Huh, the link to the prev discussion comes up 404. But basically what I wanted to say was, yeah, I don't like that word at all. I have friends (trans and cis) who use it, and it pretty much always makes me feel physically ill for a short second when I hear it. (Or read it in fic, which is a whole nother kettle of fish, really D:) I think there is a distinction, too, between transfeminine and transmasculine spectrum people using it--its history is as MTF porn terminology, so honestly, I don't really like it when FTMs reclaim it. It doesn't sit right with me, although I put up with it because I'm not gonna police our choices that way. But yeah--it really does feel like a sudden mental assault when I hear it on TV or whatever, which is all the fucking time, from people I really wish I could say knew better.
Also, thanks for linking to the stuff that's going on in Mpls/StP--I doubt it'll get any real coverage nationally, but people seriously need to know how fucked up it's been.
A while ago I was surfing delicious and come upon a story that had been saved by someone as "tranny fic" which was disturbing as hell to me, even though it turned out to be a good story. :( I hadn't thought of that -- MTF vs. FTM usage, but it makes a lot of sense to me, I can see where you'd have a problem with it.
And you're welcome -- I've completely given up on mainstream media and I figure given the political slant of my flist a lot of people can benefit from this kind of news. Well, and I just get really angry about it and posting it is a way of letting off steam.
Dude, you know what--your friend was wrong. If you've said you don't like hearing the word, she should at least make an effort to remember not to use it around you. That's just the nice thing to do.
But if you aren't then know that you damn well cannot reclaim it anymore than a man can reclaim 'bitch' or 'cunt' or a white person can reclaim racial slurs.
I disagree with the notion that we can never empathize "enough" with oppressed people who aren't us. Or that people who love us deeply are not allowed to draw the same kind of strength we get from the reclamation of words and actions. (What? What? I can't use the word "dyke" 'cause I'm not one?)
(Okay, fine. White people can't reclaim racial slurs. But gender and sex stuff? Reclamation is totally not mutually exclusive, it's just based on intelligence and thoughtfulness. These things are kind of fucking rare, no matter what's in your pants.)
Oh, reclaiming words, such a difficult topic. From what I've seen, it can work on a personal level, but not on a large scale, because others hear the word being used and think it's okay to use it just the way they like, which is usually in a derogatory manner. So overall, I'm pretty conflicted about the whole thing, and just put my efforts towards calling out the people around me when they say something that's clearly derogatory.
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Also, thanks for linking to the stuff that's going on in Mpls/StP--I doubt it'll get any real coverage nationally, but people seriously need to know how fucked up it's been.
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A while ago I was surfing delicious and come upon a story that had been saved by someone as "tranny fic" which was disturbing as hell to me, even though it turned out to be a good story. :( I hadn't thought of that -- MTF vs. FTM usage, but it makes a lot of sense to me, I can see where you'd have a problem with it.
And you're welcome -- I've completely given up on mainstream media and I figure given the political slant of my flist a lot of people can benefit from this kind of news. Well, and I just get really angry about it and posting it is a way of letting off steam.
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But if you aren't then know that you damn well cannot reclaim it anymore than a man can reclaim 'bitch' or 'cunt' or a white person can reclaim racial slurs.
I disagree with the notion that we can never empathize "enough" with oppressed people who aren't us. Or that people who love us deeply are not allowed to draw the same kind of strength we get from the reclamation of words and actions. (What? What? I can't use the word "dyke" 'cause I'm not one?)
(Okay, fine. White people can't reclaim racial slurs. But gender and sex stuff? Reclamation is totally not mutually exclusive, it's just based on intelligence and thoughtfulness. These things are kind of fucking rare, no matter what's in your pants.)
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