'I'm a Girl'

[ismnotwasm]

Evidently this is an older show, for some reason it was on the TV just now, and I started watching it. I don't remember seeing it before


A transgendered little girl, M-F with supportive parents. I always find it sad that the social constructs of gender are based on patriarctical notiions of the feminine. This little girl identifies with social cues, dresses, nail polish, demure aspect. No chance to be a "tomboy" or having free, ungendered dreams. Not that many of us do, but how completely impossible those dreams would be for a transgendered child.

I was blown away with how loving and supportive her parents are.


'I'm a Girl' -- Understanding Transgender Children

From the moment we're born, our gender identity is no secret. We're either a boy or a girl. Gender organizes our world into pink or blue. As we grow up, most of us naturally fit into our gender roles. Girls wear dresses and play with dolls. For boys, it's pants and trucks.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3088298

[lightningandsnow]

1. I saw that about a year ago.

I saw that and it was absolutely heartwarming. Good for those parents!

As for gender constructs: people have things they like and don't like, it varies from person to person, and it isn't always based on social brainwashing and the like. I mean, I'm a total feminist, but I find that I'm naturally a very "girly" kind of person. Love wearing dresses, lipstick, feeling girly. Do I think all women should act this way? Hell no. Do I enjoy it? Yes. I also like things like playing guitar and cursing a lot. Ha.

A lot of the trans people I know aren't really rigidly stereotyped. I have a friend who's FTM, but hates sports, is a feminist, hates macho posturing, loves good literature, and is a total theatre geek. My boyfriend (he's also a trans guy) is like that too - very quiet, into theatre and art, not really that butch at all.

Also, have you ever read "Whipping Girl" by Julia Serano? She's a trans woman, and her book is about how femininity is often looked down upon, how that applies to male-bodied people who express femininity, and how it's related to sexism. Brilliant read. In it, she points out that she is not all that stereotypically "feminine" - that she usually wears t-shirts and jeans, curses like a sailor, and the like.

Unfortunately, for trans people, it's often kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If they identify strongly with characteristics associated with their identified gender, they're accused of upholding patriarchal gender norms; if they don't, they're often accused of "not being really trans".

[ismnotwasm]

2. No, I haven't read that

I'll look for it. It sounds great.

I always muse over what is actually "feminine" since feminine means different things to me than it does to society, and what is social construct. Girly, I don't do. I'm in very good shape with a lot of muscle, so I'm in no way typical in appearence, and I love my body--also not very typical.

I like the art of self decoration. Which may or may not include any number of props. Make-up, jewelry, hair, piercings, clothes. I like dresses, because they're comfortable and beautiful. I HATE high heels, but don't mind comfortable shoes that give a height boost. It's the "feminine" fashions and notions that are directed by patriarchy into rigid fuck me gender role instructions I object to. They're limiting and boring.

I do acknowledge the mating games. When people are out and looking for sex or a mate, they usually dress accordingly.

I agree so much with you on the difficulty of the transgendered. They hold a mirror to our pretensions. Their existence challenges, or should challenge everyone's perceptions of gender and sexuality.

[bliss_eternal]

4. As a fellow heel hater...

...that does like the occasional height boost, I was thrilled to see wedgies come back in fashion. Though I recently learned that wedgies are huge in other countries, where people tend to walk alot--so there are some websites that specialize in selling them year round. Who knew?

Unfortunately the fashion industry got hold of them, so some have a ridiculous high heel. :eyes: But as long as they aren't the "high fashion" brands/designs, I think they're a decent shoe--provides a lift and comfort.

[bliss_eternal]

3. Thanks for the book rec.!

My "need to read" list is growing ever longer. :hi: