Are “transgender women” actually women? That depends:
Is “woman” wholly a socially constructed reality that can be fixed by personal beliefs about self-identity reaffirmed by social consensus? If so, then yes.
But if “woman” involves an ineradicable biological element that exists independently of personal beliefs and social consensus, then no.
I believe the terms “man” and “woman” are not merely terms referring to socially constructed gender but also to biologically fixed sex.
So I say no.
We could reduce the heat and increase the light if more folks focused the discussion in this manner. Does “woman” include a fixed biological substrate (whilst recognizing that there can also be social construction) or is it wholly and without remainder socially constructed?
Footnote: even if you do not believe a gender dysphoric man is a woman (or vice versa) you may deem it appropriate to interact with them as if they were a woman (e.g. by using the preferred gender pronouns) based on therapeutic accommodation and hospitality.
