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Another view on LABELS.
On Radio National this morning, Hugh Mackay ( Sociologist and broadcaster) made a comment that I thought had some relevance to this debate .
He made the point that there are two levels of ” belonging” for most people . One level is TRIBE and the other is HERD.
It occurs to me that , in my case my tribe is QUEER and my herd is transgender. It also means that , for general purposes , the term QUEER is given to strangers and acquaintances who only need a basic term in order to make some sense of me. No real need for any further explanation. It also joins me to the lesbian women round here who also call themselves of that tribe.
For closer friends, TG allows me to express a more intimate picture of myself.By looking at things in this way, perhaps more TG folk can find some resolution in their own identity by filling in the “blanks” as they wish.
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5 Replies
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I’m sorry Christina, I wasn’t listening to the broadcast. What is the difference when discussing “One level is TRIBE and the other is HERD.”?
I have read and reread your posting, but I seem to be getting only half of what is meant.
Please forgive me for not understanding, but I am perplexed as to what is being conveyed?
From what you said – Tribe = Queer. Herd = TG.
I do have multiple levels of “who I am” when meeting new people. To people I meet, I am a woman. To people I have known for a long time, I am a woman who used to be a man. Is that the same thing from a different perspective? Or is it more complicated? (as if it’s not complicated enough)
I have to apologise, but I am trying to get it, yet it eludes me.
If I have it correct (and please don’t crucify me if I haven’t), my tribe is female and my herd is transgender? I can’t see these definitions changing anytime in the near future for me.
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I don’t know Christina, I would have said TRIBE = family and HERD = Australian but then maybe it varies depending on the subset you are looking at. Perhaps for me HERD would = TG and TRIBE would be more like CD.
OK its confusing, but I must admit I baulk at the concept of being Queer even though I don’t fit the criteria for normality by community standards.
Interesting topic but now my minds all tangled up.
Hugs Pamela
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Sorry but I only just caught up with this thread.
Yes, I suppose that the level of subset is the key factor but I was thinking of the TG paradigm when I wrote it. Of course every individual will have their own view of ” belonging” and so their own label to suit their circumstances.
Pamela, I can understand the rejection of queer as a label. I too found it an irksome name but round here many of my gay friends embrace it and as they also embrace me, I have come to see it in a better light. Like any name it depends on who says it and how it is said.
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Quote:Like any name it depends on who says it and how it is said.
Christina, can you recall if Hugh made mention of this in his radio interview?
Jenifur Charne
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I am not sure what you mean JS, but it is my experience that when people say, ” Oh, you are queer like me” it is better than when someone shouts ” you effing queer!!” from a car window!
