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→Analysis of the term
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{{PageSeo | description = TERF is a slur used by transgender activists to debase anyone who criticizes their movement on the basis of feminist concerns. | {{PageSeo | ||
|description = TERF is a slur used by transgender activists to debase anyone who criticizes their movement on the basis of feminist concerns. | |||
|image = Sonicfox.png | |||
}} | }} | ||
[[File:Terf-slur-02.png|thumb|300px|A typical tweet containing "terf"]] | [[File:Terf-slur-02.png|thumb|300px|A typical tweet containing "terf"]] | ||
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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 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, considering 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. | ||
== Origin == | |||
The oldest known use of the term is by Viv Smythe aka "tigtog" in a blog post from 2008.<ref name=terf-origin/> She defended the term as late as 2018, in an article for The Guardian.<ref name=guardian-smythe/> Transgender activists frequently try to defend the term on the grounds that Viv Smythe is a woman who herself claims to be a radical feminist, and seems to have first used the term in a way that is not derogatory. Of course, the benign origins of a term does not mean that it cannot evolve into a slur. | The oldest known use of the term is by Viv Smythe aka "tigtog" in a blog post from 2008.<ref name=terf-origin/> She defended the term as late as 2018, in an article for The Guardian.<ref name=guardian-smythe/> Transgender activists frequently try to defend the term on the grounds that Viv Smythe is a woman who herself claims to be a radical feminist, and seems to have first used the term in a way that is not derogatory. Of course, the benign origins of a term does not mean that it cannot evolve into a slur. | ||
== Evolution towards hate speech == | |||
[[File:Mya-byrne-punches-terfs.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Totally not a slur!]] | [[File:Mya-byrne-punches-terfs.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Totally not a slur!]] | ||
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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. | ||
=== Real-life vandalism, harassment, and assaults | 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/> | ||
== Real-life vandalism, harassment, and assaults == | |||
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/> | ||
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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/> | ||
== | == Analysis of the term == | ||
[[File:Theterfs-delusion.png|thumb|right|500px|Some of the hyperbolic lies transgender activists use to justify hatred against feminists]] | |||
File: | |||
The original acronym could be split in two halves: "trans-exclusionary" and "radical feminist." Though many people targeted with the word do not see themselves as radical feminists, their ideals most often tend to align with [[radical feminism]] anyway, making that part somewhat accurate. The "trans-exclusionary" part however is rather ambiguous, and its meaning seems to change at the whim of the person using the term. | The original acronym could be split in two halves: "trans-exclusionary" and "radical feminist." Though many people targeted with the word do not see themselves as radical feminists, their ideals most often tend to align with [[radical feminism]] anyway, making that part somewhat accurate. The "trans-exclusionary" part however is rather ambiguous, and its meaning seems to change at the whim of the person using the term. | ||
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* Wanting to exclude transwomen from some political groups that want to focus on struggles unique to people born with female anatomy | * Wanting to exclude transwomen from some political groups that want to focus on struggles unique to people born with female anatomy | ||
* Wanting to exclude crimes committed by transwomen from being recorded as female criminality, especially since the crime patterns of transwomen seem more in line with crime patterns of men,<ref name=dhejne/> who commit the vast majority of violent crimes, specifically sexual violence<ref name=wpcrime/> | * Wanting to exclude crimes committed by transwomen from being recorded as female criminality, especially since the crime patterns of transwomen seem more in line with crime patterns of men,<ref name=dhejne/> who commit the vast majority of violent crimes, specifically sexual violence<ref name=wpcrime/> | ||
