![fuckyeahtrannies:
(via genderqueer: transpride: rubbingtheimpossibletoburst: nuditynotprudity)
Transgenderism’s Tragic Flaw
by Greg P.
It’s fair to say most people are at least somewhat naïve on the subject of transgenderism. Why shouldn’t people be? Transgender issues have been practically footnoted as merely the “T” in LGBT — as if the “T” is in the same hierarchal category, deserving similar consideration, as the L, G, and B. If there is any utility to be found in unity, then it’s time to undo this unfortunate injustice with some clarity on the subject.
The word transgender has not always had the clearest meaning. I blame this mostly on the word’s vague etymology. It’s not entirely unfair for a person inexperienced on the subject to assume transgenderism has something to do with physical sex change. Of course that couldn’t be further from the truth, or could it? Unfortunately (for this argument) there’s a direct association between transsexuals and transgenderists. Transexuals are transgenderists, but trangenderists are not necessarily (and not usually) transsexuals. Similarly, transgenderists are not necessarily transvestites, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, biologically intersex, or suffering from gender identity disorder. Yet all of those people, groups, behaviors and lifestyles (and many more – see next paragraph) would fall under a unified category of transgenderist. Fortunately, as the usage of this word in the media and political realms has increased over time [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], we have come to realize the trans- in transgender should not be interpreted as change, but rather transcend. Likewise, the –gender in transgender should not be taken to mean biological sex, but instead should refer to the social constructs of gender role and gender identity.
To transcend a gender role or gender identity is not a difficult threshold to meet these days, for any person, group, behaviour or lifestyle. But being transgenderist doesn’t have to mean having a scary or even permanent label — not any scarier than would be having labels like vegetarian, anarchist, or Republican. Any rebellious thought that contradicts the gender role status quo can be considered transgenderist. Using this threshold, many feminist, pro-feminist, anti-sexist, anti-misogynist ideals are certainly transgenderist as well. When we embrace this more inclusive and progressive idea of transgenderism, we start to realize just how many people, groups, behaviors, and lifestyles are framed by this unifying social movement.
The tone of this article is a bit confrontational, but the information contained therein is sound. Although, I’m not sure what is described is actually a “flaw”, let alone a “tragic” one in the terminology of the transgender movement.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyxmjmr36f1qzg0qvo1_400.gif)
(via genderqueer: transpride: rubbingtheimpossibletoburst: nuditynotprudity)
Transgenderism’s Tragic Flaw
by Greg P.
It’s fair to say most people are at least somewhat naïve on the subject of transgenderism. Why shouldn’t people be? Transgender issues have been practically footnoted as merely the “T” in LGBT — as if the “T” is in the same hierarchal category, deserving similar consideration, as the L, G, and B. If there is any utility to be found in unity, then it’s time to undo this unfortunate injustice with some clarity on the subject.
The word transgender has not always had the clearest meaning. I blame this mostly on the word’s vague etymology. It’s not entirely unfair for a person inexperienced on the subject to assume transgenderism has something to do with physical sex change. Of course that couldn’t be further from the truth, or could it? Unfortunately (for this argument) there’s a direct association between transsexuals and transgenderists. Transexuals are transgenderists, but trangenderists are not necessarily (and not usually) transsexuals. Similarly, transgenderists are not necessarily transvestites, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, biologically intersex, or suffering from gender identity disorder. Yet all of those people, groups, behaviors and lifestyles (and many more – see next paragraph) would fall under a unified category of transgenderist. Fortunately, as the usage of this word in the media and political realms has increased over time [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], we have come to realize the trans- in transgender should not be interpreted as change, but rather transcend. Likewise, the –gender in transgender should not be taken to mean biological sex, but instead should refer to the social constructs of gender role and gender identity.
To transcend a gender role or gender identity is not a difficult threshold to meet these days, for any person, group, behaviour or lifestyle. But being transgenderist doesn’t have to mean having a scary or even permanent label — not any scarier than would be having labels like vegetarian, anarchist, or Republican. Any rebellious thought that contradicts the gender role status quo can be considered transgenderist. Using this threshold, many feminist, pro-feminist, anti-sexist, anti-misogynist ideals are certainly transgenderist as well. When we embrace this more inclusive and progressive idea of transgenderism, we start to realize just how many people, groups, behaviors, and lifestyles are framed by this unifying social movement.
The tone of this article is a bit confrontational, but the information contained therein is sound. Although, I’m not sure what is described is actually a “flaw”, let alone a “tragic” one in the terminology of the transgender movement.
