a post on some shit iāve seen
āI have a male character, but theyāre very feminine so I think they might be a trans woman.ā
This is not how being trans works. Being gender non-conforming =/= trans. Here is a list of reasons why this is sexist and transphobic.
It implies that men and women must behave a certain way and that anyone who does not adhere to these gender roles must be a different gender.
It implies that gender non-conforming trans people do not exist.
It enforces gender roles.
It enforces stereotypes and misconceptions trans people have been fighting against for a long time.
Your male character can be feminine without being trans. They are still a man.
āItās offensive to describe trans people as beingĀ āborn in the wrong bodyā.ā
This is a narrative that many trans people use because it is an easy and succinct way to describe sex dysphoria. Dysphoria is more complicated than this, but this narrative is not offensive.
Stop silencing dysphoric people. Your character can describe themselves like this if they so choose to.
āI have a male character, but I picture him as having little body hair and wide hips, so I think I might make him a trans manāā
This is offensive. If you make a character trans because they posses physical characteristics that are seen asĀ āundesirableā or ānot typicalā on people of their sex, then you are sexist and transphobic.Ā
Cis men can have wide hips and little body hair. Trans men can have narrow hips and a strong jaw. Cis women can have lots of body hair and a deep voice. Trans women can be short and curvy.
āMy character is androgynous and itās difficult to tell their gender so Iām making them non binary.ā
By claiming that non binary people are always androgynous appearing, you are creating a new set of gender roles and expectations while simultaneously doing everything in the first thing I talked about.
āNon binaryā andĀ āgender non-conformingā are not synonyms, but this doesnāt mean non binary people canāt be/arenāt gender non-conforming.
āCis people are boring so my characters are all trans.ā
This is the wrong mindset when talking about representation for trans people and when writing trans characters. When you equateĀ ācisā toĀ āboringā andĀ ātransā toĀ ācoolā andĀ āinteresting,ā, you are fetishizing and dehumanizing trans people.Ā
We are not trendy accessories that will make your story better simply by being there.
BTW, boring trans people exist. Because, you know, weāre people and not this yearās most popular Christmas gift.
āReveal that your character is trans by showing their scars/body.ā
Allies and transphobes alike have a fascination with the bodies of trans people. It has gotten to the point whereĀ āalliesā spread private information about the medical lives of trans people to the general public. This has turned into aĀ āhow to spot a trans personā game.
Your characters do not need to be half-naked to show that they are trans.
āDysphoria is self-loathing and can end up bringing too much angst to your story.ā
Dysphoria is not self-loathing. This is a huge misconception. Dysphoria is a disconnect between someoneās brain and their physical sex.
When people experience sex dysphoria, their sex characteristics feel foreign. It is not simplyĀ āhating your body.ā That narrative should not be used in fiction. Ever. It is false. Body positive feminists (both lib and rad) use it to vilify sex dysphoric people.
Do not ignore dysphoria. A lot of people donāt know what it actually is and confuse it for internalized misogyny. Dysphoria needs to be a part of fiction featuring trans characters so that we can work to end the misconceptions about it.
Also, do notĀ ācureā your characterās dypshoria with love or romance or sex or self-acceptance. Thatās not how it works.
origamiaround
areudirty
ellievsbear
amandla
yousharknotpass
2087
