Further Details About This Book:
First, there is a glossary at the end of the book that might prove helpful to those who are not as familiar with the vernacular of trans communities. The definitions provided are basic and subject to contestation, as many of the terms do not have a readily agreed-upon definition.
Second, there are several spelling decisions that I have elected to make. “Transexual” has been spelled with one s rather than two. This spelling is a reclamation of a term originally used within medical communities. The removal of the second s pulls the term away from the medical and Latin connotation of “crossing” sex and returns it to the hands of trans folk who might not wish to medically or surgically transition but who still identify as transexual. I have elected to spell trans man and trans woman with a space between the modifier (trans) and the noun. I recognize that some feel that the lack of a space between these words affirms the inextricableness of their status as a trans person from the rest of their identity. The language and spelling of trans vernacular is constantly evolving. If this spelling choice upsets, it certainly serves as a reminder of just how politically charged the activism of identity, labeling, and spelling can be.
No comments:
Post a Comment