A Glossary of Terms

[jolo]

Originally Posted by JodieTs

You ever heard of google or wiki?

• Ladyboy Term for transsexual from asia
• Shemale Initially a derogatory term to describe a transsexual, which first appeared in the controversial book, The Transsexual Empire: The Making of the She-Male by Janice Raymond. Since then it has been adopted wholesale to describe trans who work in adult entertainment, from porn to escorting.
• Tranny Generic term for anyone who is trans variance---They identify and/or present differently from their birth sex part or all the time
  or
• Transexual transsexual {spelt with two "SS"}
  In the case of male to female, they identify as female.
  They still have or used to have male genitalia.
  Often/usually use female hormones {oestrogen} and hormones to suppress testosterone production.
  Additionally, often surgical mods such as:
  Breast augmentation
  Face feminism surgery FFS
  Tracheal shave
  Fat implants to various part of their body
  Voice coaching and/or surgery to alter voice
• Female 50% of the world population ---you knew that one, yes?
• Other of the misc shortcut descriptions---you post 'em, we'll answer

Thank you for your time to post this. Would I be correct in assuming that the terminology is not static and keeps changing and being added on to ?

I did read somewhere on some blog or site, where there was a post by a TS, who felt offended by the term shemale. I understand and respect that, however when searching I noticed it is used a lot on commercial sites and blogs use Shemale.

Very unfortunately for, I have had NO experience with any of the terms. I would love to find a Transsexual, to love, pamper and caress, as described in the Transsexual definition, with male genitalia here in Colorado. I don't think I can make it to Brazil or Thailand.

I had no idea that Ladyboy was about Asians.

Oh yes, male that term Futanari. Sometimes I see a cartoon type of photo and some real Asian photos and they are beautiful.

Am I correct in thinking that the TS's are getting more and more stunning?

Thanks,

Jon

[Bionca]

Originally Posted by jolo

Thank you for your time to post this. Would I be correct in assuming that the terminology is not static and keeps changing and being added on to ?

Yes, language is a living thing and words and meaning change over time and location.

Originally Posted by jolo

I did read somewhere on some blog or site, where there was a post by a TS, who felt offended by the term shemale. I understand and respect that, however when searching I noticed it is used a lot on commercial sites and blogs use Shemale.

That's part of the point - it is largely used connected to porn. As a large portion of the trans woman population has no direct relationship to the sex industry, using a term that is so directly associated with porn is insulting. It also has a very negative past, as it's first use to describe trans women, was in a book by Dr Janice Raymond who's position was to "Morally mandate transsexuality out of existence". Jan was used to get the US government to stop covering trans-related health care among other directly harmful things to trans women.

[jolo]

Dear beautiful Bionca,

Thanks so much for your reply.

I wanted to understand some of the terminology better.
When using a term that categorizes a group of people, I think it is important to understand there the terms came from and what they mean.

There are times, people might use some horrific terms to categorize others that create ignorance, misconceptions and prejudice. (Karl Rove has done this for a living since he was hired by Nixon, many years back

I want it to be understood that this mean "political correctness", which is about taking the meaning out of terms so that the terms become totally meaningless (changing the term "department" to "team" in offices).

Thanks,

Jon

[JodieTs]

Originally Posted by jolo

Thank you for your time to post this. Would I be correct in assuming that the terminology is not static and keeps changing and being added on to ?

I did read somewhere on some blog or site, where there was a post by a TS, who felt offended by the term shemale. I understand and respect that, however when searching I noticed it is used a lot on commercial sites and blogs use Shemale.

Very unfortunately for, I have had NO experience with any of the terms. I would love to find a Transsexual, to love, pamper and caress, as described in the Transsexual definition, with male genitalia here in Colorado. I don't think I can make it to Brazil or Thailand.

I had no idea that Ladyboy was about Asians.

Oh yes, male that term Futanari. Sometimes I see a cartoon type of photo and some real Asian photos and they are beautiful.

Am I correct in thinking that the TS's are getting more and more stunning?

Yes the terms do seem to be fluid.
And offend/are non-offensive depending on the person!
{remember all transsexual people are both mentally unstable and contrary to both other transsexual people and cis-gendered people}

I personally loath "Shemale" as it sexualises us and at the same time suggests we are less than female. At the same time, I also call myself a shemale at work....I work in adult entertainment.

Like Bionca "Tranny" does not bother me at all.
Though most transsexual people again loath it because in their opinion
it identify's to them as part of the genera of Cross dressers, Transvestites and 'Hairy panty wearers'
...which of course we actually are!
Many ts's get pissed at me when I call myself a tranny because I've gone a long way with all this from hormones, life, surgery's ....often a lot further than many of them.
The inference being that if I identify as a tranny, then by implication, that makes them Very-tranny!
Which as you will realise is the reason I do it in the first place!

[extramaritalm]

Originally Posted by JodieTs

Yes the terms do seem to be fluid.
And offend/are non-offensive depending on the person!
{remember all transsexual people are both mentally unstable and contrary to both other transsexual people and cis-gendered people}

I personally loath "Shemale" as it sexualises us and at the same time suggests we are less than female. At the same time, I also call myself a shemale at work....I work in adult entertainment.

Like Bionca "Tranny" does not bother me at all.
Though most transsexual people again loath it because in their opinion
it identify's to them as part of the genera of Cross dressers, Transvestites and 'Hairy panty wearers'
...which of course we actually are!
Many ts's get pissed at me when I call myself a tranny because I've gone a long way with all this from hormones, life, surgery's ....often a lot further than many of them.
The inference being that if I identify as a tranny, then by implication, that makes them Very-tranny!
Which as you will realise is the reason I do it in the first place!

