(no subject)
Mar. 10th, 2006 11:21 amThis post might not be a very popular one, but then hey, we've never been so much about what's popular as we have about what's right, and I feel I have to stand up and say something. If my view isn't popular, so be it; it's only an opinion, and I'm only trying to get some people thinking...
So many posts about our experiences with non-tg people deal with pronouns and the correct usage thereof -- not most of them, but it seems there is a disproportionate emphasis (obsession?) on the correct pronouns. Disproportionate to the real problem of getting us identified as real people rather than freaks to be feared. Sure, pronouns are a part of that problem, but really, they're only a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. Yet we often react to it as if it were the problem itself. Surely the effort we're putting into correcting pronouns could be better directed?
This is especially that case when we're dealing with the media. Individuals, one-on-one, yeah sure, correct the pronouns. But when speaking to those who have the ability to reach a wider audience, shouldn't we dedicate our efforts to a larger understanding than which pronoun to use? It seems like a poorly used effort, to me.
Of course, I've never really understood the difficulty in explaining pronouns, either. It's one simple rule: Use the pronoun appropriate to the presentation of the person.
So many posts about our experiences with non-tg people deal with pronouns and the correct usage thereof -- not most of them, but it seems there is a disproportionate emphasis (obsession?) on the correct pronouns. Disproportionate to the real problem of getting us identified as real people rather than freaks to be feared. Sure, pronouns are a part of that problem, but really, they're only a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. Yet we often react to it as if it were the problem itself. Surely the effort we're putting into correcting pronouns could be better directed?
This is especially that case when we're dealing with the media. Individuals, one-on-one, yeah sure, correct the pronouns. But when speaking to those who have the ability to reach a wider audience, shouldn't we dedicate our efforts to a larger understanding than which pronoun to use? It seems like a poorly used effort, to me.
Of course, I've never really understood the difficulty in explaining pronouns, either. It's one simple rule: Use the pronoun appropriate to the presentation of the person.