Writing About Bodies

[Shana A]

Writing About Bodies
Posted by helenboyd – May 12, 2011

http://www.myhusbandbetty.com/2011/05/12/writing-about-bodies/

Dean Spade recently wrote a short piece about how we might use language to de-gender bodies. It's smart and concise – just as you'd expect from Dean Spade.

    About Purportedly Gendered Body Parts

    I have been thinking about how much I would like it if people, especially health practitioners, exercise instructors and others who talk about bodies a lot, would adjust their language about body parts heavily associated with gender norms. Lots of people who identify as feminists and allies to trans people still use terms like "female-bodied," "male body parts," "bio-boy,"and "biologically female." Even in spaces where people have gained some basic skills around respecting pronoun preferences, suggesting an increasing desire to support gender self determination and release certain expectations related to gender norms, I still hear language used that asserts a belief in constructions of "biological gender."