1.2 A note on language

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Cartoon of an older trans woman with a floppy purple hat, a purple coat and big sunglasses with the transgender flag blue, pink and white stripes on them.

At this point it is worth saying something about the choices we have made in this CPD course regarding the terms we are using and the concepts we are drawing on.

Throughout this course, we use the word ‘trans’ as a shorthand for a diverse group of people, including non-binary people. We acknowledge that not all non-binary people will use the word trans to describe themselves. Also, there are many other terms across the globe that are used to describe gender diversity. This means there is no perfect umbrella term or single definition of ‘trans’ that encompasses the full range of global gender diversity. Nonetheless, in the UK context, the word ‘trans’ has come to mean a broad group of people that includes trans men, trans women and non-binary people. We use ‘cis’ to mean not trans, but we recognise there are complexities and imperfections around use of this term for some, including intersex people.

We use the terms ‘psychological therapies’ and ‘psychological therapist’ in this course to encompass counsellors, psychotherapists, and practitioner psychologists who do therapy (like clinical and counselling psychologists) as well as mental health practitioners.

Activity 1.2: Language around gender diversity

Timing: Allow 10 minutes

The following terms are used for different ways of thinking about some aspects of gender diversity. Match the term with the culture it comes from.

Two lists follow, match one item from the first with one item from the second. Each item can only be matched once. There are 7 items in each list.

  1. Two Spirit

  2. Hijra

  3. Bakla/lakin-on

  4. Muxe

  5. Kathoey

  6. Mashoga

  7. Sistergirls/brotherboys

Match each of the previous list items with an item from the following list:

  • a.India

  • b.Zapotec of Oaxaca (Mexico)

  • c.Turtle Island (Indigenous American)

  • d.Kenya (Swahili)

  • e.Thai (Buddhist)

  • f.Indigenous Australian

  • g.Filipino (Tagalog)

The correct answers are:
  • 1 = c,
  • 2 = a,
  • 3 = g,
  • 4 = b,
  • 5 = e,
  • 6 = d,
  • 7 = f

Discussion

We can trace gender diversity throughout history and across the globe. The words people have used, and the way cultures have thought about gender, differ widely. We suggest further reading on the terms named above, which cannot be used as straightforward translations of ‘trans’. Many cultural expressions of gender diversity were looked down upon and criminalised by European colonisers, and this has had a global impact on the way gender diverse people are seen today (Hussain, 2019).

Pause for reflection

Some things to think about before moving on:

  • What goals do you want to set for yourself on completion of the training?
  • How will you know when you have achieved these goals?
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1.1 The ICTA project