Ms. Danielson,
I read that you find Caitlyn Jenner’s claim to identify as a “woman” disengenuous, uneducated, and honestly, quite offensive.”
[click here for reading Emilee's Open Letter https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203882476055502&set=a.12609321... ]
Ms. Danielson, I’m a low income mother of five children. I don’t identify with beautiful gowns or fake boobs. I do know what it’s like to be overpowered by a man. I do know what it’s like to have a miscarriage. I have been pregnant and gained probably more than 40lbs and had morning sickness all nine months of my 3 pregnancies. I did give birth to an almost 10lb baby boy with little to no medication. I have stretch marks and age spots, dirt under my nails, bags under my eyes and I raise five children on my own as a single mother.
Like you, I can’t identify with a widow. I can’t identify with a woman who has been unable to have children. I can’t identify with lots of other women, because my life is different from theirs.
Just like I cannot identify as a transgender woman. I’ve never felt like I was trapped in someone else’s body. I’ve never hated the appearance of my body so much that it disgusts me and made me want to undergo numerous painful surgeries to change it. I’ve never been attacked or beaten because of my appearance. I’ve never wanted to commit suicide. I’ve never been ashamed of and embarrassed of who I am. I’ve never been afraid to walk outside dressed the way I wanted to be dressed. I’ve never had hateful words and letters sent to me by people that were angry because of my appearance.
Just because someone else has a different experience in life does not mean I have the right to undermine it or spew insults towards that person, especially if I don’t know what it’s like to be them. I’m glad you feel like you “identify as a woman.” Now you should work on identifying as a more loving and tolerant person.
Stacey Andersen
