[Serious] What Should "Intersex" Characters Be Called?

[Sprite]

Let's say a character exists who appears to be biologically female in every way except for their genitalia. In place of female genitals they instead they have a complete set of perfectly normal, functional, male reproductive organs. This character was born this way and is neither hermaphroditic nor transgender.

Ignoring how this character may be unrealistic or self-serving, what kind of term should be used to describe them? I haven't really been able to find one that was appropriate except for "intersex." But I fear while it may be technically correct, this character isn't a fair representation of an intersex person, and therefore using the term in such a way may be distasteful.

Inevitably, I'm left without an adequate word to describe such a character. All other possibilities that spring to my mind are either too ambiguous or crude to really be worth considering. That's why I'm reaching out to the community and asking: What we should actually be calling these types of characters?

As a side note, I want to clarify that this discussion isn't about whether these characters are inherently inappropriate or offensive. That's an entirely separate issue I would rather not get into.
I should also point out that this kind of character can exist in reverse as well. I.E. A character who is biologically male, but has female genitals. I only used the former example because it's more common.

 

[Aznig]

I think it would all depend on the owner/creator of the character. The reason someone may make a character intersex obviously varies for every person. I think whatever term they feel their character identifies most closely with, is probably the term one should use to describe them. If you’re unsure, you could always just ask the owner :3 That’s at least my whole take on it. It’s all fiction and everyone’s characters are very personal. One term will never really fit all in my opinion.

 

[Yakamaru]

We talking a character, yes? Call it whatever you want.

It's your character. You define it however you want.

Here's a suggestion: Trans. It's an all-encompassing word anyway.

 

[Toby_Morpheus]

I think it would all depend on the owner/creator of the character. The reason someone may make a character intersex obviously varies for every person. I think whatever term they feel their character identifies most closely with, is probably the term one should use to describe them. If you’re unsure, you could always just ask the owner :3 That’s at least my whole take on it. It’s all fiction and everyone’s characters are very personal. One term will never really fit all in my opinion.

I think they're asking if there's an already established term for said layout.

Personally never thought about it to be honest. Only thing I can think of is 'dickgirl.'
It might be crude, but it succinctly gives an accurate description in my head: a complete woman but with male genitals instead.

 

[Fallowfox]

You should call her Allison.

 

[DimskyTheOwl]

I think unisexual is the closet word I can find.

It can apply to actual species.

 

[Yakamaru]

I think unisexual is the closet word I can find.

It can apply to actual species.

Makes it sound like you're Universitysexual tho.

"I like big buildings OwO."

 

[Keefur]

I would think that would depend on how your character identifies gender wise. There are conditions where male grow breasts, but they identify as male.

 

[quoting_mungo]

I like the term "altersex" as an umbrella term for "no, really, this is not meant to correspond to any RL human sex phenotype", but it lacks the precision of the crude terms it's meant to replace. The least crude terminology I can think of would be something like "fbmg" (feminine body, masculine genitals), but it's not very pronounceable and still has some of the problems of other terms.

I would not use "trans" unless the character actually identifies as such.

 

[Filter]

Your characters, your world, your rules. Call them whatever you would like to call them.

That said, I think of non-binary characters as androgynous.

 

[Nihles]

We're not talking about femboy or herms, are we? Are those different from what OP has described? I feel confused.

 

[TabbyTomCat]

The only established term for that combination is "dickgirl". It sounds crude because such non real life combination is comon only on porn sites. But many once crude or vulgar words became normal after years of usage.

 

[Fibriel Solaer]

"Dickgirl" and "futa" are the most common terms for this setup.

A more technical and less snappy moniker would be male intergender.

We're not talking about femboy or herms, are we? Are those different from what OP has described? I feel confused.

Femboys are males, usually with a male presence, who look girly. They do not have boobs like girls do.

A hermaphrodite, as classically understood, has all boy parts and girl parts simultaneously.

The OP is describing a character with a female presence and (I presume) effeminate appearance who has boobers and boy parts.

 

[Nihles]

"Dickgirl" and "futa" are the most common terms for this setup.

A more technical and less snappy moniker would be male intergender.


Femboys are males, usually with a male presence, who look girly. They do not have boobs like girls do.

A hermaphrodite, as classically understood, has all boy parts and girl parts simultaneously.

The OP is describing a character with a female presence and (I presume) effeminate appearance who has boobers and boy parts.

Ah, thank you for clearing that up.

 

[Faexie]

Shemale fits your description, I think.

Edit: Nevermind, shemales are trans women who took hormones but still have a dick...

 

[alphienya]

I think it would all depend on the owner/creator of the character. The reason someone may make a character intersex obviously varies for every person. I think whatever term they feel their character identifies most closely with, is probably the term one should use to describe them. If you’re unsure, you could always just ask the owner :3 That’s at least my whole take on it. It’s all fiction and everyone’s characters are very personal. One term will never really fit all in my opinion.

Honestly I was writing something that said all of this but was such a darn mess. So yes. Aznig is right. I agree that this is likely the best course of action you can take when it comes to something like this. It never hurts to ask!

 

[Le Chat Nécro]

It's an all-encompassing word anyway.

It is not. Trans describes identification with a gender other than the one you were assigned with at birth. You can be something like nonbinary and trans, since no one is assigned nonbinary at birth, but if the character in question was assigned this new gender at birth (instead of male or female) then trans would not be applicable to them unless they later stop identifying that way.

Hmm. You could try something like "dual-gender" or I like mungo's suggestion of "altersex". Futa/dickgirl is the common term, but it is rather crass for something not meant to be wank material.

