Why do people find it hard to accept transsexuals and use the appropriate pronouns when talking about them?

Question

I asked an earlier question about how people would react if their brother had a sex change. I am always surprised how much bigotry remains in this area. I don't see why accepting someone in their identified gender rather than their birth sex should be so hard? Is it because people are afraid?
And why is it so hard to afford transsexuals the simnple courtesy that costs nothing of referring to them as the gender they identify with?
There is at least some evidence now that their is a biological basis to transsexuality, but even if there wasn't, would it hurt to simply respect a transsexual the way they respect you?
We live in the 21st centuary but sometimes people behave as if this were still the 14th.

Andy B

You need to look up the definition of bigot

Answer 1

it took me a bit of time to get the gender changed over in my head when my friend's brother, who I last saw 3-4 years ago, was introduced to me as Sherri. Her brother had some adjustment, but his sister-in-law said she liked Sherri a lot better than she had the brother, mainly because Sherri was much more relaxed than her male self ever was. Sherri is how she feels she was meant to live, therefore, it's for the best.

Answer 2

*Coughs* years ago, when I first started using the internet (or, rather, usenet), Political Correctness was buzzing. The groups, to which I'd post, developed gender neutral pronouns like sie (to mean either he or she) and hir (his or her). These were applied, regardless of gender or orientation.

Some people have difficulty reconciling that a person can identify as one gender and be trapped in the other... "Sie's just gay"

Other's will have known the TS prior to transition and still have all those memories of hir. After all, the person hasn't changed (Oh alright, sie's more liberated & content and has a new name) only hir body has.

I liked these pronouns because they took away the need to use third person plural when writing about any one person (gender of no import).

This care and attention must have stuck with me, because I no longer have to make an effort to ensure that I use the correct pronoun, when in the company of any transsexuals.

Answer 3

Depends, if they are still male/female (ie, with the appropriate organs, body stature etc) you can't expect them to be identified as anything but. Even after an operation, if you had known that person before hand it would be hard to stop calling them by their biological gender, and it also depends how much like the other gender they look.

I don't think your right to claim that political opinions about trangender issues, that disagree with your viewpoint, are bigoted though.

Answer 4

I agree that people should refer to post-op transsexuals as the gender they have become, but when you encounter male to female transsexuals you don't necessarily know that they have changed sex, rather than just being transvestites. I once told off a colleague for laughing and saying "Did you see that guy?", when we both knew she was a transsexual. Probably part of the bigotry stems from the fact that male to female transsexuals are often very unconvincing as women, and people are even more unsure as to how to speak to them as they are for transvestites. And men may be embarrassed by them, for reasons best known to themselves.

Answer 5

Honestly I got no problem. A person's gender identity is within, not without. For the most of us, we look on the outside what gender we feel on the inside. But some don't. It's hard enough living in a body one doesn't identify with WITHOUT people telling saying they're abominations against nature, God, society, what have you.

Answer 6

While I agree with you, please don't be too quick to judge. Some poeple have no concept of what gender identity is. Most of us grow up identifying with our biological gender, and the concept of identifying otherwise is somewhat foreign.

Also for family members and friends who knew the individual before the transition, still "know" that other person. It is hard change the pattern of rememberence instantaniously. Remember, your brother or friend who has undergone a transition had his whole life to get used to the change.

Answer 7

Transsexuals are just other human being, and as such they deserve the respect you and me have.

Sorry for the people that has not grown up as individuals of a free society, free of prejudices, free of hate, I previsulize their earlier childhood with a broken home with hate all around them; they should broke that chain and make better society

Answer 8

A lot of people can not understand things that do not effect them personally, ie them or a member of their immediate family.
That is why if someone asks are gays born that way you know immediately they are straight.

Answer 9

It is because most people remained uninformed. Therefore they don't know what to say in that situation. They are scared of what they don't know. So they either treat the situation with disrespect, or treat it like it doesn't exist.

Answer 10

It's not so much that people are afraid, but they themselves are insecure about a lot of things. It's easier to pick on someone than face your own faults