Post by prouvaire on Nov 19, 2014 15:04:25 GMT -6
Before you accidentally say something you don't mean, you might want to look at this helpful list of common misconceptions and misused words and how to correct them! c:
This list is alive and continually growing. If you have something you would like to add, please let me know!
Incorrect: trans*
Correct: trans
Why?: The term trans* has often come to mean an umbrella term for those who are non-binary as opposed to binary transgender persons. However, the asterisk implies that non-binary people cannot be trans. The literal definition for "trans" is "someone who does not agree with the gender they were assigned at birth." As such, many non-binary individuals may in fact also identify as trans, and it would be unfair to disconnect them from the binary trans community.
Incorrect: transgendered
Correct: transgender
Why?: Transgender is a gender like any other. If someone was a girl, you would say they are a girl, not that they are girled. If someone was transgender, you would say they are a transgender person, not that they are transgendered. Genders are not verbs.
Incorrect: transwoman/transman
Correct: trans woman/trans man
Why?: The term 'trans' should be an adjective when referring to people. This woman is trans, but that means she is still a woman. If she were a transwoman, the ideas could not be separate and she could never be anything other than a transwoman. In the same way 'Chinese man' is not offensive but 'Chinaman' is, 'transwoman/transman' is not the proper way to refer to someone
Incorrect: mtf/ftm (male-to-female/female-to-male)
Correct: trans woman/trans man
Why?: 'mtf' implies that a person was once male and now is female, when in fact they were female their entire lives, even after being assigned male at birth. Same goes to ftms.
Incorrect: sex change surgery
Correct: gender confirming surgery
Why?: 'Sex change' implies that a person was once one gender and is now another, when it fact many transgender people have been transgender their entire lives. Gender confirming surgery is a much more appropriate term, since the surgery aims to help people confirm how they feel about their own gender identify.
Incorrect: asexual people will never have sex
Correct: some asexual people are sex-repulsed and never want to have sex. Some asexual people in fact may have sex, and may even like it, but they do not feel specific sexual attraction towards people.
Incorrect: all aromantics are also asexual
Correct: some aromantics are asexual. Some asexuals are aromantic. Some aromantics may not experience romantic attraction, but they can experience sexual attraction. Some asexuals may not experience sexual attraction, but they can experience romantic attraction.
Incorrect: celibate people are asexual
Correct: some celibate people may actually experience sexual attraction, but they choose not to act upon it. This does not make them asexual.
Incorrect: bisexuals are only attracted to two genders
Correct: the definition of bisexual is 'attraction to the same gender and different genders.' Part of this misconception comes from people believing there are only two genders and that bisexuals are attracted to both. In reality, there are many genders and bisexuals are not limited to just two.
Incorrect: bisexuals are attracted to two genders and pansexuals are attracted to all genders
Correct: both bisexuals and pansexuals can be attracted to two or more genders. Some people who identify as bisexual claim that gender is a factor in their attraction, while some people who identify as pansexual claim that gender has no part in their attraction. Some people may also identify as bisexual rather than pansexual for social reasons, because there is ultimately more awareness towards bisexuality than pansexuality. Some people may identify as pansexual for the opposite reason, because they would rather be part of the lesser known group.
Incorrect: all agender people want to look androgynous
Correct: gender expression does not equal gender identify. Agender and non-binary people can be feminine or masculine presenting and still be non-binary.
This list is alive and continually growing. If you have something you would like to add, please let me know!
Incorrect: trans*
Correct: trans
Why?: The term trans* has often come to mean an umbrella term for those who are non-binary as opposed to binary transgender persons. However, the asterisk implies that non-binary people cannot be trans. The literal definition for "trans" is "someone who does not agree with the gender they were assigned at birth." As such, many non-binary individuals may in fact also identify as trans, and it would be unfair to disconnect them from the binary trans community.
Incorrect: transgendered
Correct: transgender
Why?: Transgender is a gender like any other. If someone was a girl, you would say they are a girl, not that they are girled. If someone was transgender, you would say they are a transgender person, not that they are transgendered. Genders are not verbs.
Incorrect: transwoman/transman
Correct: trans woman/trans man
Why?: The term 'trans' should be an adjective when referring to people. This woman is trans, but that means she is still a woman. If she were a transwoman, the ideas could not be separate and she could never be anything other than a transwoman. In the same way 'Chinese man' is not offensive but 'Chinaman' is, 'transwoman/transman' is not the proper way to refer to someone
Incorrect: mtf/ftm (male-to-female/female-to-male)
Correct: trans woman/trans man
Why?: 'mtf' implies that a person was once male and now is female, when in fact they were female their entire lives, even after being assigned male at birth. Same goes to ftms.
Incorrect: sex change surgery
Correct: gender confirming surgery
Why?: 'Sex change' implies that a person was once one gender and is now another, when it fact many transgender people have been transgender their entire lives. Gender confirming surgery is a much more appropriate term, since the surgery aims to help people confirm how they feel about their own gender identify.
Incorrect: asexual people will never have sex
Correct: some asexual people are sex-repulsed and never want to have sex. Some asexual people in fact may have sex, and may even like it, but they do not feel specific sexual attraction towards people.
Incorrect: all aromantics are also asexual
Correct: some aromantics are asexual. Some asexuals are aromantic. Some aromantics may not experience romantic attraction, but they can experience sexual attraction. Some asexuals may not experience sexual attraction, but they can experience romantic attraction.
Incorrect: celibate people are asexual
Correct: some celibate people may actually experience sexual attraction, but they choose not to act upon it. This does not make them asexual.
Incorrect: bisexuals are only attracted to two genders
Correct: the definition of bisexual is 'attraction to the same gender and different genders.' Part of this misconception comes from people believing there are only two genders and that bisexuals are attracted to both. In reality, there are many genders and bisexuals are not limited to just two.
Incorrect: bisexuals are attracted to two genders and pansexuals are attracted to all genders
Correct: both bisexuals and pansexuals can be attracted to two or more genders. Some people who identify as bisexual claim that gender is a factor in their attraction, while some people who identify as pansexual claim that gender has no part in their attraction. Some people may also identify as bisexual rather than pansexual for social reasons, because there is ultimately more awareness towards bisexuality than pansexuality. Some people may identify as pansexual for the opposite reason, because they would rather be part of the lesser known group.
Incorrect: all agender people want to look androgynous
Correct: gender expression does not equal gender identify. Agender and non-binary people can be feminine or masculine presenting and still be non-binary.