I think its main aim is to make money
Do you really think that the main aim of storytellers is to make money? what's next, animators being animators for money?
I don't understand the reason people opposing it. Why does it matter to you that gender identity is real or not? That's other people's lives, you don't get to decide what's right or valid for them.
It's not like their decisions will affect you somehow, and you're telling me you're not transphobic for thinking you have the right to decide how they feel.
Tbh i use this quote just as a pretense to collect my thoughts.
From my understanding, the problem is polarization of the subject that media outlets use to generate outrage, and many ppl fall for this, from both sides. Another thing is, that people are stressed by things they don't understand and that society will make their lives harder if they make a mistake, also from both sides. And it ends in very unhinged discussions that serve no one, and make everybody angry.
Another problem is, that becoming a trans person is a decision best made when you are a kid (at least for MtF). And kids.. well kids tend to be stupid (or confused and depressed due to bad family or problems with their peers). Many people had escapist thoughts about being another gender, due to the impression that it would be an easier life. (due to patriarchy, or wanting to be desired) and in retrospection are satisfied with their identity. Thinking that some kid or their kid would "harm" their body due to a trend or desperation to fit in within current society, makes them anxious, because many people don't trust their kids, even if sometimes for good reason.
TERFs feel threatened by transwoman, not only because of sexual assault, i think it's just a facade. i think It's more about an identity and lack of kinship with transwoman. A female body is way more problematic than one of a male. It's weaker, period takes almost 20-30% of month, the fear of pregnancy makes social interactions more complicated. For a woman that identifies womanhood with a struggle, transwoman is like non-disabled person entering an Olympiad for People with Disabilities.
And transwoman will have different experience from cis person, that's why there is a rift between queer and cis communities. Social groups exist mostly from a sense of kinship, an immigrant will always be an immigrant in the minds of locals. An aristocrat even if poor will always be an aristocrat in the minds of common people. And while it doesn't mean there will be no acceptance, because our other experiences or interests might be similar, barriers will always exist.
I remember my first experience with a trans person, a few years before it became mainstream topic it is today, I've thought it's an artistic man and I referred to her as a man which made her cringe. Later I've learned that she is she and, well, It was a new experience to me and i didn't mean to make anybody feel bad. And on the other hand, asking for pronouns to anybody that seems androgynous is out of the question, as many people would get offended that i even consider them to me manly/femine.
My childhood friend was a girl with an enormous complex about her appearance, due to her height and bony build. She was often mistaken for a boy, which made her miserable.
I think people shouldn't take offense in labels, being called woman or man, as there is nothing wrong with being either. But of course it's not that easy, gender from very young age is something programmed onto us, and closely interconnected with being attractive and being attracted to, to the point that even homosexual people can be confused who they are attracted to, because of this programming. Both trans and non-trans people take an offense in being misgendered.
and well, i dunno, i think i dislike the existence of genders. It's just another barrier that helps no one.