Terms

[foreversarah]

Hi,

What do you think about terms such as transsexua, transgender etc.

I personally don't like them. I need to become a girl my aim isn't to be considered a transsexual.

Most people transition to be labelled the opposite gebde rbecause that's who they are they aren't a transsexual, in a way.

Sarah

[Lachlann]

I'm a man, and thats all I want to be known as... unfortunately I do fall under transgendered, but I wish I didn't have to.

[Ali Noir]

I'll always be trans, but, its just a matter of not letting a label define me.
xoxo
Ali

[Janet_Girl]

Labels are for those who do not understand.  It gives them something to wrap their minds around.  I am a Transsexual because it help them understand why I am me.  But to me I am just another woman trying to find her way in the world.

Janet

[Kate]

I don't much like being labeled transsexual, transgender... or even "a woman" actually.

IMHO, labels make it too easy for someone to dismiss ME.

It's weird with me though... being called "a woman" kinda embarasses me. It's too soon for me to have "earned" that title. A girl perhaps, but I'm not a woman yet.

But being considered *female* just "clicks" with me somehow.

Oh, and "Cylon" is OK with me too

~Kate~

[Shana A]

Many years ago I was talking with a friend of mine about being transgender, and she said, no disrespect meant, that her experiences as a woman, growing up female, were very different than mine, growing up as gender variant w male body. I really have to agree with her point, there are things that I will never be able to experience, such as menstruation or giving birth to a child. As such, I am comfortable being considered transwoman, or a woman w trans experience. And it is a different experience than what my sisters who grew up having female bodies had. The big problem in our society is the stigma attached to being transsexual women.

Zythyra

[Northern Jane]

.... there are things that I will never be able to experience, such as menstruation or giving birth to a child.....

Those things are not universal among women either. Actually, it is a pretty NARROW definition of womanhood! (This is a topic we have debated extensively in Intersex circles.)

I have had this same B.S. pulled on me by women-friends (who know nothing of my medical history) "You couldn't possibly understand; you never had children!" - to which I took great affront - "How you you possibly know what I understand and what I do not! How POMPOUS! Can you even begin to understand the pain and anguish of seeing a new mother hold her baby when you know you will never have a baby of your own?!" That's usually shuts them up!

We each walk our own path in this life and we all have different experiences. Over the past 3 decades I don't know how many women have told me that they admire me, that I am 'the most feminine' and 'together' woman they have known. I smile to myself because I know they had womanhood handed to them on a silver platter and I had to fight for mine!

[Shana A]

.... there are things that I will never be able to experience, such as menstruation or giving birth to a child.....

Those things are not universal among women either. Actually, it is a pretty NARROW definition of womanhood! (This is a topic we have debated extensively in Intersex circles.)

I don't define myself or other women solely on those things. Womens' experiences from childhood are different than mine. My partner has a daughter, and I've seen these things firsthand. For example, assumptions are made every day about girls' ability to do math, no one ever assumed that I'd automatically be lousy at math because of my perceived sex. No one ever said I had to take home ec., although assumptions are also made that boys will want to take shop class. No thanks! To all of these assumptions! I don't want them. For myself or anyone.

We each walk our own path in this life and we all have different experiences. Over the past 3 decades I don't know how many women have told me that they admire me, that I am 'the most feminine' and 'together' woman they have known. I smile to myself because I know they had womanhood handed to them on a silver platter and I had to fight for mine!

That's wonderful Jane!

Yes, we each walk our own path. For mine, I acknowledge that as a woman, or other gender entirely, born in a male body, I am OK with using the term transwoman or transperson. And if another woman doesn't want to use that term to identify herself, I support her in her choice. For myself, I wish to see more recognition of non binary gender. I've gone through a lot of pain in my life trying to fit in either box.

Zythyra

[trapthavok]

Labels are for those who do not understand.  It gives them something to wrap their minds around.  I am a Transsexual because it help them understand why I am me.  But to me I am just another woman trying to find her way in the world.

Janet

I totally agree with what you said Janet! (Except I'm a man instead of a woman)

[Avie]

i think its ridiculous, personally we r the sex we r (ie not a boy becoming a girl, just a girl, not a girl becoming a boy, just a boy). i think giving who we r because of what has happened to us a name is just retarded and at best should only be used on a medical level to specify GID and transitioning. im intersexed and i hate being called that. im a girl, not a girlboy or a boygirl, a GIRL G I R L period.

thats my opinion though.

[Gracie Faise]

I really dislike it when "transgender" is used in place of transsexualism. Maybe it's wrong to feel this way, but I feel... irked when I get/ those with GID/transsexualism get grouped in with the other transgender individuals.

[Seshatneferw]

I really dislike it when "transgender" is used in place of transsexualism. Maybe it's wrong to feel this way, but I feel... irked when I get/ those with GID/transsexualism get grouped in with the other transgender individuals.

Still, you were unhappy with the gender you were assigned at birth. Isn't that what 'transgender' is all about? Sure, a lot of us are also transsexual -- that is, unhappy with the physical sex we were born with -- but really those who have issues only with the physical aspects are pretty rare. In that sense it's not altogether unreasonable to consider 'transsexual' as a subset of 'transgender'.

  Nfr