Table of Contents

Title Page Dedication Introduction Trans Woman Manifesto

PART 1 - Trans/Gender Theor

Cha!ter 1 - Coming to Terms "ith Transgenderism and Transse#ualit Cha!ter $ - %&irt Chasers' Wh the Media De!icts the Trans Re(olution in ))) Trans Woman Archet !es in the Media

The *ascination "ith +*emini,ation-

The Media.s Transgender Ga!

*eminist De!ictions of Trans Women

Cha!ter / - 0efore and After' Class and 0od Transformations Cha!ter 1 - 0o gasms and Girlgasms' A *ran& Discussion About 2ormones and ))) Cha!ter 3 - 0lind %!ots' 4n %ubconscious %e# and Gender 5ntitlement Cha!ter 6 - Intrinsic Inclinations' 5#!laining Gender and %e#ual Di(ersit

Reconciling Intrinsic Inclinations "ith %ocial Constructs

Cha!ter 7 - Pathological %cience' Debun&ing %e#ological and %ociological Models ))) 4!!ositional %e#ism and %e# Reassignment

Traditional %e#ism and 5ffemimania

Criti8uing the Critics

Mo(ing 0e ond Cisse#ist Models of Transse#ualit

Cha!ter 9 - Dismantling Cisse#ual Pri(ilege Gendering

Cisse#ual Assum!tion

Cisse#ual Gender 5ntitlement

The M th of Cisse#ual 0irth Pri(ilege

Trans-*acsimilation and :ngendering

Mo(ing 0e ond +0io 0o s- and +Genetic Girls-

Third-Gendering and Third-%e#ing

Passing-Centrism

Ta&ing 4ne.s Gender for Granted

Distinguishing 0et"een Trans!hobia and Cisse#ual Pri(ilege

Trans-5#clusion

Trans-4b;ectification

Trans-M stification

Trans-Interrogation

Trans-5rasure

Changing Gender Perce!tion< =ot Performance

Cha!ter > - :ngendering in Art and Academia Ca!itali,ing on Transse#ualit and Interse#ualit

To ing "ith Gender-Ambiguous Characters

*ables of the Deconstruction

PART $ - Trans Women< *emininit < and *eminism

Cha!ter 1? - 5#!eriential Gender Cha!ter 11 - Deconstructi(e %urger Cha!ter 1$ - 0ending 4(er 0ac&"ards' Traditional %e#ism and ))) Cha!ter 1/ - %elf-Dece!tion Cha!ter 11 - Trans-%e#uali,ation Cha!ter 13 - %ubmissi(e %trea& Cha!ter 16 - @o(e Rant Cha!ter 17 - Crossdressing' Dem stif ing *emininit and Rethin&ing +Male Pri(ilege5ffemimania and *eminine 5#!ression

5nforced Ignorance and the M stification of *emininit

Crossdresser De(elo!ment

Dem stif ing *emininit and :nlearning Masculinit

Rethin&ing +Male Pri(ilege-

Cha!ter 19 - 0arrette Manifesto

Cha!ter 1> - Putting the *eminine 0ac& into *eminism 4rigins of *emininit

%e#ist Inter!retations of *emininit

*eminist Inter!retations of *emininit

The Ramifications of Artificiali,ing *emininit

Cha!ter $? - The *uture of Aueer/Trans Acti(ism

=otes Credits Ac&no"ledgements About the Author %elected Titles from %eal Press Co! right Page

for Dani "ho Bonce againC !ro(ided me "ith in(aluable feedbac&< ins!iration< su!!ort< and lo(e

and in lo(ing memor of Cob our ;enda conure "ho used to sit contentedl on m shoulder "hile I "ould "rite she "as one of the s"eetest< 8uir&iest< and best friends that I ha(e e(er had she is dearl missed +lo(e ou< Cob ) lo(e ouD-

Introduction

+If I didn.t define m self for m self< I "ould be crunched into other !eo!le.s fantasies for me and eaten ali(e)-

