Transcription
A series of Tweets.
The first shows no author, and reads:
What does deadname mean?
The second is by Logan☭Lycanthrope @Ciroctopussy, and is a screenshot of the Dragonball Wiki, reading:
in: Terminology
Deadnaming
Deadnaming is the use of the birth or other former name (i.e. a name that is “dead”) of a transgender or non-binary person without their consent
Contents [hide]
1 Overview
The third Tweet is by reby @ rebyricks
Why dragonball wiki of all places
Deadnaming surely applies to cis people who change their names as well right?
Names have power. To deadname someone, regardless of why their name changed, is to strip them of the power to determine how they are referred to. It should be just as offensive to cis people as it is to trans people. I had a professor years ago who said it was akin to using slave names to destroy sense of self, its a power play, and a fucked up one at that.
I think level of offense taken is up to the individual, but otherwise agree.
Which makes one question why woman have their name changed at marriage. I hate the “I now present Mr and Mrs MAN NAME” thing that happens at weddings.
Cw: misogyny by proxy
My religious education had an answer for that, plain and simple that “women are property”. The Master of the Estate and his Mrs.
Its super gross, it actually made me feel kinda icky that my ex wife took my name, for that reason, but tradition prevailed over my opinion there.
I think of furries and other online friends like this, yes. Being trans isn’t the only situation in which one has chosen an identity other than the one they were assigned.
That said, I wouldn’t characterize Vegeta as deadnaming Goku exactly. I can’t recall that Goku is upset by it, and I think it’s mostly there to indicate Vegeta’s continued connection to his home planet even after many years of being an Earthling.
Calling Steven his mom’s name is deadnaming.
Kakarot isn’t Goku’s dead name, it’s not a name he’s leaving behind. It’s Goku non acceptance of the name early on because of his connection to bad things.
He does eventually become proud of the name and embraces entirely of his own will.
The story of the name kakarot is as much Vegetas and his connection and undying pride to his heritage.
As much as it’s Goku’s and his learning to accept what his heritage is, his redefining of it with Vegeta into something good instead of bad.
And the heritage he then goes to leave for his children.
Comparing the story of the name kakarot and what it represents to deadnaming is a pretty wild misunderstanding of what toriyama played out over the years.
Gotta remember this is a story about martial arts written by a Japanese man. Heritage, acceptance and not blaming yourself for the sins of your ancestors are all major themes at play.
Deadnaming while it might on the surface have some cross over. It very much not really at play here in anyway that would be a good faith example.
I can’t say I am that familiar with the source material, its been a long time since I watched DBZ. You could argue that rather than deadnaming, its closer to a nickname perhaps? Or a pseudonym? We all go by different names in different contexts (IRL/online/work), so maybe its closer to that?
It’s meant to be a story of accepting your heritage regardless of the fact they were horrific. Not blaming yourself for those sins, and doing your best regardless so you can leave that heritage in a better state for your children.
Remember DBZ was written by a Japanese man. For as much as DBZ is a silly shonen about muscular men beating each other to death and screaming.
It’s also a story about honor, heritage, family, and self improvement.
Kakarot is very close to a case of finding out your adopted and your fathers last name was Hitler.
Realizing you arnt like your father, improving yourself and making a fresh clean start to the name. So both your adoptive family and your blood families name are honorable and clean.
And that your kids will be proud to share a name with a good man, for he proves that we are all masters of our own density and actions. That your forefathers do not define you.
See, when I watched it, I was 12, and it was about punching and shouting at baddies. And selling kids toys :D