A leading thinker and writer on feminism has accused women who uphold the reality of biological sex of being fascists.
In an interview with The Guardian, Judith Butler branded them ‘Terfs’ and ‘anti-intellectuals’.
TERF, or ‘trans-exclusionary radical feminist’, is used as a slur for women who say that it is not possible for a man to become a woman.
‘Self-assignment’
Butler said “we should not be surprised or opposed when the category of women expands to include trans women”.
She claimed that gender “is an assignment that does not just happen once: it is ongoing” and therefore, whilst “imposed at birth”, can also be “made along the way”.
The prominent feminist argued: “we can take over the power of assignment, make it into self-assignment, which can include sex reassignment at a legal and medical level”.
Fascists
When asked by Guardian journalist Jules Gleeson how she viewed those who opposed her ideas on gender, Butler described them as “anti-feminist, homophobic and transphobic”.
She said: “anti-gender ideology is one of the dominant strains of fascism in our times”.
Referring to her critics, Butler added: “Unfortunately, we are living in anti-intellectual times, and neo-fascism is becoming more normalised.”
Within hours of the article’s publication online, the newspaper had edited out some of Butler’s derogatory comments.
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