Jax’s transness could easily play into TERF propaganda
Okay, I've seen some trans people express dissatisfaction with Jax's supposedly transfem representation. I've read that it can reinforce transphobic ideas, and after hearing some TERF arguments, I think I get why.
TERFs are always accusing trans women of reinforcing traditional gender roles. They claim that trans people can't see a masculine woman or a feminine man without assuming they're supposed to be the opposite gender. They also love saying that "being a woman isn't an aesthetic/performance" and pushing the idea that trans women are just abusive men who want to get away with abusing women.
And honestly, it got me thinking about how much TERFs would LOVE the idea of Jax being transfem, especially if the fandom widely accepted that interpretation. I can totally see them using him as an example to reinforce all their misconceptions about trans women.
Because, let's be real, Jax is presented as a guy who might be a woman partly because of his association with feminine things, like bows and maybe even a maid dress (and I say maybe because I'm not entirely sure about that one). He's also supposedly more sensitive than a "regular man," which we learn through his bigoted mother's perspective, and people then use that as a context clue for his gender identity. And, on top of all that, he's an abusive character who doesn't seem to take accountability for his actions.
Do you see what I mean? None of these things inherently make someone transfem, but when people insist that they MUST mean Jax is a trans woman, it starts getting uncomfortable. You're basically connecting femininity, sensitivity, and stereotypes to being a woman, while also tying that identity to an abusive character who never really takes accountability.
I'm just saying, this is exactly what TERFs think about trans women and this character is serving their narrative.