 

[Yakamaru]

It is not. Trans describes identification with a gender other than the one you were assigned with at birth. You can be something like nonbinary and trans, since no one is assigned nonbinary at birth, but if the character in question was assigned this new gender at birth (instead of male or female) then trans would not be applicable to them unless they later stop identifying that way.

Hmm. You could try something like "dual-gender" or I like mungo's suggestion of "altersex". Futa/dickgirl is the common term, but it is rather crass for something not meant to be wank material.

This is a fictional character. Real life logic or biology need not apply.

 

[quoting_mungo]

Edit: Nevermind, shemales are trans women who took hormones but still have a dick...

Well, strictly, a fetish/exploitation porn/slur term for same. Nothing I'd advise using unless invited to by the referent.

I like mungo's suggestion of "altersex"

Just to clarify, I didn't coin the term; it was proposed in a journal/essay by someone else in fandom who felt "cuntboy" and "dickgirl" were transphobic. Can't recall who at the moment, just don't want to take credit for someone else's coinage.

This is a fictional character. Real life logic or biology need not apply.

When using pre-existing language, not taking into account the existing definitions of the word you're using is somewhere between irresponsible and foolish. While you're obviously putting aspects of real life biology aside, that doesn't mean the things you're not changing (whether this character identifies with their apparent physical sex/the sex they were assigned at birth) should impact your usage of existing terminology. Saying that trans as a term is "all-encompassing" is factually incorrect and could be perceived as dismissive of actual trans* individuals' experiences.

 

[ellaerna]

This is a fictional character. Real life logic or biology need not apply.

So if I wrote a fictional story about Drake and constantly referred to him as a Nazi cuntboy, you wouldn't care?

Asking for future reference.

As you so love to point out, words and labels have meaning. Using one in a literary work in a capacity outside of that meaning can be confusing and sometimes downright dickish. Calling a dick girl trans isn't clear and, if we go all the way back to I think a Rez thread on the matter, could cause harm to actual trans people.

 

[Yakamaru]

When using pre-existing language, not taking into account the existing definitions of the word you're using is somewhere between irresponsible and foolish. While you're obviously putting aspects of real life biology aside, that doesn't mean the things you're not changing (whether this character identifies with their apparent physical sex/the sex they were assigned at birth) should impact your usage of existing terminology. Saying that trans as a term is "all-encompassing" is factually incorrect and could be perceived as dismissive of actual trans* individuals' experiences.

OP wanted ideas and/or suggestions on what to call their character. I gave mine, which is "Trans".

This is a fictional character in a fictional universe with fictional everything, really. Again: Nothing in real life may need to be applied. OP can do whatever they want with their character, as ultimately it's up to OP to decide.

Something something something *quiet and dramatic pause. For two seconds* Nazi something something something..

Didn't your parents ever teach you that obsessive behaviour is dangerous for your mental health?

 

[Shadow of Bucephalus]

We talking a character, yes? Call it whatever you want.

It's your character. You define it however you want.

Here's a suggestion: Trans. It's an all-encompassing word anyway.

I'd say that 'Trans', an abbreviation for 'Transitioning', isn't really suitable for a biologically-stable entity. (meaning, one who's physical 'Bits' are not going to be altered)

I see nothing wrong with a Writer/Artist Titling their characters however they want. This topic falls into the 'Gray Area' of terminology, anyway.

 

[Yakamaru]

I'd say that 'Trans', an abbreviation for 'Transitioning', isn't really suitable for a biologically-stable entity. (meaning, one who's physical 'Bits' are not going to be altered)

I see nothing wrong with a Writer/Artist Titling their characters however they want. This topic falls into the 'Gray Area' of terminology, anyway.

Indeed. It's a grey area, hence why I used it as there are no definitions to use for this, only suggestions.

We talking transsexual or transgender? As they are not the same. Also. Trans is often used as "someone whose identity is not the same as what gender they were born with".

Either way, it's up to OP.

 

[quoting_mungo]

OP wanted ideas and/or suggestions on what to call their character. I gave mine, which is "Trans".

And people have explained why that would be inappropriate, and why your reasoning for using that term is inaccurate. It's okay to be wrong, but you could do to be more willing to learn from it.

This is a fictional character in a fictional universe with fictional everything, really. Again: Nothing in real life may need to be applied. OP can do whatever they want with their character, as ultimately it's up to OP to decide.

Yes, you can write a story where you call apples oranges. Advising that people disregard existing definitions of words in their writing without a very compelling reason is poor advice, however. Doubly so when that advice could result in real, actual people being harmed.

 

[Yakamaru]

And people have explained why that would be inappropriate, and why your reasoning for using that term is inaccurate. It's okay to be wrong, but you could do to be more willing to learn from it.

Is it truly inappropriate? Here's a non-radical idea: Let people think for themselves.

I use Trans because the word itself have become a lot more than what its initial definition originated from. Trans people from all over are using it to describe themselves and their identities. It's rather limiting to think that such a broad umbrella term is inappropriate. Quite frankly I've considered using "Queer" to describe someone who is non-straight and have used it in some occasions.

Yes, you can write a story where you call apples oranges. Advising that people disregard existing definitions of words in their writing without a very compelling reason is poor advice, however. Doubly so when that advice could result in real, actual people being harmed.

We've been over this and I am not interested in getting into yet another facts vs feelings argument. In a thread where it's inappropriate to start this shit in the first place. Have a good day, mungo.