EAudre @orde

W25= I *IR%T T4@D !eo!le that I "as "or&ing on a boo& based on m e#!eriences and !ers!ecti(es as a transse#ual "oman< man of them immediatel assumed that I "as "riting an autobiogra!h Brather than a !olitical or historical account< a "or& of fiction< or a collection of !ersonal essa sC) Perha!s the imagined that I "ould "rite one of those confessional tell-alls that non-trans !eo!le seem to constantl "ant to hear from transse#ual "omen< one that begins "ith m insistence that I ha(e al"a s been a +"oman tra!!ed inside a man.s bod -F one that distorts m desire to be female into a 8uest for feminine !ursuitsF one that e#!lains the ins and outs of se# reassignment surger and hormones in gor detailF one that com!letel a(oids discussions about "hat it is li&e to be treated as a "oman and ho" that com!ares to ho" I "as treated as a maleF one that "hite"ashes a"a all of the !re;udices I face for being transse#ualF a boo& that ends not "ith me becoming an outs!o&en trans

acti(ist or feminist< but "ith the consummation of m "omanhood in the form of m first se#ual e#!erience "ith a man) I am not sur!rised that man "ould assume that I "as sim!l "riting et another (ariation of this archet !e) :ntil (er recentl < this "as the onl sort of stor that non-trans !ublishers and media !roducers "ould allo" transse#ual "omen to tell) And "hile I res!ect an trans "oman "ho has been bra(e enough to share her stor "ith the "orld< the media.s narro" focus on the most !alatable or sensationalistic transse#ual stor lines has resulted in ma&ing in(isible the (ast di(ersit of !ers!ecti(es and e#!eriences that e#ist among trans "omen) *urther< this has dumbed do"n the intricate and difficult relationshi!s man of us ha(e "ith our o"n genders and !h sical bodies) It has also erased the difficult "e face in dealing "ith the gender stereot !es that other !eo!le !ro;ect onto us because "e are "omen and because "e are transse#uals) 4ther !eo!le "ho &no" me from m "or& as a transgender acti(ist and trans-focused !erformance !oet might ha(e assumed that I "as "or&ing on a +transgender re(olution- boo&' one similar to those boo&s b Gate 0ornstein< @eslie *einberg< and Ri&i Wilchins that influenced me so much "hen I "as first coming outF one that challenges readers to loo& be ond the gender binar F one that encourages all transgender !eo!le B"hether the are transse#uals< crossdressers< gender8ueers< drag artists< etc)C to recogni,e that "e are all in the same boat< all (ictims at the hands of the same rigid cultural gender norms) While I do belie(e that all transgender !eo!le ha(e a sta&e in the same !olitical fight against those "ho fear and dismiss gender di(ersit and difference in all of its "ondrous forms< I do not belie(e that "e are discriminated against in the same "a s and for the e#act same reasons) I ha(e found that the "a s !eo!le reacted to me bac& "hen I identified as a mostl closeted male crossdresser< or as a bigendered 8ueer bo < "ere (er different from one another and et again different from the "a !eo!le react to me no" that I am an out transse#ual "oman) The focus on +transgender- as a one-si,efits-all categor for those "ho +transgress binar gender norms- has inad(ertentl erased the struggles faced b those of us "ho lie at the intersection of multi!le forms of gender-based !re;udice) And "hile I agree "ith man of the !oints +shattering-the-gender-binar --themed boo&s regularl ma&e< I ha(e come to the reali,ation that the onl tell !art of the stor ) The idea that all anti-trans discrimination arises from the fact that< as transgender !eo!le< "e +transgress binar gender norms- does not resonate com!letel "ith m !ersonal e#!eriences) As a some"hat eccentric &id< I "as gi(en !lent of lee"a to o!t out of bo s. acti(ities and to culti(ate an androg nous a!!earance and !ersona) I "as sometimes teased for being different< for being an at !ical or unmasculine bo < but it "as nothing com!ared to (enom that "as reser(ed for those bo s "ho acted do"nright feminine) And no"< as an out transse#ual "oman< I find that those "ho "ish to ridicule or dismiss me do not sim!l ta&e me to tas& for the fact that I fail to conform to gender normsEinstead< more often than not< the moc& m femininit ) *rom the !ers!ecti(e of an occasional gender bender or someone on the female-to-male s!ectrum< it might seem li&e binar gender norms are at the core of all anti-trans discrimination) 0ut most of the anti-trans sentiment that I ha(e had to deal "ith as a transse#ual "oman is !robabl better described as misog n ) The fact that transse#ual "omen are often singled out to bear the brunt of our culture.s fascination "ith and demoni,ation of transgenderism is a sub;ect that has been ri!e for feminist criti8ue for about half a centur no") :nfortunatel < man feminists ha(e been e#traordinaril a!athetic or antagonistic to the e#!eriences and !ers!ecti(es of transse#ual "omen) In fact< the fe" non-trans feminists "ho ha(e "ritten about us in the !ast ha(e usuall based their theses u!on the assum!tion that "e are reall +men- Bnot "omenC< and that our !h sical transitions to female and our e#!ressions of femininit re!resent an a!!ro!riation of female culture< s mbolism< and bodies) 0esides being disres!ectful of the fact that "e identif < li(e< and are treated b the "orld as "omen< such fla"ed a!!roaches ha(e o(erloo&ed an im!ortant o!!ortunit to e#amine far more rele(ant issues' the "a s in "hich traditional

