Terminology: Trangender Woman vs Transexual Woman

[ErinS]

I think the transsexual term began being deprecated a few years back because it implied our condition was somehow sexual. People were associating it with homosexual, bisexual, etc.

It seems like the term has aquired a bit of negative baggage over the years, I personally refuse to use it and stick with trans or transgender, partly because it's more inclusive and it also helps with
The sex=/=gender thing.

[Isabelle]

Transsexual = medical interventions. A fairly fixed definition.

Transgender = socio-cultural word to describe actions not considered typical of a persons gender assigned at birth. Culture and gender "norms" vary wildly around the world, and all change over time. What is considered transgender today, might not be in 10 years. Today, women wear pants and have careers. 150 years ago that, would be transgender behaviour.

[rachel89]

I think transgender as an umbrella term that means something like persistent gender expression that is opposite of their assigned gender. This is an umbrella term for transsexuals, transvestites/travesti, cross-dressers, third genders, and genderqueer persons. Transsexual is a term for transgender people who seek medical interventions like hormone replacement therapy and gender confirming surgeries. Not all transsexuals seek surgery though.

[Joi]

Very incitefull Isabelle. Like your reference to the future.

[FrancisAnn]

It's just such a negative type word. Yes we may be in transition or maybe not but I've never liked to use that word for myself. I just wish there were a more pleasant sounding word or words. Good luck to us all.

[cindianna_jones]

I'm not insulted by any of the terms. I've been called much worse!

Cindi

[Isabelle]

Very incitefull Isabelle. Like your reference to the future.

I paraphrased the site's definitions. That is the only meaning/context they are allowed to have on this site.

It's just such a negative type word.

Can you explain that further? Im struggling to understand what you're trying to communicate.

[ErinS]

Transsexual = medical interventions. A fairly fixed definition.

Transgender = socio-cultural word to describe actions not considered typical of a persons gender assigned at birth. Culture and gender "norms" vary wildly around the world, and all change over time. What is considered transgender today, might not be in 10 years. Today, women wear pants and have careers. 150 years ago that, would be transgender behaviour.

The specific term "transsexual" is barely more than 60 years old, loaded with baggage, and vulnerable to the transphobic point that "you can't change your biological sex!" when it isn't about sex at all ultimately, but gender. And I've found it incredibly difficult to move the focus to "gender" when the word itself includes "sex".

I personally refuse to use "transsexual" or describe myself with it, for pretty much the same reason Christine Jorgensen did. And the terminology is so new and never truly become all that "fixed"(even excluding the fact word definitions change over time) that I honestly think we'd be well advised, given the recent attention our way, to focus on using different terms.

[ErinS]

Can you explain that further? Im struggling to understand what you're trying to communicate.

Because language is the framework of thought, and words consist of the signifier(the sounds) linked to the signfied(the thing or things referenced). The signifier "transsexual" signifies, in the public eye, things like Buffalo Bill and unconvincing prostitutes.

We can try the uphill battle to rehabilitate the word, or just move on to something else. But there's a reason people use "pro life" and "pro choice" instead of "pro abortion" or anti abortion".

[Isabelle]

This is the official site definition.

Transsexual: a person who is mentally one gender, but has the body of the other. They desire to live and be accepted as a member of the mental gender, this is generally accompanied by the strong desire to make their body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatments.

Your beliefs have no impact on my life, so you'll understand why I don't mind what you think "transsexual" means.

ErinS, I was asking FranicisAnn a question, we've already established the weight I attribite your views.

[ErinS]

This is the official site definition.

Transsexual: a person who is mentally one gender, but has the body of the other. They desire to live and be accepted as a member of the mental gender, this is generally accompanied by the strong desire to make their body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatments.

Your beliefs have no impact on my life, so you'll understand why I don't mind what you think "transsexual" means.

I'm aware of the site definition. IMO, we trans people as a group would be well advised to consider moving away from it.

[ErinS]

ErinS, I was asking FranicisAnn a question, we've already established the weight I attribite your views.

Please don't take my comment as confrontational in any way, it wasn't meant like that.  :)The question was raised about word choice, and I'm providing my input.

[Ange]

I define myself as Transexuate instead of Transexual. Transexual is about sexuality, so you could say homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality... Is transexuality.

Transexuate is about the sexuation, the fact of attributing a sex to someone. I think it's closer to what i am.

[Northern Jane]

I was diagnosed by Dr. Benjamin in 1966 as transsexual and the term fit perfectly because it WAS all about sex - having a body that was of the wrong biological sex. When the body was fixed, everything else just fell into place and was fine ever after. If/when I refer to my childhood (which isn't often) I still use the term transsexual because it was/is the right definition for me.

[Cindy]

 

Anyone, anyone at all who tries in anyway to denigrate any gender identification or sexual orientation can expect harsh responses from the Forum Admin.

Cindy

[Zoetrope]

I define myself as Transexuate instead of Transexual. Transexual is about sexuality, so you could say homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality... Is transexuality.

Transexuate is about the sexuation, the fact of attributing a sex to someone. I think it's closer to what i am.

Incorrect I'm afraid. The term transsexual has nothing to do with sexuality. It is talking about the state of one's biological sex.

We don't call it trans-sexuality. We call it trans-sex-ualism. The operating word is simply 'sex' - not 'sexuality'.

[Zoetrope]

And again, 'transsexual' is not a negative word.

It is neutral - clinical.

If it is painful to have that mirror held up, that is for an individual to resolve. Words are not and never are the problem. It is our attitude toward them.

We grow stronger and wiser by accepting all things that come with our journey. Not by leaving bits on our plate we find distasteful.

[Isabelle]

And again, 'transsexual' is not a negative word.

It is neutral - clinical.
If it is painful to have that mirror held up, that is for an individual to resolve. Words are not and never are the problem. It is our attitude toward them.
We grow stronger and wiser by accepting all things that come with our journey. Not by leaving bits on our plate we find distasteful.

Beautifully put!

[Ange]

Well sure, but that's not the point here.

You can define the words you use as you want, but you won't change the fact that people will get them in the way they are used to. Langage is made for sharing. If you are imprecise, you fail at sharing. That's all there is to it.

Transexuality is based on two parts, "trans" and "sexuality". That's not a question here. There's no "uality" added at the end. It's sexuality we're talking about - a word that became, with time, related to sexual behaviour and preferences. I prefer "sexuation" because it's relative to the sex differenciation. It's more precise.

That's also why I don't like the "feminist" term. "Feminist" and "Transexual" are words that are unprecise, but hold an historic meaning which I like and respect. But in the end, langage is about communication, not about history.

Personnally, I have no problem with the transexual term. It has a bad connotation but well, it's not the word that have a bad connotation, but the people that are supposedly define by it. I just think it's a word that doesn't describe me well. That's all there is to it.

[Cindy]

I think this thread has run its course.

I'm locking it before it gets out of hand.

Thank You

Cindy