Why use "gurl"? Not nice!

[Jenny22]

I've never used it to refer to CDs or transwomen. On this forum and in PMs, I use 'girl' to refer to same. If i'm relating to a GG, I'll use 'female'. I'd really like to see 'gurl' stopped being used to describe any of our type.
Does anyone else agree?

[Lana Mae]

I am not offended by "gurl"! I do not however use it! I like you use girl and make the difference between CD/TG and GG(which I am not fond of using)some where in the conversation! Although I am more likely to use woman rather than girl! Just my $0.02! Hugs Lana Mae

[audreyinalbany]

not a fan of 'gurl' either. I'm also REALLY not a fan of terms like "muggle." Just sounds pejorative to me

[abbiedrake]

What Lana Mae said!

[JayeDee]

Personally, I enjoy being referred to as a “Gurl” while en femme. That label denotes to me a ‘guy’ who has made an effort to exhibit and enjoy his feminine ‘girly’ side. The U is seen, but not heard ... in the south anyway.
Jade

[Macey]

I don't use it. I'm not a fan. But I'm not the slang police for those that want to use it.

[Sara Jessica]

What Lana said!!!


not a fan of 'gurl' either. I'm also REALLY not a fan of terms like "muggle." Just sounds pejorative to me

Do you even know what a Muggle is? If you did, you’d understand that it isn’t pejorative at all.

[Bobbi46]

Have a look in any good dictionary and you wil not find the word gurl in it any more than gotten or tooken which are not proper English words anyway. Gurl to me sounds sort of demeaning or snide girl is the word and I think we should use it as it is

[Tracii G]

When guys that CD and use the term "girly" I cringe.
You are not girly and never will be.
Gurl I don't really care for and don't use it but if others want to use it I don't care.

[Nikki A.]

You know with everything going on, does it matter what term we use?
Let's face it, most of us are guys that like our feminine side. If we feel that Gurl shows that side, so be it. There is a post that is going on that we are not and will never truly be women since we will never have children or a monthly "friend", so if we extend that logic then girl is not acceptable either. There are more important things, such as finding acceptance in society and inner peace.
If you want to use gurl, girl or wingnut whatever makes you happy

[Princess Chantal]

Well it is less often used than the “word” transgendered :brolleyes:

[Helen_Highwater]

Jenny,

I've never used it to refer to CDs or transwomen. On this forum and in PMs, I use 'girl' to refer to same. So how do you differentiate between genetic females, girls, and members of this forum in the same sentence?

Gurl is a noun. It identifies those here who present as female but aren't, yet, transgendered. A rose by any other name.... Why take offence at something that simply seeks, and effectively does, deliminate between those of us who identify as male but present, when the mood or opportunity presents itself, as female.

I tire of having those who take umbridge at terms that adequately identify a group of like minded people when it does no harm. Gurl is fine by me, put it in the Oxford dictionary if you will.

As for muggle, again it's a term of common understanding, that is if you've been paying attention to popular culture over the last decade, and is as good as any to again differentiate between those in our community and those in mainstream society. If muggle isn't suitable, give me a an easily use term that works better! Normal, standard, non-dresser, conventional, average, natural? It's not meant to be derogatory, just a way of differentiating between those within our community and those without.

As has been said in other post, it's a case of over thinking things.

[Kandi Robbins]

I HATE the word and it's many variations. I find it derogatory and completely disrespectful. I never use it. I always refer to my sisters as girls, women, ladies, sisters, CDs or TGs. I know there are those that use it and I completely respect their right to do so and their feelings, it's just not for me.

[Crissy 107]

I don’t use the word gurl but I don’t dislike it either, to each their own with this one.

[JulieB]

It all sounds the same to me!

[Georgia K]

I'm new to this page so I've only just noticed it and cant say it bothers me and thought it was similar to feminist who say womyn

[Rachelakld]

We CHOSE what offends us.
my ex was offended by everything, people looking at her, people not looking at her, what people "might think", what they "might not think" - you get the idea.
Landmark courses help you understand your power of choices.

I dislike the term, but understand it's some peoples way of avoiding binary gender terms.

[docrobbysherry]

Gurl can be construed as negative slang. What not say what u mean, crossdresser, or trans?:thumbsup:

[Lydianne]

I do not use "gurl" either. I prefer "girl", but when we call ourselves girls, I always wonder whether women are OK with us doing that.

If I've used "muggle", it would probably be less than the number of fingers on one hand and most likely in response to somebody who used it in the post that I was responding to. I haven't been sure 1) what it meant, or 2) whether it was belittling; so I played it safe with "general public" instead.

