Transgender Conformity Essay example - 1171 Words

In the words of Ellen Wittlinger regarding transgender â€Å"...you can only lie about who you are for so long without going crazy† (â€Å"GoodReads†). It is a shame that society would force a person to hide their identity but many have concealed themselves in order to conform into social norms. One group that has been socially marginalized and forced to hide their true selves are the transgender community. The definition of transgender is â€Å"Appearing as, wishing to be considered as, or having undergone surgery to become a member of the opposite sex.† (â€Å"Free Dictionary†) People have many prejudices and ideas of what transgender is but many times these are erroneous. Transgender people have been in society since it began but have been forced into†¦show more content†¦Since this prejudice and hatred is taught in our school systems many times it stays with us until adulthood and is incorporated into our laws. Laws such as Proposition 8 which was proposed in California explicitly targeted LGBTI individuals. This law said â€Å"only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California† (Colombo, p. 81). LGBTI people and their families were increasingly targeted and became the victims of physical harm and discrimination when the Proposition 8 bill was launched (Colombo, p. 85). The ignorance taught in schools that later leaks into laws damage the equality that American society stands by. Instead, ignorance maintains separation and lowers our intelligence. Another part of society that is part of human nature is the need to categorize others to make sense of and interpret others. When a person is born the doctor interprets their sex as either boy or girl depending on which genital organs they possess. The problem with this sex assignment at birth is that it leaves no room for ambiguity which is sometimes needed in cases of intersex and transgender individuals. Without knowing the true gender of a c hild we put them into a category before we even know if they fit. For example, David Reimer who was born male was reassigned as a female after an accident during circumcision occurred (Colombo, p. 554). Doctors believed that reassignment would be best because many believe gender identity is taught.Show MoreRelatedQueer Culture Has Long Been K.d. Lang, Ellen Degeneres, And Elton John1512 Words   |  7 Pagescommunity in that they are gay individuals, they are not wholly representative of the community because there is no one queer story. However, these icons all have cisgender, white privilege which results in a great dearth of representation for transgender, non-binary, and people of color in the media. Another issue with queer representation in the media is the differentiation between gender expression and sexual orientation. Gender expression associated with masculinity such as short hair, looseRead MoreWomen s Process Of Self Discovery1295 Words   |  6 PagesShe also state s that transgender people are adding a new perspective to the narrative of gender that is why â€Å"non-transgender people, from religious conservatives to anti-trans feminists, may see transsexual identities as a threat to their own sense of identity† (Ladin, 2015). I imagine Ladin had in mind Germaine Greer, a renowned feminist when she wrote her article, Greer stated that â€Å"a post-operative transgender woman ‘can’t be a woman’† (Saul, 2015). Nevertheless, comments of this kind challengeRead MoreWe Are A Divided Society1744 Words   |  7 Pagesseats to sit in during a football game according to the team we are rooting for. It is oddly comforting to know that you belong. All too often, transgender youth are denied that sense of belonging because they defy societies categories of male and female. Society’s collective response of marginalization, shaming, and violence negatively impacts transgender youth and their mental health. Expanding our view beyond the gender binary could increase understanding and tolerance. Understanding and toleranceRead MoreHeterosexuals Attitudes Toward Transgender People : Finds From A National Probability Sample Of Us Adults1222 Words   |  5 PagesHeterosexuals’ Attitudes Toward Transgender People: Finds from a National Probability Sample of US Adults. The paper studies the attitudes of heterosexual adult population towards transgender people, while simultaneously clarifying exactly why there exists some hostility towards homosexuals, both in the United States of America. The paper puts across the statement that the word itself (Transgender) is now largely used to factor out groups of people who apparently communicate expressions and qualitiesRead MoreTitle Ix Of The Education Amendment779 Words   |  4 Pagesdysphoria and identifies as a female, access to the female restroom. Though the Supreme Court has not ruled on this topic, a Fourth Circuit ruling, the Department of Education and Department of Justice Dear Colleague Letter, and case law regarding transgender students can help enlighten the school board on this topic. An introductory understanding of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 will assist in this matter. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and its regulations prohibitRead MoreSchools Should R ecognize Transgender Identities1112 Words   |  5 PagesSchools Should Recognize Transgender Identities Transgender students all across the United States are struggling as they try to fit in at their school. A â€Å"Transgender†, or â€Å"Trans† individual is someone â€Å"whose gender is different from the ones they were know as at birth. They may identify as male or female, or they feel that neither gender fits them† (â€Å"What Does Transgender Mean†). As transgender awareness is becoming more known to the public, their issues are becoming more and more obvious. SchoolsRead MoreEvaluation For Medical Treatment For Transgender People836 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Although, an increased number of transgender people are seeking psychotherapy, not many therapists are finding themselves in the role of assessor for medically necessary gender realignment procedures (Budge, 2015). There is a guideline for medical treatment for transgender population and that the document has been widely adopted by major medical insurance companies in the United States (e.g., Atena, BlueCrossBrueShield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare) if such procedures are covered inRead MoreEssay on Relationship Transgender Identity1609 Words   |  7 PagesTransgender is a term that is used to describe men and women who were born a certain sex, but feel their true gender is the opposite. Some live completely - or part time - as the opposite sex. There are also some transgender people that get sex reassignment surgery, completely changing their gender. While the definition of transgender is not yet fully agreed upon and is indeed still changing on a regular basis, there are some ele ments that seem to remain consistent: 1. Not identifying with theRead MoreGender Roles Of Men And Women Have Been Present In Society1418 Words   |  6 Pagesinstead another? How are they affected by how society sees them for not conforming to the traditional gender roles? Transgender people are faced with many judgements from their community based on how they identify themselves, their actions and how they express themselves. Many of the people that judge these individuals do not understand the affect that this can put on a transgender person psychologically. In this essay I will first discuss societies view on traditional gender roles, next I will talkRead MoreTransgender Student Inclusion : Single Sex Colleges917 Words   |  4 PagesTransgender student inclusion Single sex Colleges in the United States are asking one difficult question, should transgender students be allowed to attend their schools despite identifying with another gender or being born the opposite sex? Same sex colleges are arguing among themselves over how same sex colleges, as a whole should treat these students. All female colleges were created in the support of giving education to females who were unwelcomed in higher education. To give the so called, â€Å"lesser