I'm going to say this in the most loving and gentle way that I can: I barely read past the second paragraph because "undisputed biological fact" sounds like a dog-whistle for transphobia.
I don't know if the guest author is transphobic or if she is aware of what she sounds like. I will not assume intent about the author. I'm commenting because I read the second paragraph as transphobic and I am assuming that Sarah Bessey wants to learn about and from her Queer readers. I'm commenting because I am trying to use my voice as a cis woman to educate where I can so that our trans siblings don't have to.
As a birth doula and as a cis woman who is trying to conceive, I have a lot of experiences with the most powerful muscle in the world, and I'm going to dispute this "undisputed biological fact." Not all women have a uterus; not everyone who has a uterus is a woman.
I'm a big fan of the uterus. I'm hoping that my own uterus grows and births a child very soon. I also love my trans family and I refuse to be quiet about it.
Sarah, I hope you can read this as a kind message from a concerned reader. I desperately want to assume the good about you and about Stephanie, and at the same time, I *have* to speak up for my trans siblings, especially one week out from the US presidential election.
I've read and reread my own comment here, hoping that my concern and goodwill are coming through. My hope is to expand our embraces to include {not as an afterthought} our trans siblings.
Rebekah and Jesse, thank you so much for this valuable call-in. You're right on and it is a problematic phrasing, for sure. I missed that and I apologise. Thanks for pointing this out and for inviting me to do better here. I am glad you spoke up and you're right, this isn't a time to be unequivocal in our stand. I'll take this to heart and I'll follow up soon. We can celebrate, bless, and name the images of this without leaving out or excluding trans beloveds.
I've been in touch with the author of the piece and, at her request, I've made a few necessary edits to remove that problematic section and to ensure the piece reflects her heart better. Thank you again for pointing this out and giving us an opportunity to clarify not only the point, but our heart for one another.
Exactly the same. The moment I read that the uterus "belongs uniquely to women" I stopped reading--will also be taking this book off my TBR list. I hope the writer is "just" ignorant, and not blatantly transphobic (while that is the impact of her words). It is hard to understand that Sarah would identify her as a "trusted" writer. It is beautiful to carry images of God as a woman, pregnant, or parenting. We can celebrate Mary's faithful response to God's calling. All of that can be done without being transphobic.
Rebekah and Jesse, I want to thank you personally for raising this concern, and apologize for my exclusionary language. It is important to me to honor and affirm the trans community and my language here failed to do that, being simplistic and inaccurate, and that grieves me, especially as someone who believes words matter. That is my miss and I take it to heart. Thank you for your advocacy and the kindness of showing me the disconnect between my intent and its effect. With Sarah’s help, I’ve edited the piece, and will be working on a reprint correction for the book.
Oct 30Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith, Sarah Bessey
What a beautiful piece! I will add this to my list. Also, the above conversation about honoring and respecting trans people was a lesson in love and respect for me. You all addressed your concerns and your comments with love and humility. Thank you. May we learn to recognize when we miss something, a way we could hurt others, and may we learn to gently correct without being harsh and judgmental. I certainly need that lesson, especially here in the US right now. ❤️
I thought the piece was beautiful, the focus of Advent and the anticipation of Marys birth to the Christ child. Did I ignore the language, it caught my attention however I read over and through it. Not deny its presence or those who posted their thoughts on the language used, I just think I was more focused on the overall message. A woman's body is a miracle and for those fortunate enough to have given birth to children, it's seemed a reminder of just that, the power we hold and the advent of what is to come. Obviously I could be wrong.
Oh how I love when love finds me via written words. This beautiful piece of heart work left me EXPECTING! From beginning to end, I left this world behind anticipating meeting Him. He is Holy and His decision on how to enter the world he created through a womb he created just baffles me each and every time. Thank you for having this guest author.
It's definitely not transphobic to be in awe of the human body.
It is transphobic to automatically assume that only women possess a uterus, and that is what Sarah and Stephanie fixed in the first few paragraphs of this essay.
I’ve been thinking about this and Rebbekka's comment and the following beautiful conversation for a while. Obviously, not al uterusses are in woman’s bodies and not all woman have uteruses. Transwoman as well as cis woman who had a hysterectomy don’t have one. And neither one is less of a woman because of that.
But transphobia seems like a very strong accusation. English is not my native language, so I double checked the dictionary, that defined it as “fear and/or hatred of transgender and gender-diverse people.”
The wording of of a uterus belonging uniquely to women was overly simplistic and imprecise, but automatically assuming hatred or fear towards transgender people instead of a poor choice of words is a bit of a leap, I think. Reading the author’s reply does not give me the impression this is the case.
I'm going to say this in the most loving and gentle way that I can: I barely read past the second paragraph because "undisputed biological fact" sounds like a dog-whistle for transphobia.
