In a sexist, patriarchal society, where women are taught that they are not as capable or powerful as men, and in a cissexist society where trans people are taught that they are lesser than cisgendered people, having a political organizing space that is not open to the people who are most privileged in a sexist, patriarchal, cissexist society - cis men* - is a valuable tool for cis women and trans people to build confidence in themselves as political organizers and activists.

*Not a typo - short for cisgendered men, which means men who are born physically male and who identify as men.

Do you also consider affirmative action to be discriminatory to "people who are of groups that haven't been excluded", also known as people with relative privilege?

Would you also accuse a group of racism if they were only open to people of colour and not to white people, even those with anti-racist politics?

I hope not. These policies and groups are not "discriminatory." They are formed in the face of discrimination and oppression. It is an ugly display of entitlement when a person who is privileged by the social structures that oppress others demands to be allowed into a space meant to build solidarity and strength among people who face systemic oppression. This kind of entitlement shows that this person making demands has not recognized or taken responsibility for their privilege and the power dynamics it creates.

In radical political organizing spaces, women are often relegated to tasks that replicate the patriarchal mainstream and keep them from participating in direct action. If cis men truly do support women and trans people working on political projects, they should offer to do the support work that is needed to keep a movement going, such as food preparation and childcare. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to show your support in a useful way.