How does TransPulse define different gender types

[Heather Shay]

I was somewhat confused by what was the difference between MTF and Transgender - I think maybe MTF is in the transitioning physically, maybe transgender means you are maybe on physically transitioning but recognize yourself as trans and I think if you then say you are female you are fully physically transitioned? The different wide spectrum of gender types outside the sad binary choices is always confusing. It's almost like needing a standard (my engineering coming through) agreed upon nomenclature. Probably is one but I find that things like SRS, GRS, GCS are used interchangably and sometimes I'm not sure what the source means specifically. 

 

Signed,

 

Confused Heather

[Jackie C.]

Ah, we don't care. ?

 

We want our members to be comfortable and identify as they like. Definitions are fluid, so however you identify? That's OK.

 

Personally, I went from MtF to Female when I completed surgical transition (and it felt GOOD), but it's up to the individual member how they identify and how they would like to represent themselves to the community.

 

Hugs!

[Heather Shay]

I agree - I guess I've got to get rid to the SOP (standard operating procedures) engineering state of mind - science is good but joy and comfort with who you are is much more important then terms... 

 

I changed mine because I felt MTF means I'm going forward to full transition and when I get there I can feel good about saying I'm completely female not just inside and partially outside.

 

Hugs right back at you.

[VickySGV]

We try to make this a place safe for all degrees of gender expression that are not typically binary aka Cis.  Gender is an analog scale and not digital even with a very wide digital array of possibilities.  In other words, YOU TELL US what or where your gender is and we will believe you and accept you.  MtF simply means you started life with someone yelling out "its a boy" when you are really a more female identified person.  How deeply identified, or how deeply you wish to express that identity in amplitude of dress or make-up, surgery, hair pattern and other factors is yours alone.  Some terms in the Trans / Enby (NB) population (I don't always see community going on in the group) change as often as underwear on the person using the term, and possibly shifting with the hourly weather.

[Kylie]

I think the various choices allow others to feel represented and comfortable. Just like Jackie, since my surgery I find Female as more of my identity than anything. We all define our sense of where belong across the spectrum. 

[Carolyn Marie]

Things have changed since I joined here 11 years ago.  Many terms in current use weren't even in use then.  At the time, transgender was considered an umbrella term and that is how we employed it.  MtF was more specific but avoided use of the outmoded term 'transsexual." 

 

Things will continue to evolve, as will the terminology.  We will try out best to evolve, too.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Heather Shay]

Wonderful discussion. I have an asperger step-son and I have seen a multiple of variations in just that one category in the autism spectrum.

 

I suppose gender is just about as unique for each person as there are classifications and you are who you are, understanding and being allowed to be yourself is the most important thing.

 

It's like the term "normal" - by the classic definition there is no one in the world who fits that term.

 

Thank you Ladies.

[Jani]

55 minutes ago, Shay said:

It's like the term "normal" - by the classic definition there is no one in the world who fits that term.

Yes, but if you were to apply it you would find that the vast majority of us are!  We're just living our lives as best we know how.  

 

Jani

[Heather Shay]

I remember my psychologist talking about functional and dysfunctional families - he said if it works for the family and there is no abuse or drug problems - it is functional if it works, dysfunctional if it doesn't.

 

I guess that's true for normal and abnormal. If it works for you - it's normal - if it doesn't it's abnormal.