I don't know if the guest author is transphobic or if she is aware of what she sounds like. I will not assume intent about the author. I'm commenting because I read the second paragraph as transphobic and I am assuming that Sarah Bessey wants to learn about and from her Queer readers. I'm commenting because I am trying to use my voice as a cis woman to educate where I can so that our trans siblings don't have to.
As a birth doula and as a cis woman who is trying to conceive, I have a lot of experiences with the most powerful muscle in the world, and I'm going to dispute this "undisputed biological fact." Not all women have a uterus; not everyone who has a uterus is a woman.
I'm a big fan of the uterus. I'm hoping that my own uterus grows and births a child very soon. I also love my trans family and I refuse to be quiet about it.
Sarah, I hope you can read this as a kind message from a concerned reader. I desperately want to assume the good about you and about Stephanie, and at the same time, I *have* to speak up for my trans siblings, especially one week out from the US presidential election.
I've read and reread my own comment here, hoping that my concern and goodwill are coming through. My hope is to expand our embraces to include {not as an afterthought} our trans siblings.
Rebekah and Jesse, thank you so much for this valuable call-in. You're right on and it is a problematic phrasing, for sure. I missed that and I apologise. Thanks for pointing this out and for inviting me to do better here. I am glad you spoke up and you're right, this isn't a time to be unequivocal in our stand. I'll take this to heart and I'll follow up soon. We can celebrate, bless, and name the images of this without leaving out or excluding trans beloveds.
I've been in touch with the author of the piece and, at her request, I've made a few necessary edits to remove that problematic section and to ensure the piece reflects her heart better. Thank you again for pointing this out and giving us an opportunity to clarify not only the point, but our heart for one another.
Exactly the same. The moment I read that the uterus "belongs uniquely to women" I stopped reading--will also be taking this book off my TBR list. I hope the writer is "just" ignorant, and not blatantly transphobic (while that is the impact of her words). It is hard to understand that Sarah would identify her as a "trusted" writer. It is beautiful to carry images of God as a woman, pregnant, or parenting. We can celebrate Mary's faithful response to God's calling. All of that can be done without being transphobic.
Rebekah and Jesse, I want to thank you personally for raising this concern, and apologize for my exclusionary language. It is important to me to honor and affirm the trans community and my language here failed to do that, being simplistic and inaccurate, and that grieves me, especially as someone who believes words matter. That is my miss and I take it to heart. Thank you for your advocacy and the kindness of showing me the disconnect between my intent and its effect. With Sarah’s help, I’ve edited the piece, and will be working on a reprint correction for the book.
What could be more sacred than Mary’s womb expanding to give us Jesus, a teenager, a child, the mother of our Yahweh🩷. Thankyou
What a beautiful piece! I will add this to my list. Also, the above conversation about honoring and respecting trans people was a lesson in love and respect for me. You all addressed your concerns and your comments with love and humility. Thank you. May we learn to recognize when we miss something, a way we could hurt others, and may we learn to gently correct without being harsh and judgmental. I certainly need that lesson, especially here in the US right now. ❤️
Deep and beautiful, my world just expanded. Thank you for sharing this lovely essay!
Such a beautiful piece! I look forward to reading the book.
Beautiful.....
I thought the piece was beautiful, the focus of Advent and the anticipation of Marys birth to the Christ child. Did I ignore the language, it caught my attention however I read over and through it. Not deny its presence or those who posted their thoughts on the language used, I just think I was more focused on the overall message. A woman's body is a miracle and for those fortunate enough to have given birth to children, it's seemed a reminder of just that, the power we hold and the advent of what is to come. Obviously I could be wrong.
Oh how I love when love finds me via written words. This beautiful piece of heart work left me EXPECTING! From beginning to end, I left this world behind anticipating meeting Him. He is Holy and His decision on how to enter the world he created through a womb he created just baffles me each and every time. Thank you for having this guest author.
Such a beautiful piece. Thank you for this.
Also, for what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s transphobic to be in awe of the woman’s body.
It's definitely not transphobic to be in awe of the human body.
It is transphobic to automatically assume that only women possess a uterus, and that is what Sarah and Stephanie fixed in the first few paragraphs of this essay.
I’ve been thinking about this and Rebbekka's comment and the following beautiful conversation for a while. Obviously, not al uterusses are in woman’s bodies and not all woman have uteruses. Transwoman as well as cis woman who had a hysterectomy don’t have one. And neither one is less of a woman because of that.
But transphobia seems like a very strong accusation. English is not my native language, so I double checked the dictionary, that defined it as “fear and/or hatred of transgender and gender-diverse people.”
The wording of of a uterus belonging uniquely to women was overly simplistic and imprecise, but automatically assuming hatred or fear towards transgender people instead of a poor choice of words is a bit of a leap, I think. Reading the author’s reply does not give me the impression this is the case.