Folx is a made-up word that has its origins in
queer Theory. It thus appears from activists within
Critical Social Justice but usually only within
queer contexts, including queer Theoretical scholarship (see also,
trans-rights activism). It is clearly a derivation of the word “
folks,” which has its own specialized usage and interesting etymology within Critical Social Justice circles (readers are strongly encouraged to see also,
folks).
Part of the purpose for the development of the term “folks” within the queer Theory context is to avoid using
gendered language to address a crowd, say with phrases like “hey guys” (putatively gender-neutral use of “guys”) or “
ladies and
gentlemen” (which upholds the
sex and/or
gender binaries and is therefore
exclusive of
transgender,
non-binary, and
gender non-conforming identities – see also,
inclusion). “Folks” is therefore offered as a comfortable gender-neutral alternative.
Queer Theory is rarely content with such applications in and of themselves because they are insufficiently
disruptive of
normativities or may, in fact, end up somehow supporting or maintaining them. Of concern with the term “folks,” for example, is that its translation in some languages
is gendered, such as “
la gente” in Spanish, which is gendered feminine (see also,
phallogocentrism,
Derrdiean, and
deconstruction). The term “
folks” is also used in many different context and thus does not clearly signal one’s
queer politics. These are both significant
problematics that need to be addressed by
queering the language, specifically here through the creation of intentionally political and inherently
anti-gendered terms like “folx” (see also,
womxn and
Latinx). Such a creation solves both problems at once because “folx” is not a word—thus not gendered—in any language, including Esperanto, and thus is
only used by people who wish to signify adherence to queer politics.
It’s almost impossible not to see this alternative spelling as both unnecessary and insane. Indeed, it is both. As can be read in the example provided below, one of the reasons that “folks” is not considered
gender–
inclusive enough is because the wrong kinds of activists (
feminists – namely “
trans-exclusionary radical feminists”) have started using “folks” in keeping with standard Critical Social Justice usage, so the right kinds of activists need an alternative term that distinguishes them from the more
problematic activists (see also,
non-consensual co-platforming). Apparently, although the use of the word “folks” in Critical Social Justice is profoundly influenced by origins in black feminist and critical race Theory thought, queer Theorists (who are the centers of their own worlds) seem unaware of this longer, deeper etymology. In a show of “true”
solidarity, then, they have graciously extended the use of the word “folx” to
people of color, possibly presumably because the word “folks” is commonly used by (
white supremacist,
racist,
culturally racist,
anti-black) white conservatives.
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