nonbinary, trans, terminology
Reminder that terms like AMAB and AFAB use the language of our oppressors, and refer to coercive identity assignment.
Some people are okay with them, but I personally find referring to assigned gender on par with deadnaming.
I think especially you shouldn't do that to nonbinary people, because it creates a distinction between "AMAB enbies" and "AFAB enbies", which conflates one's actual identity with what was nonconsensually, wrongly, and usually harmfully imposed.
re: nonbinary, trans, terminology
Furthermore, if someone tells you they're nonbinary, how they had been originally assigned shouldn't concern you in the slightest, unless they're okay talking about it.
That includes you inferring that information from how they look. I know it's a high bar because of how deeply cispatriarchy permeates society, but try to aim there. It can be done.
re: nonbinary, trans, terminology
@halcyon My point is that you shouldn't talk about (or consider) other people's assigned genders without their consent. Assigned gender is oppressive and doesn't define the person in any way unless they choose so.
So you shouldn't see "AMAB" enbies or "AFAB" enbies, they're just enbies. Ditto for using "transmasc" or "transfem" as substitutes. It's only okay if the person identifies as such.
But if you want to say you are/were AMAB/AFAB, that's totally fine!
re: nonbinary, trans, terminology
Of course if someone identifies as AxAB nonbinary, or are okay being referred to as such, that's cool.
But as a general rule, I think using those terms outside of the context of nonconsensual identity assignment, is problematic.