trans stuff
So, what is trans, anyways?
A friend of mine is really bothered by how the term seems to have become meaningless. Anyone can be trans, just by saying they are, and there are no defining features. So, what even is it?
I know what it used to be, but I have to admit I'm not sure anymore either.
I think his main concern in this is that because it has become such a blanket term, there are some transfolks who need help a lot more than others and it's hard to triage without specificity.
re: trans stuff
@relee I don't think the term had become meaningless. I think we're just starting to realize that more and more of us don't fit strictly within the gender binary aligned to our sex at birth.
And I think it's a good thing, because it's a sign that not being cis is starting to become re-normalized.
re: trans stuff
@FreyaManibrandr Sorry for not responding sooner, the last day or so has been odd.
I think part of the issue my friend has been having, and others too, is that there's no distinction. There's all sorts of different ways to relate to gender and sex differently, but they're all getting jammed under one umbrella.
You can be differently gendered and still be valid without being the same as everyone else. Without distinctions, we won't know who needs what and why.
re: trans stuff
@relee That is true, our system is a prime example of how we are all very different gender-wise, but still fall under the trans and nonbinary tree.
However there is a danger in being lead to thinking that the solution is to dip into exclusion. I think the solution is to create more terms to describe our unique experiences. After all, English is a woefully limited language for describing our exact specific experiences with gender.
re: trans stuff
@FreyaManibrandr I think english might be the best language for it, considering the others.
But yeah, we don't have to exclude anyone, but folks are so afraid of being excluded that they end up joining groups that wouldn't describe them, just for social reasons. I've seen it lead to bad places, too.
Nobody is invalid, and not being a part of any group should mean you're not a real anything, but most people aren't everything all at once.
re: trans stuff
@FreyaManibrandr It is probably too late to pull back the umbrella, and 'trans' isn't really the same as 'transgender' or 'transsexual' anyways, but I'm not sure what terms to use do differentiate where each person stands anymore.
I don't want folks thinking that if we divide ourselves like this, we can't still be together in a supergroup. We absolutely can and are.
I guess that's part of intersectionality?
re: trans stuff
@relee Yeah, in a way we can see it as macrolabels and microlabels. Macrolabels are a shared umbrella label that shows solidarity through a common struggle. While microlabels are there to help people zero in on identifying themselves and validating their individual existence. Both are good to have.
re: trans stuff
@FreyaManibrandr I'm really not sure I can satisfy my friend. He's worried about some trans folks harming others unintentionally, and trans supporters going against the wishes of trans folks, but another issue is he can't let go of words that change meaning.
It's too late to take "Trans" back. If any harm comes, we'll weather it.