The difference between Furries and Therians/Otherkin
Furries: Furries, or Fursuiters, are people who bring out a Animal CHARACTER with music, suits, and Art.
Therians: People who believe they were born with a Animal spirit.
Otherkin: Exactly the same as Therians only with a mythological creature.
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Please, tell me if ANYTHING is wrong, this is only based off of what I know.
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P.S. the reason I made this is because I was called a Furry.
bitch I’m a Therian.Therians don’t necessarily believe they were born with an “animal spirit,” they just need to identify (non-physically) as an animal which has been proven to exist. The same applies to otherkin, except it’s typically used as an umbrella term, encompassing therians as well as those who are draconic, theriomythic, etc.
Also, there are furries who don’t consider themselves otherkin (or specifically therian, etc) but do not “identify as completely human” non-physically. Actually, professional research into the furry fandom shows a sizable portion of the furry fandom (survey results tend to range around 20% to 10% if I remember right but if you want exact numbers – see sources below) answer questions this way, and not all of those who do also label themselves otherkin
(or specifically therian, etc).(The Anthropomorphic Research Project has actually hypothesized that this lack of using the label of otherkin (or whatnot) could be due to either (1)furries not knowing about otherkin, (2) furries not knowing what otherkin means by definition, (3) hesitate to label themselves otherkin due to any negative views other furries tend to have on the subject.)
So the real difference between furries and otherkin is that – being a furry, at it’s basis, is about being a FAN of anthro animals in media; while being otherkin is about identifying as nonhuman. The thing that unites all furries together is their love and enjoyment for anthro animals in media. On the otherhand, otherkin are all united in their identification as nonhuman.
For more information here are some academic grade sources –
Jeansonne, Sherry A.. Breaking Down Stereotypes: A Look At The Performance Of Self-Identity Within The Furry Community, Texas State University-San Marcos, 2012.Maase, Jakob W. Keeping the Magic: Fursona Identity and Performance in the Furry Fandom, Western Kentucky University, Summer 2015.
Gerbasi, K. C., Paolone, N., Higner, J., Scaletta, L. L., Bernstein, P. L., Conway, S., & Privitera, A., “Furries A to Z: (Anthropomorphism to Zoomorphism).” Society and Animals, Vol.16 (2008): pp 197-222.
Healya, Michael John and Michael B. Beverlandb, “Being sub-culturally authentic and acceptable to the mainstream: Civilizing practices and self-authentication.” Journal of Business Research, Vol. 69, No. 1 (January 2016):pp 224–233. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296315003264 (accessed February 4 2016).
Healya, Michael John & Michael B. Beverlandb. “Unleashing the animal within: Exploring consumers’ zoomorphic identity motives,” Journal of Marketing Management, Vol. 29, No. 1-2,( February 2013):pp 225-248. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0267257X.2013.766233 (accessed February 4 2016).
Reysen, S., Plante, C. N., Roberts, S. E., & Gerbasi, K. C., “A Social Identity Perspective of Personality Differences between Fan and Non-Fan Identities.” World Journal of Social Science Research Vol. 2, No. 1, (2015): pp 91-103.
Stephen Reysen, et al. “Optimal Distinctiveness and Identification with the Furry Fandom.” Current Psychology, (April 2015): pp 1-8, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-015-9331-0 (accessed March 22 2016).
Courtney “Nuka” Plante. Social Psychology of The Furry Fandom. Texas Furry Fiesta 2013. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8s_Rs7CgbE (August 29 2014).
Courtney “Nuka” Plante. The Anthropomorphic Research Project Lecture. Okalacon X. 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HczWdU4RQZY (August 29 2014).
Courtney “Nuka” Plante. Social Psychology of The Furry Fandom. Texas Furry Fiesta 2012. February 25, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6zYWmvHnZQ (August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al. Anthrocon 2013. Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2013, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/anthrocon-2013 (August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al. Anthrocon 2012 & IARP 2-Year Summary. Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2012, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/anthrocon-2012-iarp-2-year-summary (August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al. 2013 Fursona Survey. Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2013, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/2013-fursona-survey (August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al. Furry Fiesta 2013.Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2013, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/furry-fiesta-2013 (August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al Furry Fiesta 2012.Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2012, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/furry-fiesta-2012(August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al. Furry Fiesta 2011. Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2011, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/furry-fiesta-2011 (August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al. International Online Furry Survey: Summer 2011. Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2011, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/international-furry-survey-summer-2011 (August 29 2014).
Plante, Moch, et al. International Online Furry Survey: Winter 2011. Anthropomorphic Research Project. 2011, https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/international-online-furry-survey-2011 (August 29 2014).
Furry Survey Results. Klisoura.com. 2012. http://klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey.php (accessed May 24 2014)
Furry Survey Results. Klisoura.com. 2011. http://klisoura.com/fs2011v.html (accessed May 24 2014).
Furry Survey Results. Klisoura.com. 2010. http://klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey2010.php (accessed May 24 2014).
Furry Survey Results. Klisoura.com. 2009. http://klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey2009.php (accessed May 24 2014).
Furry Survey Results. Klisoura.com. 2008. http://klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey2008.php (accessed May 24 2014).
