Stereotypes, we've all heard and seen them mew, and every single time all they do is offer a ridiculousness and place us in a box that we don't really need mew. For instance, the umbrella term transgender has more than just one category. Transgender by definition covers transvestite, crossdresser, bi gender, meta gender, androgynous, neuter gender, gender queer, gender #%$%, transsexual, and anyone who identifies outside of the binary gender system that identifies as transgender.
As someone pointed out in a previous blog, I have noticed that this site tends to push towards Post Op TS with hormones and all that jazz mew. I too once was under this bug, until I realized how cruel it was to others mew. I mean even with transsexual, surgery and hormones isn't necessary, there are transsexuals who don't take hormones or get any surgery mew. One of my greatest friends, his name is Chris, and he is a non-op FtM transsexual crossdresser mew. He doesn't take hormones, or surgery, in fact he wouldn't want to, his reason: "I love my boobs too much" And he even loves wearing dresses and skirts once in a while, that doesn't make him a woman though, he's very firm in his identity as a man. Isn't that awesome mew? That a man can be happy with having a vagina and breasts, yet still identify strongly as a man? ^^ I think it is ^^ After all, a woman doesn't have to have breasts, or a vagina that's not required mew. I mean myself I'm pre-op, I wanted the surgery but my heart condition makes it so I can never get SRS, so does that make me less of a woman? Hormones and surgery are very expensive, and VERY dangerous, you CAN die from HRT and SRS, I almost died from an accidental estrogen overdose mew, and that was very scary.
Okay so that covers Transsexual, now what about the rest of them? What about crossdressers and transvestites? When I first heard of them, I didn't realize there were different kinds until I started doing research mew. Like for instance, social transvestite. This one may be a man or a woman who dresses as the opposite sex not because of sexual pleasure or anything like that, but because they just feel more comfortable dressed in those clothes and they still identify as men and women.
Then even after all that, there's drag kings, drag queens, and honestly I could spend probably about ten more pages describing just how many different known gender identities their are, and probably a million unknown ones mew. The key is though, that every identity is valid whether you're a man, a woman, both, neither, none, or a three toed squirrel. You are awesome ^^ Thank you for your time and hopefully I didn't bore you all too much mew xD
Comments
Well Stated
Everything is perception. One person might think BC is slanted toward the north while another is sure it is bent due south. A remark might seem perfectly innocent that will be interpreted by many as a direct slam. It's not a crime to feel good about who you are, in fact as Princess Chelsea mewed, "You are awesome." Just don't let your awesomeness become a put down to others.
Erin has told me she hasn't experienced what I have regarding a TS bias on BC. In fact she has had complaints about a much different bias. Both perspectives could be happening at the same time.
Yes PC -- there all all kinds of CD's: big one, little ones, tall ones and small ones. The thing is most of them have raw nerve endings from the humiliation and shame they've felt. What might seem like nothing to you could be excruciating to them. Don't be so quick to judge them as thin-skinned. One size does not fit all. The need to be a drama queen might be their only defense mechanism.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Point
Get a bunch of writers together and I guarantee drama. :) I've been a member of a lot of writing groups and one thing writer's are good at is drama. Comes with the territory.
Hugs to all,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Phrases for everything
The problem with the people in general not everyone sees gray. A majority see in black and white. Politcal Correctness replaced stereotyping. So long as opinions are alive and well we will see catch phrases for all sorts of things.
Perception is just that, how one sees the event occuring.
Attorneys do not like eye witnesses because each one who saw a crime saw it from a different aspect and can skew testimony. The longer it takes from the crime to a court date the more invalid the testimony.
As a behavioral scientist I observe people all the time. My perception of individuals is a lot different than someone elses and I have training for observation. I've learned to see people as just that people. I did intakes for drug abusers. I've met the gambit of humanity and when I finally left my job I had realized each person I saw I treated as I want to be treated no better or no worse.
I've spoken to child molesters, rapist, racist, bigots, atheist, agnostics et al, the commanality is they were a living human being who deserved to be treated with kindness and consideration. One has to overlook the baggage accompanying the individual and see them as a singular human.
I use the term transperson when I talk about a male dressing as a female or viceversa for females be it for a moment or a lifetime. I've never liked titles for people to me it is a class divider.
I was taught by my father to accept people as they are. There will be some individuals who rankle you but then they most likely will rankle others also. Be kind to them it may be the only kindness they get. My dad was no great person just another human accepting others for themselves.
Jill Micayla
May you have a wonderful today and a better tomorrow
Jill Micayla
Be kinder than necessary,Because everyone you meet
Is fighting some kind of battle.
Trying to stay open
That's one thing I am trying to do a bit different in my stories right now, is not focus entirely on TS characters. Part of the reason I got so into doing 'Drabble Theatre' pieces- aside from me being able to do them on my PSP- was that they gave me a chance to experiment with different types of TG stories. Crossdressers, drag queens, transvestites, and even people who just tried it for something different- I tried to look into all of these as well as the pre-op and post-op angles that, in all honesty, really are more what interest me.
One of my bigger stories right now is about someone who is crossdressing. Not a transsexual, nor someone who is really into the idea of being a girl. It's a hard story for me to write partially because I have to keep in my head that the character ISN'T a girl, even when pretending to be one. I guess you could say that, while I have absorbed the stereotypes in the stories I've read and, like many others, have a bad habit of using them, I am trying to break that mold as best I can. I'm not afraid of using the stereotypes when they suit me, mind you- if I was, I would never bother to write anything. Sometimes a stereotype, even a 'bad' one, can be used to either make a point or turn something entirely on its head simply by taking the stereotype to its most extreme. If I do have any negative ideas about any 'alternative gender identities' or a bias against writing about one, it would probably be with drag queens, but that's just because I had a pretty bad experience with my ex-room mate and his friends (let me put it this way, a drag queen prostitute who has no respect for anyone other than himself does not make a good roommate for a pre-everything and decidedly celibate me, particularly when they refuse to accept 'no, I'm not gay. I'm a girl' as one of my reasons for refusing to even consider sex with anybody.)
Melanie E.
Stereotypes
Stereotypes. I’ve heard them growl, snarl, and hiss. I’ve seen them destroy countless lives, just like gossip, the other snake that poisons everyone. But I’ve never heard nor seen a stereotype mew.