Examining the Double Standards in Violence Attribution: Transgender vs. Cisgender Men

The discourse surrounding violence committed by transgender individuals versus cisgender men reveals a significant double standard in societal perceptions and media framing. When a transgender person commits an act of violence, their gender identity is often portrayed as indicative of a broader threat posed by transgender individuals. In contrast, violence perpetrated by cisgender men is frequently attributed to individual circumstances, diverting attention from the societal norms of masculinity that may contribute to such behavior.

The Conversation

Masculinity, defined by traits such as dominance, competitiveness, and emotional suppression, is a socially constructed framework that influences male behavior from a young age. In Canada, this framework has been implicated in various forms of violence, including the ongoing violence against Indigenous women and girls, predominantly perpetrated by cisgender men. Reports, such as the 2019 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, highlight the systemic issues surrounding masculinity without triggering widespread moral panic about male violence.

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The case of Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old transgender individual who shot and killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., exemplifies the media's tendency to generalize the actions of a single transgender person to the entire community. This contrasts sharply with the lack of scrutiny directed at cisgender men, even when they commit acts of violence, such as Alek Minassian's incel-related attack in Toronto in 2018, which was largely framed around mental health rather than masculinity.

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Critics argue that the societal focus on individual factors in cisgender male violence obscures the need to examine masculinity as a structural issue. Investigations into incidents involving groups of cisgender men, such as the alleged sexual assaults by junior hockey players, have sparked discussions about consent and culture without a broader condemnation of masculinity itself. This inconsistency raises questions about accountability and the normalization of male violence.

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The prevailing narrative suggests that violence prevention requires a shift in questioning. Instead of viewing violence as an individual anomaly, it is essential to analyze the patterns of behavior that emerge from socialized masculinity. This perspective emphasizes the need to explore how boys learn aggression and dominance, and how institutional frameworks may protect male perpetrators from accountability.

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The ongoing discourse calls for a deeper examination of masculinity as a contributing factor to violence, particularly among cisgender men. Advocates argue that recognizing these patterns is crucial for effective violence prevention strategies. By addressing the structural aspects of masculinity, society may better understand and mitigate the factors that lead to violence, rather than attributing it solely to individual failings.

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• “When a trans person commits violence, their gender identity is often framed as evidence of the collective threat of transgender people, while the more prevalent pattern of cisgender male-perpetrated violence is attributed to individual factors.” — The Conversation

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• “The pattern appears consistent: when a member of a marginalized community (such as transgender people) is violent, the entire group becomes suspect.” — The Conversation

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• “The call to follow patterns, not exceptions Cisgender men commit the overwhelming majority of violence, legitimating the examination of masculinity as a cause of that violence.” — The Conversation

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