Shemale

Shemale is a slur historically used to refer to transgender women, largely popularized through pornography. Media and advocacy guides, including GLAAD's reference materials and trans media guides, list it as offensive and dehumanizing because it reduces trans women to their bodies and treats them as a fetish category rather than as women. It is not a neutral descriptor and should not be used to describe a real person. Respectful language is simple: use "transgender woman" or "trans woman," or just "woman," and use the name and pronouns the person uses for themselves. Related terms flagged as inappropriate in the same guides include "tranny," "he-she," and similar labels.