вЂњFolksвЂќ is therefore offered as a comfortable gender-neutral alternative. Part of the purpose for the development of the term вЂњfolksвЂќ within the queer Theory context is to avoid using gendered language to address a crowd, say with phrases like вЂњhey guysвЂќ (putatively gender-neutral use of вЂњguysвЂќ) or вЂњ ladies and gentlemenвЂќ (which upholds the sex and/or gender binaries and is therefore exclusive of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming identities вЂ“ see also, inclusion). It is clearly a derivation of the word вЂњ folks,вЂќ which has its own specialized usage and interesting etymology within Critical Social Justice circles (readers are strongly encouraged to see also, folks). It thus appears from activists within Critical Social Justice but usually only within queer contexts, including queer Theoretical scholarship (see also, trans-rights activism). New Discourses CommentaryДЇolx is a made-up word that has its origins in queer Theory. But in certain contexts it can be useful to use the alternative spelling вЂњfolxвЂќ to symbolize inclusion of POC and trans people.

вЂ¦ IS IT WRONG TO USE THE WORD вЂњFOLKSвЂќ NOW? Of course not! There is nothing inherently exclusive about the word вЂњfolksвЂќ. вЂ¦ The reason we need вЂњfolxвЂќ in addition to the gender-neutral вЂњfolksвЂќ is to indicate inclusion of other marginalized groups including people of color (POCs) and trans people. This explanation has drawn criticism, as skeptics correctly point out that вЂњfolksвЂќ is already gender neutral. вЂ¦ Some articles suggest that вЂњfolxвЂќ is more inclusive because it is gender neutral. The spelling has been adopted by some communities because it can be used to indicate inclusion of marginalized groups. вЂњFolxвЂќ is an alternative spelling to the familiar word вЂњfolksвЂќ.

Folx definition