It’s come to my attention that a lot of people want to avoid terfs, but just don’t know what to look for, so I thought it would be useful to compile this handy little guide.
What is a terf?
The question I most often see in the notes of any anti-terf post. TERF stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist. A more accurate term, which some people have taken to using for them is Feminism Appropriating Reactionary Transphobe (FART). Basically, they’re transmisogynists masquerading under the guise of feminism. They’re also often anti-sex workers (swerfs), generally racist, and all in all very similar to your average conservative in most of their views.
The Basics
If you’re lazy like me you probably don’t want to search every op to see if they’re a bigot, so here’s some quick and easy signs.
The url. Chances are you’re dealing with a terf if they’ve got any of the following in their url:
a part of the reproductive system (ovary, vagina, clitoris, etc. It’s a bit weird tbh)
terf (I know it seems obvious but you’d be amazed how many people miss it)
Almost any post about “males invading female spaces” is a terf attacking trans women.
In general, any post using males and females in place of men and women is a cause for concern. It’s good to check the op before reblogging.
Their url contains the word female, especially if their avatar includes the lipstick lesbian flag or the purple triangle and axe lesbian flag. Some will be normal, nice lesbians, but you’re better off checking.
They talk about “gender traitors”.
They act as if every woman who chooses to dress femininely and wear makeup has been brainwashed by the patriarchy. There’s a long conversation here about gendered expectations and societal pressure, and that should definitely be addressed, but the hardline “you can’t choose to do this” rather than “question why you choose to do this” has its roots in terf rhetoric.
Conversely, a lot of terfs hate butch women (see the “gender traitors” thing above). Basically, these ones want to know what your genitals are by your clothes, and that’s just gross.
They’re aphobic. Seriously, the arguments used are almost exactly the same. It’s one of the few times the slippery slope actually works.
This isn’t a full list or anything like it, but it’s a start. People of all genders and sexualities are encouraged to reblog, and to add anything I’ve missed. All I ask is that cis people adding on take a couple of seconds to think if what they’re going to say is helpful and constructive. I know if this does get traction people are going to start arguments, but please take a moment to ask yourself if it’s worth it.