Essay On Trans Viewpoints

Bartleson 1
Finn Bartleson
Mr. Ward
English 1
24th October 2022
Trans Viewpoints: The Discussion Between Opposing Sides
As a kid, I always loved roller coasters, still do. Other people said they found them scary
and they caused too much anxiety. One time I heard that roller coasters made a person so sick
that they were disgusted by even seeing them. Others had one bad experience and it ruined it for
them. There are many things in life that people find scary, things that cause too much anxiety, or
they just don’t understand, one of them being the trans community. Also, the different
perspectives on the trans community–whether that be supporters, or people that do not support
transgender people–make it diffcult for the two groups to communicate.
While differences have come up between the groups there are also collective opinions,
one of them being on gender dysphoria. The similarity is the fact that they both agree it exists,
and is an issue trans people deal with. Tesch states, “Gender dysphoria disrupts a person’s ability
to function in day-to-day activities like work or social events. It can also lead to mental health
conditions such as anxiety, depression and chronic stress” (Tesch). This shows that gender
dysphoria is not something easy, and it may cause other conditions. Five Things Every Christian
Must Know about the Transgender Debate says, "There’s an enormous difference between the
political aspects of the culture war surrounding transgenderism and the reality that there are
precious persons who have genuine struggles with gender dysphoria–a condition where a person
senses that their gender identity (how they feel about being male or femal)–may not align with
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their biological sex and experiences emotional distress as a result" (Walker). This also shows that
the groups believe that gender dysphoria is real, and that it is a struggle.
Differing opinions on clothing between the trans community and opposing groups has
been made into an argument on the use of expression and if it affects your identity. The argument
is if you are too feminine as a guy or too masculine as a girl you are trans. Jacobs mentions,
"Clothes do not have a gender, and inherent in that is the understanding that there is no one way
to 'dress non-binary', just as there isn't any one way to dress feminine or masculine," says
Defebaugh. "Fashion can help us to express our identity, but clothes are not our identity."
(Jacobs). This means that in their perspective, they think that everyone can wear any piece of
clothing as it does not define you. While A Biblical Perspective on Transgender Identity: A
Primer for Parents and Strugglers says, “On the other hand, you don’t want to allow behaviors
that emasculate your son, such as wearing their sisters’ dresses and painting their nails. And what
if your daughter wants to shave her head?” (Keck). This then means that they believe that certain
expressions of yourself change what you identity as. That if you let your child express
themselves in certain ways, it could backfire.
The discussion on whether or not transgender women should be allowed in women's
restrooms has been communicated within both groups. The reason this discussion has been made
is due to the suspicion that if trans women are allowed in restrooms, men will use the opportunity
to prey on cis women. The Imaginary Predator in America's Transgender Bathroom War
supports this by saying, "Proponents of anti-trans bills, which are sweeping the country, purport
a twofold argument about safety: 1. A man is a man no matter how he dresses, so letting him into
the women's bathroom is absurd. 2. Male perverts and pedophiles disguised as women (faux
transgender people) will troll women's bathrooms and sexually assault our wives and daughters"
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(Dastagir). This means that some people believe that men are men, and they will take advantage
of the fact that trans women have been allowed in female bathrooms. In 2014, a Des Moines
olice department spokesperson argues, “We have not seen that,” a Des Moines police department
spokesman told the outlet in 2014. “I doubt that’s gonna encourage the behavior. If the
behavior’s there, [sexual predators are] gonna behave as they’re gonna behave no matter what
the laws are (Steinmetz).” The police department said this after being asked if there was increase
in sexual assault and rape after the laws were passed.
The trans community isn’t asking for much, just like fans of rollercoasters. All we ask
for, is that you don’t tear us down. There are similarities and differences between the opposing
sides. Some of them are the opinions on gender dysphoria, femininity and masculinity, and on
laws that have come up, but there are many more. Just like fans of rollercoasters there are
different perspectives, different opinions. To benefit each perspective there should be an
understanding and communication; that way people can be informed. Which means both
communities can move forward.

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Works Cited
Dastagir, Alia E. “The Imaginary Predator in America's Transgender Bathroom War.” USA
Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 30 Apr. 2016,
www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/04/28/transgender-bathroom-bills-discriminati
on/32594395/.
Jacobs, Bel. “How the “Beauty of Fluidity” Went Mainstream in Fashion.” Bbc.com, 2021,
www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211208-how-the-beauty-of-fluidity-went-mainstream-in-fa
shion#:~:text=%22Clothes%20do%20not%20have%20a,clothes%20are%20not%20our%2
0identity. Accessed 25 Oct. 2022.
Keck, Olivia. “A Biblical Perspective on Transgender Identity: A Primer for Parents and
Strugglers.” Focus on the Family, 31 Mar. 2022,
www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/a-biblical-perspective-on-transgender-identity-a-pri
mer-for-parents-and-strugglers/.
“Five Things Every Christian Must Know about the Transgender Debate.” Thegoodbook.com,
2017, www.thegoodbook.com/blog/news/2017/07/28/transgender-debate/. Accessed 25
Oct. 2022.
Steinmetz, Katy. “Transgender Bathroom: Advocates Say 'Predator' Is Myth.” Time, Time, 2 May
2016, time.com/4314896/transgender-bathroom-bill-male-predators-argument/.
Tesch, David. “Mental Health in the Transgender Community.” HealthPartners Blog, 30 Sept.
2022, www.healthpartners.com/blog/mental-health-in-the-transgender-community/.

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Bartleson 1

24th October 2022

Trans Viewpoints: The Discussion Between Opposing Sides

transgender people–make it diffcult for the two groups to communicate.

themselves in certain ways, it could backfire.

The discussion on whether or not transgender women should be allowed in women's

in sexual assault and rape after the laws were passed.

different perspectives, different opinions. To benefit each perspective there should be an

communities can move forward.

Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 30 Apr. 2016,

0identity. Accessed 25 Oct. 2022.

Strugglers.” Focus on the Family, 31 Mar. 2022,

2017, www.thegoodbook.com/blog/news/2017/07/28/transgender-debate/. Accessed 25

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