Transfeminine

Transfeminine (often abbreviated to transfem or transfemme), is a term that refers to a transgender individual whose gender identity that is predominantly feminine, or who wishes to emphasize the feminine aspects of their gender.^[2]^[3] It may also refer to gender presentation, such as someone on feminizing hormone therapy. Transfeminine people may or may not identify as female, and the term can be used as a standalone identity or an umbrella term.

Transfeminine was originally created to refer to AMAB individuals,^[2]^[3] however, the term is not exclusive and can be used by AFAB and intersex individuals.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Examples of identities that could be considered transfeminine include but are in no way limited to:

The masculine equivalent of transfeminine is transmasculine. The androgynous equivalent is transandrogynous. The neutral equivalent is transneutral. The xenine equivalent is transxenine. The outherine equivalent is transoutherine. The aporine equivalent is transaporine.

Common Definitions

“	of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is partially or fully feminine and differs from the sex the person was identified as having at birth	”
–Merriam-Webster^[4]

“	Sometimes written as transfeminine or trans feminine (all of which are generally considered acceptable). This term is used, often by AMAB trans people but not exclusively, to express a relationship to femininity or femaleness, but who may not have a completely female identity. Transfeminine is sometimes used as a direct stand-in for AMAB trans people as a whole. But not all AMAB trans people identify as feminine and not all transfeminine people were AMAB. So while this is relatively common, it’s not necessarily the best way to use this term. Transfeminine people may or may not transition physically, legally, or socially. Categorically, transfeminine people are considered under the transgender umbrella but may or may not identify with that or other terms individually. Those decisions are based on their understanding of their relationship with gender and their access to transitioning within their culture.	”
–The Trans Language Primer^[6]

“	Do we need another term or category to cover my particular reality? Maybe! Could it be "transfeminine" (a male who feels like a female, strictly undefined in relation to any issue of an operation) perhaps!	”
–Jane Nance, 1985^[2]

“

"Transfeminine or trans-fem is a gender identity where one generally was assigned male at birth (AMAB), is transgender, and identifies fully or partially as any feminine genders. Transfeminine people can also identify as other, non-feminine genders as well. For example, an androgyne person may identify as transfeminine, though typically one's feminine identities are more significant that one's non-feminine identities, or one wants to emphasis one's feminine identity. Transfeminine people are sometimes called MtF or M2F (male to female), however, this isn't accurate as not all transfeminine people are transgender women.

Some transfeminine identities can include:

Binary transgender women Non-binary women Demigirls Genderfluid people who identify as feminine more often then other genders. Lunarians Any other non-binary person who is feminine-aligned, or leans towards femininity. Transfeminine is sometimes used, not as a gender identity, but as a way to describe anyone who is assigned male at birth and undergoes femininization, either through surgery, hormone replacement therapy, or other methods (example: cross dressing) . Under this definition, men who take hormones to attempt to appear more feminine would be considered transfeminine.

The masculine equivalent to transfeminine is called transmasculine and the neutral equivalent is transneutral. The AFAB equivalent is intrafeminine.

”

–Pride-Flags, 2021^[3]