Aloha,

On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:24:52 -0800, Magliocco, Sabina
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:


> Fascinating discussion; in California, at least, there has been quite a
> bit of tension in the Pagan community in the last several years around
> issues of transwomen attending women-only rites. Some organizers and
> attendees, mostly those of the Second Wave feminist stripe, perceived
> this as a violation of women's space by individuals whom they saw as
> having male privilege. There has been a strong reaction of support for
> transwomen and other TG persons from the queer Pagan community.
> Interestingly, I have not heard of this issue arising for transmen who
> attend men-only rituals.

I suspect that concerns about gender, gender boundaries, gender qualities,
gender expression, and gender tolerance exist among all Pagan Trads and
communities. Magical endeavors, in my experience, at least, ask
participants
to place an intimate trust in one another. Obstinate challenges arise when
some of the participants are more or other or manifest gender in a fashion
that
test ritual intimacy and trust.

Who gets admitted to safe space and magic circle is a collective decision.
Often, the comfort-in-trust of a few or one determines what goes for all
the
participants. (This may provide an intriguing instance of small group
politics.)

I have seen transwomen held up as instances of dangerous change more than
transmen. But I imagine that some cismen have such concerns, but are,
thanks to overall male outlooks, pulling close their big boy ritual garb
and
magicing on. And, myself, I don't know just how I would adapt to a transman
taking part in a men-only ritual that I was also taking part in.
Personality
dynamics would probably be as significant here as gender concerns.

Let me add that Pagan Trads with which I am affiliated have changed and
extended themselves on all fronts over gender and gender concerns.
Doctrinally and operationally, gender multiplicity has nudged out gender
simplicity (although 5 rather than 2 was the categorization, not 18). Lots
of active change still going on here, too.

Musing Shiver Me Genders, Mates! Rose,

Pitch
gender among folks is a challenge but gender among deities is a trip




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