Anonymous asked: I use the term “M2T” or “F2T” because transpeople never really achieve their stated goal of changing their sex; even they themselves continue to refer to themselves as ‘trans’ people, acknowledging themselves that they are not the same as biological women. One might use the term “Male-to-constructed-female,” as did Mary Daly, but this is somewhat cumbersome. I prefer the M2T designation which leaves no doubt as to who is what.

Hi anon. I agree with you that trans people can’t actually change sex, though if we pass we effectively change sex in some social senses. I’m ok (I guess) with male-to-constructed-female. When I use mtf on my blog, it’s definitely as shorthand for mtcf, since I believe that sex matters.

However, I don’t personally like “mtt” or “ftt”. I understand the logic behind those terms, but I personally find them dehumanizing - like being called an “it”. Also, one could argue that the mtt/ftt usage subtly reinforces that “t” is always the same. However, the motivations, experiences, and realities of ftm and mtf have very little in common - the idea that there is “one transgender experience” is a lie really popular with the worst elements of mtf transgender activism, because they have the most to gain from the “normalization” of autogynephilia.

As language around trans issues continues to evolve, hopefully we will be able to come up with a better solution. Interestingly, some of the most women-hating trans women on tumblr have recently started using “baeddel” in their tumblr names, which is an Old English word meaning hermaphrodite or effeminate man. Politically, I don’t really know what that means at this point.