In Risley's Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism
Females struggle for equality. A complaint heard way too often. But what happens when men join the fight? What happens when men become women and decide to be part of the movement? An interesting concept of this day and age has arisen. The evolving social norms including gays and trans-genders have altered the roles of men and women interchangeably. As society becomes more relaxed with how far to stray from traditional roles, feminists gain a foreign enemy. A loose group called Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism does not tolerate transgender women and aims to exclude men who have become women and desire to join the movement. Ostracizing transgender women suggests that there may be more to this organization than radical feminism; in
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She decided to participate in an art class where she gave herself to a teacher, Josef, whom referred to another student, Susie, as a “too-expensive toy” that in many cases will “[wound] him deeply” (323). Atwood reveals her true colors regarding the subject of affairs and fidelity. Her bitter undertone gives the impression that men represent dogs, solely looking for easy pleasures in women or their “expensive toys.” Expensive suggests that men rent women for pleasure, or prostitution. Often, these “toys” bring some sort of emotional pain, whether intended or not. Atwood addresses the idea of affairs in modern society: Risley views marriage as “innocent and beribboned, like a child’s doll: irretrievable” (Atwood 324). Taking part in an affair, forced Elaine to take a step back and evaluate the slow-train wreck that had been her life, that there was no going back after her affair. The idea of an “irretrievable” child’s doll gives her actions a hint of “well, it’s not my fault” type of attitude. But she soon realized that performing solely for Josef’s selfish needs degraded her as a person. According to the feminist artists that she associated with, relationships harboring too much dependency upon the man would be scoffed at. Risley assured what she wanted, even if it meant disapproval from her friends. She wanted a happy, stimulating and fulfilled love life with limited dependency on men, yet she needed a man who did not fully commit himself to
She decided to participate in an art class where she gave herself to a teacher, Josef, whom referred to another student, Susie, as a “too-expensive toy” that in many cases will “[wound] him deeply” (323). Atwood reveals her true colors regarding the subject of affairs and fidelity. Her bitter undertone gives the impression that men represent dogs, solely looking for easy pleasures in women or their “expensive toys.” Expensive suggests that men rent women for pleasure, or prostitution. Often, these “toys” bring some sort of emotional pain, whether intended or not. Atwood addresses the idea of affairs in modern society: Risley views marriage as “innocent and beribboned, like a child’s doll: irretrievable” (Atwood 324). Taking part in an affair, forced Elaine to take a step back and evaluate the slow-train wreck that had been her life, that there was no going back after her affair. The idea of an “irretrievable” child’s doll gives her actions a hint of “well, it’s not my fault” type of attitude. But she soon realized that performing solely for Josef’s selfish needs degraded her as a person. According to the feminist artists that she associated with, relationships harboring too much dependency upon the man would be scoffed at. Risley assured what she wanted, even if it meant disapproval from her friends. She wanted a happy, stimulating and fulfilled love life with limited dependency on men, yet she needed a man who did not fully commit himself to