However, I am guilty of belittling with my usage of "Joe Cool".

- Lydianne.

[Tracii G]

Muggle is a British term so the only place I see it used is here on the forum.
Not a word used here in the US.

[Lux]

I personally have no problem with the term. If someone sees my picture and reaches out to me (for example I am on Poshmark) I feel it tells people that I am not a genetic girl yet I am presenting as one. No surprises, no harm, no foul.

[Becky Blue]

I don't have a problem with gurl, I prefer and use girl myself, but if I was called a gurl I wouldn't care.

[Denise S]

I’m not offended if I’m referred to as a gurl but it does sound alittle demeaning to me. I would rather be referred to as girl, lady, woman, or my favorite girlfriend.

[Blair]

I don't know anything. I didn't know what a muggle was. I like girl, and it makes me feel good when one of you call me that. Gurl is ok too. I'm just feeling part of a sisterhood here. You can even call me sister, I'll take them all as a term of endearment.

[Misty_cder]

I do not like the use of "gurl". It appears appears proper grammar has become a lost art. The incorrect spelling of words along with abbreviated texting words has created a new language in my opinion.

[Beverley Sims]

Gurl does not worry me nor does transvestite, they are words that have become part of our evolving lifestyle.

Thansgender may go one day, how long has it been used ?

[Jonithan]

I don't care one way or another. I do, however, prefer just using the "F" word.....


.....Female! Come on, really?


joni

[Linda E. Woodworth]

I've no problem with the use of the term "gurl" and have used it on occasion. I find it especially helpful when discussing something concerning both a CD and a GG in the same topic.

I've also seen the spelling "gyrl" used as well although not as often.

[Michelle Vinova]

Count me in the “not offended” camp. Preference of girl over gurl? Sure!

We are in fact guys dressing as girls. I think it’s a cute play on that and better than being called a guy. Right?

But I’ve never considered gurl as pejorative. The term that is like nails on a chalkboard to me is tranny.

[alwayshave]

I don't use the term, but id doesn't bother me.

[jacques]

hello Jenny,
perhaps it depends who uses the word - if we use a slang term to describe ourselves is it OK?
luv J

[Stephanie47]

I am not a user of "gurl." To me it always has been seen as some sort of teenage Southern California mall talk. I get a mental image of a teenager female chewing a big wad of gum with her mouth open wide. I've never heard anyone call a person a 'gurl.' When I call my wife and her friends 'girls' I get corrected that they are 'women.' Usage of 'girl' does not really seem appropriate since all registered members of are a legal age which would defer to 'woman.' I hope the comments I have made in the pictorial section refer to 'woman,' as in 'young woman' or 'lovely woman,' etc.

The only time I hear 'girls' in actual speech other than very young females is referring to the female breasts.

[Donna St. Marten]

This "gurl" has no problem with it.

[Ressie]

Just more slang which I'm not crazy about but not a big deal.

[michelleddg]

Just don't call me late for supper. Hugs, Michelle

[sometimes_miss]

Okay. a 'girl' is a pre-pubescent female; i.e., one who has not yet reached puberty. Once menses start, she is technically a woman. It's been expanded now to refer to virtually any female; even 80 year olds refer to each other as 'girls'. Doesn't make it accurate, though.

But; to may to, to mah to, a rose is a rose by any other name.

We all know what you mean.

While GG may not be popular with everyone, it DOES give us a definite short abbreviation of a female at birth person who remains female. So I like to go with that. Problem is, then I become a GM, and I'm basically a Ford man.

[Jenny22]

Interesting comments, "girls". Opinions vary, as they should, but I'll not use 'gurl' unless I'm paid big bucks! And, it is not uncommon to hear a female refer to a group of females as 'guys'.

[biancabellelover]

I’m not a fan of ‘gurl’, and I do think that describing people as ‘muggles’ is in any context is perjorative. But that’s my opinion only and I don’t lose sleep over it.

There are so many more important things to lose sleep over.

Michelle

[Veronica4me]

Well, gurls, I use it as a friendly term amongst us CDs, and I use it often. It's harmless. It's just a slang term with nothing derogatory intended by me. "Things are not good or bad, but thinking makes them so."

[Kas]

Spelling "gurl" instead of "girl" is no different than someone spelling "cool" as "kool" or "kewl". There is nothing behind it. Its just an alternative way of spelling it for fun. GGs use "gurl" all the time. Its nothing to get offended about lol.

