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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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=== 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? === | === 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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=== 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 === | ||
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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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* [[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> | ||