However, once the term "TERF" is applied to someone on the basis of them holding these opinions (which many people including non-feminists would agree are sensible), the definition of "exclusion" is quickly sharpened to justify expressions of hatred. Sometimes, the "trans-exclusionary" is even hyperbolically turned into "trans-exterminatory" to increase its panic-inducing effect. The website (or should we say whacksite) [http://theterfs.com/ ''The TERFs''] goes as far as claiming that the people labeled "TERF" want to: | However, once the term "TERF" is applied to someone on the basis of them holding these opinions (which many people including non-feminists would agree are sensible), the definition of "exclusion" is quickly sharpened to justify expressions of hatred. Sometimes, the "trans-exclusionary" is even hyperbolically turned into "trans-exterminatory" to increase its panic-inducing effect. The website (or should we say whacksite) [http://theterfs.com/ ''The TERFs''] goes as far as claiming that the people labeled "TERF" want to: | ||
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* Exclude trans people from housing (make them homeless) | * Exclude trans people from housing (make them homeless) | ||
* Exclude trans people from employment (make them unemployed) | * Exclude trans people from employment (make them unemployed) | ||
* Exclude them from education | * Exclude them from education (keep them uneducated) | ||
* Exclude them from | * Exclude them from accommodation equality | ||
* Exclude them from local, state, national and United Nations protections(!) | * Exclude them from local, state, national and United Nations protections(!) | ||
As such, the women labeled "TERF" are represented less as women who simply want to uphold women's sex-based rights, and more like fascist monsters | As such, the women labeled "TERF" are represented less as women who simply want to uphold women's sex-based rights, and more like fascist monsters. This is then used to incite hatred and violence against them. It's also noteworthy how exclusion of transwomen (from female-only spaces etc.) turns here into supposed exclusion of all trans people (from whatever). In fact, women targeted as "TERFs" will frequently say explicitly that they welcome transmen in their groups, since transmen also face the sex-based oppression all women face from birth. | ||
The strategy of transgender activists of using simple definitions of "TERF" to make the term look accurate, but then twist the definition to justify hatred, is quite similar to a "troll" strategy that has been noted by philosopher Nicholas Shackel, and dubbed the ''Motte and Bailey Doctrine'' in a paper titled [https://philpapers.org/archive/SHATVO-2.pdf ''The Vacuity of Postmodernist Methodology'']: | The strategy of transgender activists of using simple definitions of "TERF" to make the term look accurate, but then twist the definition to justify hatred, is quite similar to a "troll" strategy that has been noted by philosopher Nicholas Shackel, and dubbed the ''Motte and Bailey Doctrine'' in a paper titled [https://philpapers.org/archive/SHATVO-2.pdf ''The Vacuity of Postmodernist Methodology'']: | ||
[[File:Motte-Bailey.png|thumb|right|500px|An illustration of the "motte and bailey" style of fallacious argumentation.]] | |||
<blockquote><em> | <blockquote><em> | ||
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To summarize: there is not a single documented instance of a feminist group going up to a transgender group to assault or threaten them. Any claims of "violence by TERFs" refer either to women trying to evict transwomen from female-only spaces, extremely rare verbal threats, and lots and lots of fabrication. In comparison, transgender activists have gone to women's libraries to vandalize them,<ref name=vwl/> went to feminist meetings to assault women,<ref name=fc1/><ref name=fc2/> appeared with face masks at feminist conferences to intimidate women,<ref name=jamjar/> and the ubiquitous verbal abuse they send in the direction of women fills up [https://terfisaslur.com/ a whole website] set up solely to archive it. | To summarize: there is not a single documented instance of a feminist group going up to a transgender group to assault or threaten them. Any claims of "violence by TERFs" refer either to women trying to evict transwomen from female-only spaces, extremely rare verbal threats, and lots and lots of fabrication. In comparison, transgender activists have gone to women's libraries to vandalize them,<ref name=vwl/> went to feminist meetings to assault women,<ref name=fc1/><ref name=fc2/> appeared with face masks at feminist conferences to intimidate women,<ref name=jamjar/> and the ubiquitous verbal abuse they send in the direction of women fills up [https://terfisaslur.com/ a whole website] set up solely to archive it. | ||
== | == 'SWERF' == | ||
