Promoting the Sex-Based Rights of Transmen
Respecting a person's identity and expression must coexist with the realities of biological sex. Important information about the well-being of transmen/transmasculine/female non-binary individuals goes unnoticed and neglected without a sex-based analysis.
Transmen have unique needs, many of them rooted in the realities of our bodies. Though we have masculinized our appearance to share some aspects of public life with men, our sexed bodies remain an inescapable, salient dimension of our lives.
A feminist analysis shows that transmen:
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Are more likely than transwomen to experience sex-based violence such as sexual assault
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Have sex-based healthcare needs (medication dosages, risk factors, warning signs, lab values etc)
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Have sex-based reproductive needs (access to birth control, abortion rights, etc)
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Are over-represented among those presenting to gender clinics but, are under-represented in advocacy
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Have oftentimes sought masculinizing medicalization as a result of adverse sex-based experiences (e.g. sexual abuse).
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Often experience gender dysphoria because of overly strict cultural stereotypes for the sexes, limiting the free expression of homosexuals/gender nonconforming individuals.
Feminism is for transmen
Meet Aaron Kimberly, RN
I was born female with a rare ovotesticular disorder which wasn't discovered until age 16. Ovotesticular disorders of sex development (DSD) are characterized by both ovarian and testicular tissue occurring in the same individual - either an ovary on one side and a testicle on the other, or both tissues in the same gonad. The gonads are usually undescended and the other sex organs are underdeveloped. This condition is thought to occur due to genetic variations and is more common among people of African descent. Sex assignment is typically based on the appearance of external sex organs. However, it's not uncommon for females with this condition to seek legal reassignment to male as adults, due to the high degree of masculinization. This condition is rare, so I'm not representative of the many different reasons women may choose to masculinize their appearance and legally change sex. Whatever the motivation, I believe it's important that transmen retain a firm awarness and acceptace of our sexed bodies.
I'm a Registered Nurse with a specialization in psychiatric nursing. I've held roles as a staff nurse on a psychiatric stabilization unit at St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Clinical Nurse Educator with the BC Provincial Tertiary Eating Disorders Program, Clinical Supervisor at Foundry Kelowna, Clinical Instructor for the School of Psychiatric Nursing at Brandon University, and staff nurse in Geriatric Psychiatry at Brandon Regional Hospital. I've been a subject matter expert on gender dysphoria since 2019 and have advised individuals, families, educators, clinicians, policymakers, law firms, and faith communities.
I'm now a graduate student, with a focus on feminism, evidence-based gender medicine, policy and sexual orientation.
My Specializations
Sex-Based Analysis & Thought Leadership
Developing Resources which Empower Transmen
Shaping Law & Policy
Rethinking Evidence-Based Clinical Practices
Thank you Aaron! It was so helpful to chat with you and I feel like I have some new ideas and a better concept of how to help my kid.
- Anonymous Parent
Thank you again Aaron, you are so warm and smart and accessible and doing such important work.People really loved the session and for me anyway, I’d love to work together at some time in the future and keep in touch.
- Anonymous group leader
Your presentation was a breath of fresh air and helped demystify the experience of gender non-conformity. I learned a lot. Thank-you!
- Anonymous presentation participant