An British museum which bills itself as “the worlds’ first bricks and mortar museum dedicated to the gynaecological anatomy” decided to honor International Women’s Day by focusing on biological men, tweeting proudly, “This #InternationalWomensDay we’re going to talk about trans women in history.”
The Vagina Museum wrote defensively, “We’ve turned replies off, because we know some people would prefer these stories to be erased and silenced.”
“We’ll start with some housekeeping,” the museum continued. “Across time and space, gender has been constructed in various ways. We discuss queering the past in our podcast episode Trans Saints And Gay Vikings, which you might like to listen to. We’ll also say that some of the stories we discuss contain discrimination and transphobia. This is, sadly, a recurring theme in the stories of trans women and transfeminine people throughout history, and which persists to this day.”
After citing numerous examples, the Vagina Museum concluded, “We’ll conclude this thread with a quote from @queertyyr in the podcast episode at the top: ‘Queer people and trans people have always existed and we will always exist.’”
This #InternationalWomensDay we're going to talk about trans women in history. We've turned replies off, because we know some people would prefer these stories to be erased and silenced.
— Vagina Museum (@vagina_museum) March 8, 2022
We'll start with some housekeeping. Across time and space, gender has been constructed in various ways. We discuss queering the past in our podcast episode Trans Saints And Gay Vikings, which you might like to listen to. https://t.co/Uv73tLEaJQ
— Vagina Museum (@vagina_museum) March 8, 2022
We'll also say that some of the stories we discuss contain discrimination and transphobia. This is, sadly, a recurring theme in the stories of trans women and transfeminine people throughout history, and which persists to this day.
— Vagina Museum (@vagina_museum) March 8, 2022
The Vagina Museum explained how it came to be: “There is a penis museum in Iceland. Which is pretty cool. But there is no vagina equivalent anywhere in the world. We were pretty miffed (muffed?) when we learnt this but we thought, there’s only one way to rectify this. Make one.”
The museum states its mission is to “Spread knowledge and raise awareness of the gynaecological anatomy and health; give confidence to people to talk about issues surrounding the gynaecological anatomy; erase the stigma around the body and gynaecological anatomy; act as a forum for feminism, women’s rights, the LGBT+ community and the intersex community; challenge heteronormative and cisnormative behaviour; Promote intersectional, feminist and trans-inclusive values.”
Social media had some thoughts of its own on the Vagina Museum’s choice of what to honor on International Women’s Day.
Some sample responses: “The irony. Don’t erase and silence this discussion about erasing and silencing vaginas during #InternationalWomensDay.”
The irony. Don't erase and silence this discussion about erasing and silencing vaginas during #InternationalWomensDay https://t.co/PkXpszbGMi
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) March 8, 2022
Or this: “Trans women are biological men. They’re not women. That’s why they’re TRANS women. If they were actual WOMEN, they wouldn’t need to TRANSITION, would they? So why are you talking about trans women?”
Trans women are biological men. They’re not women. That’s why they’re TRANS women. If they were actual WOMEN, they wouldn’t need to TRANSITION, would they? So why are you talking about trans women? https://t.co/30bP7zEi9n
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 8, 2022
Another: “Nothing says International Women’s Day like talking about biological men.”
Nothing says International Women’s Day like talking about biological men. https://t.co/aRhMTW18uE
— Kimberly Ross 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@SouthernKeeks) March 8, 2022
Another: “On #internationalwomansday the Vagina Museum is only talking about Trans Women? I am so confused!”
On #internationalwomansday the Vagina Museum is only talking about Trans Women? I am so confused! https://t.co/VRsO4bAk9T
— Buck Angel® TRANSSEXUAL MAN (@BuckAngel) March 8, 2022
More: “Spoiler: men don’t have vaginas. Only women do Why is the trans movement hijacking #InternationalWomensDay? Today is about biological women. Perhaps we should rename it #InternationalBiologicalWomensDay?”
Spoiler: men don’t have vaginas. Only women do
Why is the trans movement hijacking #InternationalWomensDay?
Today is about biological women. Perhaps we should rename it #InternationalBiologicalWomensDay? https://t.co/KAIZsw1wGR
— Martin Daubney ✌🏻🇬🇧 (@MartinDaubney) March 8, 2022
And again: “Today, we’re going to behave like toddlers. We are going to tweet this thread (riddled with inaccuracies & misinformation, but we know that, hee hee!). And NO, you CAN’T have one day. Because! So there’s that…um…we’re so edgy! And kewl…so read this weep, beatchiz!”
“Today, we’re going to behave like toddlers. We are going to tweet this thread (riddled with inaccuracies & misinformation, but we know that, hee hee!). And NO, you CAN’T have one day. Because! So there’s that…um…we’re so edgy! And kewl…so read this weep, beatchiz!” https://t.co/8pGC0mj7fv
— James Dreyfus 🇺🇦 (@DreyfusJames) March 8, 2022
And just one more: “Erasing women on international womens day is peak wokeness … or have we not reached rock bottom yet.”
Erasing women on international womens day is peak wokeness … or have we not reached rock bottom yet https://t.co/zFzb04iQ3U
— Matt Vespa (@mVespa1) March 8, 2022