Radical Feminist Group Welcomes Transgender Woman's Withdrawal from Women's University Admission
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination Group: "Let's Live Together Against Hate"
Justice Party: "Fear of Personal Information Leak Forced Withdrawal"
Six Women's Universities in Seoul: "We Only Want to Protect Safe Spaces for Women, Not Hate"
On the 6th, at the bulletin board of Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, a poster welcoming the admission of a 'transgender male' (left) and a poster opposing it (right) were posted side by side. Recently, after it was revealed that a transgender woman who underwent gender reassignment surgery from male to female was admitted to Sookmyung Women's University, the debate among current students has continued without end. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Transgender individual A, who underwent gender reassignment surgery from male to female and was admitted to Sookmyung Women's University in the 2020 academic year, announced her intention to forgo enrollment, sparking criticism that our society harbors prejudice against sexual minorities. Voices of criticism also emerged from the political sphere.
However, some argue that the opposition to A's admission was not due to oppression of sexual minorities but rather concerns for safety, and thus the controversy over transgender admission to women's universities continues.
According to Sookmyung Women's University on the 8th, the 'Sookmyung Women's University Transgender Admission Opposition TF Team,' composed of radical feminist groups from Sookmyung Women's University, Ewha Womans University, Seoul Women's University, Sungshin Women's University, and Dongduk Women's University, released a joint statement on the night of the 7th welcoming the withdrawal of A's admission.
They stated, "Opposing the court's gender change ruling, over 18,000 women participated in the petition started on the 4th. Thanks to the active expression of many women, we were able to protect women's spaces and rights," adding, "We ask for continued participation in petitions opposing the court's arbitrary gender change rulings. We express our gratitude to all the women who have joined us."
◆ "Exposed to all kinds of hatred and insults... We support her decision"
On the other hand, there are growing opinions that discrimination and hatred were behind A's decision to voluntarily give up admission to the women's university.
The Rainbow Action Against Sexual Minority Discrimination expressed support for A's decision in a statement on the 7th, while criticizing Sookmyung Women's University and the media. Rainbow Action said, "We support A's decision, knowing the courage she showed in openly revealing herself and the struggles she faced being exposed to all kinds of hatred and insults."
They continued, "Although it is regrettable that we could not meet A as a student at Sookmyung Women's University, there is no need to despair. She will surely be with us somewhere as a student and citizen. Therefore, we who have witnessed these events should face the reality but also take time to care for our bodies and minds in our respective places," they urged.
They emphasized, "Let us resonate with the echo of A's courage and work together to create change for a better society. Let us live together, gather, and talk in opposition to hatred that denies and expels existence."
Rainbow Action particularly pointed out, "We cannot help but hold the school and media responsible for creating the current situation. The Sookmyung Women's University authorities have remained passive without taking any stance against the countless hateful expressions directed at A, citing that she has not yet registered, and many media outlets have reduced this to a conflict within the student community, ignoring the core issue of denial of existence."
They added, "This series of events will serve as a clear opportunity to determine the roles education, media, and society as a whole must play in combating hatred in the future."
◆ Justice Party: "Schools remain spaces that cannot welcome sexual minority students"
Critical voices also came from the political arena. The Justice Party stated on the 8th that "the education authorities should feel ashamed" regarding A's decision to forgo admission to Sookmyung Women's University.
Kang Min-jin, spokesperson for the Justice Party, said in a statement that morning, "This incident revealed that schools in South Korea still remain spaces that cannot welcome sexual minority students."
Kang said, "Transgender female student A, who was admitted to Sookmyung Women's University, ultimately announced her decision to forgo enrollment. After news of her admission was made public, there was a wave of criticism and hatred claiming that a transgender female student cannot be recognized as a female student. As a result, A felt fear of personal information being leaked and being hunted down, leading her to give up enrollment."
He emphasized, "The historical background of women's universities was to guarantee the right to education for women who had been marginalized in education. If A had enrolled, it would not have contradicted the founding purpose of Sookmyung Women's University in any way and would have been a socially resonant event in our country where discrimination against sexual minorities is severe."
Hong Sung-soo, a law professor at Sookmyung Women's University who has consistently opposed discrimination and hatred against sexual minorities, expressed his sorrow on his Facebook post, saying, "I feel indescribably sad and powerless."
He added, "I conveyed my opinions to the university administration several times, but thinking that I should do so systematically, I began collecting materials on transgender policies at universities in the U.S. and Japan. I blame myself, wondering if the situation might have been somewhat different had I acted more proactively."
◆ "We only want to protect safe spaces for women" vs. "They won't even allow the few hopes I have"
On the other hand, 21 organizations from six women's universities in Seoul, including Sookmyung Women's University, Duksung Women's University, Dongduk Women's University, Seoul Women's University, Sungshin Women's University, and Ewha Womans University, issued a statement on the 5th opposing gender changes that threaten women's rights.
The organizations claimed, "Within 12 hours of posting the statement, it surpassed 10,000 signatures," and argued, "The voices opposing the admission of transgender individuals who have changed their gender from male to female into women's universities are not voices of haters but simply women wanting to protect safe spaces."
Meanwhile, on the 7th around 3 p.m., A posted on her online diary titled "I am giving up registration at Sookmyung" to express her feelings.
She said, "It was not because I was dissatisfied with my CSAT scores, nor because I heard it was advantageous to enter an undergraduate program with a law school, but because I was afraid of the current situation. Seeing their words and actions that would not even allow my few hopes, I was scared," she lamented.
She added, "For mature people, fear of the unknown should become curiosity to learn more, not ruthless hatred," emphasizing, "Understanding diverse values in society can help develop the community in a more constructive direction."
To those who supported her, she expressed, "I thank the many individuals and organizations who empathized with and supported my wish to protect everyone's daily lives and create a society that embraces diverse values."
Additionally, Park Han-hee, a lawyer from Hope Making Law, expressed regret. Park assisted A in her decision to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
Park wrote on her Facebook on the 7th, "A has decided not to register," and stated, "I support the decision of the person concerned, as A will continue to live and interact with us."
She pointed out, "I feel deep frustration and pain at voices denying the existence of transgender people under the name of feminism."
Regarding claims that transgender individuals cannot be admitted to women's universities for safety reasons, she emphasized, "Safety is important, but ultimately our goal should be a society where everyone can live safely and authentically, not one that separates, expels, and suspects."
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