If youre 50+ i wouldnt expect you to understand, but this is VERY common for anybody who grew up using the internet to use alternative spelling just because they can.

If you get offended so easily, i would suggest staying off the internet all together because youre in for a "rude" shock.

- - - Updated - - -


Muggle is a British term so the only place I see it used is here on the forum.
Not a word used here in the US.

Muggle is a made up word from Harry Potter to describe a "normie". Dont they have Harry Potter in the US?

[JayeDee]

I stand corrected, and appreciative of Tracii's earlier post about CDs desiring to be "girly".
Rather than girly, I strive to portray myself as a woman with classy elegance, who gets an approving nod from both men and women.
Jade

[Jenny22]

Hi, Kas. You said, "If you get offended so easily, i would suggest staying off the internet all together because youre in for a "rude" shock."
I never said I was offended, Kas, just that I didn't like the word, and wouldn't use it. Many others have essentially said the same. I think you are correct about how words have been created by internet users. I'm probably three times your age, so a bit elderly and maybe a bit set in my ways when I started using it. I do intend to continue as long as I'm able. TTFN

[Helen_Highwater]

In a few moments of idleness I Googled both Gurl and Muggle as folks had commented about both being somehow derogatory or demeaning. Anyway what I found was;

noun: muggle; plural noun: muggles

a person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill.

And yes it is a term now widely used having been taken from the Harry Potter books. Personally I feel the above definition fits well in describing those who are outside of our community. It doesn't seem to carry much malice say compared to "Knuckle dragging neanderthals" which is sometimes used to reference those who are less than favorable towards to our community.


Gurl
The female equivalent of "dude;" a word that began as a gender-specific colloquial word referring casually to another person and has since become gender-neutral.


Many words start life as street slang or from within closed groups. Take Polari (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari)(/pəˈlɑːri/) a form of theatrical slang incorporating Italianate words, rhyming slang, and Romany, used especially by gay men when it was illegal to be homosexual. It was their equivalent of Cockney rhyming slang. Most Brits will be familiar with the word barney (a fight) which has made it's way into mainstream use from Polari as have many others. Language is fluid with new words added to the dictionary every year.

I know of no-one here who'd used Gurl in a demeaning or derogatory way towards another member. Far from it and I've seen no evidence that leads me to believe otherwise. It's a term of inclusion denoting a shared set of experiences. So let's not fret it. Use it if it suits you, don't if it doesn't.

[Ressie]

Muggles are those that don't have magical powers. So aren't we all muggles according to Harry Potter?

[CarolBrown]

Whilst I know that I’m not a girl, I do enjoy desire girly time with other cis or trans girls... I enjoy being dressed like a woman of my age and also detest words that indicate the derogatory towards transgender or MTF CD people. Whether or not those words are recognised as a gender neutral word, but, I feel like gurl, sissy, transvestite, etc are words from an era past.

I personally know that I trans and accept that and certain words feel like a suppression of who I really am.

[Diane Taylor]

Ask women if they appreciate being referred to as a "GG"...…..not very nice either !

[Brandy Fromdaburg]

Muggle is a British term so the only place I see it used is here on the forum.
Not a word used here in the US.

Actually, muggle was American slang dating back to the 1920s for a marijuana cigarette.

[Aunt Kelly]

Ask women if they appreciate being referred to as a "GG"...…..not very nice either !
GG is, of course, an abbreviation for "genetic girl", someone with two x chromosomes. I don't understand why that would be offensive.

[Heidi Stevens]

Just a heads up for those who use “gurl” as a form of greeting. I am transgender and every other transgender person I’ve hung out with cringes if someone uses it in general conversation. We won’t jump your butt over it, but you’ve not gotten off to a great start with most of us.

[KymberlyOct]

I identify as TS - some of you that cross forums may have read some of my posts. I usually don't post here often as I know many of you exclusively identify as CD and that is great. I believe in a gender spectrum and many people that enjoy CDing have no desire to transition.

I am usually relatively thick skinned. I agree with Heidi - I am not going to jump all over somebody for using 'gurl' but it definitely does not create a good impression with me. I don't have a problem with GG I don't find it derogatory. But since this topic seems to be winding down I thought I would jump in before it dies.

To me 'gurl' is similar to tranny. It signifies being less than. It only takes a moment speaking or a few key strokes to specify cis-woman or transwoman. The vast majority of us would not use a racial slur. To me 'gurl' is a transphobic word. If someone uses it I just assume they don't know any better but I don't care for it.

