posmasc

Glossary

This is a collection of useful terminology for talking about and understanding the issues we work on.

(this is a work in progres)

Disability #

TODO: Expand me

Feminism #

  • Feminism: a political movement and philosophy which questions patriarchy
  • Intersectionality: a feminist idea which refers to the various social and political identities which present and overlap in and individual and a group, and how they interact. For instance, a black trans woman will have a different experience with their identity and politics than a white trans woman.
  • Patriarchy: a broad subject which refers to the dominant social system in which men are privileged apart from women, and to the different expecations society places on men and women. Differences in salary between men and women are an example of patriarchy, and mandatory military draft registration for men, but not for women, is another example. Patriarchy affects both men and women in negative ways.
  • Rape culture: the pervasiveness, normalization, and institutionalization of rape in society and its effect on men, women, sex, consent, and other relevant issues

Gender identity #

  • “Assigned (male/female/gender) at birth”, aka AMAB/AFAB/AGAB: describes the gender that was assigned to a person at birth based on their physical sex characteristics. Not necessarily applicable in all cases, see also intersex.
  • Cisgender: the opposite of “transgender”; a person who is comfortable with the gender they were assigned at birth. Not a slur!
  • Cishet: short for “cisgender heterosexual”.
  • Transgender: someone who identifies as a gender distinct from their assigned gender at birth.
  • Intersex: refers to people whose biological sex traits are not unambiguously male or female. Research estimates between 1 in 2,000 and 1 in 4,500 people are intersex, more general estimates are as high as 1.7%. Gender and sex are both on a spectrum!
  • Neopronouns: novel pronouns invented to represent different gender identities, such as ze/hir.
  • Pronouns: third-person words used to refer to someone. These typically imply a gender identity by usage, e.g. he/him implies the subject is a man. Many people will express to you the pronouns they would like you to use. Some non-binary people use the third-person “they/them” pronouns in English.

Race #

  • PoC: Person of color, i.e. a non-white person.

TODO: Expand me

Sexuality and identity #

  • Aromantic, aka “aro”: describes a person who does not feel romantic attraction. Does not necessarily mean that they do not experience feelings of sexual attraction.
  • Asexual, aka “ace”: describes a person who does not feel sexual attraction. Does not necessarily mean that they do not experience feelings of romantic attraction.
  • Bisexual: describes a person who feels romantic or sexual attraction towards people of multiple genders (see also pansexual)
  • Heteronormative, also -normative (e.g. gendernormative): characteristics typical of normalized heterosexual conventions, expectations, and views in broader society.
  • LGBTQ+: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (or) queer, “plus”. The most common of many initialisms that refer to queer identities as a group.
  • Pansexual: describes a person who feels romantic or sexual attraction to all genders (see also bisexual)
  • Queer: general term often used by a broad set of persons who do not conform to one or more traits associated with heteronormativity. This word is a reclaimed slur. If someone does not self-identify as queer, do not refer to them as such.

Transgender issues #

  • Estrogen/“E”: female hormones used to facilitate a transition from a masculine to a feminine body (not a controlled substance). Also used to treat certain conditions in cisgender women.
  • Medical transition: receiving gender-affirming healthcare to facilitate a gender transition, such as taking hormones or surgical interventions. Not all transgender people seek out a medical transition. See also: social transition
  • Non-binary: umbrella term describing gender expressions which are neither male nor female. Some non-binary people are “agender”, meaning they disclaim any gender identity whatsoever; some are “genderfluid”, meaning they change gender expressions often; some claim a “third” gender; and there are other identities besides.
  • Puberty blockers: first-line medical intervention for transgender children. Delays the onset of puberty to prevent the permanent changes that puberty imposes on your body and increase the success rate of later gender-affirming care. Dramatically reduces the risk of suicide among transgender children. If the patient chooses not to transition, they can simply stop taking the medication and puberty proceeds as normal.
  • Social transition: changing your gender identity without medical interventions, such as by choosing different clothing and mannerisms, and asking your friends to treat you as a different gender. See also: medical transition
  • TERF: Trans-exclusionary radical feminist. A hate movement which proclaims the values of feminism to the exclusion of transgender people. Also known as “gender critical”, a euphemism used by its proponents.
  • Testosterone/“T”: male hormones used to facilitate a transition from a feminine to a masculine body (controlled substance, hard to get without a medical intervention). Also used to treat certain conditions in cisgender women, and used (and abused) by men to increase muscle mass.
  • Transmasculine, transfeminine: terms used to describe transgender identities. A transfeminine person was assigned a male identity at birth and socialized as a man, and is transitioning to a female identity; transmasculine vice-versa. A transmasculine or transfeminine person may not necessarily respectively identify as a transgender man or woman, particularly if they have a non-binary gender identity.

Other #

  • Microaggressions: a kind of disrimination which is distinct from overt bigotry. A “macroaggression” might be a Ku Klux Klan member planting a burning cross in a black family’s lawn, whereas a microaggression is more like crossing the street when you see a black person. Microaggressions are a constant reminder of bias for minorities.
  • PUA: “Pick-up artist”, an institutionalized community of men who manipulate women for sex. See also: rape culture