trans widow

See also: transwidow

English

Alternative forms

transwidow

Noun

trans widow (plural trans widows)

(gender-critical slang, offensive) A cis woman who feels her marriage ended or is at risk of ending due to her spouse coming out as a trans woman.
- 2012, Christine Benvenuto, Sex Changes: A Memoir of Marriage, Gender, and Moving On, unnumbered page:
  When I began my public life as a transwidow, I knew who knew by the curious or pitying stares we got.
- 2021, Helen Joyce, Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality, unnumbered page:
  Tinsel now writes about trans widows for feminist websites, and publishes their stories online under pseudonyms.
- 2021, Kathleen Stock, Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism, unnumbered page:
  What the experiences of 'trans widows' of late-transitioning trans women are actually like, and what their own political needs are.
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:trans widow.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see trans,‎ widow; a widow who is transgender.
- 2014 February 19, “Texas Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Trans Widow”, in Florida Agenda, page 9:
- 2014 May 30, Anna Waugh, “Texas marriage cases stall in state, federal courts”, in Dallas Voice‎^[1], page 9:
  Trans widow Nikki Araguz won her battle in February to have her marriage recognized to her deceased husband.
- 2021 July 31, Elaine O'Neill, “I’m a real trans widow – anyone saying their newly out trans partner is ‘dead’ disgusts me”, in Metro, UK:
  If Helen were around, I feel she would be annoyed that I’m not able to describe myself as a real ‘trans widow’ because the term has been captured hatefully by a group who regard announcing that you are trans means you have expired.

Usage notes

The term is considered offensive to transgender people, as it likens someone coming out (and potentially remaining married, if the spouse were accepting) to them dying and widowing their spouse.

Translations

French: veuve trans (fr)

References

Henry Giardina (2021 June 21) “Please Stop Saying “Trans Widows””, in Into, retrieved 2024-08-26