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Original poster

The use of the term 'trans widow'

430 replies

aibubaby · 25/06/2021 11:57

I've found this term in poor taste ever since I saw it, and this article I've seen on Twitter is a great look at why.

rachelemoss.com/2021/06/24/a-letter-to-trans-widows-from-an-actual-widow/

Marriages end all the time because one spouse isn't who the other thought they were. It's sad or heartbreaking or difficult, and people have (obviously) got the right to grieve for a relationship which is no longer the same. But it isn't a death and it's thoughtless to describe it as though it is.

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Sometimesonly · 25/06/2021 12:03

Do you police all uses of the word widow? How about golf/football widow or widow's peak? Language is used in a variety of ways. I think it is apt in this context.

yeahbutnaw · 25/06/2021 12:03

Always thought that it's incredibly insensitive to people who are grieving the death of their spouse. I've found it very inconsistent with the GC worldview of language needing to be very precise.

Ninkanink · 25/06/2021 12:03

Oh no I very much disagree with you.

And, I agree with pp that this is for those who have actually experienced this to decide.

Needmoresleep · 25/06/2021 12:00

Isnt it for those who are affected to decide?

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 25/06/2021 12:00

I am a transwidow and I feel the term is perfect. ExH states himself that his past is dead, and uses terms such as deadnaming. The term Transwidow reflects that the partner who changed identity feels themselves dead to the past.

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