Labels: Where Do You Draw the Line?

[Natasha]

Labels: Where Do You Draw the Line?

http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/05/31/labels-where-do-you-draw-the-line/
5/31/12
Jillian Page

While we are on the subject of labels, if you are in favour of referring to people as "transgendered women" or "transsexual women,"  then how about all the other people who are clinging to labels, like so-called radfems and feminists. Should we in the media be writing headlines that say something like "RadFem woman does this or that"? And if you feel there is nothing wrong with the term "->-bleeped-<-," how about the word "raddie" for radfem women?

[Cindy]

One of the problems I have with these articles, opinions and conversations is literacy.  There is a difference between labels and definition. This does not seem to be understood.

[justmeinoz]

I will use labels if they are required to explain something but prefer to use more words that one. It's a bit like trying to communicate in shorthand; fine if you can both read it.

[AbraCadabra]

Labels? We all use them all day long... it is only SOME labels are more of an issue than others. And it ever so much depends on the person or group of persons that decides what is a 'taboo' (label) and what is not.

And so as you move from one -group's- conversational lexicon to another you best be prepared to get flamed quite often for not minding there specific label phobias/ taboo definitions.

To boot, some labels always will experience change, gay used to be happy, now it's queer..., geil (Ger.) used to be healthy and strong, now it is horny, fishy is mostly not quite OK i.e. it stinks, now in some trans circles it means VERY femme!, ->-bleeped-<-y has become the equivalent to cocky also in (some) trans circles. TG, GG, cis, even neo- as in neo-vagina, bio- as in bio-woman, all not OK; lesbian, dyke also having been reclaimed but not quite by every one group either, all can be taboo in some circles, the list goes on and on and on.

Now ask again: "Where do you draw the line?"
It very much depends with whom you converse and during which period of time.

Or... un-ask the question as there is no real answer as far as I can tell.

Axélle

[Ms Rebecca]

Why should there be labels for us anyway.Is it because we were not born a male or female.Why label people because of there Sex,Preferances,etc.We are Human beings not a Jar of Coffee on the Grocery store shelf. Non -Labeling would go a long way for  us to be accepted like every one else [Genetic Female and Male].
                                                                                           Ms Rebecca

[suzifrommd]

Why should there be labels for us anyway.

I'll speak for myself. When I came across the word "androgyne" and found out there was a name for what I was, I found it very affirming. Now that I knew what I was, I could google and find other people like me (at Susan's, e.g.) find what other androgynes do to cope and thrive, and realize that I'm not so strange.

That being said, I hate it when people look at me, see that I look male and assume I'll be a certain way. It's not the label that bother me, but the assumptions that come with it.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

To paraphrase from "Blazing Saddles".

"Labels?  We don't need no stinkin' labels."

Yes we are transsexual or transgendered as the case may be, but we are still human.  I am a human woman.  Any more than that and it is a "Noneya"  None Ya business.

[Edge]

Personally, I think the line is when labels stop being descriptive and start being restricting.