Bette Midler Called Transphobic For Tweet On Gender-Neutral Language: Why Is It Crucial?

American actor Bette Midler has infuriated supporters of transgender rights because of her statement that the word ‘women’ is ‘being erased’ in favour of woke terms such as ‘birthing people’ and ‘menstruators’.

The 76-year-old gay icon tweeted on July 4, “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name!” She then added, “They don’t call us “women” anymore; they call us “birthing people” or “menstruators”, and even “people with vaginas”! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”

The actor’s tweet however sparked a heated debate with many pointing out that she’s being transphobic. Tennis player Martina Navratilova, who has also been accused of being transphobic in the past, commented, “Careful Bette, you will be called transphobic or worse…"

However, many others left messages below her tweet along the lines of this user’s comment, “It’s because not only women menstruate, give birth, or have vaginas. Trans men do all of these things, as do non-binary folks. I love you so much, Bette, but you gotta do better here.”

Even noted gay rights activist Panti Bliss responded to Midler's tweet, writing, "No. Don’t fall for the anti-trans panic fake nonsense. No one is erasing women. In a few small healthcare cases where appropriate they are using trans inclusive language. That’s all."

What’s all the commotion by trans-rights activists about? Why are people calling Bette Midler transphobic? Why do so many people think using gender-neutral terms is dehumanising women?

Suggested Reading: Why Inclusion Of LGBTQIA+ Community In India’s Economy Is Important?

Understanding Context

Talks around gender and sexual identities have established the fact that they are fluid. Gender identities, as we think, are not tied in water-tight binaries. When we have acknowledged that there are more than two genders, why are we then furious over having gender-neutral language?

We need to understand just what necessitates having gender-neutral language. For many trans persons and gender non-conforming or gender queer persons, filling out papers that require responses about biological sex, assigned birth gender or not being able to participate with the self-determined gender identity can be alienating. It could add to the mental and emotional stress that they are already dealing with, due to their marginalised gender identity, and can intensify an individual’s struggle. Gender-neutral language is also an important tool for achieving the goal of gender equality.

Moreover, women are not the only people who can give birth, menstruate or require abortion healthcare; gender queer persons or trans persons who were assigned female at birth also menstruate and this is what Panti Bliss was also insinuating. Women are not being dehumanised here, rather the language is being made gender-neutral to accommodate trans persons and genderqueer persons.

"Seeing women as their own complete entities, not just a collection of derivative parts, was an important part of the struggle for sexual equality," wrote Pamela Paul in her article for NY Times in which she expresses her displeasure over gender-neutral terms. However, her statement dismisses the context-dependent nature of gender identity.

Studies have also stated that it is important to recognise the context-dependent and multidimensional nature of sex and gender. A study suggests, "Conflating the two harms and invalidates gender minorities by implying that these distinct attributes are inextricably linked."

The study further stated that it is imperative that misappropriation of biological terms "by promoting precise language" should be resisted and that "acknowledging that people express these variables in ways that may not conform with a binary system of sex or gender" creates a gender-inclusive space.

Why Is It Important?

Violence has been perpetuated for far too long against queer persons, especially transgender persons. With incidents like Kerala's Adam Harry who was refused medical clearance by India's civil aviation body because he is on hormone treatment, it becomes even more important for us to push for and encourage that we open spaces for them.

We need to understand that not using the word woman does not mean that attempts are being made toward the erasure of the entire sex. It's high time we understand that gender identity is not meant to be constricted into concrete compartments and make way for gender-neutral language which makes everyone feel included and accepted.

Views expressed are the author's own