AFAB/AMAB describes an event, not an identity.
[PT: AFAB/AMAB describes an event, not an identity. /End PT]
AFAB is not a noun. AMAB is not a noun. It is an acronym for an *event* - that event being what was written on your birth certificate. AFAB = assigned female at birth. AMAB = assigned male at birth.
Think about how the acronyms would sound if fully written out.
"AFABS are-" turns into "assigned female at births are-"
...Do you see how weird that is?
"AMAB people-" turns into "assigned male at birth people"
...Which is also grammatically incorrect. It should be "people AMAB/AFAB." Put the people beforehand, not afterwards.
"I'm AFAB/AMAB" turns into "I am assigned male/female at birth"
...Which speaks in present tense about a past tense event. It should be "I *was* AFAB/AMAB."
Also, AFAB/AMAB does not describe puberty, sex traits, or how you are viewed societally. Stop using them that way!
[PT: Also, AFAB/AMAB does not describe puberty, sex traits, or how you are viewed societally. Stop using them that way! /End PT]
"AFAB/AMAB" is only about what was written on a birth certificate.
Intersex people AMAB may have a vulva or atypical genitalia, a mullerian duct (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes) or ambiguous or no reproductive organs, an estrogenized puberty (breasts, widened hips, higher voice, less body/facial hair, etc) or a androestrogenized or absent puberty, etc.
Intersex people AFAB may have a penis or atypical genitalia, a wolffian duct (prostate, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, testicles) or ambiguous or no reproductive organs, an androgenized puberty (increased muscle mass, deepened voice, more body/facial hair, etc) or androestrogenized or absent puberty.
Even perisex people AFAB or perisex people AMAB may have an alternative puberty or no puberty due to HRT or gonad damage.
Instead of using AFAB/AMAB, say what you mean. Name specific body parts. Name specific puberties. Name specific capabilities.
Use actual words for anatomy. Say mullerian duct (or the individual parts, such as cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, etc), wolffian duct (or the individual parts, such as testicles, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate,) ambiguous reproductive duct (or individual parts also seen in mullerian ducts and wolffian ducts), ovotestes, vulva (or individual parts, such as labia minora, labia majora, clitoris, vagina, urethra,) penis (or individual parts, such as scrotum, phallus, urethra), urogenital sinus, cloaca, ambiguous genitalia (or individual parts, such as clitorophallus, labioscrotum, or previously listed traits also seen in vulvas and penises), breasts, increased muscle mass, thickened vocal cords, etc.
If you're talking about puberty, name the specific puberty (estrogenized, androgenized, androestrogenized). Or say what body part you're referring to (ie; "people with breasts.")
If you're talking about menstruation and reproduction, name the abilities. People who menstruate, people capable of pregnancy, people capable of impregnating others, people capable of ovulation, people capable of sperm production, etc.
If you're talking about how society views someone, say socially imposed as female, socially imposed as male, consistent socially imposed gender, and inconsistent socially imposed gender. (More on that here [link.])
