Words such as ‘’tranny’’ and ‘’shemale’’ have been called to task for what some see as the way they target one of society’s most marginalized populations, namely transgender people. ‘’Tranny’’ is slang for transsexual or transgendered people; those whose psychological gender conflicts with their physical sex. It is also used in reference to transvestites: those who dress but do not necessarily think, feel or relate with a sex other than their own. Shemale on the other hand, specifically refers to a transwoman (male-to-female transsexual) with female secondary sex characteristics and male genitalia.
Who is a Shamale?
Shemale is a term most commonly used in the pornography industry to describe people with male genitalia and female secondary sex characteristics including breasts acquired through use of hormones or from breast augmentation. The term is also used to describe trans women; a trans woman is someone who was called a boy a birth and in childhood, but grows to know they are a woman and asserts this truth in their life, coming to live in a female gender role.
The term shemale has been used since the mid-19th century when it was a humorous colloquialism for female, especially an aggressive woman. Using the term Shemale for a trans woman may imply that she is working in the sex trade. Some people find the term shemale offensive, mocking or showing a lack of respect towards transgender individuals. While some people in the transgender community oppose the term, others in the community support use of the term and believe the stigma is from activists who consider transgender pornography to be harmful to the community.
Who is a Tranny?
Tranny is a derogatory term for a transgender, transsexual, transvestite or cross-dressing person and is an offensive slur in mainstream contexts. This term is made by shortening and altering the words transvestite and transgender. It came into use in the 1960s.
Unlike shemale, this term does not refer to a particular section of transsexual people, it can be used to describe all transsexuals, transgenders, transvestites and cross-dressers. It is always advisable to contextually to be sensitive and use the right terms such as transgender, transsexual and transvestite instead of tranny.
Difference Between Shemale And Tranny In Tabular Form
BASIS OF COMPARISON | SHEMALE | TRANNY |
Description | Shemale specifically refers to a transwoman (male-to-female transsexual) with female secondary sex characteristics and male genitalia. | ‘’Tranny’’ is slang for transsexual or transgendered people; those whose psychological gender conflicts with their physical sex. |
Origin Of The Word | The word shemale, which came into use in the mid-nineteenth century, originally referred to aggressive females. | The word tranny came into use in the mid-twentieth century. |
Etymology | The word is formed by compounding the two words she and male. | This term is made by shortening and altering the words transvestite and transgender. |
Reference | Shemale is typically used to refer to male-to-female transsexuals. | Tranny can be used to refer to all transsexuals, transgenders, transvestites and cross-dressers. |