Comments on: What’s in a name? http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:13:48 +0000 hourly 1 By: Cheryl Lynne Oropal http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-218795 Cheryl Lynne Oropal Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:14:24 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-218795 forgot to add one thing. out of curiousity, I went to www.babynamesworld.com just to see if Cheryl , and Lynne were either " male" or " female " names. [ one which was my barbie doll's name at age 9 and later, " fantasy" name in high school daydreams- the other- named after Lynne, FL- the town where in H.S. drafting class Cheryl was having her house built] CHERYL is definitely a girl's name, while LYNNE can go both ways- female here in USA but either in Germany! forgot to add one thing. out of curiousity, I went to http://www.babynamesworld.com just to see if Cheryl , and Lynne were either ” male” or ” female ” names. [ one which was my barbie doll's name at age 9 and later, " fantasy" name in high school daydreams- the other- named after Lynne, FL- the town where in H.S. drafting class Cheryl was having her house built] CHERYL is definitely a girl’s name, while LYNNE can go both ways- female here in USA but either in Germany!

]]> By: Cheryl Lynne Oropal http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-218794 Cheryl Lynne Oropal Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:06:29 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-218794 anyway, despite being told by another post-SRS transsexual to " dress formally like a 43 year old businesswoman and not the 21 yr old in denim skirts you dress as", following her advice; I showed up for court and was done in like 20 mins. they asked the usual stuff like " purpose of name change" on forms [" transexual women in transition" I was told, the less the better!] as for the CT DMV , all I did was get a letter of diagnosis saying " full time female" and, on jerimarie's advice; drove all the way to DMV's main office in wethersfield- something I was told could've been done just as easy in danbury! [ oct 5, 2006] and so, from that stupid name with the F mom named me based on those " ugly parts" which never made me happy or successful in life, to Cheryl Lynne Oropal, as by then I was already on the do-it-yourself hormones plan and over a year wearing skirts. but can I relate to that " legal name is you" thing! on the mother's day just before the name and gender change, both my sister whom warned me not to show up at the restaurant in my dressy skirt and my mom; did their very best to constantly call me by that F*** name; as in " F---- please pass this and that". this after showing up wearing women's dress slacks and blouse , literally trying hard humiliate me in front of all these older men dressed in tie & shirt. I think this was their plan- that I'd figure out how lucky I was to be that damn "man" thing they expected me to be; but to me made me feel like a worthless piece of s**t . how good it felt that august 22, 2006 when I came from that court legally CHERYL ! anyway, despite being told by another post-SRS transsexual to ” dress formally like a 43 year old businesswoman and not the 21 yr old in denim skirts you dress as”, following her advice; I showed up for court and was done in like 20 mins. they asked the usual stuff like ” purpose of name change” on forms [" transexual women in transition" I was told, the less the better!] as for the CT DMV , all I did was get a letter of diagnosis saying ” full time female” and, on jerimarie’s advice; drove all the way to DMV’s main office in wethersfield- something I was told could’ve been done just as easy in danbury! [ oct 5, 2006] and so, from that stupid name with the F mom named me based on those ” ugly parts” which never made me happy or successful in life, to Cheryl Lynne Oropal, as by then I was already on the do-it-yourself hormones plan and over a year wearing skirts.
but can I relate to that ” legal name is you” thing! on the mother’s day just before the name and gender change, both my sister whom warned me not to show up at the restaurant in my dressy skirt and my mom; did their very best to constantly call me by that F*** name; as in ” F—- please pass this and that”. this after showing up wearing women’s dress slacks and blouse , literally trying hard humiliate me in front of all these older men dressed in tie & shirt. I think this was their plan- that I’d figure out how lucky I was to be that damn “man” thing they expected me to be; but to me made me feel like a worthless piece of s**t . how good it felt that august 22, 2006 when I came from that court legally CHERYL !

]]> By: Cheryl Lynne Oropal http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-218793 Cheryl Lynne Oropal Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:42:21 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-218793 that really suck that this judge would be such a di*khead about this! rochester NY if I'm not right was where thie occurred- like the catholic-baptist " bible belt" of upstate-western new york state full with just as many republican " christians" as WV . I mean , true, it's about the same in new york to get that " F" , in my case , on your driver's license ID so you can like, well, pee in the correct bathroom and stuff. [ letter from psycologist/psychiatist stating " gender identity disorder"] ; so this judge was really a macho butthole! I'm a transgender woman myself and had my name legally changed here in connecticut without any problem just over two years ago on aug. 22,2006 . I am relatively poor and on SSDI/SSI and so, was told that I could get the $150 fee waived by proving my income. I was told by CT's sister organization's head, jerimarie lisegang of CT transadvocacy, to just go to the town probate court and it would be easy, which it was. that really suck that this judge would be such a di*khead about this! rochester NY if I’m not right was where thie occurred- like the catholic-baptist ” bible belt” of upstate-western new york state full with just as many republican ” christians” as WV . I mean , true, it’s about the same in new york to get that ” F” , in my case , on your driver’s license ID so you can like, well, pee in the correct bathroom and stuff. [ letter from psycologist/psychiatist stating " gender identity disorder"] ; so this judge was really a macho butthole!
I’m a transgender woman myself and had my name legally changed here in connecticut without any problem just over two years ago on aug. 22,2006 . I am relatively poor and on SSDI/SSI and so, was told that I could get the $150 fee waived by proving my income. I was told by CT’s sister organization’s head, jerimarie lisegang of CT transadvocacy, to just go to the town probate court and it would be easy, which it was.

