Kelli Noeska

Digital Studies Assignment 2

A big part of our generation now that is seen more frequently and I would say more

socially acceptable would be transgender people. Even though it can be considered a political

controversy, I would argue that digital technologies and what not have transformed this issue.

Fortunately it has helped to make transgender people more acceptable and personally

comfortable. In many cases transgender people use social medias to their advantage. Also we

have seen on television and in the spot light, famous people who are transgender and accepted by

the public. Lastly other aspects such as coming out, or changing their physical appearance have

been supported through digital technologies and therefore are much more frequent.

Unfortunately, like any controversial issue there comes about criticism, hardships, doubts, and

problems. Overall I have found that this generations and time era have supported transgender

people and that social medias, and other forms of technology have helped to shape the

transgender community.

To start off it is important to know and understand a textbook definition of transgender, a

person who's gender identity and expression does not match their assigned sex and is

independent of their sexual orientation. Therefore I thought it was smart to start with some of the

minor overlooked features of transgender people.

The physical appearance of a transgender person plays a huge role in their life. A great

example of how digital technologies have helped to shape this aspect is the hit show on E,

"Botched." Although this show is obviously not directly related to transgender people it is a

show specifically for all sorts of plastic surgery, from minor to extreme. As we already know, it

is very common for transgender people to change their physical appearance through plastic

surgery. The show has become very popular and has seemed to have an impact on people's view

and opinion towards plastic surgery. Since it shows how common it has become, not just in

famous people but in everyday lives, it has helped to make it more socially acceptable. The

newest episode is actually about a woman named Monique Allen. She attended a catholic all

boys’ school, and at age 18 went through a sex reassignment. In the show Allen talks about how

when she got older and grew up to become, "Monique," she then developed a, "a cult following."

She also talks about other transgender friends who got her into plastic surgery. Allen has had

numerous face lifts, eyebrow lifts, nose jobs, and over a gallon of liquid silicon in her body. She

reached out to the surgeons on the show Botched for her reconstruction surgery to fix the

problems from previous surgeries. This is a great example how a very popular show, "Botched,"

on a highly watched network, "E," has not only mixed similar encounters of males and females,

but also highlighted on the transgender community. It shows no discrimination towards anyone,

and has hopefully reached out to other transgender people to feel comfortable through similar

experiences they are going through.

Another important feature of transgender people in their physical appearance is the

clothes they wear. We see in many cases transgender people will cross-dress so that they can feel

more comfortable being in the clothes of the sex they truly feel to be. A great example we see in

digital technologies of this is another fairly popular television show, "RuPaul's Drag Race." This

is not to be confused with transvestites or drag queens, but rather the social acceptance that has

come from this show since it aired. This show began in 2009 and is now on its seventh season.

Two contestants on the show that have been very well liked are transgender, Carmen Carrera,

and Monica Beverly Hillz. This was a great way for both to be seen in the public eye cross-

dressing while also being around other males who enjoy doing the same.

After all the acceptance and popularity of the show and transgender people, it didn't come

without controversy. Unfortunately the host and star of the show RuPaul was caught in the

middle of the controversial word used on the show, "shemale," and "tranny," and then in high

criticism after RuPaul's comments about transgender people. RuPual said that the people who

actually have a problem with these words are, "looking for a storyline to strengthen their identity

as victims." Not only did thousands of fans of the show have a problems with what was said but

it can be easily taken offensively by the transgender community. Fortunately Carmen Carrera

and Monica Beverly Hillz previous transgender contestants fired back positively. "I have fought,

and am still fighting, for respect from society -- to be accepted as a woman and not referred as a

tranny or she-male," said Monica Beverly Hillz. "After being on TV and coming out, it is very

difficult to live a normal life," said Hillz. "Let this be a learning experience.... the show has

opened up and educated the minds of many people who were ignorant to the world... and had

made equality and respect a possibility for those involved," said Carrera via Facebook. This is a

prime example of how Carrera was able to speak out in favor of the transgender community

through social media. Carmen Carrera got 3,600 likes and 171 shares and is seen as a public

figure on social medias. Not only did Carrera perfectly respond to the controversial statements

made, but was able to do so because of the digital technologies and social medias we have now.

