Photo: Eliot Blondet/Abaca/Sipa USA via AP Images
In the same vein, women both cis and trans have been targets of extremist attacks in public spaces, driven by a desire to eliminate anyone they deem unworthy of being categorized as a woman. The enforcement of strict gender conformity extends far beyond the discrimination faced by trans and queer individuals and communities. It is often women of color, particularly Black women, who bear the brunt of violent gender policing, reflecting the long history of exclusion from protections that white women have enjoyed. This violence is not coincidental but rather a deliberate tactic used by racist far-right groups to reinforce colonialist and white supremacist ideologies of strict gender norms.
It is important to recognize that the far right’s opposition to transgender individuals participating in women’s sports is not based on genuine concerns about fair competition. The case of Khelif, who has suffered defeats in previous fights against women, including a loss to Irish gold medalist Kellie Harrington, exposes the fallacy of claims about her having an unfair advantage. The outcry against transgender athletes highlights the irrationality and flawed reasoning behind fascist gender ideologies. Engaging in debates based on science and reason may not be the most effective way to combat these regressive campaigns. Instead, we must vehemently oppose and condemn the misogynistic and racist policing of bodies.
