Introduction: The Ties That Bind
In Western societies shaped by patriarchal norms and religious traditions, the subjugation of women—cisgender and transgender alike—is not merely a historical relic but a lived reality. Both groups navigate systemic oppression rooted in the belief that men should dominate political, economic, and social life. This article examines their shared struggles under patriarchy, the historical collaboration between cis and trans feminist movements, and the urgent need for solidarity in the face of escalating political attacks. With the return of Donald Trump to the White House and over 900 anti-trans bills introduced since 2023 alone, the fight for equality has reached a critical juncture.
Part 1: Patriarchal Oppression—A Shared Foundation
1.1 Religious Patriarchy and Its Grip on Gender Roles
Western patriarchal systems are deeply intertwined with Abrahamic religious doctrines that enforce rigid gender binaries. For example:
Biblical Interpretations: Verses like Ephesians 5:22 (“Wives, submit to your husbands”) have been weaponized to justify female subservience. Similarly, Genesis’ creation narrative (Adam first, Eve as helper) reinforces male primacy.
Control Over Bodies: Religious institutions have historically policed women’s autonomy, from Catholic bans on contraception to evangelical opposition to abortion. Transgender individuals, seen as violating “God’s design,” face condemnation from groups like the Family Research Council, which labels them “unnatural.”
These ideologies permeate secular laws and cultural norms, creating overlapping systems of control that harm all women.
1.2 Misogyny and Sexual Violence: A Universal Weapon
Both cis and trans women endure sexual harassment and assault as tools of patriarchal control, but with distinct nuances:
Cisgender Women: 81% report experiencing sexual harassment (National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2022). Victim-blaming (“What were you wearing?”) shifts accountability from perpetrators to survivors.
Transgender Women: 47% are sexually assaulted in their lifetimes, often compounded by transphobia. Perpetrators may weaponize their trans status, as seen in the 2020 murder of Nina Pop, a Black trans woman whose killer claimed “trans panic.”
Intersectionality Matters: Trans women of color, like cis Black women, face disproportionate violence due to racism and misogyny.
1.3 Workplace Discrimination: Glass Ceilings and Concrete Walls
Cisgender Women: Earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, with Black and Latina women earning 63 and 55 cents, respectively (AAUW, 2023). The “motherhood penalty” costs women $16,000 annually in lost wages (National Women’s Law Center).
Transgender Women: 29% live in poverty, and 15% are unemployed (USTS, 2015). Even when employed, many face harassment; 77% report workplace mistreatment, including misgendering and denial of promotions.
Case Study: In Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College (2017), a transgender professor sued after being denied tenure, setting a precedent for Title VII protections.
1.4 Domestic Violence: Trapped in the Same Web
Cisgender Women: 1 in 4 experience severe intimate partner violence. Religious teachings like “wives must submit” often trap women in abusive marriages.
Transgender Women: 54% face intimate partner violence, but shelters frequently reject them. In 2019, a trans woman in Texas was turned away from a shelter and later murdered by her abuser.
Systemic Failure: Police often dismiss abuse claims from trans women, reflecting broader distrust of law enforcement among marginalized groups.
Part 2: Historical Alliances—Feminism’s Trans-Inclusive Roots
2.1 Stonewall and the Birth of Intersectional Resistance
The 1969 Stonewall Riots, led by trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, marked a turning point for LGBTQ+ and feminist movements. Rivera, a Latina trans activist, later co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) to house homeless queer youth.
2.2 Second-Wave Feminism: Tensions and Triumphs
While some second-wave feminists (e.g., Janice Raymond) excluded trans women, others embraced inclusivity. Author Andrea Dworkin notably stated:
“Transsexualism is a moral right of all people.”
Organizations like the National Organization for Women (NOW) initially hesitated but now affirm trans inclusion, recognizing that gender liberation cannot exclude trans voices.
2.3 Modern Movements: From the Women’s March to #SayHerName
The 2017 Women’s March faced criticism for initially sidelining trans issues but later centering them, with signs like “Trans Women Are Women” becoming iconic.
The #SayHerName campaign, founded by Kimberlé Crenshaw, highlights Black women and trans femmes killed by police, including Tony McDade, a Black trans man misgendered in media reports.
