Sunday 13 November 2011

Tranny.

There's been a lot of talk again recently – on the forums and elsewhere – about the word "tranny", prompted by its use both by Kelly Osbourne (in an embittered outburst – about which Matt Kailey writes persuasively here) and by the participants in the real-life documentary ‘My Transsexual Summer’ (when talking about themselves). People are more than a little annoyed.

Since I use the word "tranny" as well, perhaps I should make my own position clear: While I don't mind other trans* people claiming and using it if they so wish, to me "tranny" means "transvestite". Certainly, that's what I mean when I use the term in this blog (as in my Inspirations post). And I think that's what most people – especially cis (non-trans) people – mean by it.

And I think most people understand that – and that's why they're angry. Because to use the term "tranny" to or about someone who isn't TV is to deny (or at least appear to deny) their own (non-TV) identity. Indeed, that's often the deliberate intent. For instance, calling a trans woman a "tranny" implicitly and offensively denies her identity as a woman and says she's just a man in a frock – and, of course, trans women take great umbrage at that.

But for transvestites, "tranny" mostly isn't an insult. We use the term about and amongst ourselves quite readily. Vicky Lee's transvestite almanacs even used it in the title (‘The Tranny Guide’). The only occasion I might personally regard "tranny" as insulting is when a person's intonation or accompanying words (such as "you f***ing...") render it so. But even then it's the pejorative intent that offends, not the word itself.

Anyway, that's it. When I use the word "tranny" here it's strictly and solely in reference to me as a TV and/or to other TVs (as long as they, too, accept it without taking offence) and never to any other trans* identities. And if anyone says that I can't define for myself what a particular word means, I'll refer them to Humpty Dumpty:

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more or less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master — that's all."

9 comments:

  1. Ooo, you can't beat a good literary reference.

    Yes, the T word's a tricky one alright. I don't mind it personally, but there are lots of folk who do dislike / take offence to it.

    I wonder if it's a bit like the N word as in N.W.A. Although the old airline might dislike Trannys With Attitude as a novelty rap band. :-)

    From what I saw in the 80s, the word 'queer' seemed to be reclaimed and re-used by gay people, is the same true of tranny?

    Perhaps in my ignorance, I assumed it was a contraction of transvestite and/or transsexual, maybe even 'trans'. Although I wouldn't use it to describe people who're full time. If someone's going to transition - or has - I'd say through basic manners that they're the gender they've moved to.

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  2. I don't know whether "tranny" has been reclaimed exactly. We've just always used it, haven't we? As it happens, I use "queer" as well (in the sense of "non-heteronormative sexuality" – rather than gay); and also "genderqueer" (in the sense of gender being "queer" in some way – without actually saying how). Other people claim different meanings for these words, too – and argue about them. But when I use a word... ;)

    As for TWA, I guess you've never heard of these lads then? :)

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  3. Tranny? Hmm.... Not sure about it always being there. Please note I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm trying to remember when I first heard of it. I don't recall it from the 80s, but then things have (thankfully) moved on since then. Maybe it was just the (backward) social circles I moved in! :-)

    > TWA

    LOL. I wonder if they're free for this year's office party? Lord only knows we could do with some excitement.... and no, not like that. Dirty, dirty mind. :-D

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  4. I do think over-fussiness about vocabulary is harmful to public image.

    There's a difference between slang and abuse. Slang is slightly irreverent but not malicious. Accusing people of being malicious when they did not mean to be is surely unfair on them and doesn't win any friends. There are quite enough real enemies for making enemies out of the not really hostile to be prudent.

    Gently advocating one word rather than another is different. But expecting people who use slang words for everything to be politically correct when it comes to transgender subjects is unrealistic and counterproductive.

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  5. @ Lynn – you may be right about the 80s. I didn't really know very much about the scene back then. Actually I'm surprised you're old enough to remember them either. Doesn't your profile say "30 something"? ;) Regarding which, I just noticed your tagline: "You shall not pass" – lol.

    @ Deborah – yes indeed; and as someone said on Angels: "Some make a career out of being offended." On the other hand... if they feel it as a personal attack... Matt Kailey's piece "I Can’t Get Over Being Told to ‘Get Over It’" (linked in my post) is worth reading on this. Btw I love your use of Ophelia as your blog picture. It's partly the context of course, but she looks really ambiguously gendered there :)

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  6. I am still 30 something. It's next year I'll need to change it :-) The 80s: home of massive hair, yuppies and Out on Tuesday. ;-)

    Funny the words and phrases we can use within out peer group, but outside - and out of context - they'd sound rather iffy. From a PC point of view. :-)

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  7. i HATE being called 'tranny'. to me it means 'guy in a frock' and since i'm very post op and pretty femme (in an amazonian kinda way) it stings to be called it. makes me, rightly or wrongly, feel like a sad failure.

    doesn't help that the local t-girl before me labelled herself 'the tranny granny' and insists that i am 'f*cking queer'. speak for yourself, honey. birth gender aside, i'm a straight girl, thanks.

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  8. Hi flow.

    Yes, I appreciate that – hence I defined "tranny" for myself as meaning specifically "transvestite" (i.e. guy in frock) here.

    Having done that... I dunno... maybe I'll stop using it altogether.

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