Thinking back to when I was attending my first support group meeting I realize just how overwhelmed I was by the whole experience.  I don’t just mean emotionally overwhelmed either (though that was certainly very true).  Just as it is with any specialized group whether it be a stamp collector’s club or a bondage appreciation group or anything in-between (what would be in-between anyway???) the transgender community has a vocabulary all it’s own.   Being suddenly thrust into an environment where you don’t fully understand the language can be very confusing and distressing to say the least.   I can remember at that first meeting being given a fact sheet that had an overview of the transgender community that included about a half a dozen or so common terms.  That fact sheet did not even minimally scratch the surface of the terms used within this community and I am not sure my list of definitions will do all that much better.  Still, you have to start somewhere, right?  The following are my definitions to what I feel are the most commonly heard terms in the transgender community.  Keep in mind that terms and definitions can vary a great deal and my list was created based solely on my personally experience.
 

Androgynous – A person who’s gender is not apparent based on their outward appearance.

Beard Cover – Makeup designed to minimize or eliminate a  the appearance of a beard shadow.

Being Read - When someone realizes that a person is crossdressed and not actually a member of the gender they attempting to present their self as being.  Also called “Getting Clocked”.

Binding – The taping down of a genetic female’s breasts to hide them.  Usually this is practiced by pre-op FtoM transsexuals.

Coming Out – Announcing to your family, friends or work associates some previously secret aspect of your sexual or gender identity.

Crossdresser – A person who wears the clothes of and often acts as a member of the opposite gender usually for emotional or sexual release.  The out of date medical term for this type of person is transvestite.

Drab –  The act of wearing the clothes traditionally associated with your birth sex.  For example a male to female crossdresser would be in drab if he was wearing a man’s suit.

Drag King – The female version of a Drag Queen.

Drag Queen – A male, usually gay, who dresses as a woman in a flamboyant manner that over emphasizes or exaggerates traditionally female traits.

En femme – Refers to the fact that a male to female crossdresser is crossdressed and not in traditional male clothes.

Electrolysis – The painful and costly procedure of having hair permanently removed.  In the gender community this most often refers to the removal of a male’s beard.

F2M – Short hand term for a female to male transsexual.

Full-time/Part-time – Refers to the amount of time a person lives in his or her desired gender role.

Gaff – A device used to conceal a genetic males penis so that no “bulge” is visible.

Gender Community – Used to refer collectively to all people who challenge or who live outside traditional gender roles.  The community includes transsexuals, crossdressers, transgenderists and all others who break gender boundaries.

Gender Dysphoria – A medical term used to denote any person who strongly and persistently identifies with the (seemingly) opposite sex.  Also called Gender Identity Disorder (GID).

Gender Identity – How a person perceives their personal gender regardless of the actual physical body they inhabit.

Gender Identity Disorder (GID) – A medical term used to denote any person who strongly and persistently identifies with the (seemingly) opposite sex.  Also called Gender Dysphoria.

Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) – The actual surgery required to physically change a person’s birth sex.  Commonly called a Sex Change.

Getting Clocked – When a person realizes that a someone is crossdressed and not actually a member of the gender they attempting to present their self as being.  Also called “Being Read”.

GG or GW – Short for Genetic Girl or Genetic Woman.  A female born female.

Herbals – General term used to refer to over the counter herbal hormones that claim to simulate natural or prescription female or male hormones.

Hermaphrodite – A person born with full or partial reproductive organs of both sexes.  Also called Intersexed.

Hormones – Prescription drugs that emulate natural female or male hormones.  When taken they induce secondary sex characteristics of the birth sex they would normally be found in.
 
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – The medically supervised administration of absent hormones.  This term is used regardless of whether a person is transsexual or a genetic born male or female.

Intersexed – A person born with full or partial reproductive organs of both sexes.  The medical term for this condition is Hermaphrodite.

Laser - Usually used to refer to a type of non-permanent hair removal that utilizes a laser light and was developed in the 1990’s.

M2F – Short hand term for a Male to Female transsexual.

New Woman – A post operative Male to Female transsexual.

Non-Op - A transsexual person who has decided not to undergo gender reassignment surgery and yet lives full-time in the gender role they desire.

Passing – Successfully being perceived as a member of your preferred gender regardless of actual birth sex.

Pre-Op - A transsexual who intends to complete but has yet to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

Padding – Undergarments that utilize foam to create or enhance certain body features to make them appear more masculine or feminine.

Post-Op – A transsexual who has completed gender reassignment surgery and lives full-time in their preferred gender role.

Real Life Test (R.L.T.) - Refers to the requirement listed in the Standards of Care that a transsexual seeking GRS must live full-time in their desired gender role for a time period before GRS will be approved.  This time period varies from doctor to doctor, but usually is from six months to two years.

S.O. – Short for Significant Other.  Can refer to a girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or husband.

Stealth Mode - A person living full-time in their preferred gender with out ever revealing their birth sex to anyone.  A person can be in stealth mode regardless of if they have had Gender Reassignment Surgery or not.

Sexual Orientation – Refers to whether a person is straight, gay, bisexual or asexual.  This is a completely separate and different personality aspect from gender identity.

Standards of Care – The Harry Benjamin Standards of Care is a document created by the medical community to serve as a set of guidelines for what steps a patient should take before being considered for or undergoing hormone therapy and/or Gender Reassignment Surgery.

Top Surgery - A surgery performed on a FtoM transsexual that entails removing breast tissue and constructing a male looking chest.

Trannie – Slang for transsexual.

Transgender – Umbrella term that covers anyone that in some way breaks or challenges traditional gender roles.

Transgenderist (TG) - A person who lives full-time in the gender role they are most comfortable in without the intention or desire for GRS.  Electrolysis, cosmetic facial or body contouring surgeries or hormones may be undergone by a transgenderist.

Transition - The period of time during which a transsexual changes from one gender role to the other.

Transsexual – A person who’s body and gender identity are not in sync with each other causing emotional discomfort to the point that body alteration through hormones and/or surgery are usually required.

Transvestite – The out of date term for a person who wears the clothes of and often acts as a member of the opposite gender usually for emotional or sexual release.  Now usually referred to as a crossdresser.

Sex – Most often refers to the birth and/or genetic characteristics of an individual as they relate to being male or female.

Sex Change – The actual surgery required to physically change a person’s birth sex.  The common  medical term is Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS).

Shemale – Derogatory term used most often in the porno industry for a pre-op transsexual who has already developed breasts but still has an intact penis.

Waist Cincher - An elastic undergarment used to help hold in the stomach creating a slimmer waist.
 

Well, that’s about all the terms I can think of for right now.  It is certain that I overlooked dozens of terms in writing this article.  In fact I pretty much expect to be updating and adding to this list for a long time to come and that is really quite alright with me.
 

Return to Diane's Crossdressing Tips

Return to Main Page