Penna Dexter

A new report reveals that founders of the feminist movement unwittingly sowed the seeds for the current demand for transgender rights. The report, entitled Sex, Gender, and the Origin of the Culture Wars, was produced by Scott Yenor, Professor of political science at Boise State University. It gets to the root of the transgender movement. Professor Yenor describes a “rolling revolution” that started with the feminists. He writes, “Transgenderism literally means beyond gender. It reflects the belief that society arbitrarily and unjustly ‘structures’ gender, dividing people into men or women and presenting to all an acceptable way to behave.” This idea underlies radical feminist thought. Both movements want society to become “post-structural” and to “affirm whatever identity individuals construct for themselves.” Early radical feminist Simone de Beauvoir wrote, “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman.” Transgenderism goes further and advocates that girls not be socialized in into women and boys not be socialized into men. Just like the feminists, the transgender movement says “biology is not destiny.” Professor Yenor writes that feminists “posited a future where women would be free to define their identities without reference to their bodies or to social expectations.” This set the tone to take the society beyond gender. According to Professor Yenor, radical feminist Judith Butler “first established the formal link between transgenderism and feminism.” She advocated for “transgressing” what society accepts as reality, first by defending drag and cross-dressing, and then by encouraging other ways of living that would tear down our ideas of gender. Ideas like recognition for same-sex marriage subvert the norm. This was a step along the path toward transgender rights. Then comes pressure to open public restrooms and showering facilities because the biological norm for male and female is shattered. This movement is not simply asking for toleration. This “rolling revolution” has brought us to the terrible place where the redefinition of biological reality demands public affirmation.