I thought trans was about not adhering to a gender assigned at birth. I would feel that rejecting any gender would be a form of non-adherance to said assignment.
My understanding was that trans is a broader umbrella that could include NB and genderless people. I suppose that isn’t correct?
It took me a while to respond because I didn’t want to accidentaly insult someone and I can’t quite seem to find the right words so please bear with me.
I love it when people have a genuine question so I will try to answer it as best I can.
I can’t speak for others, but I have always been me no matter what someone assigned me at birth.
As such I don’t consider myself trans because I have nothing to transition from.
I am still the same person as the day I was born, I just stopped letting others dictate what that was.
I suspect my own inability to find the correct words for these situations as far worse. So thank you for bearing with me. They don’t exactly teach us this sort of thing in schools.
Either way, your perspective on the matter makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing it. I hope you’ll continue to bear with the rest of us.
My particular reason for engaging in these conversations is because I want to learn and understand how to better exist with other people.
The word trans comes from transitioning from an assigned gender to their own, if applicable. As such the use of this label is truly optional for non binary people. One person may choose to include it because a particular circumstance requires it or because the person feels that it more accurately describes their experience while another person may omit the same label. Other people who do not use this particular label MUST be prepared to accept other people who do include the label, though perhaps with limited personal understanding. In the same vein someone who does use this particular label MUST be prepared to accept other people who do not use it.
Gotcha. So what I’m hearing is that it is at least optionally associated with NB peoples’ identities if they feel a connection to the notion?
I had assumed that NB was a transition as well, at least insofar that western society’s gender expectations go, which would make trans a sort of umbrella notion for related notions of gender identities. Or at least I thought I had seen it explained that way at some point.
Thanks for the info, btw. A lot more students these days desire to transition or explore their gender identities and I would prefer to not accidentally be a dick.
I’m a good example of someone who is both nonbinary and a trans woman - they’re not mutually exclusive - but there are an infinite number of ways to be nonbinary and not everyone is like me.
Also, a good word for “people transitioning (socially or medically) to be more feminine” is “transfem.” Not all AMAB nonbinary people are transfem though, since there are plenty of ways to be non-masculine that don’t include femininity.
I appreciate it. The more I explore these issues the more I find that they are potentially very personal and the interaction between all the various properties can be a bit confusing.
I’m confused, but that is sort of normal.
I thought trans was about not adhering to a gender assigned at birth. I would feel that rejecting any gender would be a form of non-adherance to said assignment.
My understanding was that trans is a broader umbrella that could include NB and genderless people. I suppose that isn’t correct?
It took me a while to respond because I didn’t want to accidentaly insult someone and I can’t quite seem to find the right words so please bear with me. I love it when people have a genuine question so I will try to answer it as best I can.
I can’t speak for others, but I have always been me no matter what someone assigned me at birth. As such I don’t consider myself trans because I have nothing to transition from. I am still the same person as the day I was born, I just stopped letting others dictate what that was.
I suspect my own inability to find the correct words for these situations as far worse. So thank you for bearing with me. They don’t exactly teach us this sort of thing in schools.
Either way, your perspective on the matter makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing it. I hope you’ll continue to bear with the rest of us.
My particular reason for engaging in these conversations is because I want to learn and understand how to better exist with other people.
Well The only way you offend me is if you were trying too so if you have anymore questions you are afraid to ask then ask away.
And as far as finding the right words you seem to be doing great.
Thank you for the support. I try specifically to emulate the language I see in the LGBTQ community, but even then there is clearly a learning curve!
In general don’t be a dick and you will be fine.
As with anywhere else there are folks who are just looking to be offended. No matter what you say they will get pissy.
Don’t let the bastards get you down.
The word trans comes from transitioning from an assigned gender to their own, if applicable. As such the use of this label is truly optional for non binary people. One person may choose to include it because a particular circumstance requires it or because the person feels that it more accurately describes their experience while another person may omit the same label. Other people who do not use this particular label MUST be prepared to accept other people who do include the label, though perhaps with limited personal understanding. In the same vein someone who does use this particular label MUST be prepared to accept other people who do not use it.
Gotcha. So what I’m hearing is that it is at least optionally associated with NB peoples’ identities if they feel a connection to the notion?
I had assumed that NB was a transition as well, at least insofar that western society’s gender expectations go, which would make trans a sort of umbrella notion for related notions of gender identities. Or at least I thought I had seen it explained that way at some point.
Thanks for the info, btw. A lot more students these days desire to transition or explore their gender identities and I would prefer to not accidentally be a dick.
I’m a good example of someone who is both nonbinary and a trans woman - they’re not mutually exclusive - but there are an infinite number of ways to be nonbinary and not everyone is like me.
Also, a good word for “people transitioning (socially or medically) to be more feminine” is “transfem.” Not all AMAB nonbinary people are transfem though, since there are plenty of ways to be non-masculine that don’t include femininity.
I appreciate it. The more I explore these issues the more I find that they are potentially very personal and the interaction between all the various properties can be a bit confusing.