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Notes -
There are several ways in which trans communities can resemble cults. These are also ways that other groups often resemble cults. Niche nerd hobbies are a good example.
Conversely, when I look at things that are very cult-specific, like the type of leadership, I find that trans spaces don’t have them. This may be oversight on my part—responses are certainly eager to give me anecdotes for the opposite!
The people I know who transitioned did dive into trans-friendly communities, divest from mainstream circles at the slightest hint of transphobia, and surround themselves with like-minded people. As far as I can tell, it wasn’t coercive at all. Instead, there was something missing or distressing in their lives, and the social apparatus of transgender spaces offered an alternative. I think this is a lot closer to your culture-bound label than it is to OP’s choice of cults.
I agree with your post here. I think the word cult is mostly just being used as a snarl word to advertise to everyone how much the speaker doesn't like transpeople. That's not to say that the trans community is flawless and does nothing wrong - I think there are serious issues with how they present themselves and act, but using cult to describe them is just incorrect.
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I don't think a typical hobby group credibly meets the threshold of cult-like, although some would have their own characteristics, you must like X thing and not Y etc.
Agreed, the second part of what you talk about is what I am referring to by a culture bound syndrome, but there's also explicit manifestations that if not exactly characteristic of cults, are cult like. It's a modern social construction/transhuman cult perhaps. Religious belief is another relevant paradigm. I feel like we're arguing in the margins.
Have you read The Ballad of MsScribe?
Ah ha, yes perhaps my comment needs a few caveats, great link :) To be fair I was thinking real life woodworking clubs or walking groups, not internet fan-fiction clubs but on reflection I can see all sorts of human behaviour would be out there regardless.
I think cults are probably on a spectrum, where different degree ultimately separates into different kinds.
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