Can we replace the term TERF with transphobe?

[wildeabandon]

There’s been a certain amount of discourse about the term terf / trans-exclusionary radical feminist, and whether it’s a misogynist slur. Unsurprisingly a lot of the people arguing that it is are also behaving in hateful transphobic ways, but there are also plenty of examples of the term being used alongside uncomfortably gendered threats of violence.

There’s a good and balanced article here looking at the question of whether or not it’s a slur, and I agree with the conclusion that it’s not entirely clear-cut, but it seems to me that in ‘transphobe’ we have a perfectly cromulent word which conveys a very similar concept but doesn’t have the baggage. In a lot of cases, I think it’s a more accurate description. Julie Bindel aside, a lot of the high profile ‘terfs’ aren’t particularly radical, or for that matter particularly feminist.

Of course, transphobe is a broader term, but I’m not sure that it’s bad to highlight the fact that the Sarah Ditums and Suzanne Moores of this world have more in common with the Richard Littlejohns and Milo Yiannopouloses than they might like to admit.

Are there reasons I’m overlooking that terf is a more useful term? If not, would it be better to try and reduce its use?

Comments

[miss_s_b]

I think you have a point.

[angelofthenorth]

I tend to use transmisia rather than transphobic, because it's a hatred not an irrational fear, but otherwise completely agree with you.

[sfred]

I say "anti-trans campaigners" a lot of the time.

[highlyeccentric]

Julia Serrano's latest Medium piece may be relevant to this conundrum. Serrano's solution is to use /more/ distinguishing terms rather than fewer, which I like, being a natural splitter-rather-than-lumper.

[yiskah]

I feel like TERF is one of those terms that was once useful in a specific context but is now applied way too broadly. Within the context of the feminist movement I think terms like TERF or SWERF can be useful to talk about some of the more regressive and damaging aspect of previous waves of feminist, and to highlight the need for inclusivity - but it’s now been applied so widely that it doesn’t really make sense, and transphobe would be more appropriate.

[damerell]

It's only got one syllable. Ha, ha, only serious. :-/