Trans experience challenges the notion that individuals are pre-determined. This means that people who identify as transgender have to create their own identity through the process of transitioning. Trans individuals make conscious choices about how they want to live their lives, such as what clothes to wear, what names to call themselves, and which pronouns to use. They also choose whether to undergo medical procedures like hormone therapy and surgeries. Their choices are driven by their personal beliefs and values, not by any external authority.
The ethical assumption that moral agents are pre-given implies that morality is determined before birth or at conception. It suggests that people already know right from wrong and don't need to learn it later in life.
Trans experience shows that this isn't always true. Some trans people may have never felt comfortable in the gender assigned to them at birth and had to work hard to discover their true self. Others may have been taught that certain behaviors were unacceptable based on their sex or gender expression. In both cases, they had to relearn what was acceptable for them and develop their own sense of morality.
Trans experiences challenge the idea that humans are born with a fixed set of characteristics that determine their behavior and choices. Instead, it demonstrates that identity can be fluid and ever-changing. Trans people often face discrimination and violence because of their identities, so they must constantly negotiate and navigate social spaces in new ways. They are forced to think critically about what society expects of them and question traditional norms. In doing so, they become better equipped to understand and critique power structures and systemic oppression.
The process of self-creation involves reflecting on one's past experiences, desires, and values. It requires taking risks and making difficult decisions. Trans individuals may face significant obstacles during this journey, but many find great joy in being able to express themselves authentically. This type of self-exploration helps trans people become more resilient, empathetic, and aware. By challenging the ethical assumption of pre-given morality, trans experiences show that moral agents are not static entities but dynamic creations shaped by context and choice.
How do trans experiences of self-creation challenge the ethical assumption that moral agents are pre-given rather than becoming?
Transgender individuals often experience a sense of dissonance between their assigned gender at birth and their internal sense of gender identity, leading them on a journey of self-exploration and personal transformation towards creating an authentic self. This process can involve changes in physical appearance (such as hormone therapy or surgery) and social roles (changing one's name, pronouns, dress, etc.