One interesting aspect of this discussion is that there are so many non-binary people born female, who don’t feel comfortable with the word ‘woman’ to describe them. That’s honestly where the words like chest feeder and people with cervixes come from- a desire for institutions, writers, etc— to be sensitive to the growing number of (usually young, not always) women who don’t claim the term ‘woman’.
So I’m not sure the potato head analogy resonates- although I haven’t read the book. There is some deep pain these women are dealing with, and likely some societal/male repentance needed, I’m inclined to believe. . .to reflect on why so many young women don’t even feel that ‘woman’ is the right word for them.
My concern is that most women who don’t identify with the word “woman” are tacitly reifying the very patriarchy they’re trying to reject. It seems to me that to be a non-binary woman is to always become masculine, not something else.
Your compassion and thoughtfulness come across clearly in your essay. One thing that came to mind about your topic was "love the sinner but hate the sin."
I thought of St. Augustine's “Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum,” as well as "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Corinthians 4: 3-5). More recently, Pope Francis has used the phrase several times in relation to of abortion, contraception, homosexuality and same sex marriage. Using the word "sinner" already indicates that there is no love for them in the first place. I do not know if Jesus ever said, "love the sinner but hate the sin," but I doubt it.
I followed your advice and explored Favale's "The Genesis of Gender" via video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkas5PkJzMs). I also read a review of the book by lay pastor Scott Corbin at Trinity River Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. (https://cbmw.org/2024/06/18/review-of-abigail-favale-the-genesis-of-gender/). Favale converted to Catholicism fairly recently, I believe. She specialized in gender studies and feminist literary criticism, and now writes and teaches on topics related to women and gender from a Catholic perspective. I admit she left me cold. Naturally, he ideas about gender and, in particular, transgender people are not as insane as those of the strident Camille Paglia, a lesbian feminist. Paglia argues that the growing prevalence of transgender people is a sign that Western civilization is on the brink of collapse.
I understand your turmoil about transgender issues. I also know you show the love of Jesus in your writings and in how you relate to people who are different. That would be me.
One interesting aspect of this discussion is that there are so many non-binary people born female, who don’t feel comfortable with the word ‘woman’ to describe them. That’s honestly where the words like chest feeder and people with cervixes come from- a desire for institutions, writers, etc— to be sensitive to the growing number of (usually young, not always) women who don’t claim the term ‘woman’.
So I’m not sure the potato head analogy resonates- although I haven’t read the book. There is some deep pain these women are dealing with, and likely some societal/male repentance needed, I’m inclined to believe. . .to reflect on why so many young women don’t even feel that ‘woman’ is the right word for them.
My concern is that most women who don’t identify with the word “woman” are tacitly reifying the very patriarchy they’re trying to reject. It seems to me that to be a non-binary woman is to always become masculine, not something else.
Yes. . .because to be a woman is often to be disempowered.
Your compassion and thoughtfulness come across clearly in your essay. One thing that came to mind about your topic was "love the sinner but hate the sin."
I thought of St. Augustine's “Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum,” as well as "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Corinthians 4: 3-5). More recently, Pope Francis has used the phrase several times in relation to of abortion, contraception, homosexuality and same sex marriage. Using the word "sinner" already indicates that there is no love for them in the first place. I do not know if Jesus ever said, "love the sinner but hate the sin," but I doubt it.
I followed your advice and explored Favale's "The Genesis of Gender" via video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkas5PkJzMs). I also read a review of the book by lay pastor Scott Corbin at Trinity River Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. (https://cbmw.org/2024/06/18/review-of-abigail-favale-the-genesis-of-gender/). Favale converted to Catholicism fairly recently, I believe. She specialized in gender studies and feminist literary criticism, and now writes and teaches on topics related to women and gender from a Catholic perspective. I admit she left me cold. Naturally, he ideas about gender and, in particular, transgender people are not as insane as those of the strident Camille Paglia, a lesbian feminist. Paglia argues that the growing prevalence of transgender people is a sign that Western civilization is on the brink of collapse.
I understand your turmoil about transgender issues. I also know you show the love of Jesus in your writings and in how you relate to people who are different. That would be me.
It's an honor to know you. Thank you so much for reading and for caring deeply enough to respond so substantively and generously.