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[[File:Terf-slur-02.png|thumb|300px|A typical tweet containing "terf"]] | [[File:Terf-slur-02.png|thumb|300px|A typical tweet containing "terf"]] | ||
The word ''TERF'' (or ''terf''; pl ''terfs'' or ''terves'') is a slur that is used predominantly by transgender activists and their allies against people who criticize the transgender movement on the basis of feminist concerns. Since the slur is used for people with feminist concerns, the main target tend to be women. As such, it's usually understood to be an anti-feminist, sexist and misogynist slur. | The word ''TERF'' (or ''terf''; pl ''terfs'' or ''terves'') is a slur that is used predominantly by [[transgender ideology|transgender activists]] and their allies against people who criticize the transgender movement on the basis of feminist concerns. Since the slur is used for people with feminist concerns, the main target tend to be women. As such, it's usually understood to be an anti-feminist, sexist and misogynist slur. | ||
The word was invented as an acronym for ''Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist'', where the "trans-exclusionary" part referred to those holding roughly the position that transwomen should not be included under a feminist definition of womanhood, and the "radical feminist" part was meant neutrally, i.e. for people who would indeed describe themselves as [[Radical feminism|radical feminists]] in the true sense. | The word was invented as an acronym for ''Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist'', where the "trans-exclusionary" part referred to those holding roughly the position that transwomen should not be included under a feminist definition of womanhood, and the "radical feminist" part was meant neutrally, i.e. for people who would indeed describe themselves as [[Radical feminism|radical feminists]] in the true sense. | ||
Over time, the acronym pretty much became a [[Wikipedia:Four-letter word|four-letter word]]. Nowadays the capitalization is frequently omitted, and the already ambiguous original meaning ignored entirely. Still, users of the term tend to claim that it's a neutral description. The "trans-exclusionary" part may now refer to anyone who thinks transwomen should not have unfettered access to all female-only spaces (e.g. changing rooms), should not partake in women's sports where they have [[Transwomen in women's sports|unfair advantages]], should not be considered a natural part of the lesbian dating pool, etc. Although most members of the public would see these as rather sensible positions | Over time, the acronym pretty much became a [[Wikipedia:Four-letter word|four-letter word]]. Nowadays the capitalization is frequently omitted, and the already ambiguous original meaning ignored entirely. Still, users of the term tend to claim that it's a neutral description. The "trans-exclusionary" part may now refer to anyone who thinks transwomen should not have unfettered access to all female-only spaces (e.g. changing rooms), should not partake in women's sports where they have [[Transwomen in women's sports|unfair advantages]], should not be considered a natural part of the lesbian dating pool, etc. Although most members of the public would see these as rather sensible positions (especially when considering that a "transwoman" may have intact male anatomy), transgender activists nevertheless see all of these types of "exclusion" as unacceptable. | ||
A closely associated term is ''SWERF'', which is supposed to stand for ''Sex-Worker-Exclusionary Radical Feminist'' and is used for those who see the sex industry (prostitution, pornography, etc.) as highly exploitative and sexist. Like ''TERF'', the term is almost always applied as a slur, and to misrepresent the political position of the person it's used against. Ironically, some of those who have to face the term most commonly are women who worked in prostitution and became anti-prostitution activists as a result of their own experiences as so-called sex workers. | A closely associated term is ''SWERF'', which is supposed to stand for ''Sex-Worker-Exclusionary Radical Feminist'' and is used for those who see the sex industry (prostitution, pornography, etc.) as highly exploitative and sexist. Like ''TERF'', the term is almost always applied as a slur, and to misrepresent the political position of the person it's used against. Ironically, some of those who have to face the term most commonly are women who worked in prostitution and became anti-prostitution activists as a result of their own experiences as so-called sex workers. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
=== | === New trend: Threaten women with your face attached === | ||