Both women can thank digital technologies, more specifically the television show for the fame

they instantly gained, but their compassion and bravery throughout it all is what they should be

most proud of. The television show and unfortunate controversy is best used as a learning

experience for all and plays a huge role in helping to shape a better more acceptable life for

transgender people, especially when it comes to speaking politically correct when addressing any

transgender person.

Looking at how digital technology has had an effect in the transgender community from a

different standpoint, I found some influential people in Hollywood who have also used digital

technologies to their advantage. A great example is Laverne Cox. She is a transgender woman

who played "Sophia Burset," in Netflix's hit show, Orange is the New Black. Cox is the first

transgender women of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show. She

was also named as a woman of the year by Glamour Magazine. "When we get to know people as

people, then all the misconceptions that we might have as folks who are different from us gets

knocked away," said Cox for her profile in Glamour. She also said, "I met people who say that

my role has given them the courage to say, 'This is who I am," and 'I can transition and be

successful and to be out as a Trans person.'" Laverne Cox has already made history and gained

thousands of fans and supporters through digital technologies in such a short period of time. Not

only has she brought awareness as a transgender actress in Hollywood but playing a role in the

show as a transgender woman helped for the cause as well. Cox also retweeted a tweet from a

fan that read, "I've long considered myself to be open minded, but you have expanded it further.

THANK YOU."

Cox also has her own personal website, www.lavernecox.com. Her website has her

biography, links to her social media sites, videos, pictures, and schedule of Cox's motivational

speeches she gives. Laverne Cox has easily been able to make a name for herself in the acting

world besides being a transgender woman. She has used television shows, her acting career,

social media, and her own website to inspire other transgender woman to live normal lives just

like everyone else. We can argue that without digital technologies Lavarne Cox wouldn't have

been able to help shape the transgender community as well as she already has.

Another huge influence from the transgender community, as many already know, is

Bruce Jenner. The most powerful achievement Jenner gained from digital technologies is coming

out through a televised interview. A big part transgender people struggle with other than

acceptance and awareness in society, is coming out to friends and family as well the public.

Bruce Jenner is known as an Olympic gold medalist to most, also as the star and father

figure on another hit show on E, "Keeping up with the Kardashians." After divorcing his last

wife Kris Jenner, Bruce Jenner has been under the public eye. He went through series allegations

and criticisms of making changes to his appearance and a possible sex change. For very long no

one knew what to believe. On April 24, 2015 ABC's 20/20 aired Diana Sawyer's dramatic

interview with Bruce Jenner. It was highly anticipated and had millions of people tuned in to see

what was to be said. On this televised interview Bruce Jenner was able to finally come out to the

public and tell everyone his truth on being a transgender person. "My brain is much more female

than it is male. It is hard for people to understand that but that is what my soul is," said Jenner

during the interview. As everyone would understand coming out, especially when being a public

figure, father, ex-husband, and much more, is nothing less than easy. Jenner explained all his

thoughts and emotions going on since he had been a young boy. The most incredible part is that

he was able to share his experiences and struggles with the world. Without digital technologies

this would never have been possible. Jenner's emotional interview was also able to answer many

common questions people have about transgender people, such as sexual orientation, genitals,

and gender surgeries.

Diana Sawyer conducted the interview with grace and elegance, asking all the right

questions, while leaving enough time and understanding to let Jenner explain and talk about

whatever he felt necessary to be said. During the interview with Jenner, Sawyer also was able to

speak with Jenner's family and loved ones. Each one was able to explain exactly how they were

feeling when Bruce Jenner told them the truth on being a transgender person. His son Brody

Jenner said, "It all makes sense." "I feel like I am getting an upgraded version of my dad, of a

parent," said Bruce's other son Brandon Jenner. Overall Jenner's friends and family were nothing

more than supportive and loving towards him.

