cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/22392872
The word futa or futanari is a term I unfortunately see used against trans women and actual intersex people. It is a term which originated in porn and anime to describe someone with both types of genitals, usually though it just refers to someone who looks feminine and has a penis. So it’s no surprise it’s very often used to describe non-op trans women primarily. Because it’s often used in porn it carries strong connotations of sexualization and dehumanization, it reduces the person being called futa to an object of sexual desire and doesn’t respect them as a person.
This term is extremely disrespectful and really has no place being used, especially in reference to trans women. Additionally because of its relation to porn people who use it will almost certainly be seen as chasers.
I think that’s all reasonable. I should make it clear that I would never use futa or futanari to describe anyone without them telling me it’s okay. Effectively, I think that makes it controlled language, ergo a slur.
I would like to maintain that the people who likely made futa and futanari into a slur are not Japanese themselves. Rather, they are American 4chan incel types, who consume that type of media in the first place and who are also transphobic. Blaming Japanese people for a loaned word becoming a slur is ridiculous.
Also, if you were to try to reclaim futa or futanari, it’s probably best to add the honorific “o-” prefix to it. So, it would be お二形 or お二 or ofutanari or ofuta. Kinda silly and it will probably never take off in English use.
Yep, it’s exactly that context this triggered this discussion.
No one is blaming Japanese folk, nor even the term as used in Japanese. The context here is chasers that exist on lemmy that find and interact with trans communities, using terms like this