Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Certain elements in our community have been trying to get rid of the use of the word "transgendered" as in "transgendered woman" or "transgendered people", reminding us that the word is "transgender".

However, I still see it cropping up a lot, even on this site.

What do we think of this?

As far as English goes you are transgender, you cannot be transgendered.. You are human not humaned.

Although one can certainly be Australianed, it involves a very hot branding iron! (running away)

Quote from: Cindy on February 28, 2015, 06:25:55 AM
As far as English goes you are transgender, you cannot be transgendered.. You are human not humaned.

I have a pet peeve with some words, and transgendered is at the top of the list.
Another one is "irregardless"

Quote from: Muffinheart on February 28, 2015, 07:15:44 AM

Quote from: Cindy on February 28, 2015, 06:25:55 AM
As far as English goes you are transgender, you cannot be transgendered.. You are human not humaned.

I have a pet peeve with some words, and transgendered is at the top of the list.
Another one is "irregardless"

Oh Honey we are on the same page! Don't start me on punctuation!

A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.

:laugh:

Quote from: Cindy on February 28, 2015, 07:26:01 AM
I have a pet peeve with some words, and transgendered is at the top of the list.
Another one is "irregardless"


Oh Honey we are on the same page! Don't start me on punctuation!

A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.

:laugh:

Haha...
"Let's eat grandma"
"Let's eat, grandma"

"Transgendered"  is incorrect, and almost seems to imply that it's something you can catch later in life.  I keep hearing it in the same tone as "Anna was sickened with flu"


As for grammar, I'm a fan of the Oxford comma.  It makes all the difference between inviting "the strippers, Hitler, and Stalin" and inviting "the strippers, Hitler and Stalin"

I'm going to have to bring this up to my mother, she's a grammar nut. She is a second generation editor and even writes a grammar blog. I'm forever being corrected. I voted "fine with it" but I suppose I didn't think too hard on it either. My issue is that words can be gendered, as in gendered pronouns so... Hmm. I have never used the word myself, I say transgender.

I won't go into my love of the comma. I abuse them like they are hard drugs, seriously!

I was asked to give a presentation to the ANZ Society of Occupational Medicine on how to support transgender workers.

I was introduced as 'Cindy will tell us what it is like to be transgendered in the workplace.' My opening reply was that I had never been transgendered, I'd also never been womaned or manned.

Language is the fabric of life; it is nice to see others agree.

Well, I tried to vote that it's annoying, but I accidentally tapped that it is a stain as I was tapping submit.

Anyway, I find it roughly equivalent to fingernails on a chalk board.  It's grating, but not insulting or offensive per se.  But it poses problems aside from just being grammatically equivalent to saying someone was "gayed" or "talled."

For one thing, it sounds like the past tense of a verb.  So when people end up talking about "transgendered" we also sometimes hear them talking about "transgendering."  Pretty soon it gets pretty incomprehensible. 

It also makes it sound like something that happened to a person rather than an integral part of who a person is.  As in, "oh my gosh, I fell in the vat and got transgendered!"

Now transgender as a noun, as in referring to a person as "a transgender" or a group of people as "transgenders."  That I find offensive, as do many people.  I see it occasionally on this site and I refuse to respond to any thread where people are using it.  If it is used that way in my proximity in person, the user will be corrected promptly.

The problem with "a transgender" isn't just grammatical.  But take a look at what is written about us.  Anti-transgender writers tend to use "a transgender" or "transgenders" instead of "transgender person" or "transgender people" because it allows them to avoid the word "person" or "people."  It's a lot easier to defend hate, bigotry, and discrimination if you shove aside the notion that the recipient is a human being.  I don't like having my humanity deleted and I don't like hearing my haters' language tossed at me. 

^^^^^

So true.

Let us look at how words are used rather than the words.

All women are dumb. All men are aggressive. All Muslims are terrorists. All religious people are unaccepting. All transgenders are ....................

All of these sentences are discriminatory, that is the only truth.

Transgender is not a verb.

"Transgendered" doesn't bother me, but "Jeni is a transgender" sure does.

I don't think I agree with the assessment that "Jeni is transgendered" is either grammatically incorrect or means she was hit with a transgendering ray. "Gender" is a noun. "Jeni is female gendered" is correct. (See examples here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gendered) By analogy, I think "Jeni is transgendered" is grammatically correct, and it does not mean something was done to her, it means that she possesses a gender that is female.

Think about "Jeni is brown-eyed." It's the same thing. She has eyes that are brown.

All that said, and despite my personal indifference, it's enough for me that some people are uncomfortable with the term. I don't use it. "Transgender" is equivalent and doesn't offend anyone (or at least, offends fewer people), so I don't see any reason to waste the extra two letters.

Quote from: DragonBeer on February 28, 2015, 08:36:40 AM
Transgender is not a verb.

^^^^

Finally

Quote from: DragonBeer on February 28, 2015, 08:36:40 AM
Transgender is not a verb.

Nor is it a noun.

It is an adjective. :)

Quote from: ThePhoenix on February 28, 2015, 09:22:28 AM

Quote from: DragonBeer on February 28, 2015, 08:36:40 AM
Transgender is not a verb.

