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TRANSCRIPT
The True Meaning of Gender
The True Meaning of Gender
An Insight Into Transgender Oppression
By Amber Petty
DEFINITIONS
Biological SexBiological Sex- - the property of the property of
quality by which organisms are quality by which organisms are
classified as female or male on classified as female or male on
the basis of their reproductive the basis of their reproductive
organs and functionsorgans and functions
GenderGender- - the classification of the the classification of the
sex of a person into male, sex of a person into male,
female, or ambivalentfemale, or ambivalent
Notice the Notice the
difference!?difference!?
BIOLOGICAL SEXVS
GENDER
Biological sexBiological sex is determined by your reproductive organs, is determined by your reproductive organs,
hormones and genes.hormones and genes.
GenderGender is a is a sociallysocially constructed idea of how men and constructed idea of how men and
women should appear and behave. women should appear and behave.
While your biological sex is given to you at birth, your While your biological sex is given to you at birth, your
gender is determined by years of outside influences, gender is determined by years of outside influences,
transforming you in the stereotypical boy or girl.transforming you in the stereotypical boy or girl.
GENDER STEREOTYPES
MaleMale FemaleFemale• tough tough • strongstrong• independentindependent• does not crydoes not cry• masculinemasculine• intelligentintelligent• dominantdominant
• sensitivesensitive• weakweak• dependentdependent• cries a lotcries a lot• femininefeminine• stupid stupid • submissivesubmissive
And these are just a few I have mentioned. The list goes on And these are just a few I have mentioned. The list goes on
and on…..and on…..
CAN GENDER BE A CHOICE?
Since gender is an imaginary idea , created by society and Since gender is an imaginary idea , created by society and
reinforced by our community, then we DO have a choice as reinforced by our community, then we DO have a choice as
to what gender we decide to portray. to what gender we decide to portray.
The idea of GENDER The idea of GENDER does not does not
exist.exist.
Media portraying “stupid” Media portraying “stupid”
female stereotype through female stereotype through
advertising.advertising.
Media portraying dominant and Media portraying dominant and
masculin male roles through masculin male roles through
advertising.advertising.
WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR GENDER?
Now that you have learned you Now that you have learned you
do have a choice whether you do have a choice whether you
identify as a man or a women, identify as a man or a women,
would you change your gender would you change your gender
from the one assigned to you at from the one assigned to you at
birth? birth?
If YES, then you would be If YES, then you would be
considered considered
TRANSGENDERTRANSGENDER..
There are also many negative socially constructed stereotypes There are also many negative socially constructed stereotypes
that are associated with the transgender community. But what that are associated with the transgender community. But what
does transgender really mean?does transgender really mean?
DEFINITION
TransgenderTransgender- one who identifies with or expresses a - one who identifies with or expresses a
gender identity that differs from the one which gender identity that differs from the one which
corresponds to the person’s sex at birth.corresponds to the person’s sex at birth.
Try to imagine growing up knowing that you in the Try to imagine growing up knowing that you in the
wrong body, meant to be a male instead of a female or wrong body, meant to be a male instead of a female or
vise versa. vise versa.
TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #1:Myth #1: Transgender people are Transgender people are
just confusedjust confused
People often think that transgender men and women are People often think that transgender men and women are
just confused or going through a temporary phase, when just confused or going through a temporary phase, when
in reality, they know exactly who they are.in reality, they know exactly who they are.
Just because someone may appear to be different from Just because someone may appear to be different from
the cultural norm, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who the cultural norm, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who
they are.they are.
TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #2: Myth #2: Transgender people are gayTransgender people are gay
Truth is…sexual orientation has nothing to do with Truth is…sexual orientation has nothing to do with
someone’s gender identity.someone’s gender identity.
The transgender community is The transgender community is
usually associated along side the usually associated along side the
gay community, often confusing gay community, often confusing
others about what transgender others about what transgender
really means. They assume really means. They assume
transgender is just a different transgender is just a different
form of gay.form of gay.
TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #3: Myth #3: Transgender people perform in drag Transgender people perform in drag
showsshows
When people are asked what a transgender person looks like, they usually picture When people are asked what a transgender person looks like, they usually picture
a drag queen performing on stage.a drag queen performing on stage.
Truth is, the majority of drag performances are done by non trans people. Truth is, the majority of drag performances are done by non trans people.
When transgender men and women dress in clothes associated with the opposite When transgender men and women dress in clothes associated with the opposite
sex, they are not cross dressing, but dressing in the clothes they identify with the sex, they are not cross dressing, but dressing in the clothes they identify with the
most.most.
TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #4: Myth #4: Transgender people Transgender people
aren’t “real” men or womenaren’t “real” men or women
Just because they may identify with a gender different from Just because they may identify with a gender different from
the one assigned to them at birth, doesn’t make them any the one assigned to them at birth, doesn’t make them any
less human. less human.
This is one of the most well This is one of the most well
know transgender know transgender
stereotypes, as well as one of stereotypes, as well as one of
the most harmful.the most harmful.
TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &
VIOLENCE
In a study done in October of In a study done in October of
2012, research showed that2012, research showed that
““22- 38%22- 38% of trans people have of trans people have
been harassed by police, with been harassed by police, with
upwards of upwards of 15%15% experiencing experiencing
physical abuse and physical abuse and 7%7% being being
sexually assaulted by law sexually assaulted by law
enforcement.”enforcement.”
Police officers are meant to protect the community from harm, Police officers are meant to protect the community from harm,
yet they are physically and sexually abusing innocent human yet they are physically and sexually abusing innocent human
beings, just because they are transgender.beings, just because they are transgender.
TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &
VIOLENCE
In the same study, it also stated In the same study, it also stated
that that 26% 26% of trans people have of trans people have
experience physical assault from experience physical assault from
health care professionals, while health care professionals, while
10%10% have experienced sexual have experienced sexual
assault.assault.
The transgender community is experiencing oppression and The transgender community is experiencing oppression and
violence from people who are meant to help them. If they can’t violence from people who are meant to help them. If they can’t
trust police officers or doctors, then who can they trust?trust police officers or doctors, then who can they trust?
TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &
VIOLENCE
Violence against transgender men Violence against transgender men
and women is becoming more of a and women is becoming more of a
problem each day.problem each day.
About About 50%50% of transgender men of transgender men
and women have experienced and women have experienced
sexual violence in their lifetime sexual violence in their lifetime
and transgender women seem and transgender women seem
to experience more violence to experience more violence
than transgender men. than transgender men.
Why do you think this is?Why do you think this is?
TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &
VIOLENCE
Many straight, masculine Many straight, masculine
males tend to feel confused males tend to feel confused
about their own sexual about their own sexual
orientation, when they find orientation, when they find
themselves attracted to themselves attracted to
transgender women. transgender women.
They feel as if their masculinity They feel as if their masculinity
is being threatened and tend to is being threatened and tend to
act out violently towards these act out violently towards these
transgender women, in order to transgender women, in order to
prove their masculinity to others, prove their masculinity to others,
as well as themselves.as well as themselves.
TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &
VIOLENCE
We need to put an end We need to put an end
to oppression and to oppression and
violence against the violence against the
transgender transgender
community.community.
If our society was better educated on the true meaning of If our society was better educated on the true meaning of
transgender and saw the transgender community as equals, transgender and saw the transgender community as equals,
then maybe this violence would finally stop. then maybe this violence would finally stop.
HOW WE CAN STOP TRANS OPPRESSION
One way that we can help One way that we can help
end the violence and end the violence and
oppression against the oppression against the
transgender community is transgender community is
through through the media.the media.
If the media portrayed transgender men and women as If the media portrayed transgender men and women as
“normal” and just like everybody else, then our society would “normal” and just like everybody else, then our society would
start to treat the transgender community as one of their own. start to treat the transgender community as one of their own.
We need to stop the confusion surrounding the trans We need to stop the confusion surrounding the trans
community and allow others to realize they are no different community and allow others to realize they are no different
from themselves. from themselves.
IN THE MEDIA TODAY
There are a couple influential television shows today that are There are a couple influential television shows today that are
challenging these transgender stereotypes and educating the challenging these transgender stereotypes and educating the
community on the truth about the trans lifestyle.community on the truth about the trans lifestyle.Laverne Cox in Laverne Cox in Orange is the New Orange is the New
BlackBlackJeffery Tambor in Jeffery Tambor in
TransparentTransparent
LAVERNE COXLaverne Cox, an advocate for Laverne Cox, an advocate for
transgender men and women, has made transgender men and women, has made
such a impact on the trans community such a impact on the trans community
through her role as Sophia in through her role as Sophia in Orange is Orange is
the New Black.the New Black.
Since her television debeu, Laverne has spoken Since her television debeu, Laverne has spoken
out many times about growing up as a trans out many times about growing up as a trans
women in our harsh society. She has helped women in our harsh society. She has helped
educate our society about transgender people, educate our society about transgender people,
and has made an huge impact on the fight for and has made an huge impact on the fight for
transgender equality.transgender equality.
LAVERNE COX
Click the link to listen to Laverne talk about her personal Click the link to listen to Laverne talk about her personal
story about being a transgender women. story about being a transgender women.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbNEP8vhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbNEP8vMvmwMvmw
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
One of the easiest ways anyone can help eliminate transgender One of the easiest ways anyone can help eliminate transgender
oppression in our society is by oppression in our society is by talkingtalking about it! about it!
Educate others around you Educate others around you
about transgender about transgender
oppression and help them oppression and help them
better understand the better understand the
transgender community.transgender community.
The more we are educated about the trans community, the closer The more we are educated about the trans community, the closer
we will be to equality.we will be to equality.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.comhttp://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transgenhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transgenderder
http://everydayfeminism.com/2012/08/myths-about-trhttp://everydayfeminism.com/2012/08/myths-about-transgender-people/ansgender-people/
http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/FAQ-10-http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/FAQ-10-
2012-rates-of-violence.pdf2012-rates-of-violence.pdf