use “i” statements – speak for yourself and your experiences. try not to speak for others or...
TRANSCRIPT
TRANSGENDER IDENTITY AND LIVES
Use “I” statements – speak for yourself and your experiences. Try not to speak for others or for groups of people.
Accept that you can (and will) make mistakes surrounding diversity training. We are all fallible and don’t know everything there is to know. If you make a mistake, apologize (sincerely) and move on.
Hear (not just listen to) what others are saying, especially if it is a viewpoint different than what you believe. Each person has their own experience that is the “truth” for them.
Be willing to learn! It isn’t enough just to sit through a Safe Zone training if you aren’t willing to learn.
Be here. There are always countless other things we could be doing, but you chose to be here. Be involved with the conversation, don’t dominate, and listen attentively.
Ground Rules
Respect the privacy and confidentiality of what is said and shared during this session. Feel free to express your thoughts and know that others will keep them confidential.
Please turn off all cell phones or electronic devices that might distract or interrupt the session.
Have fun! This experience is a fun one because you are becoming one of a growing number of Safe Zone Allies on campus and that means something important to the campus community!
Others you might have? Mention that now to your facilitators!
Ground Rules cont’d
Trans*: an umbrella term for the whole transgender community the asterisk is used to include non-binary identities.
Outing or to Out someone: to tell others who don’t know about someone’s identity without their permission. This can be dangerous and can cause people to get hurt.
Passing: when a trans* person is read as the gender they identify by other people without question. Many trans* people find this term offensive because it makes it seem as if trans* people are “fooling” others.
Terms to know:
Gender Identity or more simply, Gender: someone’s innate sense of self and their gender.
Sex: One’s biological characteristics that may or may not match their gender identity.
Gender Expression: How someone externally expresses their gender. How someone dresses can never truly tell you how someone identifies, so never assume based on what you see!
Terms to know cont’d:
Sex and Gender are often used interchangeably, but they really shouldn’t.
Trans* people’s identities often don’t match what their biology is.
Special note about Sex and Gender
diagram
Trans Symbols
Trans pride flag
Genderqueer pride flag
Trans identity symbol
"The stripes at the top and bottom are light blue, the traditional color for baby boys. The stripes next to them are pink, the traditional color for baby girls. The stripe in the middle is white, for those who are intersex, transitioning or consider themselves having a neutral or undefined gender. The pattern is such that no matter which way you fly it, it is always correct, signifying us finding correctness in our lives.“-about the flag from creator Monica Helms
Trans man/FTM- a term used by men who were female assigned at birth (FAAB). Some that would be labeled a trans man may prefer to think of themselves as a man with a transgender experience.
Trans woman/MTF- a term used by women who were male assigned at birth (MAAB). Some that would be labeled a trans woman may prefer to think of themselves as a woman with a transgender experience.
Genderqueer- an identity that does not follow the gender binary. A genderqueer person may identify as between male and female or they won’t base their identity off preexisting notions about gender. May or may not use gender neutral pronouns.
Transsexual- a term falling out of use to talk about those who have medically or legally transitioned to live as the gender with which they identify.
Common Trans* Identities
Bigender-identifying with two genders Agender- identifying with no gender Cross-dresser- someone who wears clothes that are
typically worn by those who are the “opposite” sex Gender Fluid- an identify that flows and morphs
between two or more genders over time. This can be every month or every day, it depends on the person.
Intersex- while not a trans* identity, many who are born with varying degrees of male and female biology have their sex chosen for them, which may or may not match with how they identify later in life.
Other Trans* Identities
Other Relevant Trans* terms
Gender varient- another term used to talk about those who are not cisgender Cisgender- someone who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth Gender Identity Disorder (GID): A “mental illness” as described by the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV). It will be removed from 2013’s DSM-V and replaced with Gender Dysphoria, which is not a mental illness. This change is very welcomed as it means trans* people can receive treatment without having to be labeled with a mental disorder which could prevent them from getting certain jobs.
Gender Dysphoria: Not only a listing in the new DSM-V, but is used by trans* people to describe the distress and anxiety that many feel about certain parts of their body. More on this later.
FAAB- Female Assigned At Birth (born with a vagina, uterus, XX chromosomes, etc.
MAAB- Male Assigned At Birth (born with a penis, testicles, XY chromosomes, etc.)
Gender Neutral Pronouns: What Are They?
