In Risley's Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism

Females struggle for equality. A complaint heard way too often. But what happens when men join the fight? What happens when men become women and decide to be part of the movement? An interesting concept of this day and age has arisen. The evolving social norms including gays and trans-genders have altered the roles of men and women interchangeably. As society becomes more relaxed with how far to stray from traditional roles, feminists gain a foreign enemy. A loose group called Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism does not tolerate transgender women and aims to exclude men who have become women and desire to join the movement. Ostracizing transgender women suggests that there may be more to this organization than radical feminism; in
fact, the organization displays itself as more of an intolerant group as opposed to a movement fighting for gender equality. Most people would question why equality drove women resist additional support. Even if the individual had been a man, why not accept aid from the “opposing force,” to add diversity to their ever-growing numbers? The reason for such intolerance could be the possible variation of what each person fights for: the definition of feminism differs. Since no one actually knows what he or she fights for, many become skeptical in joining the movement. Similarly, Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye provides a journey through understanding the importance of finding equality for oneself and acting upon injustice in a reasonable manner, to establish a unique view of the feminist movement. Atwood suggested that women, encouraged from a young age, create their own definition of feminism. In Elaine Risley’s case, inequality had been dealt with from an early point in her life. She realized the difference between boys and girls, and later men and women. First had been her blissful experiences with her brother Stephen and the child she babysat, Brian adds to her bias of male company. Rough housing outside and sharing comics with Stephen, and tranquil stroller walks with baby Brian. She could engage with them in an easy way, whereas with her girlfriends, underlying feelings were not read quick enough to satisfaction. Risley then concluded that boys were simple creatures that required less decoding than girls, specifically comparing them to Cordelia, Carol, and Grace. According to everydayfeminism.com, sexual assault, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression can later cause death and/ or irrational fears regarding men, possibly triggering a dormant feminist or a soon-to-be feminists. In the end, results in a radical who eventually develop a bad reputation for all feminists, resulting in women too hesitant to embrace the movement. Atwood wanted Elaine to embrace confidence and steadfastness, pursuing a life shaped by herself. And she found that befriending males would be easier and more beneficial to her self-esteem in the long-run than the emotional distress girls created.
As Risley matured, she began to shape her own image. Proceeding all the trauma Cordelia and the others caused, Elaine decided to cut her hair. She resented the soft, feminine features of her hair, and had been tired of “having long wavy hair that has to be held back by barrettes or hairbands.” The barrettes and hairbands restrained her long, wavy, and feminine hair with objects that characterizes girls and how they can alter their appearances. She thinks “I’m tired of being a child. I watch with satisfaction as my hair falls away from me like fog and my head emerges, sharper-featured, more clearly defined” (Atwood 223). Every girl develops an attachment to her hair; it defines her. The courage required for a haircut represented the end of a small part of her life. The hair expressed her excess feelings, as she shed the influences of Cordelia from her head, freed her of all the excess negativity it held. The renewal provided her with a lighter perspective of gender roles. Of course, heads represent knowledge and her “sharper-featured, more clearly defined head” delineated how she wanted to become; she desired to make her own decisions without the influence of certain individuals, specifically young radicals such as Cordelia. Unfortunately, hair grows back and she will need to gather fortitude to cut it again, eliminating all the dead ends that represent her baggage, Cordelia; a reminder of what she believes in and the necessity to maintain cognizance in order to stay true to herself. Risley’s experiences with Cordelia refocused her ideals and helped her delineate her true friends, whether they were guy friends, or loyal and respectful girls.
In Risley’s adult years, she experienced falling in love: a both new and confusing subject.
She decided to participate in an art class where she gave herself to a teacher, Josef, whom referred to another student, Susie, as a “too-expensive toy” that in many cases will “[wound] him deeply” (323). Atwood reveals her true colors regarding the subject of affairs and fidelity. Her bitter undertone gives the impression that men represent dogs, solely looking for easy pleasures in women or their “expensive toys.” Expensive suggests that men rent women for pleasure, or prostitution. Often, these “toys” bring some sort of emotional pain, whether intended or not. Atwood addresses the idea of affairs in modern society: Risley views marriage as “innocent and beribboned, like a child’s doll: irretrievable” (Atwood 324). Taking part in an affair, forced Elaine to take a step back and evaluate the slow-train wreck that had been her life, that there was no going back after her affair. The idea of an “irretrievable” child’s doll gives her actions a hint of “well, it’s not my fault” type of attitude. But she soon realized that performing solely for Josef’s selfish needs degraded her as a person. According to the feminist artists that she associated with, relationships harboring too much dependency upon the man would be scoffed at. Risley assured what she wanted, even if it meant disapproval from her friends. She wanted a happy, stimulating and fulfilled love life with limited dependency on men, yet she needed a man who did not fully commit himself to
her.
Everyone has a different perspective of feminism. Most feminist groups become shaped by the women who lead them, many of those groups capitalize on the oppression of male dominance and stir vengeance amongst riled women: creating flaming feminists. Atwood proves that the best way to achieve a clear understanding of feminism, one must expose oneself to a myriad of people, whether men, women, or transgenders, with unique views and values. Only from these experiences, one can decide how to react in tense environments, with hesitance and skepticism, or complete and utter acceptance.