I transitioned nearly 20 years ago and have been involved in online trans communities since then. This is the first time I’ve heard that removing the space between transmen and transwomen is a TERF thing.
Comment on How transwomen/transmen dream
audiomodder@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
Trans women are women and trans men are men.
As somebody who is nonbinary, I dream as some version of myself.
Also, please use “trans women” and “trans men”. Removing the space is a TERF red flag.
Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
audiomodder@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
It’s their way of saying that trans women aren’t women and trans men aren’t men. It’s less of a technicality thing and more of a “I’m going to be skeptical about this person’s intentions until I see more”
Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
That doesn’t make any sense. How does a space change the meaning? Especially after the words have been widely used in the trans community for decades?
shneancy@lemmy.world 4 months ago
it changed its meaning because bad actors decided to use that term specificlly, to imply that “trans[gender]” is a third sort of option (that is not part of the “normal” or “real” genders) and also the biggest enemy of “real [gender]” and especially “real women”. The same way “transsexual” became a slur, the same way “retarded” or “special needs” became insults. If you say someone’s name with enough hatred in your voice enough times it’ll become an insult as well.
it’s stupid i know, and we should reclaim it at one point, but for now it’s a dogwhistle for transphobes, at least in online spaces
Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
I’m transfemme and I’ve dreamed of myself as a woman for as long as I can remember.
Also what’s this “trans woman” vs “transwoman?” I’ve for real not heard that’s a problem. It’s like saying “can not” or “cannot.”
copygirl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
When you say “trans woman” you affirm that they are women, and trans is just an adjective. When you say “transwoman” it can imply that they are something different altogether, and TERFs have certainly used it as such. Like, I dunno, a carpark isn’t a park? That’s the first example that came to mind, anyway.
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 4 months ago
My head hurts and I have no idea what any of this means. Also what’s a TERF?
TheDoozer@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Trans Exclusive Radical Feminist. The main example is J.K. Rowling, who thinks shitting on trans women is in service to feminism, instead of harming some women in order to pretend to protect others.
Basically feminist but only for cis women.
Kevintheharry@lemmy.world 4 months ago
A carpark is a park, in the dictionary, one of its meanings is an area devoted to a specific use, I.e. industrial park, carpark
Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
Guess that’s fair. I’m a bit on the older side so all the terms seem to change so fast I can’t keep up. I like transfemme but I do like your explanation on the space. Think I’ll write it as trans femme from now on. Cheers.