se#ism sha!es !o!ular assum!tions about transse#ual "omen and "h so man !eo!le in our societ feel threatened b the e#istence of +men "ho choose to become "omen)The intent of this boo& is to debun& man of the m ths and misconce!tions that !eo!le ha(e about transse#ual "omen< as "ell as gender in general) 0 turning the tables on the rest of the "orld and e#amining "h so man different facets of our societ ha(e set out to dehumani,e trans "omen< I ho!e to sho" that "e are ridiculed and dismissed not merel because "e +transgress binar gender norms<as man transgender acti(ists and gender theorists ha(e !ro!osed< but rather because "e +choose- to be "omen rather than men) The fact that "e identif and li(e as "omen< des!ite being born male and ha(ing inherited male !ri(ilege< challenges those in our societ "ho "ish to glorif maleness and masculinit < as "ell as those "ho frame the struggles faced b other "omen and 8ueers solel in terms of male and heterose#ual !ri(ilege) 5#amining the societ -"ide disdain for trans "omen also brings to light an im!ortant et often o(erloo&ed as!ect of traditional se#ism' that it targets !eo!le not onl for their femaleness< but also for their e#!ressions of femininit ) Toda < "hile it is generall considered to be offensi(e or !re;udiced to o!enl discriminate against someone for being female< discriminating against someone.s femininit is still considered fair game) The idea that masculinit is strong< tough< and natural "hile femininit is "ea&< (ulnerable< and artificial continues to !roliferate e(en among !eo!le "ho belie(e that "omen and men are e8uals) And in a "orld "here femininit is so regularl dismissed< !erha!s no form of gendered e#!ression is considered more artificial and more sus!ect than male and transgender e#!ressions of femininit ) I ha(e called this boo& Whi!!ing Girl to highlight the "a s in "hich !eo!le "ho are feminine< "hether the be female< male< and/or transgender< are almost uni(ersall demeaned com!ared "ith their masculine counter!arts) This sca!egoating of those "ho e#!ress femininit can be seen not onl in the male-centered mainstream< but in the 8ueer communit < "here +effeminate- ga men ha(e been accused of holding bac& the ga rights mo(ement< and "here femme d &es ha(e been accused of being the :ncle Toms of the lesbian mo(ement) 5(en man feminists bu into traditionall se#ist notions about femininit Ethat it is artificial< contri(ed< and fri(olousF that it is a ruse that onl ser(es the !ur!ose of attracting and a!!easing the desires of men) What I ho!e to sho" in this boo& is that the real ruse being !la ed is not b those of us "ho ha!!en to be feminine< but rather b those "ho !lace inferior meanings onto femininit ) The idea that femininit is subordinate to masculinit dismisses "omen as a "hole and sha!es (irtuall all !o!ular m ths and stereot !es about trans "omen) In this boo&< I brea& "ith !ast attem!ts in feminism and 8ueer theor to dismiss femininit b characteri,ing it as +artificial- or +!erformance)- Instead< I argue that certain as!ects of femininit Bas "ell as masculinit C are natural and can both !recede sociali,ation and su!ersede biological se#) *or these reasons< I belie(e that it is negligent for feminists to focus onl on those "ho are female-bodied< or for transgender acti(ists to onl tal& about binar gender norms) =o form of gender e8uit can e(er trul be achie(ed until "e first "or& to em!o"er femininit itself) Perha!s the most difficult issue that I ha(e had to contend "ith in "riting this boo& is the (aried bac&grounds of the audiences I am ho!ing to reach) %ome readers ma be transse#ual themsel(es< or ma be (er acti(e in the transgender communit < but ma not be tuned in to the man discourses about gender and transse#ualit that e#ist in academia< clinical settings< feminism< or 8ueer !olitics) 4thers ma ta&e an interest in this boo& from a "omen.s< 8ueer< or gender studies !ers!ecti(e< being familiar "ith "hat non-trans academics ha(e had to sa about trans !eo!le< but "ithout e(er ha(ing been e#!osed to a transse#ual "oman.s ta&e on these man dialogues and debates) %till others ma be