Nor is it a noun.

It is an adjective. :)

Sorry! midnight. i need my bed!

Quote from: Cindy on February 28, 2015, 07:26:01 AM
I have a pet peeve with some words, and transgendered is at the top of the list.
Another one is "irregardless"


Oh Honey we are on the same page! Don't start me on punctuation!

A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.

:laugh:

That is my favourite thing ever, Cindy!! Hahaha!!


Also in the past I've used the word "transgendered" as I thought it was describing being transgender.. lol! Then I discovered that it actually doesn't make sense.. and have adjusted my language accordingly. :D


Doesn't really bother me though when others say it. :)

Quote from: DragonBeer on February 28, 2015, 08:36:40 AM
Transgender is not a verb.

True.

Gendered is an adjective.

Trans is a prefix...

I feel it gets way over used.

Transition is what we do. Gender is why.

Trans gender was coined for the process one takes to go from a gender to the next. i.e. transgender.

Its the same as a caterpillar make the metamorphosis transition from caterpillar to butterfly.

In the what society sees us as always in that state. State of transition or transgender.

I am female today. I always was female with male showing genitalia. I had to transition in society from what they felt was my role but really all I did was transition from my male genitalia to female.

So I was in a time of my life a transgender in only the eyes of society. Myself I was in my cocoon working my way out to my new body.

In ending we need to worry more of who we are then what society wants us to be.

Je suis un être humain  nothing more, nothing less.

The problem here in Boston is that we can't get our public portation transing.   8)

It bothers me just as much as any other grammatical error. I should correct members of this site about their own mistakes as often as I correct others about this word.

But transgender IS a verb... *clears throat*

If you catch my girl cooties, it will transgender you.

*ducks*

Interesting discussion. Fun on a very cold February. I have read all posts on the topic with interest. Writing is a weakness for me so please be gentle. ;)

First of all, can gender be a verb? I think so. I had to laugh at Jill's example. This person was gendered correctly (or see the similar verb described below).

http://susans.org/wiki/Misgender

I searched for the prefix Trans- which means across, beyond, through

I was able to apply the trans- prefix to the below example.
1. I will form a sand castle.
2. I will transform the sand castle to a sand palace.
3. The palace was transformed.

By adding past tense, you can turn a verb into an adjective such as hammered steel or painted fence. This would not work for the adjective gay because it does not appear it can be applied as a verb, so the term "gayed" could not be applied.

In regard to transgendered, I guess it can be used if: a) gender is considered a verb, b) it can be applied past tense, c) trans- is an appropriate prefix for "gender" used as a verb.

I know. Not very helpful (or even correct) but was a lot of fun. 8)

I personally use "transgender," but I have no problem with the 'ed' version. Being involved in the trans community for so long, I've been exposed to such a multitude of terms that I really don't care what's used at this point. Everyone has their individual preferences. Use whatever feels right to you.

Quote from: suzifrommd on February 28, 2015, 05:21:32 AM
Certain elements in our community have been trying to get rid of the use of the word "transgendered" as in "transgendered woman" or "transgendered people", reminding us that the word is "transgender".

However, I still see it cropping up a lot, even on this site.

What do we think of this?

Before I educated myself on the proper use of the word, I said (and still sometimes do) "transgendered".  It just rolls off the tongue as if it were proper.  When explained to me why it's bad English, I get it but it's a hard habit to break.  I think it's because we use "gendered" so much.  And, I may be wrong, but isn't "cisgendered" used or is that also wrong?

Quote from: Muffinheart on February 28, 2015, 07:15:44 AM
I have a pet peeve with some words, and transgendered is at the top of the list.
Another one is "irregardless"

I never did homework in english, so irregardless of that, transgendered is a word, I saw it here.   Dani

Quote from: Newgirl Dani on February 28, 2015, 08:59:20 PM
I never did homework in english, so irregardless of that, transgendered is a word, I saw it here.   Dani

Where I grew up in New Jersey lozenger is a word. As in "Do you have any lozengers? My throat is sore."

I love the term transgendered, and I use it for myself.  I am a transgendered individual, just like I am far-sighted.

Quote from: Kellam on February 28, 2015, 09:16:20 PM
Where I grew up in New Jersey lozenger is a word. As in "Do you have any lozengers? My throat is sore."

I used to live in Joisey, whoo-hoo that was a long time ago, I think it was around 1967.  Little town outside Atlantic City called Pleasantville, first place I ever had a sub sandwich and they were freakin HUGE  :icon_yikes:   Dani

Quote from: Stochastic on February 28, 2015, 02:23:17 PM
In regard to transgendered, I guess it can be used if: a) gender is considered a verb, b) it can be applied past tense, c) trans- is an appropriate prefix for "gender" used as a verb.

Point a) is not necessary, though. "Gendered" is itself an adjective, meaning "of, specific to, or biased toward the male or female [gender]" (Google search definition, but I have corrected the use of the word "sex"). It is not the past tense of any verb even though the "-ed" suffix makes it look like it is.

Quote
I know. Not very helpful (or even correct) but was a lot of fun. 8)

Grammar wars is intrinsical fun.

