My thoughts on the term "transsexual."

[Brynn]

I think I've finally figured out why I tend to shy away from the term, and it isn't just because of the somewhat negative connotations that have been associated with it throughout the time. Not that that doesn't have some effect on me as well.

But what it really is is the same reason a lot of other trans people have liked the term. It seems too black & white to me, like I'm trying to shove myself into too small a box. I just don't like the fact that it strictly implies changing sexes from female to male, in my case. I'm just not ready to stick that kind of label on myself, and I don't think I'll ever be comfortable with it. So if I must call myself FtM, I'm female-to-male transgender.

Is there anyone who's with me on this, who does identify either as MtF or FtM but still doesn't like the term "transsexual"? Or am I just being weird?

[Asfsd4214]

I'd be interested to hear if anybody actually likes the term.

I've always hated the term Transsexual, I usually just use TS, TG, GID, MTF, or some other indirect designation.

[rejennyrated]

I'll answer to anything as long as it isn't rude or said in a demeaning way. Heck, 25 years after SRS  I wouldn't even care about the personal pronouns anymore - not that anyone ever really gets them wrong.

Life just seems too short to worry about these things. The only thing I worry about is whether someone is being friendly or trying to demean. If the former than they can call me what they like - if the latter then they can go boil their heads!

[Nero]

When explaining to people, I usually say I'm 'transgender'. I think it takes away the extreme visual people get in their heads on the word 'transsexual'. So I prefer to use 'transgender', even though I don't feel it's accurate in my case. I haven't changed genders. But transsexual is not entirely accurate in my case either, since I'm not having bottom surgery. So, my sex has not really changed.

[Brynn]

I'll answer to anything as long as it isn't rude or said in a demeaning way.

True. I don't tend to be too picky about labels most of the time, this is just something I wouldn't specifically call myself.

So I prefer to use 'transgender', even though I don't feel it's accurate in my case. I haven't changed genders. But transsexual is not entirely accurate in my case either, since I'm not having bottom surgery. So, my sex has not really changed.

Kind of a Catch-22, isn't it? I also like "transgender" more because it is an umbrella term. It gives you more room to keep figure things out.

[Asfsd4214]

There really isn't ANY good term for what we are, it's extremely frustrating.

[Adio]

I don't like the word transsexual either.  I use transgender when describing myself if absolutely necessary to those outside the community.  But most of the time I just say something like I'm a male who was born with non-standard parts.

[Alyssa M.]

I don't like the word, because I'm afraid it immediately gets people thinking about what's between my legs, and that's usually the last thing I want people to be thinking about. I use the term, but only in particular contexts, like when talking about medical issues and when trying to clearly distinguish between the more binary-identified transitioning folk and the rest of people who fall under Susan's definition of the transgender umbrella.

I used to be more fluid in my gender identity, basically as a coping mechanism. I've cetainly become more binary as I've transitioned and found that I'm rather happy just being a woman. But as a general philosophical principle, I don't believe in binaries (or at least, their existence beyond the abstract world of math).

[Osiris]

I identify as a man. The whole trans thing is a byproduct of that.

[Silver]

I'll be the odd one out then.

I like it, it's specific and from the word roots it was constructed of, it makes sense. I really would like to be the other sex, and I'll do what I can to get there. Maybe my journey will never be complete, but that would be the end goal if it were possible.

Unfortunately, transsexual immediately gives people thoughts of pornstar women with penises. A connotation I'd much rather avoid. Rather demeaning to the MTFs as well. We're not sideshow freaks, we're just people. Maybe a little different, but not that crazy.

[Valentina]

But transsexual is not entirely accurate in my case either, since I'm not having bottom surgery. So, my sex has not really changed.

So if a person has bottom surgery, he/she is 'a transsexual'?

& here I was thinking that a male-bodied (I'm not going to use the acronym MTF because I detest it) person that has GRS is female & not 'a transsexual' anymore.  After all she's now a woman in body & mind, right?  what is 'transsexual' about that? .  Suggesting that a woman's still 'a transsexual' after GRS implies that transition 'never ends' & thus denies our experiences as post-op /fully transitioned women which is absurd & something that I detest too. 

[Brynn]

So if a person has bottom surgery, he/she is 'a transsexual'?

& here I was thinking that a male-bodied (I'm not going to use the acronym MTF because I detest it) person that has GRS is female & not 'a transsexual' anymore.  After all she's now a woman in body & mind, right?  what is 'transsexual' about that? .  Suggesting that a woman's still 'a transsexual' after GRS implies that transition 'never ends' & thus denies our experiences as post-op /fully transitioned women which is absurd & something that I detest too.

He never said anything about other people. He specifically state "my case." I'm sure he would never assume to be able to speak for others.

[tekla]

Like I've said about other things, Then just say you're a waffle, cause who in hell doesn't like waffles?

[Dorothy]

I used to be a male to female transsexual.  Since I'm post-operational & 100% woman now, I'm female to the transsexual(s) now.

[FairyGirl]

I tend to use the word transsexual more in a clinical sense but I don't use it often, mostly in discussions with people who need to know, such as my therapist for example, and also to distinguish between those of us who are born wrong-bodied and identify as such as opposed to someone who crossdresses and/or still predominantly identifies as their birth sex. I use transgender more in a social sense because it applies to all of the above, and I've noticed that a lot of people seem to understand what that word means without going into specific, personal details as to my interpretation of the differences. I try to keep the use of either word to a bare minimum in any case.

[Miniar]

Suggesting that a woman's still 'a transsexual' after GRS implies that transition 'never ends' & thus denies our experiences as post-op /fully transitioned women which is absurd & something that I detest too.

Just out of curiosity. How does it imply that?

I tend to use the word transsexual more in a clinical sense ... to distinguish between those of us who are born wrong-bodied and identify as such as opposed to someone who crossdresses and/or still predominantly identifies as their birth sex. I use transgender more in a social sense because it applies to all of the above...

Trimmed that a little bit, and there you go. That's how I use the term as well.
People who were born with a set of genitals that doesn't/didn't match their brain/gender identity.
I don't think it implies anything beyond that.

I don't use the word often, only when specifically appropriate.

[JennaLee]

I prefer the 'title' transgender.

At least for me...  it's not about sex, it's about gender. 

[Chamillion]

Like I've said about other things, Then just say you're a waffle, cause who in hell doesn't like waffles?

These people: http://pancakelovers.com/?

[Blanche]

As a human being, if I am going to be categorised, it should definitely be as woman. If anyone is going to analyse me, categorise me, finalise me, advertise me, select me, dissect me, inspect me or reject me, it should be as any other woman would be.  Granted my start in life differs from most women due to a type of birth defect which has now been corrected  I didn't change my gender, that has been fixed and constant all my life so transgender doesn't apply in my case.  I did however correct a physical defect in my body so that I could be complete - mind, body and soul.

[Natasha]

As a human being, if I am going to be categorised, it should definitely be as woman. If anyone is going to analyse me, categorise me, finalise me, advertise me, select me, dissect me, inspect me or reject me, it should be as any other woman would be.  Granted my start in life differs from most women due to a type of birth defect which has now been corrected  I didn't change my gender, that has been fixed and constant all my life so transgender doesn't apply in my case.  I did however correct a physical defect in my body so that I could be complete - mind, body and soul.

qft or in my own words:

"Identification of those who have fully transitioned as "trans-anything" is at best demeaning and at worst deceptive."