left a comment on a post about tma/tme today. i deleted all the posts off this account originally because getting involved in all the dumb trans discourse was genuinely worsening my mental health. i dont really know what i expected leaving that comment but it did lead me to a realization i think is important for everyone involved
the usage of tma/tme reinforces that there is a class of people who experience gender related oppression Worse and a class of people who experiences it Not As Bad. when you are a person who is classified as someone whose experiences are Not As Bad but youve experienced abuse related to your gender that other people in the Not As Bad classification havent experienced, that theyve inflicted and continue to inflict on you even. of course youre angry, youre being put in the same category as the people whove hurt you.
conversely though, it can be so validating to hear that you do have it Worse. youre correct, the constant fear from the abuse youve experienced and continue to experience is vaid because you facually have it Worse. people who try to deny that you have it Worse are denying the reality that you are at greater risk and have Worse experiences. some people on the other side have it Bad, sure, but comparing it to your experience is an insult. they have it Not As Bad.
