categorizing all of this under the rubric of “trans identity” continues to seem like a horrible civilization-wide confusion-inducing mistake to me.
I agree! Unfortunately, people are not smart. Also, politics.
I think the utility of “transgender” is that people (including my teenage self) have a visceral irrational reaction to anything “sex” and it is useful to give people space to talk about gender variance without it being inherently sexual. Of course, sex is a factor. But I was very squeamish and prudish about it and that held me back. Also, there are many aspects of my transition and femininity I value highly which I see as non-sexual. Being emotionally effusive, empathic, and caring in social situations, for instance. I am closer now to my mother and sister (both cis) and that means a lot.
I still like the term “transsexual”. It is quite fun to deploy when people aren’t expecting it.
irrational reaction to anything “sex” and it is useful to give people space to talk about gender variance without it being inherently sexual
Yeah, “sex” itself is also problematic of course, referring both to essential characteristics of individuals and to complicated social interactions.
My biggest problem with “transgender” is that it implies the desirability of grave, not-entirely-reversible hormonal/surgical transition to people that are only uncomfortable with their gender role, but have no body map issues. I’d say that decoupling (temporary, reversible) social transition from HRT/surgery should be in the interest of large swathes of the political spectrum, only excluding extremists on both sides.
I agree! Unfortunately, people are not smart. Also, politics.
I think the utility of “transgender” is that people (including my teenage self) have a visceral irrational reaction to anything “sex” and it is useful to give people space to talk about gender variance without it being inherently sexual. Of course, sex is a factor. But I was very squeamish and prudish about it and that held me back. Also, there are many aspects of my transition and femininity I value highly which I see as non-sexual. Being emotionally effusive, empathic, and caring in social situations, for instance. I am closer now to my mother and sister (both cis) and that means a lot.
I still like the term “transsexual”. It is quite fun to deploy when people aren’t expecting it.
Yeah, “sex” itself is also problematic of course, referring both to essential characteristics of individuals and to complicated social interactions.
My biggest problem with “transgender” is that it implies the desirability of grave, not-entirely-reversible hormonal/surgical transition to people that are only uncomfortable with their gender role, but have no body map issues. I’d say that decoupling (temporary, reversible) social transition from HRT/surgery should be in the interest of large swathes of the political spectrum, only excluding extremists on both sides.