com!letel ne" to the sub;ect< ha(ing !ic&ed u! the boo& because the "ant to learn more about transse#ualit < ho" to be a trans all < or because the ha(e a !articular interest in the sub;ects of femininit and/or se#ism) *or me< it has certainl been a challenge to "rite a substantial boo& about such com!le# to!ics that can simultaneousl be easil understood and en;o ed b audiences "ho so greatl differ in their !rior &no"ledge and their !resum!tions) While I ha(e "ritten this boo& in +la language- and "ith a general audience in mind< the use of transgender-s!ecific or -related ;argon is una(oidable) I ha(e not onl had to define a lot of !ree#isting terms for those "ho are ne" to this sub;ect< but redefine or e(en create ne" terms to clear u! confusion and to fill ga!s left b the strange hodge!odge of clinical< academic< and acti(ist language t !icall used to describe transgender !eo!le and e#!eriences) While creating ne" terms can !otentiall be disconcerting to readers at first< I feel that it is necessar for addressing and challenging the man assum!tions that are commonl made about gender and trans "omen) +Trans Woman Manifesto<- "hich follo"s this introduction< is the !iece I.(e chosen to set the stage for man of the ideas !ut for"ard in this boo&) It is follo"ed b Part 1< Trans/Gender Theor < "hich focuses largel on de!ictions and re!resentations of transse#uals in the media< medicine and !s chiatr < social sciences< academic gender studies< and 8ueer and feminist !olitics) 0ecause transse#uals ma&e u! a relati(el small !ercentage of the !o!ulation and ha(e little to no !o"er or (oice in these fields< non-transse#ual de!ictions regularl stand in for or trum! the !ers!ecti(es and e#!eriences of actual transse#uals) This is highl !roblematic< as man of these de!ictions are sensationali,ing< se#uali,ing< and/or outright hostile) 4ther de!ictions are not intended to be blatantl demeaning< et the still ha(e a drastic negati(e im!act on the li(es of transse#uals because the frame transse#ualit in terms of non-trans !eo!le.s assum!tions and interests) This forces transse#uals to describe oursel(es and our e#!eriences in terms of non-trans terminolog and (alues< "hich ine(itabl !lace us in a subordinate !osition Bi)e)< non-trans genders are seen as +normal<- +natural<- and +un8uestionable<- "hereas transse#ual genders are !resumed to be +abnormal<- +artificial<- and !er!etuall in 8uestion and o!en to inter!retationC) This also has the rather dubious conse8uence of !ositioning non-trans !eo!le "ho merel stud transse#ualit as +e#!erts- "ho someho" understand transse#uals better than "e understand oursel(es) I s!end a great deal of this section debun&ing nontrans re!resentations of transse#ualit because the effecti(el silence trans !eo!le.s !olitical (oices and !re(ent us from describing our li(es the "a "e see and e#!erience them) 4f course< it is im!ossible to discuss such issues "ithout ha(ing to gra!!le "ith another gender binar of sortsEthat bet"een gender essentialists B"ho belie(e that "omen and men re!resent t"o mutuall e#clusi(e categories< each born "ith certain inherent< nono(erla!!ing traitsC and social constructionists B"ho belie(e that gender differences are !rimaril or e#clusi(el the result of sociali,ation and binar gender normsC) *or this reason< I ha(e included m o"n (ie" of gender in this section< one that accommodates m e#!eriences both as a trans !erson and as a !racticing biologistF one that ac&no"ledges that both intrinsic and e#trinsic factors hel! to sha!e the "a that "e come to e#!erience and understand our o"n genders) Part $< Trans Women< *emininit < and *eminism< brings together m e#!eriences and obser(ationsE !re-< during< and !ost-transitionEto discuss the man "a s fear< sus!icion< and dismissi(eness to"ard femininit sha!e societal attitudes to"ard trans "omen and influence the "a trans "omen often come to (ie" oursel(es) In the last t"o cha!ters of this section< I bring together se(eral of the main themes in this boo& to suggest ne" directions for gender-based acti(ism) In cha!ter 1>< +Putting the *eminine 0ac& into *eminism<- I ma&e the case that feminist acti(ism and theor "ould be best ser(ed b "or&ing to em!o"er and embrace femininit < rather than esche"ing or deriding it< as it often has in the

