AtRP #92 was a glossary of terms pertaining to the transgender community. The information came from the book, Transgender Health (2018), by Ben Vincent, Ph.D. I thought I'd do a quick follow-up of terms that shouldn't be used because they're out-dated, offensive, or possibly both.
Born/Natal Male/Female: This phrase uncritically positions the genitalia viewed at birth as representing what someone is. This undermines the validity of a person's gender identity if this is at odds with birth assignment... In particular, the term 'women-born-women' has been used [by TERFS] to deliberately attack and exclude trans women.
Biologically/Genetically/Anatomically Female/Male: Similar to the previous explanation, these phrases oversimplify biological concepts to the detriment of trans people. Gender identity is not 'choice' in the same way that one might choose what to eat or what to wear. Gender identity formation occurs through processes within the brain, even if the anatomical and physiological details are often unknown and will not necessarily be the same in all trans people. These ingredients in the development of minority gender experiences are biological, and may be regarded as creating predispositions to a particular gender identity, but outcomes are also, molded and modified by other personality characteristics and, importantly, the individual's interactions with their social and cultural environments.
When the terms 'biological male/female' are used, it creates an unjustified and unscientific hierarchy between the validity of some biological factors over others and may, in a sense, position the trans person's (biologically determined) identity as invalid and 'not real.' We live in a society that prioritizes the appearance of the genitalia at birth, and while it is true that in the majority of the population this is a strong indicator of the gender identity - it is also the case that such 'congruence' is not universal.
Gender Identity Disorder (GID): This was the official diagnostic term used in relation to transgender adults by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in their third and fourth editions... Expert's recognized how it was deeply insulting to position an individual's gender identity as inherently 'disordered' simply because a person's sense of themselves was at odds with their body or how other people saw them. By using the term "gender dysphoria" it is distress that requires addressing, rather than gender identity itself.
MtF/MTF, FtM/FTM: These stand for 'male-to-female,' and ' female-to-male,' respectively... Many trans people still use these terms to describe themselves. However these terms have also been criticized for implying that trans people 'change' from one sex to another.
'shemale'/'tranny': These words are among the most offensive and unprofessional terms used to denigrate trans women. While a small number of trans individuals may reclaim them as an act of defiance or empowerment, they should never be used by non-trans people in any context.
Transgendered: An older term that many trans people now find offensive... Adding 'ed' to the end of 'transgender' transforms an adjective into a verb, which implies something is being 'done to' an individual. To illustrate the problem, it is typical to talk of 'gay people' but thoroughly jarring and bizarre to hear 'gayed people.'
Transgenderism/Transsexualism/Transgenderist: These terms have a highly clinical and pathologizing history associated with them, and carry a significant implication of trans people being mentally disordered.
'Transgenders'/'A Transgender': Similar to the problem with transgendered. These examples transform the adjective 'transgender' into a noun. This has a deeply offensive connotation for many trans people as it erases all other aspects of their personhood.
Transman/Transwoman/Transpeople: These examples are subtle. Adding 'trans' as a prefix functions to create a new word, which can problematically be used to position trans men and women outside of the categories of men and women.
So there you go. And remember, never, ever use "sex change."
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