Do you think it’s purely hateful or do you think it has some merit in certain contexts?
Personally I think it is a transphobic and dehumanizing term that objectifies and sexualizes trans women based on our anatomy, that should never be used in any context, but I’d love to hear what other people think.
Like any term, highly dependent on context. The porn category / hentai connotation is pretty strong and I would feel really icky being called it out of the blue. But some friends of mine, mostly trans women, throw it around amongst ourselves and it can be amusing too. There is also the rare context, with a LOT of existing trust, where I do like the sexualized nature and view it as affirming. It’s not 100 percent appropriate or inappropriate in any context, but if you’re not sure probably don’t. Especially if you’re cis, pursuing someone, or on a public forum. It’s never a word ya need to use for someone.