!ast) %uch an a!!roach "ould allo" feminism to both incor!orate transgender !ers!ecti(es and reach out to the countless feminine-identified "omen "ho ha(e felt alienated b the mo(ement in the !ast) And in cha!ter $?< +The *uture of Aueer/Trans Acti(ism<- I sho" ho" certain ta&en-for-granted beliefs and assum!tions that are !re(alent in contem!orar 8ueer and transgender theor and !olitics ensure that trans "omen.s !ers!ecti(es and issues "ill continue to ta&e a bac& seat to those of other 8ueers and transgender !eo!le) I argue that< rather than focusing on +shattering the gender binar -Ea strateg that in(ariabl !its gender-conforming and non-gender-conforming !eo!le against one anotherE"e "or& to challenge all forms of gender entitlement Bi)e)< "hen a !erson !ri(ileges their o"n !erce!tions< inter!retations< and e(aluations of other !eo!le.s genders o(er the "a those !eo!le understand themsel(esC) After all< the one thing that all forms of se#ism shareE"hether the target females< 8ueers< transse#uals< or othersEis that the all begin "ith !lacing assum!tions and (alue ;udgments onto other !eo!le.s gendered bodies and beha(iors)

Trans Woman Manifesto

T2I% MA=I*5%T4 CA@@% *4R the end of the sca!egoating< deriding< and dehumani,ing of trans "omen e(er "here) *or the !ur!oses of this manifesto< trans "oman is defined as an !erson "ho "as assigned a male se# at birth< but "ho identifies as and/or li(es as a "oman) =o 8ualifications should be !laced on the term +trans "oman- based on a !erson.s abilit to +!ass- as female< her hormone le(els< or the state of her genitalsEafter all< it is do"nright se#ist to reduce an "oman Btrans or other"iseC do"n to her mere bod !arts or to re8uire her to li(e u! to certain societall dictated ideals regarding a!!earance) Perha!s no se#ual minorit is more maligned or misunderstood than trans "omen) As a grou!< "e ha(e been s stematicall !athologi,ed b the medical and !s chological establishment< sensationali,ed and ridiculed b the media< marginali,ed b mainstream lesbian and ga organi,ations< dismissed b certain segments of the feminist communit < and< in too man instances< been made the (ictims of (iolence at the hands of men "ho feel that "e someho" threaten their masculinit and heterose#ualit ) Rather than being gi(en the o!!ortunit to s!ea& for oursel(es on the (er issues that affect our o"n li(es< trans "omen are instead treated more li&e research sub;ects' 4thers !lace us under their microsco!es< dissect our li(es< and assign moti(ations and desires to us that (alidate their o"n theories and agendas regarding gender and se#ualit ) Trans "omen are so ridiculed and des!ised because "e are uni8uel !ositioned at the intersection of multi!le binar gender-based forms of !re;udice' trans!hobia< cisse#ism< and misog n ) Trans!hobia is an irrational fear of< a(ersion to< or discrimination against !eo!le "hose gendered identities< a!!earances< or beha(iors de(iate from societal norms) In much the same "a that homo!hobic !eo!le are often dri(en b their o"n re!ressed homose#ual tendencies< trans!hobia is first and foremost an e#!ression of one.s o"n insecurit about ha(ing to li(e u! to cultural gender ideals) The fact that trans!hobia is so ram!ant in our societ reflects the realit that "e !lace an e#traordinar amount of !ressure on indi(iduals to conform to all of the e#!ectations< restrictions< assum!tions< and !ri(ileges associated "ith the se# the "ere assigned at birth)