In late 2019, a social media trend dubbed "POV you're a TERF in my mentions" started, in which trans activists would pose with a weapon (baseball bat, sword, machete, or the like), sometimes preparing to strike or showing them mid-strike, taken as a [[Wikipedia:Point-of-view shot|point-of-view (POV) shot]] and captioned with the phrase "POV you're a TERF in my mentions" or variations thereof.<ref name=pov-terf/> The pictures are supposed to represent the point-of-view (POV) of a "TERF" being assaulted by the depicted person. In other words, women called "TERF" who look at the pictures are supposed to imagine themselves being violently assaulted. | In late 2019, a social media trend dubbed "POV you're a TERF in my mentions" started, in which trans activists would pose with a weapon (baseball bat, sword, machete, or the like), sometimes preparing to strike or showing them mid-strike, taken as a [[Wikipedia:Point-of-view shot|point-of-view (POV) shot]] and captioned with the phrase "POV you're a TERF in my mentions" or variations thereof.<ref name=pov-terf/> The pictures are supposed to represent the point-of-view (POV) of a "TERF" being assaulted by the depicted person. In other words, women called "TERF" who look at the pictures are supposed to imagine themselves being violently assaulted. | ||
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File:Pov-terf-6.webp | File:Pov-terf-6.webp | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
=== Political justification of physical violence === | === Political justification of physical violence === | ||
In May 2020, a blog post was published on Medium.com equating so-called TERFs with Nazis in a credible-sounding tone and explaining how various methods such as infiltration, censorship, property damage, and physical violence should be used against them.<ref name=medium-izaguirre/> The account posting the article was suspended from Medium.com on the same day and the content re-uploaded on WordPress soon after.<ref name=wp-izaguirre/> (Still online as of February 20th, 2021) | In May 2020, a blog post was published on Medium.com equating so-called TERFs with Nazis in a credible-sounding tone and explaining how various methods such as infiltration, censorship, property damage, and physical violence should be used against them.<ref name=medium-izaguirre/> The account posting the article was suspended from Medium.com on the same day and the content re-uploaded on WordPress.com soon after.<ref name=wp-izaguirre/> (Still online as of February 20th, 2021) | ||
=== | === Not even pretending that this isn't a witch hunt? === | ||
[[File:Spain-witch-puppet.jpg|thumb|right|150px| | [[File:Spain-witch-puppet.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Effigy of [[Wikipedia:Carmen Calvo|Carmen Calvo]] hanging from a tree.]] | ||
In February 2021, Spanish news reported about the appearance of a puppet | In February 2021, Spanish news reported about the appearance of a puppet hanging from a tree, with its face made to resemble female politician, author, and vice president [[Wikipedia:Carmen Calvo|Carmen Calvo]] of the Socialist Workers' Party.<ref name=elcomun-calvo/> Calvo had come under fire from trans activists for her opposition to a proposed [[gender self-identification]] law. The puppet was hanging from a tree in Plaza 8 de Marzo in Santiago de Compostela, with a sign hanging from its neck saying "Me he perdido…por dónde queda el patriarcado" which could be translated as "I'm lost... where's the patriarchy again?" referring clearly to trans activist claim that it's not them who uphold patriarchal norms, but rather the feminists who oppose them. | ||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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In February 2017, the newly opened Vancouver Women's Library was met with a small group of vandals, including a very obviously male person who claimed to be a female sex worker. They ripped off a poster, poured wine on a book, and harassed those trying to partake in the opening celebration. Their stated reason was that the library included books which they deemed to support so-called "TERF" and "SWERF" ideology.<ref name=vwl/> | In February 2017, the newly opened Vancouver Women's Library was met with a small group of vandals, including a very obviously male person who claimed to be a female sex worker. They ripped off a poster, poured wine on a book, and harassed those trying to partake in the opening celebration. Their stated reason was that the library included books which they deemed to support so-called "TERF" and "SWERF" ideology.<ref name=vwl/> | ||
<gallery caption="Images of the vandalism" widths=210px heights=175px> | |||
File:VWL-Vandalized-1.jpg | Crude graffiti sprayed at the entrance | |||
File:VWL-Vandalized-2.jpg | Close-up of some of the sprayed text | |||
File:VWL-Vandalized-3.jpg | Wine poured on one of the books | |||
File:VWL-Defamation.jpg | The supposed reason for the vandalism | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Physical assault at Speakers' Corner, London === | === Physical assault at Speakers' Corner, London === | ||
In September 2017, Maria MacLachlan was physically | In September 2017, Maria MacLachlan was physically assaulted by a transgender activist. | ||
