Episode 386: Obedience Was Never Belonging—Assimilation, Algorithm, and Reaching

episode

The AutSide Podcast not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

More from The AutSide Podcast

Episode 452: Pressing Pause—Ethics of Estrangement and Non-Ownership 11 min · 20 Dec 2025

All episodes from The AutSide Podcast →

Report any issue

Source

Recorded15 Oct 2025

Publisherapi.substack.com ↗

Handlerec:2936784

Show notes

Today’s episode provides a critical analysis of assimilationist voices within the trans community, particularly those found on platforms like Substack, which advocate for obedience and respectability over radical inclusion. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, argues that these older, often medically transitioned individuals confuse conformity with belonging, mourning the loss of a fragile conditional safety that was only ever available to a select few who could “pass.” Dr. Hoerricks identifies seven recurring themes in this assimilationist perspective, including the myth of safety through respectability, the re-centering of authority through gatekeeping, and the conversion of past pain into moral superiority. Throughout the essay, she draws parallels between this assimilationist dynamic and the pressures faced by neurodivergent individuals who mask their traits for acceptance, ultimately concluding that true freedom lies in rejecting these imposed cages and embracing collective solidarity.Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/obedience-was-never-belonging-onLet me know what you think.The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.