Information on Shemales

[Alexandar]

For starters I would like a better/non-offensive term to describe a Trans Woman who chooses not to undergo genital reassignment surgery. Shemale so far is the only term I can find that describes such a person but a lot of people are saying that it's an offensive term which confuses me.

I thought it was a category within the Transgender community, like MTF, FTM, crossdresser etc. I thought Shemales were individuals who simply didn't identify with either male or female gender roles and were more in the middle, which is why they choose not to become completely one or the other. Is that not the case? I mean people don't just become a Trans woman with male genitals solely to get into the porn industry or because they can't afford it right?

 

[SithLordOfSnark]

Call them what they want to be called.

In my experience, even trans gendered folk that aren't planning on ever getting surgery to reassign their gender STILL want to be referred to trans men and/or trans women.

 

[Star Pupil]

Shemale is a porncentric word which is why some people find it offensive. They don't want to be identified as a fetish, I think. Like BBW.

Take the above advice, call someone what they want to be called.

If this is in regards to a request thread, find softer wording(MtF, FtM etc) if it bothers you that some people get offended when they look at your thread. Otherwise, it's an erotic website...those terms are expected here so it shouldn't really matter. You're not using the word in a derogatory manner.

 

[Trygon]

I think the term you're looking for is 'genderfluid', someone who fluctuates between genders at will without feeling particularly beholden to either. There's a member or two here who may be able to share more personal experience, if they care to.

 

[SithLordOfSnark]

@Trygon

A genderfluid individual is completely different from a transgendered person that doesn't want or need gender reassignment surgery.

 

[Trygon]

Did you read his post, or just the title? The OP actually touches on about three different gender issues that I see - Talking about trans originally, before describing their interpretation of the word (which is closer to genderfluidity in my reading), then asks some general questions on motivation and delineation.