#transphenotype

[intersexfairy]

Coining "Transphenotype" & answering: "Who counts as Trans?"

Transphenotype is a term I'm proposing to describe the experience of transitioning to a different sex phenotype as an intersex person. It is exclusive to intersex people.*

Being transphenotype involves the voluntary desire to change one's sex traits. This may or may not mean transitioning from one sex category to another, and as such may be considered a subtype of transsexuality.

This experience may be driven by the intersex person's gender identity, gender dysphoria, sexuality, or bodily identification (a general perception of how one's body "should" be). It may or may not be related to experiences of CIMI (corrective/coercive intersex medical intervention).

As such, transphenotype individuals may have any gender identity, including being cisgender, transgender, transsexual, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming.

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Potential subtypes of Transphenotype:

Sex-Expression / Identity Related: Transphenosexual

Transectosexual / Transectosex: Transitioning by removing or decreasing already present sex traits.

Transadsexual / Transadsex: Transitioning by enhancing or increasing already present sex traits.

Transambisexual / Transambisex: Transitioning by combining traditionally opposing sex traits; may be through addition of new sex traits, and/or subtraction of already present sex traits.

Transneosexual / Transneosex: Transitioning by adding sex traits that were not previously present.

Transnullsexual / Transnullsex: Transitioning by altering sex traits in a way which does not conform to the male-female sex binary (ex: removing genitalia, body modification)

Gender-Expression / Identity Related: Transphenogender

Transphenomasculine: Transitioning by changing sex traits in a manner related to one's perception of masculinity.

Transphenofeminine: Transitioning by changing sex traits in a manner related to one's perception of femininity.

Transphenoneutral: Transitioning by changing sex traits in a manner related to one's perception of gender neutrality.

Transphenandrogyne: Transitioning by changing sex traits in a manner related to one's perception of androgyny; or both masculinity and femininity.

Transphenoxenine: Transitioning by changing sex traits in a manner related to one's perception of xenine gender.

Transphenoutherine: Transitioning by changing sex traits in a manner related to one's perception of outherine gender.

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Perisex / Dyadic (Non-intersex) people are encouraged to reblog this post (but it's not required!! i promise <3)

PS: If an intersex person wants to make a flag you have my full consent. And if you're wondering why this term is intersex exclusive, below the cut is for you.

*But why is it intersex exclusive?

There are already a variety of similar terms in existence, but most of these terms are defined through the lense of perisex trans people's experiences. As such, many intersex people feel stuck when it comes to sharing their gender identity, euphoria, or dysphoria, alongside their intersex experiences.

I'm hoping that if nothing else, making this post can help spark a conversation about Transness. Who we consider "trans" has both expanded and narrowed over the years. As far as matters of gender are concerned, we've seen an explosion in gender identity terminology. It's been absolutely beautiful to witness.

But when it comes to Trans-ing the sex binary (an equally valid Trans experience), new language such as Varsex terminology has struggled to gain popularity and Varsex individuals have unfortunately been subject to harassment and discrimination.

On top of this, intersexness is often conflated with transness, leaving intersex people in the frustrating position of not having the nuances of their experiences (compared to their dyadic peers) recognized. We're forced to fit dyadic experiences and definitions of transness and cisness. Trans intersex people are seen by some as not real - as if it's impossible to be trans and intersex at the same time.

These terms, and this post, aim to give voice to these nuances in our stories and identities. I want to welcome cis intersex people who have gender dysphoria or are gender nonconforming into the trans community. I also want trans/nonbinary intersex people to feel more understood.

Being transgender doesn't have to be the only way of being trans. It never was, and it never will be. Transexuality is real and it's not exclusive to people who don't identify as the gender they were assigned at birth.