Transgender Terminology Confusion

[+ Gar1eth]

I probably should already know this, but if a media story refers to someone as a 'transgender woman' am I right in assuming this is someone who was born biologically male but who is now living as a female (I realize not every transgender person has undergone surgery)? Or is it the other way around?

 

I appreciate the help.

 

Gman

[+ Gar1eth]

Anyone?

 

Gman

[+ quoththeraven]

I probably should already know this, but if a media story refers to someone as a 'transgender woman' am I right in assuming this is someone who was born biologically male but who is now living as a female (I realize not every transgender person has undergone surgery)? Or is it the other way around?

 

I appreciate the help.

 

Gman

 

A trans woman is someone who was born male-bodied or was gendered as male at birth but identifies and (usually) presents as female -- for example, Laverne Cox of Orange is the New Black. Such an individual may or may not have begun transitioning, usually involving the use of hormones; top surgery is also common; bottom surgery less so, although I think it works better for trans women than for trans men. Sometimes those who have undergone transition, especially if they've had top and bottom surgery, are called transsexuals. but at this point that term, which was first applied to trans woman Christine Jorgensen, seems outdated.

 

A trans man is someone who was born female-bodied or was gendered female at birth who identifies and (usually) presents as male. So the emphasis is on what the person identifies as now, and the use of the term "trans" indicates that it varies from the gender associated with them at birth.

 

It's possible that the media uses the term transgender women and men, but if it's done, it's rare. "Trans woman/women" and "trans man/men" (sometimes, particularly in blog posts by trans people or activists, with an asterisk afterward -- don't ask me why, I don't know) are the most common and preferred terms. Mtf (male to female) and Ftm (female to male) are understood but not used as often anymore and are probably considered borderline offensive. The term "tranny," which seems to be widely used in the gay community to denote trans women (never, to my knowledge, trans men), is generally considered on par with an ethnic slur or the use of the word "faggot."

[+ Gar1eth]

A trans woman is someone who was born male-bodied or was gendered as male at birth but identifies and (usually) presents as female -- for example, Laverne Cox of Orange is the New Black. Such an individual may or may not have begun transitioning, usually involving the use of hormones; top surgery is also common; bottom surgery less so, although I think it works better for trans women than for trans men. Sometimes those who have undergone transition, especially if they've had top and bottom surgery, are called transsexuals. but at this point that term, which was first applied to trans woman Christine Jorgensen, seems outdated.

 

A trans man is someone who was born female-bodied or was gendered female at birth who identifies and (usually) presents as male. So the emphasis is on what the person identifies as now, and the use of the term "trans" indicates that it varies from the gender associated with them at birth.

 

It's possible that the media uses the term transgender women and men, but if it's done, it's rare. "Trans woman/women" and "trans man/men" (sometimes, particularly in blog posts by trans people or activists, with an asterisk afterward -- don't ask me why, I don't know) are the most common and preferred terms. Mtf (male to female) and Ftm (female to male) are understood but not used as often anymore and are probably considered borderline offensive. The term "tranny," which seems to be widely used in the gay community to denote trans women (never, to my knowledge, trans men), is generally considered on par with an ethnic slur or the use of the word "faggot."

 

Thank you Ms Raven.

 

This is pretty much what I thought. I would never use the term tranny just as I would never use the terms fag or faggot.

 

The reason I had asks was that there was a story on Gay Star News about transgendered people married in EU countries without same sex marriage laws had to divorce to claim their- I'm assuming preferred sex. But Gay Star isn't edited the best, and I wasn't sure exactly what it meant.

 

Gman

[Frankly Rich]

This is what education is all about. Like many gay men, I never knew that "tranny" was considered offensive. It sure was used a lot. I assumed that within the community is was okay, so now know better.