Outside the Gender Box Pt. 3

By Skylar, TeenSource Guest Blogger 

Terms & Definitions Cont.

Welcome back to OUTside the Gender Box. Last time, we explained some transgender terms. Now, let’s go into some more terms and definitions!

Disclaimer: I am defining these from my own perspective. Other transgender people may define these terms differently. If a transgender person tells you how they define something, this article is not a way to tell them that they are wrong.

  • Pronouns: In this context, these are the words you use to identify someone without using their name. You would probably use “he” for a man, “she” for a woman. There are other pronouns that are used for people who don’t identify as a woman or a man, such as the singular “they.” There are so many more gender neutral pronouns in the world, too. If someone tells you their pronouns, and you’ve never heard of them, don’t be afraid to ask how to use them. Respect their pronoun choice!

  • Dysphoria: Dysphoria, in this context, is short for Gender Dysphoria. Dysphoria is a sense of anxiety that many transgender people get where all their focus is on their body, and how it doesn’t match their brain. My dysphoria often manifests as feeling just an overall sense of grossness, along with a lot of anxiety. Gender Dysphoria is also the diagnosis that therapists will use for transgender people so they can be cleared for the medical treatments stated above.

  • FTM: FTM, or F2M, is an abbreviation of “Female to Male”. This is a term that describes someone who is transitioning from a female body to a male body. This typically includes testosterone injections (alternatively, a gel or a patch), a double mastectomy (typically referred to as “top surgery”), and gender reaffirmation surgery. Gender reaffirmation surgery, or GRS, is often referred to by the general public as a “sex change”, but that term is typically viewed by transgender people as disrespectful. Often, transgender people will refer to GRS as “bottom surgery.”

  • MTF: MTF, or M2F, is an abbreviation of “Male to Female”. This is a term that describes someone who is transitioning from a male body to a female body. This typically includes taking a testosterone blocker and estrogen (either through injections, pills, or a patch), and gender reaffirmation surgery. The same etiquette for using this term listed in the FTM definition also applies to MTF people.

I hope that these definitions help you to understand more about transgender people, and the lives that we lead. Stay tuned for my next blog on the rules of respect.