There’s been a bit of a catchphrase that certain allies use to signal their support: “Protect the dolls.” Apparently “doll” was once used to refer to trans women, which is all fine and dandy for people that like it. However, it is not a term I knew about before the catchphrase, nor is it one I particularly like. It comes off as kinda icky and objectifying to me.
Dolls are plastic facsimiles of “real” girls that are used as a child’s plaything. Definitely grosses me out when people use it as a phrase specifically for trans women. It’s a term that needlessly others us. Just call us women, if the situation calls for specifying that we’re trans call us trans women.
I don’t really mind if it’s being used as a term of endearment between women, but I’m not a fan of it coming from men or being used as a trans-specific term.
There’s been a bit of a catchphrase that certain allies use to signal their support: “Protect the dolls.” Apparently “doll” was once used to refer to trans women, which is all fine and dandy for people that like it. However, it is not a term I knew about before the catchphrase, nor is it one I particularly like. It comes off as kinda icky and objectifying to me.
Dolls are plastic facsimiles of “real” girls that are used as a child’s plaything. Definitely grosses me out when people use it as a phrase specifically for trans women. It’s a term that needlessly others us. Just call us women, if the situation calls for specifying that we’re trans call us trans women.
I don’t really mind if it’s being used as a term of endearment between women, but I’m not a fan of it coming from men or being used as a trans-specific term.
It sounds like a category alongside Marthas, Wives, and Handmaids.