I used to argue that using 'TERF' for trans-exclusionary radical feminists was simply a value-free & accurate descriptor & not a slur. They can argue that they don't exclude trans ppl from feminism coz they include trans men but this misses the criticism.
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For example, 'Paki' is literally a simple abbreviation for 'Pakistani' which can be an accurate label but it got loaded with racism long ago & people who use it (in UK) are commonly understood to be being racist against brown ppl who may or may not have Pakistani origin.
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Or at least completely unaware of these connotations and needing to be made aware lest they be misunderstood. The same slide has happened with the term TERF. Not only is it used almost exclusively in a derogatory sense, it need not apply to trans-exclusionary radical feminists.
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I have decided against using TERF to describe feminists with this attitude but refer to them as 'gender-critical feminists' and say why I think their views are wrong & their activism harmful (when it is) whilst defending their right not to believe in gender identity & say so.
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End of conversation
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Becca Reilly Cooper (
@boodleoops) wrote a VERY nice thing about this. Highly worth reading. Very persuasive. https://rebeccarc.com/tag/terf/Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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