The Transgender Dictionary

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Gender Critical

(also: gender critical feminism, gender critical radical feminism)

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Introduction

The idea of being gender critical is something that could be described as a movement or an ideology. It is a term that is often found before words like "feminist" or "feminism" despite the general lack of genuine feminism found in circles that promote ideas that are generally classified as being gender critical. In modern times, radical feminism is often associated with being gender critical. Sometimes this is called "gender critical radical feminism". While there are distinctions to be made between the concepts of radical feminism and being gender critical, these terms are often used interchangably.

At its core, the gender critical movement cannot and should not be described as feminism. Feminism is (or should be) the pursuit of equality among everyone. The gender critical movement does not seek equality. It does not involve using one's time in a productive manner to protect women or further women's rights, but to tear down and attack transgender people. It is often done under the guise of protecting women, but does nothing to do that beyond using phrases like "protect women."

This page will be discussing transphobic topics and concepts that may be upsetting to some people. Clicking on underlined words/acronyms/phrases/etc through the main body of this page will lead you to other parts of The Transgender Dictionary with relevant information or definitions. Clicking on links underneath [External Links] will lead you to other parts of the internet that are not associated with The Transgender Dictionary.

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General Information

This page is a work in progress. Some stuff needs to be moved around and reworded.

Those who buy into gender critical ideology tend to believe in gender essentialism. They think that women are defined soley based on their ability to become pregnant and have children. That men and women are two very rigid categories that cannot be changed. They attempt to deny the very existence of transgender people.

These people view transgender women as sexual predators for simply existing, and transgender men as confused little girls who could not possibly know what they want for themselves. They are prone to lying about the nature of transgender treatments, and creating fantastical scenarios to demonize anyone who is not cisgender.

These people tend to use slurs when refering to transgender people, and will go out of their way to misgender anyone who they know to be transgender.

Broadly speaking, the gender critical movement is an ideology that masquerades as feminism without doing anything to promote feminist ideas. Instead, it is an excuse to present transphobia under the guise of fighting for women's rights. This is inherently flawed as a 'gender critical feminist' is someone who dedicates their time towards attacking transgender people, rather than doing anything productive to actually help women (or help anyone really) as a whole.

Those who follow gender critical ideology can often be described as TERFs, though many don't even bother pretending to actually be feminists. Either way, following this ideology comes hand in hand with being transandrophobic, transmisogynistic, and just straight up transphobic. Certain detransitioners will later on become gender critical instead of taking some responsibility for their own actions; attacking transgender people for their own mistakes.

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T.E.R.F.

this section is a work in progress

Click here to jump to external resources regarding TERFs.

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R.O.G.D.

ROGD is an acronym which stands for Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria. This concept likens being transgender to a sort of "social contagion." The idea is that being transgender is something that is caused by having transgender friends or via going on the internet.

ROGD is, of course, not a real thing. The "study" it originates from was almost immediately debunked, and is not treated as a genuine diagnosis by any reputable institutions. The "study" itself was conducted via interviewing cisgender parents who were found on transphobic messageboards regarding their transgender childern. This methodology has been widely criticised.

Despite the lack of any grounds for the concept of ROGD to be even remotely treated like a legitimate concept, it has remained a popular talking point among various transphobic circles. Why is that? The most likely reason is due to a simple misunderstanding, a very common misunderstanding that can be applied to many areas of life - correlation ≠ causation.

To a transphobic parent who has never deliberately exposed their child to the concept of transgender people, gender dysphoria, transitioning, etc - it can seem as though there is no reason for their child to ever be transgender. They may not think transgender people are real, or that it is impossible for anyone to be transgender without learning about the idea of being transgender. If that parent is suddenly told that their child is trans; this can feel like a betrayal. They never wanted their child to be transgender, so how could this possibly happen? Someone or something external must be to blame.

On the flip side, let's talk about what is really happening from the perspective of the child. Not knowing the word "transgender" does not prevent a child from being transgender. Learning the word "transgender" helps give meaning to feelings that have been around for a long time. When a transgender child grows up being told that they must be male or must be female due to their assigned sex, this does not prevent the feelings associated with being transgender. All it does is induce shame and confusion. When a child meets other people in school who are transgender, or reads new words on the internet - all this does is provide explanation. It helps the child learn that they are not alone, and that there are other people who feel the same way.

Finding out that not only are there words to describe these feelings that have been around for a long time, but other people who feel the same way... it can really help transgender children feel safer in terms of expressing themselves. When a child has parents that have never bothered to explain that being transgender is an option - or worse, openly expressed hateful feelings towards people who are transgender - it results in an instinct to hide and suppress aspects of oneself for as long as possible.

The fear between a transgender child and a transphobic parent can make it very difficult for either party to truly understand one another. Under no circumstances is this fear or misunderstanding the fault of the child.

Additionally - when children who are not transgender find out what being transgender means, they don't suddenly decide that they are trans. While some cisgender children (and adults) will explore their genders (as is normal and healthy to do) they typically quickly find that they are either gnc and/or not trans. If a child learns what being transgender is, and then starts transitioning (or wanting to transition/researching various things about transitioning) then they are probably transgender and simply now have the proper language to understand the experience.

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The resources below have been provided for education, information sourcing, and entertainment purposes. The views expressed in these videos, websites, etc, do not inherently reflect those of The Transgender Dictionary. These resources are not sponsored, nor endorsed.

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The book titled "Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters" is an absolutely vile book. This book is filled with gender critical ideology that is primarily weaponized against transgender men. If I ever get around to reading it, I will add a section regarding my thoughts on the topic. In the meantime, here are some resources regarding this book.

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