I think ANY term that we as people may use is solely dependent on context, tone of voice, etc. For example, amongst a group of friends, I may say "fuck you" to another when I'm being teased in good fun; now of course I'd never say that to someone I just met even if we were having a fun chat! To quote a movie line,"All men are bastards and they all know each other!", I often enjoy announcing that I actually know the other "bastard" when in fact I really don't! And of course i'd never go up to a complete stranger and call him a bastard! If I were to ever give any advice on this matter of labeling, I would only be able to keep it simple and just say be nice, treat others like you'd want to be treated!

[Bionca]

Originally Posted by JodieTs

I personally loath "Shemale" as it sexualises us and at the same time suggests we are less than female. At the same time, I also call myself a shemale at work....I work in adult entertainment.

It's funny to me, I have yet to meet a trans woman in the sex industry who *likes* shemale (I'm sure there are, I just haven't met any) or feels like that word represents them or their identity. Most people I have met who embrace the word come across as leaning more toward a fetish relationship to feminizing their bodies.

Originally Posted by JodieTs

Like Bionca "Tranny" does not bother me at all.
Though most transsexual people again loath it because in their opinion
it identify's to them as part of the genera of Cross dressers, Transvestites and 'Hairy panty wearers'
...which of course we actually are!

I don't think this is exactly true from what I've seen. At least among the women I know, there isn't much issue with trans women who call themselves/ each other "tranny". It's when non-trans people throw it around, since it's mostly used as a joke or to ridicule how a woman looks (she's so ugly she looks like a tranny). So, for non-trans folks using the word, it has a really loaded recent history - as words change, sometimes their meaning become more negative than positive.

[JodieTs]

Originally Posted by Bionca

It's funny to me, I have yet to meet a trans woman in the sex industry who *likes* shemale (I'm sure there are, I just haven't met any) or feels like that word represents them or their identity. Most people I have met who embrace the word come across as leaning more toward a fetish relationship to feminizing their bodies.

That's very true, The ONLY people who refer to themselves like that are very much not transsexual women.
Usually they are ?weekend warriors? and the whole transsexual ?condition? is one they idolize/fantasize about,
yet they don't have the inclination for whatever reason 'walk-the-walk'
I see these in peoples profile names on transgendered social sites.

?Hello, pleased to meet you, my name's: Jodie shemale cum-dump?
That would get very strange looks from my bank manager, or the regional secretary of the local Womens Institute!

Originally Posted by Bionca

I don't think this is exactly true from what I've seen. At least among the women I know, there isn't much issue with trans women who call themselves/ each other "tranny". It's when non-trans people throw it around, since it's mostly used as a joke or to ridicule how a woman looks (she's so ugly she looks like a tranny). So, for non-trans folks using the word, it has a really loaded recent history - as words change, sometimes their meaning become more negative than positive.

Over here in the UK it is very different.
Refer to a transsexual person as a tranny and they'd more than likely stick a stiletto blade under your rib cage
...or at least, give you an annoyed stare
Which makes it such fun!

I'm so glad you are writing your blog again.
It really is that good.

[smc]

Originally Posted by JodieTs

?Hello, pleased to meet you, my name's: Jodie shemale cum-dump?
That would get very strange looks from my bank manager, or the regional secretary of the local Womens Institute!

My god, Jodie, please tell me you DON'T participate in the NFWI!"

[JodieTs]

Originally Posted by smc

My god, Jodie, please tell me you DON'T participate in the NFWI!"

Over here, the National Health Service NHS Gender clinics INSIST
that you join & wear twinsets and pearls
to Prove you really are a lady
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4THO9-N--k4

[smc]

Originally Posted by JodieTs

Over here, the National Health Service NHS Gender clinics INSIST
that you join & wear twinsets and pearls
to Prove you really are a lady
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4THO9-N--k4

Thanks! I needed a good laugh.

[jolo]

Bionca,

If I am understanding you correctly, what you are saying that it is more about whose is using the term and the intent of the person than it is the terminology itself ?

Originally Posted by Bionca

It's funny to me, I have yet to meet a trans woman in the sex industry who *likes* shemale (I'm sure there are, I just haven't met any) or feels like that word represents them or their identity. Most people I have met who embrace the word come across as leaning more toward a fetish relationship to feminizing their bodies.

I don't think this is exactly true from what I've seen. At least among the women I know, there isn't much issue with trans women who call themselves/ each other "tranny". It's when non-trans people throw it around, since it's mostly used as a joke or to ridicule how a woman looks (she's so ugly she looks like a tranny). So, for non-trans folks using the word, it has a really loaded recent history - as words change, sometimes their meaning become more negative than positive.

[Bionca]

Originally Posted by jolo

Bionca,

If I am understanding you correctly, what you are saying that it is more about whose is using the term and the intent of the person than it is the terminology itself ?

Yes, and no. It's like "queer". Some gay and lesbian people use it - in some context it is actually the best and easiest term to use. On the other hand, some random straight person calling a group of gay people "queer" will rightly be seen as a jerk (at best).

It is important to look at how words are used in the general culture. When a non-trans woman says "Girl, you look like a tranny" - what is she implying? When gossip blogs say that as actress "looks tranny" - what is that? Now, given that trans women are called this word by people to invalidate our gender as women, hearing it from some random guy who may (or may not) be into trans women we should not be expected to automatically give the benefit of the doubt.