While all transgender !eo!le e#!erience trans!hobia< transse#uals additionall e#!erience a related Balbeit distinctC form of !re;udice' cisse#ism< "hich is the belief that transse#uals. identified genders are inferior to< or less authentic than< those of cisse#uals Bi)e)< !eo!le "ho are not transse#ual and "ho ha(e onl e(er e#!erienced their subconscious and !h sical se#es as being alignedC) The most common e#!ression of cisse#ism occurs "hen !eo!le attem!t to den the transse#ual the basic !ri(ileges that are associated "ith the trans !erson.s self-identified gender) Common e#am!les include !ur!oseful misuse of !ronouns or insisting that the trans !erson use a different !ublic restroom) The ;ustification for this denial is generall founded on the assum!tion that the trans !erson.s gender is not authentic because it does not correlate "ith the se# the "ere assigned at birth) In ma&ing this assum!tion< cisse#ists attem!t to create an artificial hierarch ) 0 insisting that the trans !erson.s gender is +fa&e<the attem!t to (alidate their o"n gender as +real- or +natural)- This sort of thin&ing is e#traordinaril nai(e< as it denies a basic truth' We ma&e assum!tions e(er da about other !eo!le.s genders "ithout e(er seeing their birth certificates< their chromosomes< their genitals< their re!roducti(e s stems< their childhood sociali,ation< or their legal se#) There is no such thing as a +real- genderEthere is onl the gender "e e#!erience oursel(es as and the gender "e !ercei(e others to be) While often different in !ractice< cisse#ism< trans!hobia< and homo!hobia are all rooted in o!!ositional se#ism< "hich is the belief that female and male are rigid< mutuall e#clusi(e categories< each !ossessing a uni8ue and nono(erla!!ing set of attributes< a!titudes< abilities< and desires) 4!!ositional se#ists attem!t to !unish or dismiss those of us "ho fall outside of gender or se#ual norms because our e#istence threatens the idea that "omen and men are +o!!osite- se#es) This e#!lains "h bise#uals< lesbians< ga s< transse#uals< and other transgender !eo!leE"ho ma e#!erience their genders and se#ualities in (er different "a sEare so often confused or lum!ed into the same categor Bi)e)< 8ueerC b societ at large) 4ur natural inclinations to be attracted to the same se#< to identif as the other se#< and/or to e#!ress oursel(es in "a s t !icall associated "ith the other se# blur the boundaries re8uired to maintain the male-centered gender hierarch that e#ists in our culture toda ) In addition to the rigid< mutuall e#clusi(e gender categories established b o!!ositional se#ism< the other re8uirement for maintaining a male-centered gender hierarch is to enforce traditional se#ismE the belief that maleness and masculinit are su!erior to femaleness and femininit ) Traditional and o!!ositional se#ism "or& hand in hand to ensure that those "ho are masculine ha(e !o"er o(er those "ho are feminine< and that onl those born male "ill be seen as authenticall masculine) *or the !ur!oses of this manifesto< the "ord misog n "ill be used to describe this tendenc to dismiss and deride femaleness and femininit ) Hust as all transgender !eo!le e#!erience trans!hobia and cisse#ism to differing e#tents Bde!ending on ho" often< ob(ious< or out "e are as transgenderC< "e e#!erience misog n to differing e#tents too) This is most e(ident in the fact that< "hile there are man different t !es of transgender !eo!le< our societ tends to single out trans "omen and others on the male-to-female BMT*C s!ectrum for attention and ridicule) This is not merel because "e transgress binar gender norms !er se< but because "e< b necessit < embrace our o"n femaleness and femininit ) Indeed< more often than not it is our e#!ressions of femininit and our desire to be female that become sensationali,ed< se#uali,ed< and tri(iali,ed b others) While trans !eo!le on the female-to-male B*TMC s!ectrum face discrimination for brea&ing gender norms Bi)e)< o!!ositional se#ismC< their e#!ressions of maleness or masculinit themsel(es are not targeted for ridiculeEto do so "ould re8uire one to 8uestion masculinit itself) When a trans !erson is ridiculed or dismissed not merel for failing to li(e u! to gender norms< but for their e#!ressions of femaleness or femininit < the become the (ictims of a s!ecific form of

