Your Guide To Understanding Trans Terminology
What does transgender, tgirl, ladyboy, tranny, transvestite, shemale mean? Your Guide To Understanding Trans Terminology.
If you’re new to the world of transsexuals, it can be confusing on what terms to use, and in what context they are appropriate. Here’s your starter guide.
Your Guide To Understanding Trans Terminology
Transgender
First, let’s start off with the word transgender. Transgender is a broad term used to describe people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender identity is a person’s personal sense of being a man or a woman. For transgender individuals, the sex the doctor marked on their birth certificate and their own internal gender identity doesn’t match.
For example, one may feel like a man “trapped in a woman’s body”, a woman “trapped in a man’s body” or somewhere in between the two sexes—neither fully a man nor fully a woman.
On the whole, individuals in the transgender (also simply known as trans) community may describe themselves using one (or more) of a wide variety of terms, including transgender, transsexual, or genderqueer. Always use the term preferred by the individual.
Ladyboy
A ladyboy (katoey in Thai) is a person of East Asian descent who is born male, but lives as a female.
Some ladyboys have had gender-reassignment surgery. Other ladyboys have some cosmetic work done to make themselves look more feminine and attractive but retain their male organs.
In Asia, the majority of the ladyboys are sex workers, but others are in the entertainment industry and work as cabaret performers or “Drag Queens and Kings”.
In Thai culture particularly, the society is relatively permissive to tolerate ladyboy behaviour without the fear of persecution. For example, in Thai cities such as Bangkok and Pattaya, you can often find ladyboys hanging out in shopping centres wearing makeup and cute (feminine) clothes.
Shemale
A “Shemale” is a term used in the adult porn industry. The difference between a transgender woman and a shemale is that transgender woman is a term people use to actually refer to trans women (encompassing of both trans women who’ve had genital surgery and trans women who’ve not had genital surgery), while the term “Shemale” refers to trans ladies in porn who haven’t had genital surgery.
In addition, the term “Shemale” can be used to describe shemales based or their heritage. For example, there are Brazilian Shemales, American Shemales, British Shemales, and so forth.
Tranny
Don’t use this word. Just because some people use it, it doesn’t mean that it’s okay. For many trans people, this is the equivalent of the “N” word. Also, never call a transgender person an “it,” because this is extremely dehumanising and offensive as well.
Transvestite
A transvestite is a person (especially a male) that dresses and behaves as the opposite sex in order to obtain emotional or sexual gratification. This is different from trans persons as transvestites usually don’t live their lives as women and don’t believe they were born in the wrong body. More of a fetish that is used for sexual excitement.
Tgirl
T-girl is slang for transgendered woman.
Drag Queen/King
Drag Queen/King is a person who likes to dress as the opposite sex, but doesn’t mean that they are transgender or gay. Most of “Drag Queens” are performers. Drag Queens/Kings like to play with gender in a way that puts on a show and is entertaining, and also like to mess with gender stereotypes as well.
Femboy
Femboy is a transgender person who has not had any surgery and uses only makeup and hormones in their presentation of themselves as a woman. Often applies to young, boyish appearance.
Pre-Op & Post-Op
A Pre-Op person is a transgender individual who still has male (or female) genitalia and is preparing for a sex reassignment surgery.
Post-Op is a transgender who has removed their male (or female) genitalia to further complete their transition into being a woman or a man. It means post operation or after the operation.
It’s worth mentioning that not all transgender persons become Post-Ops. For instance, some trans individuals want to keep their male (or female) genitalia, some can’t afford the cost of the operation and others decide the risks of a major surgery may be too great.
Bi-Gender
An individual is considered bi-gender if he/she can’t identify with either male or female gender. The sexual identity of a bi-gender person is permanently in flux. It is as though an individual may feel he is “a woman” at some point and the next moment he feels he is “a man.”
We hope you enjoyed reading our short guide on understanding trans terminology.
Clearly, all these terms are up to debate in some form or another. And, you’re more than welcome to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
If you’re still super confused about the terms, why don’t you call one of our tgirls and take a shemale phone sex challenge? Our ladies will teach you more than a book ever could…
PS. If you enjoyed reading this post, you’ll also love checking out…
Thailand’s Third Gender: 10 Ways To Spot A Ladyboy
I Had Sex With A Shemale And This Is What Happened
6 Best Ladyboy Bars In Bangkok, Thailand
15 Hot Transgender Models Who Are KILLING IT On Instagram
Sex Tourism: Top 10 Sex Destinations in the World
Dating A Thai Ladyboy: The Do’s & Don’ts
Top 10 Reasons To Date A Trans Woman