Terminology

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:17 pm

Tranny is the same kind of word as nigger, kike, wop, and frog. It is demeaning, isolating, and bigoted even if one misguidedly uses it for themselves. Like the word Nigger used by black people for themselves among themselves, I think it is a misguided attempt at forming some sort of group solidarity, and is typical of a very insecure minority.

Sociologically and anthropologically speaking, someone who is not of a particular minority group using a hurtful name for those who are part of that minority is separating a group of people from the "us" group and making the targeted group "them". It allows dehumanization, and makes it OK to discriminate against the minority group, and makes it "OK" to harass, bully, beat and murder that group, because they are no longer "like" the dominant group. If you are outside the dominant group, then you are of no value.

That is the basis for me not liking the term. It doesn't make a tinker's da-n if there are members of the minority group that are OK with it, it is its social function as a basis for bigotry and murder that I object to. Sadly, "transgender" is being increasingly recognized through the news media and talk shows as the same sort of line to draw around a person who is nothing more nor less than another human being. But you can make them less than human by using such a term. For crying out loud, religious groups have been doing this crap for GENERATIONS and still are. Our species, stupid as it is, will fight WARS over those kinds of terms.

So if you are happy to place yourself in such a population by feeling OK being known as a less than human to isolate, demean and treat badly, then go for it.

I am not, and even in my pretransition days was never, a "Tranny"!

Carolynn

Anthony Simon · Post by **Anthony Simon** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:44 pm

Well, far be it for me to disagree with your passionate certainty or vast academic credibilty and violent adjectives, nouns and verbs. Beneath which I quail with appropriate respect and fear, Carolynn. But...Naah I don't agree.

Yah see. Here in the UK things may very well be different from the way they are in the States. And I'm just not getting the sense of dreadful awfulness (however construed) that you associate with "tranny". Of course you may well be right for the States. I'm hardly in a position to argue with you about that. But about here....Yeah, I'll argue...

I might also just mention that various terms have started out as abuse and then been appropriated by those they are supposed to blacken as badges of honour (Like "the fauves" in art).

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:11 pm

Oh, WHATEVER!!! I guess you need to experience some of it.

Here's a peek at just the reported "incidents" that resulted in death. There are twenty times that where T-folks survive the beatings or shootings.

http://www.gender.org/remember/about/core.html

Jennifer M · Post by **Jennifer M** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:33 pm

I prefer the term bi gender as I am part male and part female,at least thats what my mind tells me.When I am wearing womens clothes it is because inside I feel like a woman.When I feel like a woman and dress as one I dont see how the term crossdresser fits.Since others cant see how I feel then in their eyes I guess it does.Any way I think terms are very confusing and we should all be refered to as people.

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:10 am

The problem is the underlying attitude. Thus we see that the word gay, which started out as a non judgemental reference to homosexuality, is now an all purpose insult among teens. Or we see how Black people seem to need a new word every few generations, going from Negro to Colored to Black to African American.

Andrew Hacker notes that White people have never come up with a word for themselves that contains the amount of venom that the word nigger does. Wop and Mick, although of similar intent, have less power. He points out that the closest we've come to words with that level of hate are sexual epithets- faggot, whore and so on.

I think it's the power of the word that is attractive. Nigger relegates and entire swath of humanity to subhuman status. If you use such a powerful word then you must be a powerful person. For a Black person to use it implies they have attained the power of White folks. Maybe even more power, if they are able to negate the word just by using it. Likewise words like whore, fag, or even tranny.

Zari