Feminist groups clash over who can be a woman

Tensions between rival feminists flared at Melbourne’s Women’s Day march and featured a confrontation with transgender groups.

One of the signs at Melbourne’s International Women's day rally. Picture: AAP

Tensions between rival feminist groups ignited at the International Women’s Day march in Melbourne over whether transgender people are women and sex work is a legitimate profession.

More than 30 activists holding signs with slogans including “sisterhood not cisterhood” and “blow jobs are real jobs” surrounded the radical feminists on Friday, aiming to block the latter’s groups that held signs reading ­“female is born, not worn” and “abolish the pimp state”.

The radical feminists, called trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFS) or sex-work exclusionary feminists (SWERFS), don’t accept transgender women as women, and oppose sex work, which they see as exploitative and degrading to women.

The activists aimed to block the view of their signs, which express views they consider highly offensive. Questioning someone’s gender identity, or intentionally misgendering them, is considered a form of violence by trans people and their allies.

The radical feminists planned ahead for the rally, informing police and agreeing to be silent so as to avoid being dragged into verbal altercations with the counter-protesters. They also brought long poles to ensure their signs could be read above the crowd.

A pro-sex work group that organised the counter-protest published a statement on social media after the rally that said: “A few minor confrontations aside, our marshals were able to keep sex workers and trans protesters safe from the TERF and SWERF contingent. Sex workers and trans folk are everywhere. We will not be excluded from the movements we helped build.”

The group declined to comment when contacted.

Jackie, one key organiser who wanted to be known by her first name only, said there was a witch-hunt against radical feminists.

“The agenda behind this (anti) SWERFS and TERFS campaign is to silence us and to silence women and to scare them from speaking the truth.” She said she didn’t understand the opposition. “For me, it’s just common sense what we’re speaking out about, but it’s like the majority of the population are brainwashed.”

Another radical feminist, who did not wish to be named, said this was the first protest for which she made preparations to ensure her safety. “I think our group was so fiercely opposed because some trans activists and supporters of sex work don’t understand our aim is to abolish the expectation of gender roles, and to criminalise those who believe one can pay for another’s consent,” she said.

“Our opponents believe our goals are a danger to their communities; we believe their goals are a danger to biological girls and women.”

Jodi, a spokeswoman for the IWD Melbourne Collective that organised the rally, said the group encouraged all views and beliefs as long as they remained respectful.