What does it mean?
Trans is a shortened version of “transgender”.
Trans is used as an adjective, as in:
- trans person (a person who is trans)
- trans woman (a woman who is trans)
- trans man (a man who is trans)
Some people have adopted the term “trans*” instead. It is normally simpler and less confusing to use the word without an asterisk.
There is no requirement to have hormone treatment or gender related surgeries to call yourself trans.
Terms with similar meanings are trans* and transgender.
Umbrella term
"Trans" is a term that covers a large number of different people - it’s an umbrella term.
Terms like this can:
- help if you’re not sure what specific term describes you
- help if how you relate to gender is fluid and changes over time
- be more likely to be understood by the general public
- be useful for ensuring that a wide range of different people can access resources and support
However, terms like this can also:
- hide how much people using the term actually differ
- hide how much more discrimination some people using the term receive
- include people in a term that they don’t like without asking them
- include people in a term that they don't feel actually describes them
Think carefully before using this term to describe someone or a group of people - they may not wish to be described that way.
Defined by breaking norms
"Trans" is a term that describes whether people are breaking the rules - “norms” - of how people are expected to behave or describe themselves.
Terms like this can:
- make visible that it is possible to break norms
- help explain how people are discriminated against or targeted for breaking norms
- help explain the privilege given to people who do not break norms
However, terms like this can also:
- imply that only certain people are allowed to break norms
- be confusing, as almost everyone breaks at least some norms
- be confusing, as people may not know whether they break enough norms to use the term
- hide that some people don't just experience discrimination for breaking norms, and experience gender dysphoria too
- result in the term being used to mean “normal person” or “abnormal person”
Think carefully before using this term to describe someone or a group of people - they may not wish to be described that way.
Errors and omissions
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