The word ''SWERF'' is a close relative to ''TERF'' and is applied in a similarly dishonest, misrepresenting way. Women (and men who care about women's rights) who are critical of the sex industry for its exploitative nature are accused of being "sex-worker exclusionary" in an attempt to make them seem hateful towards an oppressed group. | The word ''SWERF'' is a close relative to ''TERF'' and is applied in a similarly dishonest, misrepresenting way. Women (and men who care about women's rights) who are critical of the sex industry for its exploitative nature are accused of being "sex-worker exclusionary" in an attempt to make them seem hateful towards an oppressed group. | ||
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Notably, one of the biggest anti-prostitution and anti-pornography feminists [[Andrea Dworkin]] was an ex-prostitute herself, and not ashamed of admitting so. Another notable example is [[Rachel Moran]], who was in prostitution between the ages of 15 and 22, only to become one of the most notable anti-prostitution, pro-Nordic Model activists in recent years. | Notably, one of the biggest anti-prostitution and anti-pornography feminists [[Andrea Dworkin]] was an ex-prostitute herself, and not ashamed of admitting so. Another notable example is [[Rachel Moran]], who was in prostitution between the ages of 15 and 22, only to become one of the most notable anti-prostitution, pro-Nordic Model activists in recent years. | ||
== Gallery == | |||
<gallery caption="Discussion of McLean's hate tweet" perrow=3 widths=400px heights=200px> | |||
File:Sonicfox3.jpg | McLean defending his tweet on the grounds that Ronda Rousey is a "TERF" and as such deserving of the violent contempt | |||
File:Sonicfox-copycat1.png | A copycat tweet showing another video game character dying brutally, with the caption "FUCK TERFS" | |||
File:Sonicfox-copycat2.png | Another copycat tweet. The GIF is of [[Wikipedia:Mortal Kombat 11|Mortal Kombat 11]] character [[Wikipedia:Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)|Scorpion]] burning his opponent alive. | |||
</gallery> | |||
<gallery caption="Harassment and vandalism of Vancouver Rape Relief" perrow=3 widths=400px heights=200px> | |||
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-vandalism3.jpg | The phrases "FUCK TERFS" and "TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN" written on the door and window | |||
</gallery> | |||
<gallery caption="Some examples of tweets using 'terf'" perrow=3 widths=400px heights=200px> | |||
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-3.jpg | "It's [[Wikipedia:Pride Month|Pride]] punch a terf" | |||
File:Terf-gallery-4.png | Putting "terf" right aside "nazi" | |||
File:Terf-gallery-5.png | [[Wikipedia:Arthur Chu|Arthur Chu]] supporting SonicFox's hate speech | |||
File:Terf-gallery-6.png | "Being a TERF is a choice. Like being a Nazi." | |||
</gallery> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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* [[Transgender ideology]] | * [[Transgender ideology]] | ||
== External links == | |||
* [https:// | * [https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/09/21/terf-isnt-slur-hate-speech/ TERF isn't just a slur, it's hate speech | Feminist Current] | ||
* [https://www.feministcurrent.com/tag/terf/ TERF Archives | Feminist Current] | * [https://www.feministcurrent.com/tag/terf/ TERF Archives | Feminist Current] | ||
* [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://medium.com/@amydyess83/terf-is-hate-speech-and-its-time-to-condemn-it-6efc897ce407 TERF Is Hate Speech and It’s Time to Condemn It] | * [https://medium.com/@amydyess83/terf-is-hate-speech-and-its-time-to-condemn-it-6efc897ce407 TERF Is Hate Speech and It’s Time to Condemn It] | ||
* [https://terfisaslur.com/ terfisaslur.com - Documenting the abuse, harassment and misogyny of transgender identity politics] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
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|date=October 6, 2019 | |date=October 6, 2019 | ||
|website=radfemrebecca.wordpress.com | |website=radfemrebecca.wordpress.com | ||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
<ref name=medium-izaguirre> | |||
{{cite web | |||
|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527135844/https://medium.com/@laura.izaguirre/resisting-terfs-and-transforming-their-organizations-95cd21714fc8 | |||
|title=Resisting TERF's and Transforming Their Organizations (Archived from Medium.com) | |||
|author=Laura Izaguirre | |||
|date=May 26, 2020 | |||
|website=Medium.com | |||
}} | |||
</ref> | |||
<ref name=wp-izaguirre> | |||
{{cite web | |||
|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528035805/https://queeratxlaura.wordpress.com/2020/05/27/resisting-terfs-and-transforming-their-organizations/ | |||
|title=Resisting TERF's and Transforming Their Organizations (Archived from WordPress.com) | |||
|author=Laura Izaguirre | |||
|date=May 28, 2020 | |||
|website=WordPress | |||
}} | }} | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||