Initially, a group of feminists wanted to hold a meeting to discuss proposed changes to the [https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/09/14/never-mind-reforming-gender-recognition-act-theres-no-need-gender-recognition-certificates/ Gender Recognition Act] (GRA) in the [https://newxlearning.org/ New Cross Learning] community Library in London. The library had to cancel the event after harassment by transgender activists. The organizers of the meeting then decided to meet at Speakers' Corner, before going to the newly chosen meeting place, which was not announced to protect it from harassment. | |||
[[File:Tara-Flik-Wood-threat.webp|thumb|right|300px|Wolf going by the name "Tara Flik Wood" on social media, posting intent to assault prior to the event]] | |||
At Speakers' Corner, the women were met with a group of transgender activists shouting slogans, notably "when TERFs attack, we fight back." Maria MacLachlan, who was filming the protesters with her digital camera, was attacked by someone running out of the trans activist group, who then tried to grab her camera. As the unsuccessful attacker ran back behind his friends, MacLachlan tried to get closer to the group to get his face on camera. Several of the activists started assaulting her in that moment. The whole sequence of events was [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_d3ozhSE-U caught on camera] thanks others at the place also filming what was going on. MacLachlan's camera was broken and the memory card stolen. | |||
One of the attackers, later revealed to be Tara Wolf, was ultimately charged with assault by beating. Prior to the event, he had posted that he wants to "f*ck up some terfs" on social media. | |||
The event could be considered a cornerstone in the escalating hatred transgender activists show against feminists, as no such clearly documented assault in relation to the slur "TERF" existed before, and the event gained widespread attention in the news, being covered by The Guardian,<ref name=guardian/> The New Statesman,<ref name=statesman1/><ref name=statesman2/> The Telegraph,<ref name=telegraph/> The Times,<ref name=times1/><ref name=times2/> The Evening Standard,<ref name=standard/> and The Daily Mail.<ref name=dailymail/> Of course, it was also covered by Feminist Current.<ref name=fc1/><ref name=fc2/> | |||
In the aftermath of the event, many transgender activists online defended or even celebrated the assault, leading Meghan Murphy to publish the piece [https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/09/21/terf-isnt-slur-hate-speech/ '' 'TERF' isn't just a slur, it's hate speech'']. Some publications in support of transgender activists have tried to claim that the assailant was really acting in self-defense, and tried to prove this claim by uploading carefully edited cuts of the recording showing the assault,<ref name=planettrans/> or by framing the assault as "standing up to bullies" who "provoke" transgender activists (by having opinions they don't like, we have to presume).<ref name=queerness/> | |||
<gallery caption="Images" widths=300px heights=175px> | |||
File:Tara-Flik-Wood-attack.png | A frame from the video documenting the assault | |||
File:Tara-Flik-Wood-supporters.jpg | Some of Wolf's supporters outside court | |||
File:MacLachlan-supporters.jpg | For contrast, MacLachlan's supporters | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Verbal abuse and other harassment against Prof. Rosa Freedman === | === Verbal abuse and other harassment against Prof. Rosa Freedman === | ||
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=== Trans activist Dana Rivers commits triple homicide === | === Trans activist Dana Rivers commits triple homicide === | ||
In | In 2016, transgender activist Dana Rivers (formerly David Warfield) committed triple murder on a lesbian couple and their son.<ref name=rivers/> Rivers stabbed and shot the victims, before trying to set their house on fire. It remains unclear whether Rivers was motivated by the hatred against feminists and lesbians promulgated by transgender activists. Rivers was, however, a member of the group [[Wikipedia:Camp Trans|Camp Trans]], which was created to protest the women-only rule of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (aka MichFest).<ref name=camptrans/> Autostraddle described Rivers as a "very well-known transgender activist."<ref name=autostraddle/> | ||
=== Trans activist lashes at Julie Bindel after speech === | === Trans activist lashes at Julie Bindel after speech === | ||
In June 2019, [[Julie Bindel]] was physically attacked by a trans-identifying male person after holding a keynote speech about male violence against women at the Edinburgh University, together with Prof. Rosa Freedman.<ref name=edinburgh/> | [[File:Joe-brennan-twitter.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Cathy Brennan" encouraging physical violence against women]] | ||
In June 2019, [[Julie Bindel]] was physically attacked by a trans-identifying male person after holding a keynote speech about male violence against women at the Edinburgh University, together with Prof. Rosa Freedman.<ref name=edinburgh/> | |||
