“A woman is anyone who identifies as a woman”

Argument Submitted by: D.B., PhD

This is a textbook case of Circularity. It is also, perhaps, one of the most common claims made by proponents of gender identity theory. A close variant is “a woman is anyone who feels like a woman.” Circular definitions are vacuous since they use the term being defined to define the term. Circular arguments are arguments that assume the conclusion they are trying to prove in order to prove their conclusion. Thus, they give the appearance of persuasive demonstration when they have, in fact, demonstrated nothing. Circular arguments can be more rhetorically effective if a speaker paraphrases her/his conclusion when assuming it so that it is not immediately apparent that the premise and the conclusion are identical.

The repetition of mindless mantras like “transwomen are women” and “sex work is work” demonstrate circularity insofar they use term being defined to define the term, but they are also instances of a rhetorical strategy called the Fallacy of Repetition or, more jokingly, argument Ad Nauseum.

The Fallacy of Repetition does not always involve circularity. It also isn’t really an argument. It’s a will-to-power type rhetorical strategy in which argumentative victory is achieved by simply failing to acknowledge refutation or dissent until an opponent gives up from exhaustion or a sense of futility. The assertion is then assumed to be true because it lacks a sizeable resistance. Propaganda uses this strategy when it aims to establish itself as truth by simply flooding the consciousness rather than by appealing to reason. A good example of a non-circular repetition fallacy is the Party’s famous mantra in George Orwell’s 1984: “War is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.” While the mantra isn’t circular, it’s rhetorical force comes from sheer repetitious domination.