I think the widespread use of the term 'transgender' to describe people such as myself perpetuates the false image of us being 'men trying to be a woman', or, as this often is used to mean, 'circus freaks
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"Trans" is a latin prefix that means "across," "beyond," or "on the opposite side of." For that reason, I find "transgender" to be a wonderfully elegant term for referring to our entire community. The "trans" prefix has enough elasticity that it can refer to folks who physically transition (and, in a way, end up "on the opposite side of" their birth sex), or it can refer to genderqueer folks (who are, in a way, "beyond" gender, or at the very least, reaching "across" genders).
The image of "circus freaks" has nothing to do with the word "transgender." Whatever word we use to describe ourselves, it's going to get associated with something undesirable as long as we allow the media and popular culture to keep painting us in such a light.
And I think you're right. If we see a cultural trend of people turning "transgender" into a dirty word, we don't abandon the word "transgender" for another one, because all that's going to happen is that whatever new word we adopt is going to be made negative in a few years' time as well.
I agree with what you're saying there, and I think it ties in with the success the LGB movement has had in taking the word 'queer' and to a lesser extent 'fag' as its own. (Though on the subject of the latter, I feel the sort of discomfort that Richard Pryor developed with the n-word after playing a part in its conquest.)
My original point is that the term transgender, whilst not inherently positive or negative, does obscure the nature of gender dysphoria and can easily be depicted by transphobes as being a "politically correct" way of referring to a sexual perversion.
Again I would say that any word we use to describe our community can be easily warped by bigots.
Also, not all of us necessarily experience "gender dysphoria." Dysphoria is the opposite of "euphoria," it's a constant state of discomfort. Quite frankly, while I do deal with depression, it's not because of my gender, it's because of the shit people give me for it. I'm actually fairly content with my gender, that of a "transgirl" or "transwoman."
There's always "Harry Benjamin Syndrome," though I find that extremely problematic. While they are welcome to identify as they wish, the issue is that such advocacy, I feel, over medicalizes our community, as well as imposing a very strict set of standards on who is "really" dealing with these issues. It also seems not to allow for any variation in gender expression, keeping everyone confined to the boxes of "male" and "female" (which, I personally don't feel I fit in either of those boxes).
"transgender" only connotates negative things to people who don't agree with it, because others cast the word in a negative light. Different words can connotate different things to different people.
what is a better alternative to describe ourselves with? I cant think of one. And whatever word is used will end up having the same negative connotation to it.
I was trying to give the OP the benefit of the doubt, since this was posted in genderqueer as well, but unfortunately I had similar thoughts when I saw this post. (Assuming you're being snarky. I'm having a difficult time telling at the moment.)
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The image of "circus freaks" has nothing to do with the word "transgender." Whatever word we use to describe ourselves, it's going to get associated with something undesirable as long as we allow the media and popular culture to keep painting us in such a light.
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And I think you're right. If we see a cultural trend of people turning "transgender" into a dirty word, we don't abandon the word "transgender" for another one, because all that's going to happen is that whatever new word we adopt is going to be made negative in a few years' time as well.
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My original point is that the term transgender, whilst not inherently positive or negative, does obscure the nature of gender dysphoria and can easily be depicted by transphobes as being a "politically correct" way of referring to a sexual perversion.
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Also, not all of us necessarily experience "gender dysphoria." Dysphoria is the opposite of "euphoria," it's a constant state of discomfort. Quite frankly, while I do deal with depression, it's not because of my gender, it's because of the shit people give me for it. I'm actually fairly content with my gender, that of a "transgirl" or "transwoman."
There's always "Harry Benjamin Syndrome," though I find that extremely problematic. While they are welcome to identify as they wish, the issue is that such advocacy, I feel, over medicalizes our community, as well as imposing a very strict set of standards on who is "really" dealing with these issues. It also seems not to allow for any variation in gender expression, keeping everyone confined to the boxes of "male" and "female" (which, I personally don't feel I fit in either of those boxes).
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