Maya Forstater

that is: in this case as in almost every case, definitions, unlike facts, are not objective truths about the universes but constructions that exist only to be used by human beings. so we must ask, what is the definition of "woman" FOR?

that being the case, we can construct it considering the pros and cons of various options, as we do in many other cases. i believe you are not considering the harmful consequences that your biologically-based definition has for trans folks.

Currently, trans women face specific discrimination *as women*. They face misogyny, magnified tenfold. For example, trans women face more domestic violence than trans men do AND more than cis women do http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Intimate-Partner-Violence-and-Sexual-Abuse-among-LGBT-People.pdf …

the pernicious idea that trans women are not "real women" is thought to contribute both to this pattern and other aspects of transmisogyny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmisogyny …

holding onto a biologically-grounded notion of womanhood has little practical benefit in day to day life, and is regressive in that it ignores the psychological and social aspects of gender while harming a vulnerable community in the process.

Rachel - I think if we didn't have a word for adult human females we'd have to invent one. But let's say you are right and there is no information content in that word, its not a real thing. Let's get rid of it. Let's pretend the word never existed....

... But then you tell me there's a new word "woman". I've never heard it before. What does it mean? How do I know if I am one? Or if someone else is? What is the definition?

right, so the question is, why would this word be invented out of nothing? what purpose would it serve? in the thought experiment you are describing, there is no need for it, and i'd be very happy that way.