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beyond the looking glass - 'autogynephilia', cultural narcissism and the fear of gender & sexual diversity

6/29/2018

6 Comments

 
Picture
Want to mess with the heads of closeted trans females?  Try something like the use of the term 'autogynephilia'.  I should know.  It bound me up, albeit very briefly, as I struggled in the past to come to terms with myself. It is a crude and toxic theory invented in the late 1980s by American-Canadian sexologist Ray Blanchard (and promoted by others such as J.Michael Bailey and Anne Lawrence).  It is defined 'as a man’s paraphilic tendency to be sexually aroused by the thought or image of himself as a woman", whereby types of male to female transvestism and transsexualism are understood as  'erotic target identity inversions'.  As such, it is roundly rejected both by transgender people and by authoritative research and transgender health expertise (see further, for example, Julia Serrano here).  It does not cohere with the sheer complexity and texture of gender and sexually diverse people's experience.  Indeed, whilst purporting to offer a basis for care and compassion, it invalidates our knowledge of ourselves and prevents wholeness.  It thus does nothing for a healthy wider sexual ethic or positive gender relationships today.  Yet, as a simplistic and sex-obsessive approach, it has become one weapon in the armoury of people on the religious right. Frightened perhaps by their own, actual but unacknowledged, sexual and gender fears and compulsions, they seek to portray sexual and gender diverse people as willingly, or unconsciously, perverse (in the destructive sense of that word).  Indeed, the accusation of narcissism thrown at transgender people from such quarters, is in fact a better description of that approach itself  Hypnotised, it seems, by an exceedingly narrow desired image of humanity, they cannot see beyond the mirror of their own imagined selves.  In doing so, not only are the realities of those who are 'different' denied, but, in 'othering' us, they distance themselves from the divine Other which is the source and pathway of their own authentic identities.  For no wonder they are consumed with outrage about so-called 'political correctness' and 'identity politics'.  What gender and sexually diverse people do is to threaten the brittle identities some seek so hard to insist upon as wholly defined and exclusive.  In doing so, we offer an invitation to greater authenticity for everyone...

hystericalising women and narcissistic personality disorder

Directly, or indirectly, the idea of autogynephilia underpins much resistance to healthy progress,  Transgender female activists are, for example, frequently accused of 'narcissistic rage'.  Like other women who have stood up for themselves, they are accused of 'hysteria', even by some feminists who have endured that clearly patriarchally constructed charge themselves.  Genuine issues of pain, violence, real and felt exclusion are thus summarily dismissed.  Transgender identities, even as they show maturity in self-expression, are problematised once again. Trapped in mirrored illusions, anyone who does not cohere with the narcissistic gaze is repelled, and immured with that very projection.

Significantly, it is transgender females who are the chief targets of such ire.  For little if anything is ever heard for instance about any alleged 'autoandrophilia' or 'narcissism' in transgender males.   As critics of Blanchard have long identified, this is because his type of a matrix of humanity is not only a simple axis based on two clear binaries (male-female and heterosexual-homosexual) but also because it is underpinned by gynophobia.  After all, etymologically speaking, the word 'autogynephilia' might most obviously be translated as 'love of oneself as a woman'.  Such a happy description would be something to encourage in cisgender and transgender females alike.   Yet the term 'autogynephilia' is turned into a form of psychological illness.  What does that say, at least unconsciously, about the perspective of Blanchard and those who follow him?  If more women of all kinds truly loved themselves, what profound and loving difference would that make to our world?

In contrast, it is interesting to reflect on how narcissistic personality disorder is found more commonly in men.  Symptoms include an excessive need for admiration, disregard for others' feelings, an inability to handle any criticism and a sense of entitlement.  Typified above all perhaps by Donald Trump, these are so prominent in our contemporary culture and they are rampant on the Christian Right, as it ever more strenuously seeks to defend its privilege with its aggressive, demanding, monopolising voice.   So perhaps, in this and in other struggles, the shattering of the patriarchal looking glass is precisely what is required to free the Spirit, as well as the bodies of so many?
6 Comments
Miles link
5/1/2021 06:50:59 pm

Loved reeading this thanks

Reply
Scott Newgent
1/10/2022 07:11:43 am

My lord! I haven't heard this many unicorn farts and glitter bombs explaining the reason for trans ideology in a long time...Bravo; you hit straight jacket level on this one.

What I find interesting is you speak about being labeled as a narcissist, but this entire article focused on you and how others make you feel bad. Do you realize you didn't mention once how others might feel about your decision to trans, how it effects others. Nope, it was me me me me me, not fair, not fair. As you were writing this you cemented that you act, without empathy for others.Why you were screaming "not a narcissist" I laughed because you were demonstrating (unknown to you) how narsissist thinks and feels brilliantly.