Bindel recounted the incidence the following way: "He was shouting and ranting and raving, 'you're a f***** c***, you're a f****** bitch, a f****** Terf" and the rest of it. We were trying to walk to the cab to take us to the airport, and then he just lunged at me and almost punched me in the face, but a security guard pulled him away." | |||
The male person, who calls himself "[[Cathy Brennan]]" (not to be confused with the lesbian and radical feminist lawyer who was born with that name) had previously stood out on social media for encouraging physical violence against feminists at Gay Pride events. | |||
{{clear}} | |||
=== Harassment and vandalism against Vancouver Rape Relief === | === Harassment and vandalism against Vancouver Rape Relief === | ||
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In August 16, 2019, the Facebook account of [[Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter]] reported that a dead rat had been nailed to their door frame.<ref name=vrr-fb/> On August 26, their Twitter account followed up by reporting their door and windows were vandalized with phrases such as "FUCK TERFS" and "KILL TERFS" as well as "TRANS POWER".<ref name=vrr-twitter/> The repeated harassment and vandalism garnered attention in local and national news.<ref name=vrr-vancouverisawesome/><ref name=vrr-nationalreview/><ref name=vrr-citynews/> | In August 16, 2019, the Facebook account of [[Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter]] reported that a dead rat had been nailed to their door frame.<ref name=vrr-fb/> On August 26, their Twitter account followed up by reporting their door and windows were vandalized with phrases such as "FUCK TERFS" and "KILL TERFS" as well as "TRANS POWER".<ref name=vrr-twitter/> The repeated harassment and vandalism garnered attention in local and national news.<ref name=vrr-vancouverisawesome/><ref name=vrr-nationalreview/><ref name=vrr-citynews/> | ||
<gallery caption="Images of the vandalism" widths=300px heights= | <gallery caption="Images of the vandalism" widths=300px heights=175px> | ||
File:Vrr-vandalism1.jpg | A dead rat nailed to the door frame of VRR | File:Vrr-vandalism1.jpg | A dead rat nailed to the door frame of VRR | ||
File:Vrr-vandalism2.jpg | The text "KILL TERFS ... TRANS POWER" written on the window | File:Vrr-vandalism2.jpg | The text "KILL TERFS ... TRANS POWER" written on the window | ||
File:Vrr-vandalism3.jpg | The phrases "FUCK TERFS" and "TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN" written on the door and window | File:Vrr-vandalism3.jpg | The phrases "FUCK TERFS" and "TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN" written on the door and window | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
=== Lesbians assaulted at Cologne Dyke March === | |||
[[File:Cologne-dyke-march-00.jpeg|thumb|right|350px|The lesbian protesters with their banners]] | |||
In July 2022, a group of lesbians at a dyke march in Cologne, Germany, displayed banners with the words "lesbian: homosexual person of the female sex" and "lesbian: homosexual, not queer" in what could be seen as a protest against the concept of the [[cotton ceiling]] i.e. the notion that lesbians ought to consider males who identify as transwomen as part of their dating pool. | |||
According to a witness who spoke to Reduxx, trans activists within the march started chanting slogans that included the phrase "f*ck you" and hurling insults at the lesbians.<ref name=reduxx-cologne/> There is [[:File:Cologne-dyke-march-01.mp4|video evidence]] showing the lesbians being physically assaulted. One of the women, Susanne, was reportedly attacked by a male person who put her in a choke. Speaking to Reduxx, she said: "I guess I was anticipating it, but not how suddenly and violently it happened. I was scared I could die when the guy put me in a headlock." The banners they had displayed were also aggressively taken away from them. The physical assault, damage to property, theft of the banners, and personal insults were reported to the police. | |||
German gay magazine Schwulissimo also reported on the incident, and interviewed another one of the victims.<ref name=schwulissimo-cologne/> She talked about the irony of not being allowed to display a banner with the dictionary definition of the word "lesbian" at a dyke march, and how aggressive and self-righteous the attackers were. According to her, one of the victims suffered a minor wrist injury but otherwise there were no physical injuries. | |||
=== (todo) === | |||
(These incidents were not yet analyzed in detail. ) | |||
Feminists protesting against pornography and prostitution attacked as TERFs/SWERFs: https://twitter.com/radfmnst/status/1368678240127234050 | |||
Trans activists attack lesbians at Paris Pride: https://twitter.com/GetTheLOutUK/status/1408896814569472002 | |||
=== Threats of rape and murder at UNAM === | |||
[[File:UNAM01.png|thumb|right|350px|Left: "less abolition, more whoring" and "fewer terfs, more sex" <br/> Right: "rape and death to terfs"]] | |||
[[File:UNAM02.png|thumb|right|350px|The "rape and death to terfs" writing seen next to the panic button]] | |||
