How to Spot “Crypto-TERFs”:
Let’s start by defining what a crypto-terf is. Crypto-terfs are trans exclusionary radical feminists (a type of transphobe) who run seemingly innocuous blogs on tumblr. They hide the fact that they’re disgusting transphobes from their followers but there almost always are tell-tale signs.
This post tells you how to look for them.
Now, just because a blog fits one criteria, doesn’t mean it’s automatically a cryptoterf. However, this is based on trends I have seen and you can use your good judgment to determine whether or not someone is a cryptoterf. On the other side of things, someone can be a cryptoterf and fulfill absolutely none of these criteria. We just have to be vigilant and prepared to call out cryptoterfs when we see them.
These are the biggest signs that a blog is a cryptoterf. If a blog fulfills just one of these criteria, it’s very likely that person is a terf.
Has one or more of these terms in their url or bio: terf, terve, twerf, merf, radfem, rad, gendercritical, gc, rootfem, afab, womyn, female, reidentified, reided, detrans, detransitioned, febfem, tehm
Has reproduction/genitalia related terms, usually associated with afabs, in their url or bio, such as: womb, wombyn, uterus, vulva, vagina, clitoris, ovary, labia, fallopian, yonic, pussy
Uses terms that perpetuate the cissexist and unscientific view that having a vagina = woman and having a penis = man, as well as an extreme focus on physical sex, such as: “female attracted”, “male attracted”, “same sex attracted”, “homosexual female”, “homosexual male”, “female body”, “male body”, “female genitalia”, “male genitalia”, “adult human female”, “sex based oppression”, “female socialization”, “male socialization”
Uses transphobic, biphobic, and misogynistic lingo (tw slurs) such as: “TIM”, “TIF”, “trans identified female”, “trans identified male”, “bihet”, “dick worshipper”, “aiden”, “nigel”, “handmaiden”, “female separatism”, “lesbian separatism”, “troon”, “trans cult”, “TRA”
Has an obsession with radical feminist/second wave feminist figures (even though some of them were trans inclusive 🙄), such as: Andrea Dworkin, Adrienne Rich, Sheila Jeffreys, Catharine MacKinnon, Shulamith Firestone, Germaine Greer, Gloria Steinem, Valerie Solanas, Julie Bindel, Ti-Grace Atkinson
Is “anti porn”, “anti kink”, “kink critical”, “sex work critical”, or any other form of being a SWERF
Reblogs from known terfs, especially those with terf lingo in their urls
Denies the roles trans women of colour had in the Stonewall uprising
Says things like “don’t call me cis” or considers words like “terf” and “cis” to be slurs
Believes bisexual women have “privilege” over lesbians, lesbians are oppressed by bi women, calls opposite sex relationships in which one partner is bisexual “straight relationships”, or just general biphobia
Calls people “males” or “females” instead of men or women
Is against the Equality Act or trans-inclusive bathroom laws (could also just be a regular transphobe)
Refers to trans people by the incorrect pronouns (on purpose) and/or deadnames trans people (also a sign of just a normal transphobe)
These are common trends among terfs, but not inherently indicative of a blog being a cryptoterf. Use your judgment to determine whether a blog that fulfills one or more of these criteria is a terf.
Uses the labrys lesbian flag (not including the trans inclusive versions made by trans lesbians on tumblr)
Is a cis lesbian who talks about “not liking dick” or states they have a genital preference (could also just be misinformed)
Conflates reproductive rights with women’s rights, and talks about abortion/menstruatuon as being “women’s issues” instead of issues common to all kinds of people with uteruses (again, could just be misinformed)
Runs a “dianic Wiccan” blog or identifies as such
Believes only women can be witches
Doesn’t have any positivity posts on their blog for trans people
Believes ace people aren’t lgbt/thinks aphobia isn’t real, etc
Feel free to add on if you can think of something that I missed! I tried to make an exhaustive list, but there might be some signs of cryptoterfs that I haven’t mentioned here.
And I want to stress yet again that the best way to fight terfs is to no-platform them. Don’t give them the attention they want. Just block them and move on. This is coming from an nb trans femme btw!
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