AM
in either case the argument is that gender is an Essential Truth which it brings danger upon others to deviate from, because society works a certain way and can only ever work that way.
notably this model isn’t actually that different from the traditional reactionary “they are turning our men into women to weaken us and sap our virility, and they’re convincing women to ruin their bodies and destroy their fertility”, the difference is that in this one the man is the essential victim
November 28, 2025 at 9:21 AM
notably this model isn’t actually that different from the traditional reactionary “they are turning our men into women to weaken us and sap our virility, and they’re convincing women to ruin their bodies and destroy their fertility”, the difference is that in this one the man is the essential victim
under that model, trans women are conceived as male intruders, the irreconcilable oppressor attacking or deceiving the morally-righteous victim, whereas trans men are conceived of as lost women trying to attain male privilege. both are “the problem”, but they are dealt with differently.
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
under that model, trans women are conceived as male intruders, the irreconcilable oppressor attacking or deceiving the morally-righteous victim, whereas trans men are conceived of as lost women trying to attain male privilege. both are “the problem”, but they are dealt with differently.
for example, in particular the obsession with deceiving lesbians seems to have sm to do with 70s-era lesbian separatism and the essentialist premise that men will always seek to oppress and abuse women, and so there can be no such thing as equality, only separation as much as can be achieved
November 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM
for example, in particular the obsession with deceiving lesbians seems to have sm to do with 70s-era lesbian separatism and the essentialist premise that men will always seek to oppress and abuse women, and so there can be no such thing as equality, only separation as much as can be achieved
the reason they go on and on about hypothetical lesbians or “but why would you destroy your body like that” or having children or whatever is, at its most basic, because they view it as “breaking the rules”, regardless of if those rules are retvrn shit or essentialist difference feminism
November 28, 2025 at 9:11 AM
the reason they go on and on about hypothetical lesbians or “but why would you destroy your body like that” or having children or whatever is, at its most basic, because they view it as “breaking the rules”, regardless of if those rules are retvrn shit or essentialist difference feminism
also, there is a sort of outrage to it all. the premise of gender conformism of all sorts is that society is *owed* a certain type of expression from people, there is a way they are *supposed to be*, and not doing that is, to someone invested in this system, conceived as a transgression against them
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 AM
also, there is a sort of outrage to it all. the premise of gender conformism of all sorts is that society is *owed* a certain type of expression from people, there is a way they are *supposed to be*, and not doing that is, to someone invested in this system, conceived as a transgression against them
but i think its clear that at least some of how these are covered is still tied to viewing assigned gender as the key one, as what trans people “really are”, because the focus on trans women as “ruined men” also slots neatly into the “crisis of masculinity” narrative, itself based on ancient tropes
November 28, 2025 at 8:56 AM
but i think its clear that at least some of how these are covered is still tied to viewing assigned gender as the key one, as what trans people “really are”, because the focus on trans women as “ruined men” also slots neatly into the “crisis of masculinity” narrative, itself based on ancient tropes
the basic, foundational premise of traditional gender is “these are two opposite categories”, so you can’t quite fully extract “is this because man or because woman”, since the two feed each other. where i was going with “viewed as women/men” is in certain, but not all respects, since it’s messy
November 28, 2025 at 8:51 AM
the basic, foundational premise of traditional gender is “these are two opposite categories”, so you can’t quite fully extract “is this because man or because woman”, since the two feed each other. where i was going with “viewed as women/men” is in certain, but not all respects, since it’s messy
but not all of this is, i think, necessarily “being viewed as women”, because there are also permutations of “you are a failure *of a man*” and similar such sentiments in there, which shouldn’t be surprising considering how intertwined the entire predominant system of gender is
November 28, 2025 at 8:46 AM
but not all of this is, i think, necessarily “being viewed as women”, because there are also permutations of “you are a failure *of a man*” and similar such sentiments in there, which shouldn’t be surprising considering how intertwined the entire predominant system of gender is
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
they would love nothing more than to use this as pretense for martial law etc. but the reality is that most people have reached maximum polarization already
you're not getting anyone on board with harsh retaliation that wasn't already on board before
you're not getting anyone on board with harsh retaliation that wasn't already on board before
November 28, 2025 at 5:19 AM
they would love nothing more than to use this as pretense for martial law etc. but the reality is that most people have reached maximum polarization already
you're not getting anyone on board with harsh retaliation that wasn't already on board before
you're not getting anyone on board with harsh retaliation that wasn't already on board before
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
The US federal government is openly warring against its own nonwhite population in a way no one alive has ever experienced. It’s not even getting to hide it. The overt bigotry is comparable to Jim Crow. And our pathetic, cowed, putrid political class just keeps pretending it isn’t even happening.
