Feminism and Trans-Inclusionism: Enemies, Not Friends
1 School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 8 Apr 2025 / Accepted: 9 Apr 2026 / Published: 10 May 2026
Abstract
Some insist that the feminist movement and the trans-inclusionary movement are engaged in a common struggle against patriarchy. I argue that they are not. The feminist movement is the struggle of the sex class women against the sex class men, while the trans-inclusionary movement is the struggle of the sex/gender nonconforming against the sex/gender binary. The two movements have different analyses of injustice, different goals, different enemies, and different friends. And, I argue, with trans women’s demand for recognition as women, these movements have come into conflict.
Keywords: second-wave feminism; poststructuralism; gender-critical feminism; trans-inclusionism; political; Schmitt
OPEN ACCESS
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited. (CC BY 4.0).
CITE
Phelan, K.M. Feminism and Trans-Inclusionism: Enemies, Not Friends. Controversial Ideas 2026, 6, 2.
Phelan KM. Feminism and Trans-Inclusionism: Enemies, Not Friends. Controversial Ideas. 2026; 6(1):2.
Phelan, Kate M. 2026. "Feminism and Trans-Inclusionism: Enemies, Not Friends." Controversial Ideas 6, no. 1: 2.
Not implemented
SHARE