Do you know what's not fair? Pushing women's rights and spaces out the door for your comfort, taking female athletes titles when you and I both know all the strength and advantages don't disclose on estrogen.

Why isn't the truth ok? Why can't you meander through life taking synthetic hormones for you comfort and consider others well being too.

Pretty ironic you speak about genitals not sex based and anyone that believes that are is hallucinating.

My my, who's calling the kettle black? You know that if you remove the unicorn farts (which is happening now) these analogies will be laughed at. It's a free range for coo for coco puffs right now because media doesn't cover this...Everyone is afraid of trans...That won't last and when that happens I hope you have a good support system and therapist because will the acceptance? It's dissolving and dissolving fast as these kids that are being medically transitioned grow up and realize what had been done to them.

I'm being serious, I truly worry for you...Your delusions and hallucination are old fashion nuts!

Reply
Josephine Inkpin
1/10/2022 10:47:55 am

Did you actually listen to what I was saying and read the whole and the wider context of my work? This piece is quite clear that our human experiences of sexuality and gender are complex and that a deeper recognition and understanding of this offers, as I put it, 'an invitation to greater authenticity for everyone.'
Releasing our own personal authenticity is the opposite of narcissism as it serves to free up our lives and gifts which have been trapped and not serving their wider community purpose, (as well as denying personal joy) - just as feminist liberation may upset some with its call for necessary self-love and appropriate self-determination but is essential, as part of the wider human project of love and freedom - or, as Jesus put it, 'love your neighbour as yourself.' I'm baffled as to why people growing in love should be seen as a threat to others, as if there is a limited amount of freedom and goods to be shared among human beings. Typically, that is an argument from a few privileged people designed to maintain their power.
Trans women are women, and, as part of an enriched intersectional feminism, our gifts and voices can help women, and other people of all genders. That has been my experience and I am thankful for the many cisgender women who have celebrated, supported and enlarged my life and understanding in our shared work for kindness, liberation, and justice for all. I hope you can join us in that journey in the days ahead .

Reply
Nour
3/24/2022 08:48:41 pm

Your writting was beautiful. Your words hold nothing but the truth.

Sandra
10/16/2022 12:13:48 pm

Women are defined by biology. You can believe that there is such a thing as a subcategory of women called "trans women", yet that is not based in objective, shared reality. You are threatening to Women, you scare us - you are a biological male and a Man in our eyes who is a "poor thing" at best, one who is struggling to embody and accept his own DNA, the gift of a healthy body, and the gift that is being a Man. Your mind has become warped by a sinister ideology that is new in the world and flies in the face of thousands of years of human experiences. You are a threat to our children as you are telling them through various books and messaging that your religion is the right one, and you're getting to them within their schools now. Your lifestyle is a result of countless Men and Women breaking their bodies to create a prosperous society, and in the war war to come, your kind will suffer greatly when pharma goes off the grid.

Josephine Inkpin
10/16/2022 04:34:41 pm

So sorry for your misplaced fear Sandra and your black and white view of both biology (so much richer and motre complex than you seem to understand) and gender. My experience is that most cisgender women are not at all scared but welcoming and supportive, recognising that the real threats to us all are nto one another but other elements of life, especially powerful men. Most trans people are also well received by children, and those of us who have children in our lives are typically loving and loved by them. There is no trans 'ideology' except that which brands us as unnatural and we have been around forever, undere various names and understandings. It is really very recent Western culture which has defined us as problematic. We are also far from 'poor things' but rich in love and gifts of all kinds. I hope you will come to see that we are part of the growth of all :-)

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    The Revd Dr Jo Inkpin:
    an Anglican priest, theologian, justice & peace activist, and trans woman in Australia

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  • Home
  • About
    • about this site
    • about the author
    • about transgender
  • Blog
  • Theology
    • Genesis and Creation
    • Freedom and Order
    • Gnosticism and heresy
    • Healing and Hope
    • Resurrection and the Body
    • sharing in New Creation
  • Scriptures
    • Christian love & identity
    • gender variant people in scripture
    • crossdressing
    • marriage and family
    • suffering and transformation
    • all one in Christ Jesus
  • Spirituality
    • Kaleidoscope people
    • trans experiences and reflections
    • spiritual practices
    • seeking justice and shalom
    • trans history
    • pioneer priests & inspirations
  • Resources
    • Trans Awareness Days
    • Celebrating Gender Diversity
    • Australian Trans Christian Stories
    • information & support
    • affirming religious groups
    • prayers & worship
    • trans affirmation in many faiths
    • online video clips
    • further reading
  • Contact