]]> By: Alara Rogers http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-217282 Alara Rogers Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:59:00 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-217282 Oh, yes, the phenomenon of the link between a name and a gender changing over time. Female chauvinist pig that I am, I was *deeply* upset to learn that both Evelyn Waugh and Joyce Kilmer were men, so in fact there is only *one* rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike, Molly Pitcher, named for a woman. And I thought it was bad enough that there were only three! I always thought New York was an enlightened place when I was growing up there, but every so often I find out that all along they've been doing something that appalls me. I'm glad to hear they fixed this one, at least. Oh, yes, the phenomenon of the link between a name and a gender changing over time. Female chauvinist pig that I am, I was *deeply* upset to learn that both Evelyn Waugh and Joyce Kilmer were men, so in fact there is only *one* rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike, Molly Pitcher, named for a woman. And I thought it was bad enough that there were only three!

I always thought New York was an enlightened place when I was growing up there, but every so often I find out that all along they’ve been doing something that appalls me. I’m glad to hear they fixed this one, at least.

]]> By: DC http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-216760 DC Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:31:20 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-216760 Cookies: The masculine/feminine nature of Shannon and Ashley vary by class and region in the US. I haven't yet met a male Ashley (though I've heard of contemporary ones) but know at least 2 male Shannons, both upper-class. Robin: My friend Andrea remarked that she spent a great deal of time in Europe explaining that yes she was a girl, yes it was her given name, and no it's not that unusual in the States. Andrea is an exclusively male name in Europe. Legal name changes are expensive where I live too, at about $150, two months wait, and a court appearance. And to my knowledge can be denied at the discretion of the judge. The local county court is friendly, but the surrounding counties are more variable. Cookies:
The masculine/feminine nature of Shannon and Ashley vary by class and region in the US. I haven’t yet met a male Ashley (though I’ve heard of contemporary ones) but know at least 2 male Shannons, both upper-class.

Robin:
My friend Andrea remarked that she spent a great deal of time in Europe explaining that yes she was a girl, yes it was her given name, and no it’s not that unusual in the States. Andrea is an exclusively male name in Europe.

Legal name changes are expensive where I live too, at about $150, two months wait, and a court appearance. And to my knowledge can be denied at the discretion of the judge. The local county court is friendly, but the surrounding counties are more variable.

]]> By: CookiesAtMidnight http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-215791 CookiesAtMidnight Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:59:04 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-215791 More names aren't becoming gender neutral. As they have for decades, parents are giving boys names to girls, but not the reverse. Once a high enough percentage of girls have the name, it becomes "tainted" for boys, so parents will avoid it for their sons. Eventually, Logan, Cameron, Micah, etc. will be considered feminine, just as Ashley and Tracy are, even though all started as male names. More names aren’t becoming gender neutral. As they have for decades, parents are giving boys names to girls, but not the reverse. Once a high enough percentage of girls have the name, it becomes “tainted” for boys, so parents will avoid it for their sons. Eventually, Logan, Cameron, Micah, etc. will be considered feminine, just as Ashley and Tracy are, even though all started as male names.

]]> By: Robin http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-215700 Robin Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:22:23 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-215700 What I'd like to know is, "traditional" by whose standards? I grew up in America, where my name is generally given to girls. When I took a trip to England with my mom, most of the hotels mistakenly booked us as "Mr. and Mrs. [lastname]", because over there Robin is traditionally a masculine name. If they weren't famous, would you be able to discern the genders of Robin Givens, Robin Williams, Robin Leech, or Robin Quivers just based on their names? Nope. More and more names are becoming gender neutral every year. What I’d like to know is, “traditional” by whose standards? I grew up in America, where my name is generally given to girls. When I took a trip to England with my mom, most of the hotels mistakenly booked us as “Mr. and Mrs. [lastname]“, because over there Robin is traditionally a masculine name. If they weren’t famous, would you be able to discern the genders of Robin Givens, Robin Williams, Robin Leech, or Robin Quivers just based on their names? Nope. More and more names are becoming gender neutral every year.

]]> By: Holly http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-215652 Holly Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:46:17 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-215652 Since that's the second time someone has pointed that out, on top of someone sending me an organizational chart, I've fixed it. IANAL!! Since that’s the second time someone has pointed that out, on top of someone sending me an organizational chart, I’ve fixed it. IANAL!!

]]> By: Sam http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-215639 Sam Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:52:02 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-215639 <i>This case, which went all the way up to the New York Supreme Court...</i> FYI, the case being in a New York Supreme Court does <i>not</i> mean it went "all the way up" and indicates no appeal at all. All of the county trial courts in New York State are called Supreme Courts (whereas they're called things like Superior Court in some other states). When, for instance, a Kings County Supreme Court decision is appealed, it goes first to the Appellate Division and then, if appealed again, to the Court of Appeals. This case, which went all the way up to the New York Supreme Court…

FYI, the case being in a New York Supreme Court does not mean it went “all the way up” and indicates no appeal at all. All of the county trial courts in New York State are called Supreme Courts (whereas they’re called things like Superior Court in some other states). When, for instance, a Kings County Supreme Court decision is appealed, it goes first to the Appellate Division and then, if appealed again, to the Court of Appeals.

]]> By: links for 2008-12-08 « Shut Up, Sit Down http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/04/whats-in-a-name-4/#comment-215626 links for 2008-12-08 « Shut Up, Sit Down Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:30:33 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=9963#comment-215626 [...] What’s in a name? [...] [...] What’s in a name? [...]

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