The point of ABC's interview was obviously to let Bruce Jenner explain his thoughts and

personal emotions on his life, but also to educate the public. Throughout the interview, it

provided links to other educational resources on the matter. "I would like to work with this

community to get this message out. They know a lot more than I know. I am not a spokesperson

for this community. I believe we can save some lives here," said Jenner during the interview.

Some complaints after the interview aired was that it only showed the life of one specific

transgender person, and that not everyone in the transgender community go through the same

things. An advantage to be taken from the interview is again to spread awareness to something

that is not usually highlighted in the everyday world. It is important for people to learn from the

interview and shed light on what is unknown about the transgender world and strive to make it

better, with no discrimination, and equal opportunities for everyone. This interview in particular,

as well as many other digital technologies we have today was able to do so.

Lastly I thought I would take the time to see how everything I have come across,

researched and discussed so far about the transgender community and its relationship with digital

technologies can relate to some of the articles we have read in class. Although we did not read a

specific article that was about transgender people, I have found one that can still relate to the

issue. In Jessie Daniel’s article, “Rethinking Cyberfeminism(s): Race, Gender, and

Embodiment,” it is mostly about women’s role in the internet and the whether it is gender biased

or not. I was still able to find a few things Daniel’s said that really interested me. She starts with

explaining that Cyberfeminism is not one specific theory or movement but rather a huge, “range

of theories, debates, and practices about the relationship between gender and digital culture.”

Then she goes on to discuss that some people may relate to Cyberfeminism as the ‘old’ and the

‘new.” While this is a very broad statement I think that this statement can show a change to the

look and opinion of women’s role in digital technologies. Some of the practices Daniels says that

women use to promote Cyberfeminism include, “experiment and engagement with various

Internet technologies by self-identified women across several domains including work,

education, domestic life, civic engagement,” etc. This shows the change and increase of

women’s role in use of the internet. This can help explain and relate to what we have seen with

the change in acceptance and awareness of transgender people more recently thanks to digital

technologies as well as the change over all for women’s role in digital technologies.

Overall with all the examples and specific experiences and stories I have provided, it is

safe to say that the transgender community and transgender people individually have been

shaped and changed for the better because of digital technologies. From all the publicity and

acknowledgement it has gained recently it has been able to bring out positive outcomes and

awareness to others. It has given specific transgender individuals the opportunity to speak out to

others while succeed in life like anyone else. Not only has all of this been possible, but

everything I have previously discussed is also all found online, with specific articles for the

public to learn and read about. Like the very popular saying, "Any sort of publicity is good

publicity." Even though this saying can be taken in both directions, it is important to see how

television shows, internet sites and articles have brought about awareness to the transgender

community. Any sort of political controversy can be good and bad but what we need to do is

appreciate the good it has brought for so many. Whether these digital technologies and social

media sites have brought about hatred or bullying towards transgender people what is more

important is to learn from it, change it for the better, and focus on the advantages it has brought

for everyone else. Thanks to digital technologies we have been able to avoid the ignorance to this

important issue and the neglect and unfairness transgender people face every day. In the end, the

awareness we have gained from digital technologies alleviates some of the social pressure

against the transgender community while facing less criticism and gaining more understanding

towards the issue.

Works Cited

http://www.eonline.com/shows/botched/news/569807/transgender-monique-allen-shares-her-

story-of-plastic-surgery-addiction-after-sex-reassignment-see-the-botched-clip

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/27/rupauls_aggressive_tirade_in_defense_of_the_term_tranny/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/01/drag-race-transphobia_n_5072399.html

http://www.lavernecox.com/

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/fullpage/bruce-jenner-the-interview-30471558

https://blackboard.vcu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-5341359-dt-content-rid-14472372_2/courses/ENGL-

391-001-2015Spring/daniels.rethinking-cyberfeminisms.pdf