If you spend any time on trans social media, you’ve probably heard the term “brick.” Recently, the term “doll” has been making the rounds after fashion designer Conner Ives created a shirt bearing the phrase “Protect The Dolls.” Several celebrities—such as trans ally Pedro Pascal—began showing off Ives’ design at events to show their support for trans rights.
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The term doll is used as a term of endearment within the trans community when talking about other trans women.
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There have been many debates on the internet recently regarding the term, such as whether it’s okay for cis people to use the term when referring to other cis people, but there is one debate that might be confusing to those who don’t fully understand trans slang: “Are bricks dolls?”
Like doll, the term “brick” has its roots in the ballroom scene of the 70s and 80s. A brick is a trans woman or femme presenting woman who is often clocked, i.e. someone who doesn’t “pass” as a cis woman.
For those of you who are transfeminine and suffer from gender dysphoria, you might have at one point compared your body proportions to that of a brick, which is partly where this term originates.
Because of the example I brought up, the term can be seen as hurtful and unflattering, but can be used in a loving, teasing way.
It is important to note that this was during a time when gender was still viewed as binary and women’s beauty standards were less critiqued: at this time, “passing” could mean different things for someone in their transition. As we know, there is never one correct way to be a woman, whether cis or trans.
In the last 50 years, our understanding of gender expression has broadened; some people now claim the term “brick” as an empowering descriptor.
And seeing that “doll” is an umbrella term used to refer to all trans women, the answer is yes, all bricks are dolls.
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