there seems to be a lot of different self descriptions to delineate someone's 'starting' gender. Sometimes, especially in conversation with other trans people, you have to explain 'which way' you or someone is trans, and it can be awkward when you don't want to offend anyone. I've seen -
female assigned at birth (FAAB)
genetic female
biological female
female sex, male gender
FTM
female bodied
all of the above have male counterparts, obviously
I like to use female assigned at birth because it seems to rule out the room left for ambiguity in the others. genetic female doesn't work because someone could be intersexed. Biological female is a misnomer to me because anything that happens in our brains versus our bodies is still biologically based, so I am still biologically male in the most factual sense. The FTM label is convenient and succinct but I don't like saying it for some reason I can't quite explain, and I don't connect to it - I have been known to use it for brevity, however. Female bodied stops being relevant quickly post medical transition.
what are other people's preferences?
I use the term biological female or FtM. I might start using natal female in the future.
I guess FAAB works.
Quote from: Malachite on March 08, 2013, 08:04:03 PM
I might start using natal female in the future.
I forgot about that one. I might start using it too.
I'd probably use that one in the presence of trans people, but I'd just say female assigned at birth if the discussion includes people who are cis gender, because honestly most people aren't in touch with any of this and that statement clears up the point easily.
FAAB/AFAB is my favorite out of that list. I don't like FTM either... maybe because it takes the place of a noun, where other terms are adjectival. Plus it's got some immature connotations, to me anyway. I'd say my most preferred term is "man of transsexual experience" because it doesn't bring in the F at all and is accurate for post-transition guys.
"Biological female" grates my nerves like nothing else. The one time I've needed to clarify I used FtM (actually spelled it out since I was talking to a doctor and felt I needed to spell things properly so nothing got confusing.)
I pretty much like FAAB. I like the whole arbitrariness to it. ("I was assigned this way, like it is a seat or something.) I've used "female bodied" and that sort of thing. I identify as trans, more so than male as I guess I am more of the non-binary sort. I'm wondering now if it has to do with how far I am in my transition.
I've found thinking about female bodied can help me, such as today when I had to buy Monistat, I thought of it not being so pleasant to be a guy who is female bodied and it helped me a bit to think that way.
--Jay
I just say that I was born an "innie" :'P. If people need me to elaborate, I just go into graphic detail over the necessary surgeries so they don't ask again :'D. I don't mind talking about myself, but that's one of the few subjects that makes me uncomfortable @_@.
I either tend to use FtM. If that doesn't work, xx-female. No matter what we change about our bodies, we know we have at least two x chromosomes ( females can have 3 without being affected).
I prefer faab or afab because it says people thought I was female at birth, not that they were right.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of FtM either. I'll use it sometimes, but to me it sounds like it's saying I'm starting from female and going to male instead of already being male and fixing my body to reflect that.
I occasionally use ftm when online because it's short. Otherwise, I prefer female assigned/assigned female, because it's the one that makes the most sense. I don't have a female body, I have a male body which happens to have a vagina. :p
trans man
man who is trans
My schoolfriend and I refer to ourselves as FtM- I don't exactly agree with the concept but it's short and to the point.
Other than that, I usually just call myself a guy and ignore the anatomy, or if referring directly to it I call it "Missing D*ck Syndrome". Makes me feel better to talk about it that way.
I use FTM and FAAB I guess FAAB is the best decribtions to cover most people as already said, there is intersex transgenders who still get assigned as female and growing up pretty much the same way.
I hate the term "biological/genetic female" personally. For myself I prefer trans man/male.
I use transsexual male or ftm transsexual if i have to bring my trans status into the picture. Otherwise i dont even say anything other than male or man.
Trans man. If they don't get that then I'd say, "I'm male, and my body f-d up." If they still can't get that then I dunno what I'll say, but I'm not going to say that I'm female in anyway, because I'm not.
I use FAAB/AFAB (though I like FAAB better because I'm FAABulous), since I'm not a binary man.