A word that is creeping into use here on the Feminism boards

[JellySlice]

'Genderism'

Why are we using it?

Like 'transwoman' to the newcomers, 'genderism' is an unclear word. It took me a while to work out that 'genderism' referred to trans ideology and not to gender critical.

Why are we using unclear language? We know how damaging unclear language can be. We only use transwoman because the clearer descriptor, the one involving the biologically correct noun, is banned on MN.

Just me then

But the great thing about not being a Genderist is that that's OK :-) Imagine how exhausting it must be, to always have to guess the correct groupthink for every opinion you might have.

Yeah, totally cool to be asking these questions. It's always useful to examine what we're saying and why. It's been a good thread to flesh out the reasoning behind the language, without anyone needing to ostracize those who disagree.

I thought you were going to critique "calls out". Perhaps I'll start my own thread...

I've started to use "sex role stereotypes" where I would formerly have used "gender". It's clunky and sometimes requires restructuring sentences, but it has the benefit of great clarity.

And I use "sex" where I mean "sex", of course!!

Maybe because a lot of the clear, factual and unambiguous language we could be using isn’t allowed?

But the great thing about not being a Genderist is that that's OK :-) Imagine how exhausting it must be, to always have to guess the correct groupthink for every opinion you might have.

Which is why I'll continue to use trans ideology when referring to the neo-religion, and sex/gender stereotypes when referring those restrictions, but I will also start using Transgenderism when referring to the neo-religion and Genderism when referring to the behaviour restrictions.

I like genderism too, for adherents to that religion. Makes the point that it's not necessarily about trans.

I use 'sex roles' instead of gender and never use gender critical or gender non conforming. I hate the concept so much I don't want to give it that level of respectability. Like 'oh he's gender non conforming'- well that's normal, we don't need a special phrase for that.

I see why it can be confusing (though I also use it) - there are two kinds of -ism that have different implications (though I guess all are based on a belief system)

Catholicism for eg would be the religious use, so the "genderism" then is those that follow those beliefs.

OTOH, racism for eg would be people against the a particular thing, so "genderism" in that case could be deemed to be those who are GC...?

there are two kinds of -ism that have different implications

Not sure that's true. An -ism is a belief in that thing. The reason that racism and sexism are negative is because they are bad beliefs.

Similarly Genderism is (like Racism) the belief that something unreal and harmfull (Gender/Race) has objective existence and the bigotry which accompanies that belief.