Aaron Kimberly: Carving Out A Space For Masculinized Women

This interesting and challenging story from Aaron Kimberly on the Genspect website discusses the issues faced by a woman who masculinised in order to improve her mental health and have a better life. At the same time she acknowledges the homophobia behind the trans movement and roundly condemns it. “A lesbian passing as male in public is nothing new. What’s new is the medical facilitation of it, and given the environments some of us find ourselves in, it’s hard for me to see growing a beard as self-harm. It’s self-preservation.” I found her story sad and thought-provoking. To paraphrase Suzanne Moore, it will be a great day when gender non-conformity can be celebrated rather than needing to be cured.