Have you ever come across the term FLINTA* or FLINT* at an event and wondered what it might mean? Read this article to find out what this term is all about and what it means.
Start of the FLINTA* movement
The beginnings of FLINTA* can be found in the 1970s. At that time, the first so-called women’s spaces were created in West Germany, specifically in West Berlin. These were intended to serve as places where women could be among themselves and exchange ideas. Free from all the patriarchal structures that still existed at the time. These women’s spaces subsequently gave rise to numerous projects, such as lesbian groups and women’s cafés.
One important project was the first women’s refuge in West Berlin, which opened in 1976. By the 1980s, there were already more than 100 women’s groups across Germany. In which lesbian women made up a large proportion. Lesbians were not only discriminated against by men, but also by women. To draw attention to this, some groups referred to themselves as Women’s Lesbian Space. In the 1990s, ongoing discussions led to a further opening up for trans and non-binary people. Which eventually resulted in the term FLINTA* or FLINT*.
Collective term for a specific group of people
Many societies were or still are patriarchal, which in simple terms means that men make the important decisions. Counter-models, i.e. groups with a matriarchal structure, can be found in some African and American indigenous ethnic groups (Tuareg, Serer, Iroquois, Navajo). There, women determine the social order. In contrast to matriarchy, in patriarchy people who do not claim male gender identity were or are often subjected to discrimination due to their subordinate role. This is what FLINTA*, an acronym that stands for Frauen/women, Lesbians, intersexuals, non-binary, trans and agender people. As agender, people do not feel that they belong to any gender or completely reject the concept of gender. They often consider themselves to belong to the group of non-binary people. They often also claim the * for themselves. This asterisk (*) at the end is a placeholder for all non-binary gender identities.
Where the term appears, it is intended to emphasise that only people who fall under the term FLINTA* or FLINT* are welcome at events or venues. You as a man, regardless of whether you are homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual, are therefore not welcome.
Excursus generic masculine: This masculine gender is considered to be the result of a patriarchal society that has spanned centuries. Although the resulting generic masculine is grammatically correct, it did not arise solely as a result of the natural development of the German language. Grammars and dictionaries are written by people, and committees determine what is correct or incorrect. It is important to remember that linguistics was a domain of men until well into the 21st century. And that they alone made the rules.
Who exactly belongs to FLINTA* or FLINT*?
Luckily, society is evolving and diversifying, becoming more diverse and colourful. The genders, which have been suppressed for a long time, are driving emancipation forward. And are becoming more visible and also louder. What they need is a linguistic face or an identity-creating word. This is how the term FLINTA* or FLINT* came about. To give you a better understanding of whom the term FLINTA* or FLINT* refers to, you will find a brief description of who is meant in each case in the following paragraphs.
F
The F is usually used for heterosexual cis women. Their biological sex is consistent with their gender identity.
L
The L means lesbian women, although lesbianism does not describe a gender identity, but a sexual orientation. The letter was included in the term in order to give visibility to the achievements of feminism. Which were primarily recognised by lesbian women. Another aspect is that the L is intended to critically point out that femininity, contrary to the views in heteronormative society, does not automatically have to include sex or love relationships with cis men.
I
The group of intersex people is subsumed under the term FLINTA* or FLINT* because they are born with ambiguous sexual characteristics, which is why they receive little or no acceptance from the socially and medically recognised norm. They do not fit into the male or female “pigeonhole”, neither genetically nor anatomically or hormonally.
N
Non-binary people do not identify with one of the two socially recognised biological genders, or not just one. They often stand between or even outside the gender binary, and are often fluid when it comes to their own gender identity. As they therefore fall outside the binary system, they feel they belong to the N in FLINTA* /FLINT*.
T
People are described as trans people if they cannot identify with their innate gender or the gender characteristics assigned to them and would prefer to live physically and socially in the opposite gender. Both trans men, trans women and trans*gender people are addressed with the T, because they all have experiences of discrimination, which FLINTA* is campaigning against.
A
Agender people, many of whom also refer to themselves as genderless, do not belong to any gender by their own definition or even reject the entire gender model. Because being agender is a special form of non-binarity, the A of FINTA* is sometimes omitted. In this case, agenda persons feel represented by the A or the *.
*
The asterisk (*) at the end of FLINTA* or FLINT* is used to include all persons not explicitly mentioned. These are those who do not categorise themselves in one of the above-mentioned sexual orientations or gender identities, or do not wish to identify as such.
Why FLINTA* creates important safeguards
For people who belong to a minority and who have experienced physical or psychological discrimination, it is important to be able to communicate without fear and to have places where they can be who they are. That’s why safe spaces are needed. Perhaps you have already been confronted with discrimination as a homosexual man. Then you know how important fear-free safe spaces are. In the case of people who feel they belong to FLINTA*, cis men are the main group of people with whom they have experienced discrimination. It is precisely for this reason that you will often find the notice “FLINTA* only” and should respect it.
FLINTA* safe spaces under discussion
Where there is sun, there is always shade. Discussions surrounding the question of who is welcome in FLINTA* safe spaces could be seen as dark shadows. The FLINTA* concept is facing headwinds from various sides. Cis men, for example, argue that they have equal rights and see their exclusion from relevant events as a form of discrimination against them.
However, it is not only cis men who are bothered by such protective barriers, but also Terfs (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists) or representatives of so-called cis feminism. In their opinion, INTA* people break into the protective spaces for women and thus take away the visibility of “real” women. The reason for this kind of thinking is the opinion that biological sex and gender identity cannot be separated. There are certainly positive examples in dealing with the topic, for example at Goethe University, where the term FLINTA* is thought of sectionally and no value is placed on following an exclusionary, white cis-feminism.
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