Part 3: Relinquishing Male Privilege—The Cost of Living Authentically
3.1 The Illusion of “Choice”
Trans women do not “choose” to transition; they risk losing family, jobs, and safety to live authentically. Consider:
Employment: A 2022 Harvard study found 32% of trans women lost jobs after transitioning.
Housing: 30% experience homelessness, often after familial rejection.
Case Study: Chelsea Manning, a trans whistleblower, faced solitary confinement and denial of hormone therapy while imprisoned.
3.2 The Mental Health Toll
Suicide Rates: 41% of trans women attempt suicide, compared to 1.6% of the general population (Trevor Project, 2022).
Conversion Therapy: 14% endure this pseudoscientific practice, often endorsed by religious groups.
Quote: “Transitioning cost me my family, but living a lie would have cost me my life.” — Sarah McBride, Delaware State Senator.
Part 4: Legislative Attacks—A War on All Women
4.1 Anti-Trans Bills as a Backdoor to Cisgender Control
Healthcare Bans (e.g., Arkansas’s SAFE Act):
Bans on puberty blockers for trans youth set legal precedents to restrict cisgender reproductive care. Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that overturning Roe would embolden states to “police pregnancy.”
Sports Bans (e.g., Idaho’s HB 500):
Laws requiring genital inspections for female athletes endanger cisgender girls with intersex traits or “non-feminine” bodies. In 2023, a cis teen in Florida was forced to undergo a humiliating exam after rivals questioned her gender.
Bathroom Bills (e.g., North Carolina’s HB2):
These laws enable harassment of cis women who don’t conform to beauty standards. A cisgender butch lesbian was arrested in 2017 for using a women’s restroom in Texas.
4.2 Identity Erasure and Surveillance
Birth Certificate Bans (e.g., Tennessee’s SB 1440): Blocking gender marker changes forces trans women into dangerous situations (e.g., presenting male IDs at airports). Cisgender women with gender-neutral names (e.g., “Jordan”) also face scrutiny.
Drag Bans: Laws criminalizing “cross-dressing” in public (e.g., Montana’s HB 359) could criminalize cis women in pantsuits or hairstyles, echoing 19th-century “cross-dressing laws.”
Part 5: Trump’s Patriarchal Agenda—A Blueprint for Regression
5.1 Reproductive Rights Under Siege
Judicial Appointments: Trump’s SCOTUS picks (Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett) overturned Roe v. Wade, enabling states like Texas to ban abortion at six weeks.
Global Gag Rule: Reinstated in 2017, this policy defunded global health organizations offering abortion services, increasing maternal mortality.
5.2 Erasing Women’s Contributions
Military Tombstones: The Trump administration removed photos of female service members from Arlington Cemetery’s website, symbolizing the erasure of women’s historical roles.
DEI Dismantling: Trump’s 2025 executive order banning DEI.
5.3 Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies
Trans Military Ban: Over 15,000 trans troops were sidelined, undermining military diversity.
Health Care Rollbacks: A rule allowed providers to deny care to LGBTQ+ patients on religious grounds, endangering trans women seeking transition-related care.
Part 6: Solidarity—The Path to Survival
6.1 Learning from History
AIDS Crisis: Cis feminists like Gloria Steinem allied with trans activists to demand healthcare equity.
Black Feminism: The Combahee River Collective’s intersectional framework included trans voices, recognizing that “none of us are free until all of us are free.”
6.2 Building Coalitions Today
Legislative Advocacy: Groups like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU now jointly challenge anti-trans laws.
Labor Movements: The Starbucks Workers United union fights for gender-neutral bathrooms and trans-inclusive healthcare.
6.3 Practical Steps for Allyship
Amplify Trans Voices: Center trans women in media (e.g., Laverne Cox, Angelica Ross).
Combat TERF Rhetoric: Challenge exclusionary feminists who frame trans rights as a “threat” to cis women.
Vote Strategically: Oppose candidates endorsing anti-trans bills; support ballot measures protecting bodily autonomy.
Conclusion: No Liberation Without Unity
The resurgence of Trumpism and its patriarchal agenda demands unwavering solidarity. Anti-trans laws are not isolated—they are the tip of an iceberg threatening to sink all progress toward gender equality. Cisgender women must recognize that attacks on trans sisters are rehearsals for broader repression. Together, through intersectional advocacy and grassroots resistance, we can dismantle the systems that reduce women—cis and trans—to second-class citizens. As Audre Lorde declared:
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
The road ahead is long, but united, we are unstoppable.
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