Trans-exclusionary feminism in Poland – a reflection on the structure and tactics of an informal network

Abstract

Despite the increasing visibility of transgender issues in the public sphere, transgender individuals continue to experience stigmatisation and marginalisation, including within certain feminist circles and in the actions of some of their representatives. This article reflects on the phenomenon of trans-exclusionary feminism in Poland, situating it within the theoretical framework of mobilising structures grounded in the theory of opportunity structures. In the Polish context, this environment operates as an informal network based on relationships of solidarity and mutual support. The aim of this article is to present mobilisation tactics together with the arguments advanced by feminist opponents of the social legitimisation of transgender identities. These include: the defence of language (particularly its gender-binary forms), the role of so-called cancel culture in public debate, issues concerning transgender women’s access to segregated spaces designated for cisgender women (such as sports disciplines or prison units), the issue of gender transition among minors, and the phenomenon of detransition. The study is based on qualitative materials collected between 2019 and 2023, including media content analysis supplemented by contemporary commentary, as well as interviews with transgender women and expert interviews, which serve as supplementary material. The researcher identifies the events of the Polish Women’s Strike in 2020 as a turning point in the emergence of a visible informal environment of trans-exclusionary feminists in Poland; this claim is substantiated in the article.