Quote from: King Malachite on February 28, 2015, 09:51:05 PM
I am a transgendered individual, just like I am far-sighted.

Yep.

Doesn't bother me one bit.  I am not worried about the word but the idea that is trying be expressed.  If someone says transgendered to me and they meant transgender then, I am not going to get upset or correct them.  After all it is the thought that is communicated that means more than, the words used to express the thought.

Trans anything is just a label to describe, it doesnt define me. I feel its a way to communicate who we are in a polite manner, its alot better than >-bleeped-< or sissy ..I HATE that, it actually turns my stomach when I here it in reference to someone.  >:(.. So adding the ''ed''  to the end of transgender, not gonna get my panties in a twist over it. We as a community have bigger equality battles to fight.

It does not bother me. It is a good adjective. I know 'transgendered' is grammatically incorrect. It does not bother me much though. I am never been bothered too much by grammar. Maybe because I myself am so prone to making mistakes.  :laugh:

I totally missed this discussion at the time. I can't say that it bothers me in fact it never even occurred to me until I arrived on this forum. I mean I will only use transgender to describe myself anyway - I tend to use trans when speaking more broadly.

It makes sense in some cases. In my case I grew up more or less "gendered" correctly, it was my physical sex and ONLY my physical sex that was at variance, and hence it doesn't really accurate describe my situation because we of all people should know that sex and gender are not synonymous.

I can see it does work for a lot of people, and I have no objection to the term except when people will insist on wanting it to be a global overarching descriptive, because to me sex and gender are two different things. Indeed I'm not even sure I fully understand the nuances of gender.

Its important to state however that this is not a statement that ones thing is more genuine than the other or any of that offensive crap. Its just that i don't think it really helps to ignore quite significant differences of life experience and worldview. So my opinion is more philosophical than anything.

I don't have a problem with the term. It' something at the beginning of my transition that I had to come to terms with, but really the word itself isn't that big of a deal.
Mariah

I do not object to the words transgender but I do get annoyed that transgender and transsexual are assumed to be the same thing. I was diagnosed transsexual at age 16 (by Dr. Harry himself) in 1965. I was never diagnosed transgender by anyone and I reject that label for myself.

To each their own!

Quote from: Northern Jane on April 02, 2015, 08:12:52 AM
I do not object to the words transgender but I do get annoyed that transgender and transsexual are assumed to be the same thing. I was diagnosed transsexual at age 16 (by Dr. Harry himself) in 1965. I was never diagnosed transgender by anyone and I reject that label for myself.

To each their own!

There seems to be a combination of generational change and public ignorance about that.  The generational change is that many younger folks won't accept "transsexual" and will insist on "transgender. " I'm part of the under-40 set and I've been known to snap at people for calling me "transsexual."  But I'll be okay with "transgender. "  That seems to happen a lot with people below a certain age.  And there's some interesting writing about the linguistic change that can easily be found if you look via Google. 

The public ignorance part comes from people not knowing enough about trans* people to realize that "transsexual" is a specific term and "transgender" is broader.  "Transgender" is also not a medical diagnosis whereas "transsexual" used to be one and is still contained in the ICD-9. 

It never ceases to amaze me how people critique transgender people without even knowing enough to understand what the word "transgender" means.  'Tis a good reason to skip reading comments on news articles. :)

It's probably incorrect grammar wise but i don't really worry too much about it. There are more serious errors in terminology to worry about. 

haha, sry, i tend to add ed a lot to my words. dont meant to offend people. its just how my speak patterns are. also i type very very fast so i tend to hit submit before i review it than have to go back to change it

I don't mind if a trans person feels comfortable with it, it's what they feel good in:) But personally it echoes with a transitioning sort of thing, as if you aren't valid unless you transition and that bothers me, because I never really changed, my gender was always valid, so I don't like the word.

It does bother me. It's tolerable, though; I prefer being called 'transgendered' than being called some of the alternatives out there.

And don't even get me started on things like 'Alex is a transgender'. Reminds me of 'so-and-so is a gay'. Just... no. *facepalms*

The "ed" added on the end is annoying, I just try and ignore it, to me it's reflects a certain ignorance, but whatever, there are far worse things that happen in the English language  ;)

The term itself is next to useless at this point because every time I have to use it in debate I have to then immediately make the distinction between several groups who are not the same but assumed so because of this very word. I.e.- the difference between transgender and transsexual, or cross dressing, or non-binary, or non gender conforming, and so on.

This is why the grammar of the word doesn't matter, the word itself has become almost redundant in political conversation unless you are going to lump all those people into a single category which if you have any attention to detail is poor form, in my opinion.

Hence I use the term transsexual far more than this one when referring to myself and people like myself because at least it describes something specific and defineable. "Transgender" could almost mean anything by now. I've seen people describing themselves as transgender who show no characteristics of being transgender other than having blue or green or pink hair and a punk dress style or being in a particular mood that day. What good is the word if it means whatever the speaker wants it to mean?

How do I feel about the word? It's inadequate. I spend so much time having to go into details after using it that it is no longer expedient to use it.