The film Beautiful Daughters and article "Trans Woman Manifesto" challenges preconceived notions of transgender identity that is stereotyped in American culture. Both of these discussed trans woman, who as Serano said "are so ridiculed and despised because we are uniquely positioned at the intersection of multiple binary gender-based forms of prejudice: transphobia, cissexism, and misogyny" As an individual who chooses to identify as and/or lives as a woman, trans females face forms of oppression that trans men do not experience because of the simple fact that our society views femininity as inferior to masculinity. The gender binary of male and female that our society has constructed and the acceptable ways to express and live in this gender that was assigned at birth is the only way gender is understood our culture. In the article Serano said "there is no such thing as a "real" gender - there is only the gender we experience ourselves as and the gender we perceive others to be (pg. 442)", but our society doesn't have this view. Instead there is an "extraordinary amount of pressure on individuals to conform to all of the expectations, restrictions, assumptions, and privileges associated with the sex they were assigned at birth (pg. 442)", which is exactly what our culture values, masculine as superior to feminine.
This unit helped link the oppression that transwoman face is the same forms of misogyny that cisgender females experience, both living in a male dominated, masculine valued society that persists today. The male centered gender hierarchy is why transwoman are not as easily accepted or tolerated as trans men in our culture. It was positive to see Beautiful Daughters and how for the first time an all transwoman cast was able to have their presence seen and accepted in the Vagina Monologues, which has in the past been an all cisgender female cast to bring awareness to violence against woman and celebrating being a woman. Cisgender people can act as allies by deconstructing the notion that their are differences between women and men, and the fact as cisgenders, because your subconscious and physical sexes are aligned, this is not the case for every person. Do not make judgments on peoples gender identity just on appearance that our society through popular culture and the media only knows as what is feminine and what is masculine. We all live in a male dominated society that needs to first change before our culture can empower people of all sexualities and genders.
I agree, before further change to decrease the amount of discrimination they experience the male dominated society needs to be tampered with. You raised a good point in stating that we should not make judgments on people gender identity just because of their appearance. I'm a strong believer that it's not the outside that matters but more the inside. This class has really opened my eyes to the amount of discrimination on so many different areas.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the male dominance in our society is a leading factor, but at the same time I think that the major problem is both women and men accepting transgender people. Both need to accept transgender people for who they feel they are, not what cisgender people want to think they are.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting post, I agree with what Joanielee said about women and men need to accept transgender people and I think really understand what these trans gender people go through. I liked when you said people shouldn't make judgements on someone's gender identity solely on appearance, couldn't be more true.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that transgender women are not as easily accepted as trangender men, "Beautiful Daughters" shed light on the fact that transgender women are not held back as much in the working world. For example, one of them was able to get into real estate. All of them seem to be successful at what they do. Although, I do remember one mentioning that she didn't come out with her past at her job. Relationships are also affected too but I wonder if this is the case for transgender men too?
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading your post and the other comments that your blog inspired. I agree with you, that we can't make judgements on who people are just because of their appearnace and that feminity and masculinity should not be based solely on waht the media makes it out to be. Those lucky enough to be casted in the Vagina Monologues for made of all trans women seem to have really found a strong group of women where they can all support each other and be totally accepted.
ReplyDeleteWhen talking about deconstructing the notion that their are differences between women and men, is it less an idea of them being different and more the idea of them being similar? I'm asking because that section in the article confused me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback everyone. I do agree that transgender acceptance is an issue among both men and woman in mainstream culture, and for someone to not even begin to want understand anything about what transgender identity is and refusing to carry the conversation any further. This I think is simple ignorance, and there needs to be tools available to allies to help them start the conversation and spread the fundamental ideas that are necessary to begin to talk about and understand gender equality, and work towards breaking down the gender binary society is currently stuck in (meaning masculine and feminine gender roles, and nothing else).
ReplyDeleteEthan, to your question about deconstructing the notion that their are differences between women and men, I believe in what you said that it is less about difference between individuals (as our society currently accepts people as only being male or female) and more the idea that every one is similar and requires the same fundamental, basic things in life, such as food, shelter, a safe community, ect...regardless of how people decide to express their identity. Oppression that our society perpetuates on people that don't conform with cultural norms provides the complete antithesis of individuals living in safe community. Transgender oppression is yet again another form of hate that our society is choosing to perpetuate rather than taking the steps necessary to help deconstruct what is causing these ideas and thoughts for people to persist in denying individuals any acceptance or voice as a person.