They would have transitioned me: third conditional TERF grammar of trans childhood

Some of the most virulent public trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) discourse in UK follows grammatical form third conditional: if I had grown up now, would have been persuaded to transition. This articulation hypothetical threat a transition that did not happen but is imagined, retrospect, be just possible forcibly enacted plays an important role, both politically and psychically, contemporary political landscape threatening livelihoods trans children. Interrogating this via analysis open letter by J.K. Rowling, documentary Stella O’Malley, article asks: what might we learn about transphobia took seriously grammar TERF animated childhood? It argues while conditional could articulate politics solidarity between cis positionalities politics, its potential for shared standpoint routinely interrupted defence mechanisms are oriented psychic life child. these at level cultural, traces out paranoia (as reading practice state) as well projection, two main modes engagement with childhood. The thus engages range real fantasmatic impossibilities haunt child present past, it contributes growing body scholarship on childhoods. In doing so, makes case children should desist from claims, instead find ways embracing childhoods unconditionally.