THREAD: given the state of my mentions (again), here is a thread on how my feminism grew from trans-agnostic (‘of course they have human rights but...’) to fiercely trans inclusionary.

Warning: it is a working day so it may be slow developing but consider it my feeble allyship
Often we assume political stances are etched in stone. That by some miracle, we are born woke. That some of us are fully fledged political beings.

This is not so for me!

My politics are a constantly evolving, growing, lifelong process. They change as I learn more, think more
And yes, this process is uncomfortable, upsetting, angering, insecure making, humiliating and shameful.

But then, so is all growth.

And when that bit of growth is done, there is greater clarity, strength, confidence, understanding and compassion.
I remember being quite trans agnostic a decade ago. I believed in the wider human rights umbrella. I thought there was room for trans issues in general queer rights arena.

But I did not THINK too hard about these. I was confortable in MY feminism and that was it!
But my comfort hid my bigotry.

I remember the discomfort I felt when Andrejas Pejic first walked a major catwalk.

And this is necessary to accept. My discomfort was based in my view of womanhood.

And that womanhood felt threatened in that moment.
And yes my mind went through the same (awful) rationalisations:

But these are women’s spaces? Why can’t we have women only spaces? Why can’t they build ‘their’ own spaces?

Even then, a part of me recognised that I was rationalising my discomfort and bigotry.
And even as I rationalised and justified my bigotry, a part of me felt my shame grow.

FFS! Was I actually arguing for separate but equal?

Then an insiduous voice would tell me that I could NOT be prejudiced because hadn’t I fought against apartheid? Against other injustice!?
I finally raised it with my BFF whose compassion is limitless who asked me a simple question:

What is making you so afraid?
I didn’t have a clear answer.

So I sat on it. Kept turning it over and over in my mind.

For months.

Then I did what I always do when faced with a dilemma. I began to research.
And I paid extra attention to anything that challenged me. That went against what I thought or believed. And as always I went to decolonising feminists.
Very quickly I realised that overwhelming numbers of decolonising feminists of colour are trans inclusive.

That made me think. But it also helped make links with other forms of exclusion.

It made me go back to intersectional thinking and reconsider my own prejudices.
But the big shift happened on a visit to India in the winter of 2012 - 13.

Gender was very much on my mind as #DelhiGangRape protests were happening right through the country.

Women’s safety as a cornerstone of feminism was very much part of public and private discourse
My sister as getting married and as is tradition, the local hijra leader -a total boss lady - came to our house.
My mum - a life long feminist who lives her feminism - asked her to tea.

They sat in the garden for a long conversation.
As I have tweeted before, my mum ended up playing the feminist mummy again and talking politics. https://twitter.com/sunnysingh_n6/status/676758014951596033?s=21
I was amazed at how confidently my mum lived the intersections.

She did not fumbled on pronouns. Never hesitated on inclusive womanhood. Never withheld her sisterhood.

I have always looked up to mum. And I knew in that moment my feminism had to grow and be more like hers.
Btw things didn’t change overnight. I am still learning. Still making mistakes. Still inadvertently causing damage.

But I am more careful. I apologise and more importantly, try to rectify, heal, help when I can.
My grandmother always said that when the teacher is ready, the student will arrive.

In 2016, someone# at the beginning of their transition arrived in my class.

Over the last three years, she has taught me a lot about myself, trans issues, pedagogy, ethics and compassion.
And I hope I have been able to support her through her journey. At least a little bit.
I am still learning but I know I could not have supported trans students without learning.

I am a better teacher and human now.
Finally, all the folk spouting hateful nonsense on my mentions:

I wish you a long life so you can learn how bitter and miserable your fears, prejudice, hatred makes you.
As for me, am going to keep wishing and working for: https://twitter.com/sunnysingh_n6/status/1143068845256716290?s=21
You can follow @ProfSunnySingh.
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