I’m Transgender and a Journalist. Here’s My Proposed New Terminology for Trans Folks
“Transgender woman” and “transgender man.” They’re fine terms to describe such folks. However, we can do better.
I do like “woman of transgender experience” and “man of transgender experience.” (I first heard “woman of transgender experience” from YouTuber Victoria Rose.)
But we can do even better than that.
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How about “Woman who is transgender” and “Man who is transgender?”
Now, it would be great if we dropped “transgender”/”trans” and “cisgender”/”cis” behind “woman”/”women” and “man”/”men.” “Transgender”/”trans” and “cisgender”/”cis” are adjectives. Healthcare, law and dictionaries understand that transgender women are women (no adjective) and transgender men are men (no adjective). It would be wonderful if language honored this better.
But it doesn’t. And there for some reason is a “transgender” and “cisgender” divide right now. Thus, I highly recommend “Woman who is transgender”/“Man who is transgender” and “Woman who is cisgender/”Man who is cisgender.”