November 28, 2025 at 5:43 AM
The US federal government is openly warring against its own nonwhite population in a way no one alive has ever experienced. It’s not even getting to hide it. The overt bigotry is comparable to Jim Crow. And our pathetic, cowed, putrid political class just keeps pretending it isn’t even happening.
i mean this is also the particular manifestation of “how dare you not be what you are supposed to”, which is the basic meaning of all of it, whoever it’s directed at
November 28, 2025 at 6:08 AM
i mean this is also the particular manifestation of “how dare you not be what you are supposed to”, which is the basic meaning of all of it, whoever it’s directed at
yeah its all connected to each other—i’m mainly pushing back on the idea that trans men don’t also experience specifically *misogynistic* forms of social pressure due to being sorted also into the category of “fallen women” in certain ways
November 28, 2025 at 5:51 AM
yeah its all connected to each other—i’m mainly pushing back on the idea that trans men don’t also experience specifically *misogynistic* forms of social pressure due to being sorted also into the category of “fallen women” in certain ways
i think both are on some level forms of misogyny, but expressed differently because ultimately the entire reactionary complaint is that transness threatens the fundamental order of who is possessed of what social status
November 28, 2025 at 5:36 AM
i think both are on some level forms of misogyny, but expressed differently because ultimately the entire reactionary complaint is that transness threatens the fundamental order of who is possessed of what social status
while weirdness about trans women transitioning often takes the form of castration anxiety, due to the role of the penis as symbol, trans men are instead pressured for losing the desireable feminine form and particularly the ability to have children
November 28, 2025 at 5:34 AM
while weirdness about trans women transitioning often takes the form of castration anxiety, due to the role of the penis as symbol, trans men are instead pressured for losing the desireable feminine form and particularly the ability to have children
another one is the particular way that, in a society very concerned with women’s sexuality taking certain approved forms, the actual physical transition is cast deeply negatively, because the female form is viewed, socially, as desirable and good, and so abandoning it is viewed as destruction
November 28, 2025 at 5:31 AM
another one is the particular way that, in a society very concerned with women’s sexuality taking certain approved forms, the actual physical transition is cast deeply negatively, because the female form is viewed, socially, as desirable and good, and so abandoning it is viewed as destruction
but also parts of how trans women are discussed, especially as alleged predators, is more utilizing a script of predatory, dangerous men. part of this, and a lot of why reactionaries hate this so much, is the way that trans people fuck with these scripts *by existing*
November 28, 2025 at 5:24 AM
but also parts of how trans women are discussed, especially as alleged predators, is more utilizing a script of predatory, dangerous men. part of this, and a lot of why reactionaries hate this so much, is the way that trans people fuck with these scripts *by existing*
because being a trans man doesn’t escape the social pressure of womanhood, in part precisely because we have more social scripts for different levels of Gender for women. being viewed as “just a woman who’s trying to be masculine” is still not good!
November 28, 2025 at 5:16 AM
because being a trans man doesn’t escape the social pressure of womanhood, in part precisely because we have more social scripts for different levels of Gender for women. being viewed as “just a woman who’s trying to be masculine” is still not good!
on the other hand, and a lot of this comes from my partner’s experience, there’s something to how trans men are dismissed that is reminiscent of how problems faced by women are seen as less serious.
November 28, 2025 at 5:14 AM
on the other hand, and a lot of this comes from my partner’s experience, there’s something to how trans men are dismissed that is reminiscent of how problems faced by women are seen as less serious.
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
like the modal scenario at this point feels like Trump either dying in office or giving up in 2028 I don't think he has a coup left in him
November 28, 2025 at 4:31 AM
like the modal scenario at this point feels like Trump either dying in office or giving up in 2028 I don't think he has a coup left in him
a lot of this, i feel, is that because trans women are counted as men, they matter to discourse in a way that trans men, counted as women, just don’t. this is even true in the gc “feminist” version, because the implied threat of the “man” is greater
November 28, 2025 at 4:37 AM
a lot of this, i feel, is that because trans women are counted as men, they matter to discourse in a way that trans men, counted as women, just don’t. this is even true in the gc “feminist” version, because the implied threat of the “man” is greater