Terms and Definitions

(Adapted from The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s pamphlet, “Who Are Transgender People?”) 

Note:  Like any other group, the transgender and queer/LGBT population of South Africa uses words that may not be commonly used outside that group, and it seems important to provide some definition of those words in this paper. However, it is my opinion that attempting to define any of the following terms is inherently problematic, as the words that human beings choose to describe themselves are incredibly personal. In addition to this, although I have tried to include words that appear to be indigenous to Southern Africa, my attempts to define them cannot be totally successful, as I am an outsider to this culture. Therefore, I cannot provide a definition that might be as nuanced as someone who uses these terms to identify themself.

• Biological sex
  This refers to the chromosomal make-up of an organism. Generally speaking, people with XX chromosomes are determined to be “biologically female” at birth, and those with XY chromosomes are determined to be “biologically male.” XX/XY are not the only chromosomal combinations that exist, and about 1% of human beings do not have either XX or XY chromosomes. Simply put, sex is biological, but social views and experiences of sex are cultural.
   
• Gender identity
  The gender, or lack thereof, that a person claims for oneself. This may remain the same throughout one’s life, or change and evolve with time, perhaps even on a daily basis. This may or may not correspond with that sex they were assigned at birth.
   
• Gender expression
  The perceived or self-identified projection of masculinity or femininity. A person’s gender expression is complex, including countless characteristics of appearance, speech, movement, and other factors not solely limited to biological sex.
   
• Sexual Orientation
  The sexual identity that a person practices or claims for oneself. This has to do with who one desires to partner with, and doesn’t necessarily have to do with their gender, beyond the fact that if a person who identifies as male wants to partner with other male-identified people, it may be considered a “homosexual” interaction.
   
• Transgender
  Transgender people are individuals whose gender expression and/or gender identity differs from conventional expectations based on the physical sex they were born into. The word transgender is an umbrella term often used to describe a wide range of identities and experiences, including: FTMs, MTFs, cross-dressers, drag queens, gender queers, and many others.
   
• Transmasculine
  People who were assigned a female sex at birth, but who believe that that is an incorrect or incomplete description of their present gender identity.
   
• Butch
  Refers to a masculine perceived or actual gender identity/expression. For the purposes of this paper, this generally refers to female-bodied, lesbian-identified people.
   
• Femme
  Refers to a feminine perceived or actual gender identity/expression. For the purposes of this paper, this generally refers to female-bodied, lesbian-identified people.
   
• Lesbian Man
  A term that, from my research, appears to be unique to the African continent. Difficult to define, it refers to an individual who was assigned a female gender at birth, and now identifies both as a lesbian and as a man. Its definition ranges across cultures and individuals.
   
• Intersex
  A term for a person who is born with genitalia and/or secondary sexual characteristics of indeterminate sex, or which combine features of both sexes. (The terms hermaphrodite and pseudohermaphrodite, which have been used in the past, are now considered inaccurate and offensive and no longer used to refer to an intersexual person.) Sometimes the phrase "ambiguous genitalia" is used.
   
• Transvestite/Crossdresser
  Not to be confused with transgender or transsexual, this refers to someone who derives sexual or emotional pleasure from dressing in clothes perceived as those of the opposite sex, usually on a limited basis. This person may or may not identify as transgender. This is also a “dated” term and can be perceived as offensive in many communities.
   
• Heteronormative
  Anything which is based on the belief that romantic and sexual partnerships must be limited to one male and one female, with the male as the dominant partner and the female as the submissive partner.
   
• Passing
  As defined by transgender people and groups, this refers to being recognized as the gender with which one identifies. An example of this would be if a transgender man went to a clothing store and an employee called him ‘sir’ and directed him toward the men’s clothing aisle.
   
• Stealth
  This refers to a transgender person who may not be “out” as transgender to all of their friends and co-workers.  Instead, it is presumed that they are not transgender. For example, a transgender woman who was assigned a male gender at birth, but has now transitioned to female may exist in an environment where her friends do not know that she has had surgery and that she was ever perceived as male.
   
• Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS)
  This refers to surgery that may help a transgender/genderqueer person feel more comfortable in their body and help them to present the gender that they identify with rather than the one they were assigned at birth.
   
• Transphobia
  Similar to the term “homophobia,” this refers to prejudice, discrimination, anger, or hatred directed toward people whose gender identity or expression may differentiate from the socially prescribed norm.
   
• Binding
  A common practice of pre-operative (planning to have surgery) or non-operative (those who do not want or cannot have surgery) FTM and transmasculine people, this refers to the flattening of the chest in order to create a more masculine appearance. This can be done with bandages, surgical chest binders made of nylon, or a variety of other methods.
   
• Packing
  This is a common practice among FTM and transmasculine people, and involves stuffing the underwear with something to create the look and feeling of having a penis. “Packers” can be anything from a soft silicone replica of a biological penis (very difficult to find in South Africa) to a rolled up sock.
   
• Queer
  Difficult to define, this is a term that has been reappropriated by many from its use as homophobic slang. It is an umbrella term that refers to anyone whose sexuality or gender subverts heteronormativity.
   
• Top surgery
  Slang term for chest reconstruction surgery, in which the patient’s breasts are removed and a male chest is constructed.
   
• Testosterone
  The “male” hormone that non-FTM men produce naturally, and which many FTM and transmasculine people administer to themselves by way of injection, application of a gel, or a patch. It cannot be administered via the use of a pill, because the liver will not process it. When a female-bodied person takes testosterone, their muscle mass increases, facial and body hair increases, their voice deepens, their body fat redistributes and their clitoris enlarges. These changes take over a year of regular hormone therapy to take full effect. Other effects can include liver damage, heart problems, high cholesterol, ovarian cancer (if no hysterectomy is performed), polycystic appearing ovaries, and male pattern baldness. As with any hormone treatment, taking testosterone should be carefully monitored by a trained and educated physician. Perhaps the most problematic thing about hormone treatment is that there is a severe lack of research, especially when applied to the transgender community. When a person is taking testosterone, they may say that they are “on T.”
   
• He/his/him
  Male pronouns.
   
• She/her
  Female pronouns.
   
• S/he & Hir
  Gender-neutral pronouns. For the purposes of this paper, this refers to people whose gender identity is either not known, or does not identify as either male or female.

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