‘Transracial’ has been used to mean ‘across or crossing racial boundaries.’[1] It can mean adopting or otherwise transferring a person between racial boundaries, such as in adopting a child, or the adoption of cultural signifiers between races. Likely American POW in Japanese camps would have been in situations that fall under the winder meaning of the terms trans-cultural and trans-racial. (Eiríksson, 2021).
Adoption[]
"In a trans-racial or trans-cultural child adoption you will be adopting a child that is of a race or ethnic group that is different than yours."
A workshop on Black and mixed-race children in the care system and the controversy around trans-racial adoption, 1940s-present. Speakers including, Lola Jaye and Shama Sutar-Smith, will debate the controversial history of Black and mixed-race children in the care system and trans-racial adoption and fostering.[2]
Some people have adopted the term "interracial adoption" instead.
Identifying as a different race[]
Dolezal told Today Show host Matt Lauer she was first described as "transracial" and "biracial" in articles about her human rights work, and chose not to correct them.[3] -- MSNBC, 2015
The infamous Rachel Dolezal was born white but pretended to be black, disguising herself as black and getting a job at the NAACP.[4] Dolezal has a black sister who was adopted. Allegedly, her brother abused the sister, and perhaps abused Rachel as well.[5]
People began to use the word "transracial" to describe Dolezal.[6]
False equivalence to transgender identity[]
Some anti-trans advocates have compared transgender identity to identifying as a different race in order to mock trans people.
TRANSRACIAL is a thing! I invented it! If you can be transgender you can be TRANSRACIAL. Live your life to the fullest, be who you want to be and spread love. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈⚧ #olilondon #trans #transracial -- Oli London@OliLondonTV·29 Jun
However, many advocates for transgender rights say the two are not remotely comparable. Race is passed from parent to child and identifying as a different race is ridiculous.[7][4]
"Unlike gender inequality, racial inequality primarily accumulates across generations. Transracial identification undermines collective reckoning with that injustice." Robin Dembroff and Dee Payton[8] "My prob w/ #Transracial: Black folk cant decide to be white when the cops raid their pool party. But a white woman can be NAACP president." Lizzo[9]
There is a wealth of evidence on transgender identity and the benefits of healthcare for transgender people.[10][11] Experts are beginning to find biological signs of transgender identity.[12][13][14] There is no such research supporting the validity of "transracial" identity.
Media[]
- «'Trans-racial': When you’re born one race but identify as another» 13 JUL 2017 - 10:28AM
- trans-racial adoption: NPR
- trans-racial | Salon.com
- «The pros and cons of trans-racial adoption» Kate Murray Wed 4 Mar 2015 09.40 GMTLast modified on Wed 4 Mar 2015 10.15 GMT Shares 60 Comments 2
- «Trans-racial awareness», Facebook Page with 157 likes as of 15. Dec, 2019
Rhizomata[]
Race science; Race lore; Fantasy races
References[]
- ↑ Google Dictionary, r. 15. Dec, 2019
- ↑ https://blackculturalarchives.org/events/2019/11/23/the-care-system-and-trans-racial-adoption
- ↑ Landy, Benjamin; Wang, Joy Y. (June 16, 2015). "Rachel Dolezal: Yes, I am black". MSNBC.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ‘Transracial’ vs. Transgender: What’s the difference?
- ↑ Inside The Alleged Abuse Scandal That Destroyed The Dolezal Family This article includes detailed descriptions of alleged sexual abuse that are not suitable for all readers.
- ↑ People have hijacked an adoption hashtag after a NAACP leader was 'outed' as white
- ↑ No, you can’t identify as ‘transracial’. But you can affirm your gender
- ↑ Why We Shouldn’t Compare Transracial to Transgender Identity
- ↑ Tweet by Lizzo
- ↑ What the Science on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Kids Really Shows
- ↑ Poteat T, Davis AM, Gonzalez A. Standards of Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse People. JAMA. 2023;329(21):1872–1874. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.8121
- ↑ Between the (Gender) Lines: the Science of Transgender Identity
- ↑ Gene variants provide insight into brain, body incongruence in transgender
- ↑ Transgender: Evidence on the biological nature of gender identity