To get past anti-black bigotry, one can sympathize with what it's like to be disrespected or judged unfairly. To get past anti-homosexual bigotry one can sympathize with what it's like to have a sexuality that you didn't choose. In these examples, you have to reexamine how you think of other people.

But for a cis person to get past transphobia, you have to reexamine your ideals about sex and gender; you have to change how you think of yourself. This is threatening to identity and ego. If you add in the rigid and strict gender norms of reactionary thinking, it's threatening to the order of all things; a rebellion against God and country.

[–] WarlockLawyer@lemmy.world 13 points 3 days ago

I don't think it's as fundamentally different as you are making it seem. Depending on the era racists were viewing black people as subhuman, closer to animals than white people. They didn't just have to comprehend the results of bigotry, they had to redefine who they include as fully human.

Each instance the bigots are trying to claim that this particular instance of bigotry is different.

[–] meejle@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

That’s a good point. Although Abigail Thorn (Philosophy Tube) kinda turned it on its head, apologies in advance for probably fucking up my explanation. 😅

If (e.g.) a cis woman has dark arm hair, peach fuzz, a "strong jaw", etc, and is really bothered by it because it makes her feel less feminine or "man ish"... isn't she basically experiencing gender dysphoria? And if she gets laser hair removal or whatever, isn't that actually a type of "gender-affirming care"?

It made me wonder if that's somehow the key to making people feel more empathetic, idk.

[–] zout@fedia.io 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I get what you're saying, but I disagree. The (male) people I see hating on trans people can just as easily hate any group they're not part of. They hate homosexuals because they think every gay person will try to have sex with them, they hate blacks because they steal your job due to DEI, they hate muslims because they're all terrorists, they hate disabled people because they don't contribute to society, and they hate trans people because it confuses them. They can always find a reason (not through their own critical thinking skills though) to hate anyone.

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

They can always ~~find~~ be fed a reason by their handlers (not through their own critical thinking skills though) to hate anyone.

FTFY

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

This is only if you already misunderstand sex and gender, which most people do.