Comments on: Word of the Week: Shemale

By: Jessica De Leon

Jessica De Leon — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:19:57 +0000

Lynn, you’re right about that. My first encounters with the word were when I was a kid and any many who was either a drag queen or transvestite would be referred to as a “shemale” by those around me.

As time went by, I noticed that shemale was a term used heavily in pornos and sex work, like you said.

Personally, I don’t use the word to describe myself but yea, it would be great for those who do use the word to describe themselves to reclaim it

By: Lynn Jones

Lynn Jones — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:20:53 +0000

In my head it makes me think of sex-workers and that’s probably a bit unfair to anyone who describes themselves with the term. I guess that’s due to marketing tho rather than meeting anyone like that.

Reclaiming a negative word? I hope so. I do enjoy it when that happens.

By: Twitted by AmorousEyes

Twitted by AmorousEyes — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:47:34 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by AmorousEyes [...]

By: Jessica De Leon

Jessica De Leon — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:06:04 +0000

You know, Miss K, I was thinking the same thing, I’m glad you brought it up. There seems a type of empowerment behind taking terms used to disparage you and making them part of the vernacular. In that way, if someone uses it in an attempt to bring you down, it will not have that effect on you. A few of the other terms I will cover in the following weeks will also have that quality. Thanks as always for your input

By: Miss K

Miss K — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:05:19 +0000

I’d add that I’ve started to detect some evidence that this term is starting to be “reclaimed” in the same way that “fag” has been by gays and the “n” word by black people.

By: Jessica De Leon

Jessica De Leon — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:35:24 +0000

Thanks

By: Kissyfur

Kissyfur — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:34:43 +0000

Honey, my hat is off to you!