Chapter 1: The Privilege of Tears

In recent discussions, a concept has emerged that I wish to explore without claiming it as my own. We are all familiar with the notion of "white women's tears," which symbolize privilege and are often wielded against marginalized communities. A similar pattern appears to be occurring among some cisgender women who express transphobic sentiments.

Just yesterday, I encountered a short video featuring Matt Walsh behaving disrespectfully towards transgender women, which was not unexpected. However, I was taken aback by the comment section filled with women expressing outrage over the remarks made by a transgender woman, who had actually said nothing offensive to them.

It seems that many of these women, who are grappling with fertility challenges, possess an abundance of tears to direct at the transgender community. How can I be so certain? The transgender woman in question sided with them, affirming that women facing fertility issues are indeed real women. In essence, she asserted that the capacity to bear children does not define womanhood. Yet, many women chose to misinterpret her point, using their personal struggles as a means to marginalize and vilify her.

What followed were comments like, “As a woman with fertility issues, I am deeply offended!!!!!” But let’s be clear: this was not genuine offense. Instead, it was an opportunity for some to attack a trans woman, which reflects transphobia at its core.

While I empathize with the challenges posed by fertility issues, I urge individuals not to weaponize their emotional experiences in this manner.