discrimination' trans-misog n ) When the ma;orit of ;o&es made at the e#!ense of trans !eo!le center on +men "earing dresses- or +men "ho "ant their !enises cut off<- that is not trans!hobiaEit is transmisog n ) When the ma;orit of (iolence and se#ual assaults committed against trans !eo!le is directed at trans "omen< that is not trans!hobiaEit is trans-misog n )1 When it.s o&a for "omen to "ear +men.s- clothing< but "hen men "ho "ear +"omen.s- clothing can be diagnosed "ith the !s chological disorder trans(estic fetishism< that is not trans!hobiaEit is trans-misog n )$ When "omen.s or lesbian organi,ations and e(ents o!en their doors to trans men but not trans "omen< that is not trans!hobiaEit is trans-misog n )/ In a male-centered gender hierarch < "here it is assumed that men are better than "omen and that masculinit is su!erior to femininit < there is no greater !ercei(ed threat than the e#istence of trans "omen< "ho des!ite being born male and inheriting male !ri(ilege +choose- to be female instead) 0 embracing our o"n femaleness and femininit < "e< in a sense< cast a shado" of doubt o(er the su!!osed su!remac of maleness and masculinit ) In order to lessen the threat "e !ose to the malecentered gender hierarch < our culture B!rimaril (ia the mediaC uses e(er tactic in its arsenal of traditional se#ism to dismiss us'1) The media h !erfemini,es us b accom!an ing stories about trans "omen "ith !ictures of us !utting on ma&eu!< dresses< and high-heeled shoes in an attem!t to highlight the su!!osed +fri(olous- nature of our femaleness< or b !ortra ing trans "omen as ha(ing derogator feminineassociated character traits such as being "ea&< confused< !assi(e< or mous )

$) The media h !erse#uali,es us b creating the im!ression that most trans "omen are se# "or&ers or se#ual decei(ers< and b asserting that "e transition for !rimaril se#ual reasons Be)g)< to !re on innocent straight men or to fulfill some &ind of bi,arre se# fantas C) %uch de!ictions not onl belittle trans "omen.s moti(es for transitioning< but im!licitl suggest that "omen as a "hole ha(e no "orth be ond their abilit to be se#uali,ed)

/) The media ob;ectifies our bodies b sensationali,ing se# reassignment surger and o!enl discussing our +man-made (aginas- "ithout an of the discretion that normall accom!anies discussions about genitals) *urther< those of us "ho ha(e not had surger are constantl being reduced to our bod !arts< "hether b the creators of trann !orn "ho o(erem!hasi,e and e#aggerate our !enises Bthus distorting trans "omen into +she-males- and +chic&s "ith dic&s-C or b other !eo!le "ho ha(e been so brain"ashed b !hallocentricism that the belie(e that the mere !resence of a !enis can trum! the femaleness of our identities< our !ersonalities< and the rest of our bodies)

