So I had trouble finding an exact category for this. While my birth sex was subtly intersexed, I was raised a girl and I've come out as transgender. My mother is a definite feminist (yet a Republican, go figure.) and is an immigrant.

Now, I've faced my share of 'isms' amongst the feminist crowd, but I really want to say that Feministing and Jessica Valenti's books are absolutely awesome. I've reccommended them to my male buddies who didn't quite comprehend what feminism was about (beyond the media she-woman-crazed-lesbian idea) and I've used that chance to educate people. I have faced discrimination as a white-appearing Portuguese person (first generation, ESL, not so "Americanized"), and for my transgender status in the feminist community. I found it similar in the LGBQ community, it somewhat felt like this;

"Well if we accept/advocate for YOUR issues, they [the populace/government/media] won't take us seriously."

But Feministing and the staff has really turned that around. I love reading the POC posts, the transgender rights (both FTM, MTF, and everything in between) and between listening to Good Asian Driver's "Our Daughters" and reading some of the double standards in Valenti's latest book, I think I can be rest assured that the girl and female-identified children I adopt in the future will be some badass feminists even posting on here someday ;)

Of course, we'll all be old and grizzly, and probably knitting (yes, I knit) together and talking about how in the Good Old Days, there were things like Duck Hunt and then Wii Fit.

3

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3 Comments

September 13, 2008 2:39 PM

[0+|0-]  Kathryn said:

I think anyone can (and should) be a feminist. Thanks for pursuing feminism and not being put off by the initial discrimination you face. Thanks for educating your friends about feminism.

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September 17, 2008 9:35 PM

[0+|0-]  Sarah said:

I have to say that I identify as feminist because I believe that everyone deserves equal rights. I can't understand how someone fighting for equal rights could send anyone away. Also, having been socialized female, you have experienced the crap we fight against as feminists. Of course you are a feminist. I fight because genetalia ( I know I spelled that wrong) shouldn't matter

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September 17, 2008 9:41 PM

[0+|0-]  Sarah said:

I have to say that I identify as feminist because I believe that everyone deserves equal rights. I can't understand how someone fighting for equal rights could send anyone away. Also, having been socialized female, you have experienced the crap we fight against as feminists. Of course you are a feminist. I fight because genetalia ( I know I spelled that wrong) shouldn't matter.

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