FA+
Shop
A Change I Do Not Consent To Or Agree WIth
7 years ago
I've identified as herm since 2003, and I'm fully cognizant of how the term has been used as a slur - yet, it appears not many are aware of how the herm and hyperherm furry community (particularly that which grew up around Doug Winger's work) has played an integral role for sexual freedom in online communities. It was only recently - 2015-ish - that a movement began to erase herm and impose intersex terminology. It is paradoxical - speaking as if this empowers trans and intersex, while constraining the spectrum.
As of today (or yesterday?), not only has Herm been removed from the list of genders, but every image that had been designated as "herm" has been forcibly replaced with "Intersex."
Now, this actually affects me less than others, since I hadn't been using the gender dropdown for years. I've been putting species, gender, kinks and all that into the tags list, and including herm because that's how Echoen and my other characters identify as. I have never called anyone else a herm that didn't want to be called that, and it was specifically because of the sexual implications of fully functional dual reproductive systems that the term was used.
I solidly reject the idea that a third party can, retroactively, speak on behalf of an entire community and erase us, as if we never existed, or as if we are harming those who identify as intersex. We have always been welcoming and inclusive, especially within the hyper community. Is there much of a hyper-intersex community? (If so, speak up, let's grow stronger together. Pun intended.)
Terms can be reclaimed, and terms have been reclaimed. Most of us are now quite easily able to see through those who use the false cry of "I self identify as [joke term]" to promote hate, but I would hope most of us would also be able to see the rejectionist/reactionary ideology behind "You are not allowed to self identify as [real term]."
Those who identify as intersex are valid, beautiful and important to our society.
Those who identify as herm are valid, beautiful and important to our society.
Those who deign to speak on behalf of the entire intersex community to assert that the entire herm community is harmful, those are who we universally reject. That is TERF (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist) territory right there. Do not become your enemy. Rise above and love each other.
Expanded with additional thoughts.
I sympathize with gender dysphoria and, through the education given to me by my closest friends and loved ones that have continue to struggle with intense dysphoria and social rejection (including in public), you have my undaunted support. Education of the insensitive will forever be an ongoing process, but I would encourage you and others to save the shaming for those who act maliciously. I do not deign to speak for other trans folk, I can only report what I have learned from many years of listening and being present while they endured harassment.
Go after those who use herm as a slur, but don't confuse those who self identify or have built a decades-long community that is healthy and helpful to everyone across the spectrum for being harmful. The paradox is that by insisting that the term is harmful in all circumstances, it removes the agency of anyone to not be harmed by it. The line that is 'forced' is self-imposed.
As of today (or yesterday?), not only has Herm been removed from the list of genders, but every image that had been designated as "herm" has been forcibly replaced with "Intersex."
Now, this actually affects me less than others, since I hadn't been using the gender dropdown for years. I've been putting species, gender, kinks and all that into the tags list, and including herm because that's how Echoen and my other characters identify as. I have never called anyone else a herm that didn't want to be called that, and it was specifically because of the sexual implications of fully functional dual reproductive systems that the term was used.
I solidly reject the idea that a third party can, retroactively, speak on behalf of an entire community and erase us, as if we never existed, or as if we are harming those who identify as intersex. We have always been welcoming and inclusive, especially within the hyper community. Is there much of a hyper-intersex community? (If so, speak up, let's grow stronger together. Pun intended.)
Terms can be reclaimed, and terms have been reclaimed. Most of us are now quite easily able to see through those who use the false cry of "I self identify as [joke term]" to promote hate, but I would hope most of us would also be able to see the rejectionist/reactionary ideology behind "You are not allowed to self identify as [real term]."
Those who identify as intersex are valid, beautiful and important to our society.
Those who identify as herm are valid, beautiful and important to our society.
Those who deign to speak on behalf of the entire intersex community to assert that the entire herm community is harmful, those are who we universally reject. That is TERF (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist) territory right there. Do not become your enemy. Rise above and love each other.
Expanded with additional thoughts.
I sympathize with gender dysphoria and, through the education given to me by my closest friends and loved ones that have continue to struggle with intense dysphoria and social rejection (including in public), you have my undaunted support. Education of the insensitive will forever be an ongoing process, but I would encourage you and others to save the shaming for those who act maliciously. I do not deign to speak for other trans folk, I can only report what I have learned from many years of listening and being present while they endured harassment.
Go after those who use herm as a slur, but don't confuse those who self identify or have built a decades-long community that is healthy and helpful to everyone across the spectrum for being harmful. The paradox is that by insisting that the term is harmful in all circumstances, it removes the agency of anyone to not be harmed by it. The line that is 'forced' is self-imposed.
Sad change though. Pretty disrespectful to the herm community not forcing their gender beliefs on others.
We need Herm back!
What's next on their "reorganizing" agenda? Removing Hark, Eagle, and Crow, replacing them all with "bird"?
I would think the irony would not be lost on a bunch of people constantly striving to be accepted for who they are.
Well, from where I stand, I did not mind just having what there was before, but I understand both sides: that everyone should be represented, and that not everything has to be cut and dry.
For one, I'd rather not have to sift through 6,000+ genders when I post stuff, but I do get that some people want to be represented and they have every right to do as they wish.
Personally, if the gender list was, instead, a text box, that would be much better.
Or, just, remove it altogether.
It's not needed, really.
Just tag it. So much easier.
But I think the most telling thing is that this all went through and yet fucking ELEPHANTS aren't on the species list yet.
A better term would use either the prefix bi- (two) or the prefix di- (half), but I have a better idea.
Androgynous. By definition, all herms are androgynous.
I disagree, as the casual use of the term today implies more of a lack of emphatic defining sexual characteristics, while a good number of herms I've seen are.. well, they're pretty much the opposite of that.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
My Name is Kipakuta, and I am a Hermaphrodite. I do not identify as 'intersex,' I find the term unwieldy, and I cannot support this violation of my right to self-determination.
If people are being butthurt over a scientific term, they need to stop being snowflakes, and FUCK OFF.
This is a forced change that the users were not consulted about, or given warning about. A change that insults, or calls into question the very being and souls of characters, and those that play them, own them, and also the people behind those characters.
Ya know i'll just go use Futa for weeaboo points.
The pain is gone. Just an occasional twinge, but at least it stopped.
I don't know the complete history behind hermaphrodite (apparently it dates back to greek mythology and haha fuck me that's not my strong suit) and people simply saying "scientific" without context doesn't actually mean they know even the basics of the subject, so perhaps there might be less of a disturbing history behind it because many other certain words are shown to have.
Personally if the origin ain't the same thing as queer or n****r then I'm fine. Intersex as a replacement for herm doesn't even make any sense (seems akin to mixing agender with genderfluid) if what I read so far is true, but eh who knows.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemartin
At the other end of the spectrum, we get to some of the really cool looking sea snails, hermaphrodites that reproduce by "penis fencing", hoping to impregnate (so they can keep going) instead of being impregnated (which is metabolically expensive, compared to making sperm) and quite a few fish that are sequential hermaphrodites, which change sex to be male or female based on a perceived lack of one sex or another in the local population, and can happily switch back and forth over and over again.
Science is cool! :D