#personally my answer would change for this blog vs a 'world' heritage post

[hedwigofrph]

The Trans Experience Guide  ™  by HedwigofRPH

Hello, I’m your host, Hansel, and this is the first in a series of articles specifically designed to help RPers who write or write with trans characters understand a little more about them. I consider myself uniquely qualified over the majority of roleplay helpers in that I am trans (I identify as genderqueer.)

Disclaimer:  At no point am I claiming to know all the answers or that all trans people will agree or disagree with what I’ve written as the trans community is one of many varying opinions and peoples. If you disagree with something written here, please send me an ask explaining what part you take umbrage with and why and I’ll do my best to correct the misinformation and/or explain myself.

Without further ado: the first on Identities.

Most people, when they think about trans identities, think of them in a strict binary: either male or female, trans or cis, pre- or post-op. This is a problematic way of thinking about trans bodies (and people in general, to be honest.)

Why Binary Thinking Is Problematic

Because people falling under the trans umbrella not only can be one of any number of identities along the trans spectrum, considering someone to be either one or the other ignores the vast majority of identities in between and outside of the traditional gender binary. In addition, even people who are happy with their birth identified sex may have chromosomes that fall outside of a strict binary of male/female or XX/XY.

Additionally, this can invalidate trans people who are currently “between” in their presentation by implying that they can only be male or only be female, as well as intersex people who may or may not fit nicely into the binary. To create a more compassionate and understanding world, binary thinking needs to go.

Some Identities

binary (aligning with the gender binary of male or female.) trans male — in common parlance, this person was designated female at birth and is transitioning socially, mentally, and/or medically to a male presentation that is more in-line with who they are. Traditionally, this person would use he/him/his pronouns, but ask anyway. trans female — in common parlance, this person was designated male at birth and is transitioning socially, mentally, and/or medically to a female presentation that is more in-line with who they are. Traditionally, this person would use she/her/hers pronouns, but ask anyway.

non-binary (outside and/or in between the strict binary) Agender — this person is without a gender. Ask about their pronouns. Androgyne — an identity that is both male and female at the same time, but not necessarily in the same amounts. Some androgyne people may feel more male than female whereas others may feel both genders in question in equal ratios. This person may or may not identify with another term as well. Other related and more specific terms include femandrogyne (feminine androgyne), mascandrogyne - (masculine androgyne), versandrogyne (versatile androgyne, a person whose mixture of male and female changes), and neutrandrogyne (neutral androgyne, a person who feels very little or no amount of male or female.) Ask for pronouns. Bigender — someone who experiences two genders, either simultaneously or varying between them. This can include binary and non-binary genders. Persons who use this term could use it in conjunction with others such as ‘multigender’ or ‘genderqueer.’ Ask for pronouns. Demigirl — this person identifies partly, but not fully with womanhood/being a woman/girl/feminine. This person can be designated female at birth or male at birth. Ask for pronouns. Demiboy/demiguy — this person identifies partly, but not fully with manhood/being a man/boy/masculine. This person can be designated male at birth or female at birth. Ask for pronouns. Drag queen/king — this person is not necessarily trans but while drag is a topic for another article, this person could identify as any number of ways out of drag and can be used as a transitionary step between someone’s assigned-at-birth gender and their true gender, but is not necessarily/always so “drag queen” and “drag king” should not typically be considered to be trans identities. Genderfluid — this person can identify or present as more than one gender and moves between identities, presentations, and pronouns depending on any number of factors unique to that person. Ask about pronouns Genderqueer — someone who is not male or female, but may identify with parts of either or both. From Merriam-Webster “of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity cannot be categorized as solely male or female.” This term can be used as an umbrella, a standalone, or in conjunction with another gender term. Ask about pronouns. Intersex — this person is not necessarily part of the trans community, but intersex people are often mentioned in relation to trans people to either justify our existence (don’t do that) or as a complimentary identity. Ask for pronouns, but do not by default group with trans people unless you intend to address intersex issues as well as trans issues. Multigender — people who identify as multiple genders. This can include any of the other terms on this list or ones that have been left off and can be at the same time, concurrent, or a mixture of both. Ask for pronouns. Non-binary — someone who exists outside of the male/female dichotomy for whatever reason, be this because they are a mixture of both or because they’re neither. This person may or may not identify with this term as well as another. Ask for pronouns. Neutrois — a person with a neutral or null gender. This term can be used in conjunction with or instead of agender in that both describe someone who is neutrally gendered or genderless. Ask for pronouns. Questioning — a person who is not currently fully certain as to how they identify. This person may try out different identities while trying to find the one that suits them or they may be reluctant to take a label until they are certain which one is for them. Whether or not they eventually find the one that is right for them or create one wholesale for themselves depends on the person. Ask for pronouns, don’t be surprised (and don’t be a shit!) when/if they change or get amended. Third Gender — usually used as a catch-all term for all identities outside of the binary of male/female and wherever possible, the specific gender identity should be listed instead. Can mean one (or more!) of any number of trans identities. Two-Spirit — this term can describe one of many Native American gender identities. This term should only be used for Native Americans and/or First Nations persons as this term was created specifically for use by those communities. More research into which Native American or First Nations gender identity this person identifies with is highly encouraged as is asking for pronouns.

Closing Notes

For the most part, this guide encompasses common Western trans identities. There are others, such as hijra, that are culturally specific that may be used by muses from that culture, but should not be used by muses outside of that culture. The identities outside of what most Westerners would come in contact with have been left off as they are not for non-Western muses and should not be used by Western writers without extensive research into how those people are treated within their society, whether or not that term is offensive to the people it may apply to, and/or what cultures use what terms vs. what cultures do not (i.e. it is not acceptable to use a term from India for your Somali muse unless your muse shares a culture/heritage/background with India or the specific term in question.)  When in doubt, outside research is always encouraged.

While some identities such as “genderqueer” are a compound word and should be styled as such when correctly talking about a person who identifies as such, others such as “trans man” are not compound words and should always be styled as separate words. Why? Because “trans” in this case is a qualifier to “man.” A trans man is always a man just a cis man is always a man with “trans” being a qualifier as to what type of man such as “blue eyed” or “brown haired.”

Despite the fact that all of these identities fall under the trans umbrella, not all people who identify as one of these terms identify as trans. This can be for a variety of reasons from feeling that “transgender” has become either too vague or too specific of a term to never feeling like “transgender” is a word that applies to them. There is no right or wrong way to be trans.

Other Sources/Readings:

http://gender.wikia.com/

https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/10/12/answers_to_all_the_rude_questions_about_transgender_people.html

Think something’s off? Want to tell me that my definition for one or more of these is wrong? Let’s talk about it.