Trans/Feminist Tensions, The Canadian Media & Canadian Prisons

• In Event: Roundtable: Transgender People Involved with Carceral Systems: International Perspectives

Abstract

The conservative political opponents of transgender rights in Canada have often doubted that gender identity and gender expression are legitimate categories for protection, especially compared to other identity categories.
Conservative news outlets are pushing back on the revisions to trans prisoners rights in Canada utilizing trans exclusionary feminists’ language and transphobic scenarios to advance their agenda.This paper will critique the recent Canadian conservative media narrative regarding the accommodation of trans prisoners. It will describe how Canadian conservative media outlets have taken a page from media outlets elsewhere in co-opting white, cis-heteronormative and middle-class feminism to justify transphobic reporting.

Authors

• Victoria Ginsley, Ontario Tech University

• Carla Cesaroni, Ontario Tech University