[morgan29]

I think it’s more of a generational thing than a word to describe cd or ts. For instance my friends that don’t know I dress up use the word Gurl far more often than my friends who know I do dress up as a wonderful girl. And we’re talking about boys and girls using the word Gurl to describe each other. I say it’s more of a slang term rather than a word use to descriminate. I know popular recent slang term is okuurrrr. Which is basically the word okay.

[KymberlyOct]

I am going to bow out of the conversation. I know I am kind of an interloper here but I just wanted to throw in the 2 cents of one TS.

It's how I feel - not necessarily everyone - but there are others that feel the same.

Have fun !! Really - no sarcasm intended.

[abbiedrake]

I've called myself and others here girls, ladies, sisters. So gurls, ladeez, sistas? Whatever. I don't mind. I believe in mutual respect. I even believe in the reasoning behind political correctness. Language does frame perception. But it seems to me like we're losing focus somewhat.
Acceptance of our community and our individual acceptance and respect is surely not dictated by a consensus on 'girl', 'CD', 'trannie' etc. Same goes for a certain other thread about MIAD.
As long as the intent behind a word is understood it's all good. We're just splitting hairs a lot of the time. 😒

@Kymberley just to clarify the above, I would never consider referring to a transwoman any differently than a GG. Except to make points like this. I think Gurl and Tgirl etc to be as invalid in reference to transwomen as they are to GGs. A CD being called Tgirl is more valid IMHO.

I'ma shut up now! 😟

[Krisi]

It may help to remember that there are people on this forum from all over the world and from many different cultures. Some words are common in one place and not another. In any event, the "word police" have not decreed that the word "gurl" is inappropriate (although my spell checker thinks otherwise). It's best to just accept it and move on.

[Roxanne Lanyon]

I have used te word "Gurl" many times. Each time I have used it I sort of feel wrong. I know it is a way to distinquish from GG, but somehow, it does not feel quite right. Using Girl seems much better, because it makes me feel like I am really a girl, nit just a "play actor". I do adore thinking of myself as a girl!

"A Girl lives in my heart".

[Jenny22]

When I started this discussion, I had no idea that it would bring so many comments. Though I will continue to NOT use the gurl word, I do respect the right for others to do so. As to GG being used for females, in all my years the only place I've seen or heard it used is on this forum.
All remarks given to my OP continue to show how lucky we ladies are to have such thought provoking sister members.

[Mickitv]

I do see and hear alot people using the term "gurl." I don't particularly use it myself.

[Patience]

I've seen the word "gurl" used in other contexts, so it doesn't faze me.

What I don't like about the term "mugggle" is the Harry Potter connection. What term did CDers use to refer to muggles before we had JK Rowling?

[FrannGurl]

I don't have a problem with it obviously, although maybe I should rethink that.


I tend to use "girl" and "gurl" interchangeably at times, although use "woman" and "girl" the most.
That being said, it isn't even a favorite word of mine used to describe us. I just thought it was cute when choosing my screen name.
Even so, I consider it a friendly term among us, like Veronica said.
Maybe one reason I don't mind it is, I generally see either "girls" like us using it, or GGs mostly, although not always.

I'm offended by very little, in a time where everyone seems offended by everything, but want to make clear by saying so, that I am not offended at all with the original post or anyone elses thoughts on the subject.
If I had to pick a few that "rub me the wrong way" however, Im not too fond of "Tranny", "Ladyboi", or " A girl ( or "gurl") with something "extra"....or the other term which we all know

[Jessica S]

This why I have been a member for a long time and don't post, its all the pretentiousness. Somebody is always going to be offended, you can please everyone. I only ever seen the term gurl on here, I don't use don't care if some one else does. I think its more inappropriate when say we are women or girls when we are not( of course if you identify as one then I guess your one). Drives me nuts at how easily people in today's society gets offended.

[Krisi]

Yes. I used to say (last year) that this was the year of the offended. Well, it's carried on to this year and now seems to be part of out (American) culture. That's a shame.

[Helen_Highwater]

They're, There, Their, Girl, Gurl, Gerl. If I speak any of either set of 3 then the listener won't be able to distinguish which form I'm using. The difference is with the first 3 the context provides the clue. Their car is parked over there. They're going to pick it up later.

The second 3, regardless of the context, there's nothing to distinguish which form of word I'm thinking in my head because I pronounce them all the same. It's one of the anomalies of the English language that words spelt differently can be pronounced identically.

Add to this regional accents and dialects and you can add to the mix girl being pronounced "Gal" and a few more ways to boot as well.

So how can you be offended when you have no way of knowing which form of a word someone is thinking when it's used in conversation? Psychic powers?