Trans-exclusionary Discourses on Social Media in Spain

Abstract

Since best-selling author J. K. Rowling outed herself as a ‘TERF’ (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) in 2019, the term has been both used as a slur by those who advocate trans-inclusion in feminist/female spaces and acclaimed by those who push for the exclusion of trans individuals specifically trans women from female-only spaces. In Spain, a cultural war between ‘TERFs’ and ‘transfeminists’ – trans activists and trans-inclusive feminist collectives – has been taking place since 2018 mainly on social media, such as Twitter and Instagram. The narratives of opinion makers and influencers on this issue are crucial for public opinion on feminist, queer, and trans theory. This chapter will shed light on the specific affordances of social media for discourses on gender and sexual identity, including misinformation and hate speech, regarding the new Trans Law which was to be adopted by the Spanish Parliament in 2021. This law aims at de-pathologising transness and securing the right to gender self-determination of trans individuals, following the path set by laws passed already in seventeen Spanish regions. The proposal has become controversial, not only among the conservative and extreme right, but also among certain sectors of traditional centre and progressive parties. We looked at four trans-exclusionary feminist influencers and their discourses during the week that a draft law on transgender rights was passed by the Spanish government (29 June 2021).

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