Subject Object Possessive Adjective
Possessive Pronoun
Reflexive
Female She Her Her Hers Herself
Male He Him His His Himself
Singular They
They Them Their Theirs Themself*
Gender Neutral
Ze Hir Hir Hirs Hirself
*Singular they follows all the same rules as plural they, except one: instead of themselves, use themself.
Chart adapted from http://web.mit.edu/trans/
Using correct pronouns is important: it validates a trans* person’s identity. Here’s a handy pronoun guide of common pronouns.
How to say them and use them
They went to their bedroom.
I am their sibling.
They are proud of themself.
Ze Hir Hirs Hirself
/zee/ /here/ /heres/ /hereself/
She went to her bedroom.
I am her sibling.
She is proud of herself.
He went to his bedroom.
I am his sibling.
He is proud of himself.
Ze went to hir bedroom.
I am hir sibling.
Ze is proud of hirself.
You should be fairly familiar with these…
If you are unsure of how someone identifies, it doesn’t really matter unless you are talking to or about them.
The best way to find out what pronouns to use is to just ask.
But ask them privately and respectfully, if you ask in front of a group, it can unnecessary out someone!
How to ask what pronouns to use…
Accept that sex and gender are not the same. Not all with male anatomy (penises, testes, chest hair, Adam’s apple, etc.) are
men and not all men have male anatomy. Not all with female anatomy (vagina, clitoris, uterus, breasts, etc.) are women
and not all women have female anatomy. When talking about access to abortion, contraception, pelvic exams, etc. recognize
that not everyone who accesses these services are women and not all women need these services. Instead of “women’s rights” say “reproductive rights”. Instead of “women seeking treatment” say “people who need treatment” or if
specifically talking about vaginas or the uterus, say “those assigned female at birth”.
Never say “a transgender” or “a trangendered person” Saying “a transgender” dehumanizes transgender people. Saying “transgendered” makes the trans* experience sound like something that
happened to someone, instead of a part of their life. Don’t say “men and women”, “ladies and gentlemen”, etc.
Instead say “everyone”, “you all”, etc.
Make Every Conversation Gender Inclusive
Many trans* people choose to transition in one way or another. Not all trans* people transition in all areas of their life for a multitude of reasons. Here are some parts of transitioning:
Social: asking others to use new name, different pronouns, presenting in a way that better matches one’s gender identity
Medical: beginning Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), having top or bottom surgery, having other surgeries or procedures (electrolysis, facial or bodily feminization or masculinization, liposuction, etc)
Legal: name change, changing sex markers on legal documents,
Transitioning
Dysphoria can be debilitating, making going out in public difficult or impossible.
Dysphoria can also affect romantic and other personal relationships.
Dysphoria can be caused by many things including being misgendered by others or just looking at one’s anatomy.
Not all trans* people experience dysphoria in the same way or about the same things.
Dysphoria
Issues faced by transfolk Lack of access to trans-specific or trans-accepting doctors and other
health care professionals. Large amounts of violence towards the community. People often invalidate a trans* person’s identity when they find out that
person is trans*. Trans* people often have to be labeled as having a mental disorder to
receive care. Being misgendered (wrong pronouns, people using “Ma’am” instead of
“Sir” and vice versa, etc) Inability to find well fitting clothes that match their gender identity. Trans* youth are often kicked out of their house or abused in their
homes. Trans* adults often lose family, partners, and their kids once out.
Keep in mind…
The trans community is diverse and varying, just like every community. Not everyone agrees on everything.
There’s nothing wrong with “looking trans”. Even if someone isn’t “passing”, it doesn’t mean that they are any less than what they identify.
When in doubt, ASK!
Campus Resources
Safe Zone wou.edu/safezoneWOU Campus [email protected]
Triangle [email protected] Student OrganizationAdvisor: Carli Rohner
WOU Stonewall Center(503) 838-8367Werner University Center, 108C
ASWOU's Gender and Sexual Diversity
Advocate
ASWOU's Director of Equal Rights Organizer
Student Health and Counseling Center
(503) 838-8313
Campus Public Safety
(503) 838-8481
Local and National Resources
Salem GLBTQ Resources
www.salempride.com
Extensive list of resources, links and organizations in the Salem area.
OSU Pride Center
http://oregonstate.edu/pridecenter/resources/corvResources.php
Human Rights Campaign Foundationwww.hrc.org
National Consortium of Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resources in Higher Education
www.lgbtcampus.org
PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
www.pflag.org
National Center for Transgender Equality http://transequality.org/index.html