Original source with many more details: [https://reduxx.info/exclusive-trans-activists-stage-coup-of-womens-washroom-at-university-paint-whore-graffiti/ MEXICO: Trans Activists Stage “Coup” of Women’s Washroom at University, Issue Rape Threats] | |||
In August 2022, feminist students of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) had to confront trans activists while they were painting a lesbian pride symbol, the Labrys, on a wall inside the campus. According to an anonymous witness who spoke to feminist news outlet Reduxx, the activists started to verbally abuse the women because they didn't approve of that particular symbol. | |||
After this event, trans students reportedly declared that they felt unsafe on campus and demanded the administration to establish a gender-neutral washroom near the related area. While the administration agreed, some activists were apparently not appeased. They took over a large single-sex women's restroom, painted its walls with anti-feminist and pro-prostitution slogans, and declared it a gender-neutral space. According to the source that spoke with Reduxx, this restroom was previously seen as a safe space for women, as emergency buttons had been installed inside its cubicles due to the prevalence of sexual assault on the campus. After the trans-activist takeover, it apparently began being used by men as well, as it had now been declared gender neutral. | |||
According to Reduxx's source, the university's administration is continuously being lenient towards extremist trans activists, while condemning the feminist opposition. A statement by the administration that was published two days after the unrest related to the Labrys symbol and the takeover of the women's restroom, openly expresses support for the trans activists. | |||
Women who were unhappy with these developments began painting slogans in favor of single-sex women's spaces inside the restroom's cubicles, such as: "If you want a unisex washroom, take it from the men, don't violate women's spaces." In apparent response to this, trans activists in turn began painting increasingly violent threats inside the cubicles. One such threat reads "rape and death to TERFs" and is cynically painted right aside one of the emergency buttons that were installed due to the prevalence of rape on the campus. Mexico already suffers from one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. | |||
== Analysis of the term == | == Analysis of the term == | ||
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== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
<gallery caption="Some examples of tweets using 'terf'" widths= | <gallery caption="Some examples of tweets using 'terf'" widths=300px heights=150px> | ||
File:Terf-gallery-1.png | "terf isn't a slur ... terfs don't deserve rights" | File:Terf-gallery-1.png | "terf isn't a slur ... terfs don't deserve rights" | ||
File:Terf-gallery-2.jpg | "All terfs will be arrested on sight" | File:Terf-gallery-2.jpg | "All terfs will be arrested on sight" | ||
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* [[Transgender ideology]] | * [[Transgender ideology]] | ||
* [[Allison Woolbert]] (founder of "TERF Tracker") | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
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* [https://speakupforwomen.nz/dont-call-women-terfs/ Don't Call Women 'Terfs' | Speak Up for Women NZ] | * [https://speakupforwomen.nz/dont-call-women-terfs/ Don't Call Women 'Terfs' | Speak Up for Women NZ] | ||
* [https://terfisaslur.com/ terfisaslur.com - Documenting the abuse, harassment and misogyny of transgender identity politics] | * [https://terfisaslur.com/ terfisaslur.com - Documenting the abuse, harassment and misogyny of transgender identity politics] | ||
* [https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/the-myth-of-both-sides The Myth Of 'Both Sides'] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
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|title=Vancouver Rape Relief centre vandalized, likely over restrictions for transgender people | |title=Vancouver Rape Relief centre vandalized, likely over restrictions for transgender people | ||
|author=Jonathan Szekeres and Lauren Boothby | |author=Jonathan Szekeres and Lauren Boothby | ||
|date= | |date=August 27, 2019 | ||
|website=City News | |website=City News | ||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
<ref name=reduxx-cologne> | |||
{{cite web | |||
|url=https://reduxx.info/lesbians-assaulted-by-trans-activists-at-dyke-march-in-cologne/ | |||
|title=Lesbians Assaulted By Trans Activists at Dyke March in Cologne | |||
|author=Genevieve Gluck | |||
|date=July 4, 2022 | |||
|website=Reduxx | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
<ref name=schwulissimo-cologne> | |||
{{cite web | |||
|url=https://www.schwulissimo.de/neuigkeiten/ausschreitungen-bei-dyke-march-koeln-queere-aktivisten-schlagen-auf-lesben-ein | |||
|title=Ausschreitungen bei Dyke March in Köln: „Der Angriff zeigt, dass die Community ziemlich intolerant gegenüber anderen Meinungen geworden ist!“ | |||
|date=July 4, 2022 | |||
|website=Schwulissimo | |||
}} | }} | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||