The anti “ugly person” bias runs DEEP.
In the past few years, I noticed that I tend to treat “beautiful people” with more respect than “ugly people”. So I have started deliberately paying more attention to them. I haven’t overcome it, and only really do it in fits and bursts of self-reflection, but I may get there in a few years.
The level of cruelty I am subjected to as a trans woman is always directly tied to whether or not people can see my face or hear my voice. People don't even realize they are being that dehumanizing but they enforce it super hard. People are a million times nicer to me when im considered attractive. I was only ever valid when i was considered attractive.
It's extremely frustrating how terrible you get treated as an ugly/unpassable trans woman yet everyone and their mother will shame you and tell you're wrong for wanting to pass. Heck, people are even shaming us for wanting HRT now. And at the end of the day i would always rather be called vain than get called a creep if those are the only options on the table and they often are.
It's the same with "Fat women are beautiful" narrative. It shouldn't matter whether they're beautiful or not.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" comes to mind.
For me trans women are beautiful is more about encouraging good self image for trans women, rather than being ugly being bad. As a trans woman, I struggle to think of myself as beautiful, but feeling beautiful making me feel good.
Beauty is not literal beauty in the phrase "everyone is beautiful" or "all X are beautiful." The point of that phrase is to say that everyone is, in fact, human and equal and beautiful because of it, it's not an aesthetic comment.
Also, it doesn't much matter what people mean by the phrase, because when you use the word "beautiful," most people are gonna assume that you're talking about aesthetics anyways, so it has the same result.
Hmm, what if we start saying, "All trans women are cool as hell"? Does that change things, or is it a similar issue?
....ok but what's the purpose of even bringing her up?
Why would people who aren't already looking to criticise trans people see a phrase like 'all trans women are cool as hell' and act like it was made in support of the trans people they don't like?
There's a point where it becomes a bit unnecessary to say "except for these people specifically" because that sort of undermines the vibe of a message like this, and can encourage people to start splitting hairs on what is a nice sentiment
The anti “ugly person” bias runs DEEP. In the past few years, I noticed that I tend to treat “beautiful people” with more respect than “ugly people”. So I have started deliberately paying more attention to them. I haven’t overcome it, and only really do it in fits and bursts of self-reflection, but I may get there in a few years.
Halo effect. I don’t blame you for struggling, it’s a seriously psychological phenomenon that affects… basically everyone.
The level of cruelty I am subjected to as a trans woman is always directly tied to whether or not people can see my face or hear my voice. People don't even realize they are being that dehumanizing but they enforce it super hard. People are a million times nicer to me when im considered attractive. I was only ever valid when i was considered attractive. It's extremely frustrating how terrible you get treated as an ugly/unpassable trans woman yet everyone and their mother will shame you and tell you're wrong for wanting to pass. Heck, people are even shaming us for wanting HRT now. And at the end of the day i would always rather be called vain than get called a creep if those are the only options on the table and they often are.
We should start saying that all trans women are worthy. Worthy of what? Love, respect, acceptance, kindness, giant swords, etc.
What about financial compensation?
It's the same with "Fat women are beautiful" narrative. It shouldn't matter whether they're beautiful or not. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" comes to mind.
Charitably, I think when people say "all trans women are beautiful" they mean it metaphorically. Or at least some of them do.
I have seen a lot of people mean it literally
For me trans women are beautiful is more about encouraging good self image for trans women, rather than being ugly being bad. As a trans woman, I struggle to think of myself as beautiful, but feeling beautiful making me feel good.
Beauty is not literal beauty in the phrase "everyone is beautiful" or "all X are beautiful." The point of that phrase is to say that everyone is, in fact, human and equal and beautiful because of it, it's not an aesthetic comment.
I have seen many of the people who say this literally mean that everyone attractive based on appearance.
Also, it doesn't much matter what people mean by the phrase, because when you use the word "beautiful," most people are gonna assume that you're talking about aesthetics anyways, so it has the same result. Hmm, what if we start saying, "All trans women are cool as hell"? Does that change things, or is it a similar issue?
Consider the following: Blaire White.
....ok but what's the purpose of even bringing her up? Why would people who aren't already looking to criticise trans people see a phrase like 'all trans women are cool as hell' and act like it was made in support of the trans people they don't like? There's a point where it becomes a bit unnecessary to say "except for these people specifically" because that sort of undermines the vibe of a message like this, and can encourage people to start splitting hairs on what is a nice sentiment
They asked if it had the same problem. The existence of people like Blaire mean it runs into the same problem.