The term transsexual originates solely from a medical context in regards to sex reassignment surgery. And sure, people can use it. But why would I want to encourage people to use a term which continues to be used to undermine their worth as a human? By replacing “sexual” with “gender” you expand the definition of the term past a strictly medical context to encompass cultural values. Why should I not try to explain this to them and encourage the usage of one term over another?
“Sex” is a biological classification. “Gender” goes beyond that and encompasses what somebody wants their place in society to be.
The term transsexual has become so heavily weaponized against us that its continued usage is damaging and hurtful to the overall community in my opinion. I feel the same way about someone referring to themselves as “a transsexual” as I do with someone calling themselves a t****y. While I don’t consider transsexual to be a slur, I consider it to be something that should be frowned upon all the same. I don’t want people normalizing a term that boils us down to sexual characteristics.
It’s not just about someone calling themselves transsexual. It’s about removing the term from the cultural zeitgeist so it doesn’t give the impression to cis people that they can go around calling us transsexuals, because many of us are disgusted by the term. I cannot guarantee a long life expectancy of anyone who calls me one, and I’d rather avoid an extensive criminal history.
Being trans is more than just a medical condition brought about through surgery. We’re not just some biological “thing.”
“Sex” is a biological classification. “Gender” goes beyond that and encompasses what somebody wants their place in society to be.
I feel like you are really hung up on sex as to mean “biological” but I want you to consider that this (perceived) distinction between sex and gender is precisely the part that’s harmful to trans people. By separating sex into its own “biological” “scientific” reality you are missing that sex is as arbitrary as gender. Who is to decide what are sexual characteristics and what is not?
I’m done with this conversation. If you still don’t understand why many of us are uncomfortable with using outdated terminology that originates from medical fields that have been weaponized against us time and time again then there’s no point in continuing this discussion.
I understand where you are coming from. I am offering an alternative point of view to explain why many of us identify as transsexual. I don’t think it’s super useful to police language that people use to self-id.
![[cw transphobia] "Sure theyre trans or whatever"](https://hexbear.net/pictrs/image/ba01a976-3fa0-42a6-ad5e-390e6a7b6a70.jpeg){kind=link}
The term transsexual originates solely from a medical context in regards to sex reassignment surgery. And sure, people can use it. But why would I want to encourage people to use a term which continues to be used to undermine their worth as a human? By replacing “sexual” with “gender” you expand the definition of the term past a strictly medical context to encompass cultural values. Why should I not try to explain this to them and encourage the usage of one term over another?
“Sex” is a biological classification. “Gender” goes beyond that and encompasses what somebody wants their place in society to be.
The term transsexual has become so heavily weaponized against us that its continued usage is damaging and hurtful to the overall community in my opinion. I feel the same way about someone referring to themselves as “a transsexual” as I do with someone calling themselves a t****y. While I don’t consider transsexual to be a slur, I consider it to be something that should be frowned upon all the same. I don’t want people normalizing a term that boils us down to sexual characteristics.
It’s not just about someone calling themselves transsexual. It’s about removing the term from the cultural zeitgeist so it doesn’t give the impression to cis people that they can go around calling us transsexuals, because many of us are disgusted by the term. I cannot guarantee a long life expectancy of anyone who calls me one, and I’d rather avoid an extensive criminal history.
Being trans is more than just a medical condition brought about through surgery. We’re not just some biological “thing.”
I feel like you are really hung up on sex as to mean “biological” but I want you to consider that this (perceived) distinction between sex and gender is precisely the part that’s harmful to trans people. By separating sex into its own “biological” “scientific” reality you are missing that sex is as arbitrary as gender. Who is to decide what are sexual characteristics and what is not?
I’m done with this conversation. If you still don’t understand why many of us are uncomfortable with using outdated terminology that originates from medical fields that have been weaponized against us time and time again then there’s no point in continuing this discussion.
I understand where you are coming from. I am offering an alternative point of view to explain why many of us identify as transsexual. I don’t think it’s super useful to police language that people use to self-id.