0ecause anti-trans discrimination is stee!ed in traditional se#ism< it is not sim!l enough for trans acti(ists to challenge binar gender norms Bi)e)< o!!ositional se#ismCE"e must also challenge the idea that femininit is inferior to masculinit and that femaleness is inferior to maleness) In other "ords< b necessit < trans acti(ism must be at its core a feminist mo(ement) %ome might consider this contention contro(ersial) 4(er the ears< man self-described feminists ha(e gone out of their "a to dismiss trans !eo!le and in !articular trans "omen< often resorting to man of

the same tactics Bh !erfemini,ation< h !erse#uali,ation< and ob;ectification of our bodiesC that the mainstream media regularl uses against us)1 These !seudofeminists !roclaim< +Women can do an thing men can<- then ridicule trans "omen for an !ercei(ed masculine tendenc "e ma ha(e) The argue that "omen should be strong and unafraid of s!ea&ing our minds< then tell trans "omen that "e act li&e men "hen "e (oice our o!inions) The claim that it is misog nistic "hen men create standards and e#!ectations for "omen to meet< then the dismiss us for not meeting their standard of +"oman)- These !seudofeminists consistentl !reach feminism "ith one hand "hile !racticing traditional se#ism "ith the other) It is time for us to ta&e bac& the "ord +feminism- from these !seudofeminists) After all< as a conce!t< feminism is much li&e the ideas of +democrac - or +Christianit )- 5ach has a ma;or tenet at its core< et there are a seemingl infinite number of "a s in "hich those beliefs are !racticed) And ;ust as some forms of democrac and Christianit are corru!t and h !ocritical "hile others are more ;ust and righteous< "e trans "omen must ;oin allies of all genders and se#ualities to forge a ne" t !e of feminism< one that understands that the onl "a for us to achie(e true gender e8uit is to abolish both o!!ositional se#ism and traditional se#ism) It is no longer enough for feminism to fight solel for the rights of those born female) That strateg has furthered the !ros!ects of man "omen o(er the ears< but no" it bum!s u! against a glass ceiling that is !artl of its o"n ma&ing) Though the mo(ement "or&ed hard to encourage "omen to enter !re(iousl male-dominated areas of life< man feminists ha(e been ambi(alent at best< and resistant at "orst< to the idea of men e#!ressing or e#hibiting feminine traits and mo(ing into certain traditionall female realms) And "hile "e credit !re(ious feminist mo(ements for hel!ing to create a societ "here most sensible !eo!le "ould agree "ith the statement +"omen and men are e8uals<- "e lament the fact that "e remain light- ears a"a from being able to sa that most !eo!le belie(e that femininit is masculinit .s e8ual) Instead of attem!ting to em!o"er those born female b encouraging them to mo(e further a"a from femininit < "e should instead learn to em!o"er femininit itself) We must sto! dismissing it as +artificial- or as a +!erformance<- and instead recogni,e that certain as!ects of femininit Band masculinit as "ellC transcend both sociali,ation and biological se#Eother"ise there "ould not be feminine bo and masculine girl children) We must challenge all "ho assume that feminine (ulnerabilit is a sign of "ea&ness) *or "hen "e do o!en oursel(es u!< "hether it be b honestl communicating our thoughts and feelings or e#!ressing our emotions< it is a daring act< one that ta&es more courage and inner strength than the al!ha male facade of silence and stoicism) We must challenge all those "ho insist that "omen "ho act or dress in a feminine manner ta&e on a submissi(e or !assi(e !osture) *or man of us< dressing or acting feminine is something "e do for oursel(es< not for others) It is our "a of reclaiming our o"n bodies and fearlessl e#!ressing our o"n !ersonalities and se#ualities) It is not us "ho are guilt of tr ing to reduce our bodies to mere !la things< but rather those "ho foolishl assume that our feminine st le is a signal that "e se#uall sub;ugate oursel(es to men) In a "orld "here masculinit is assumed to re!resent strength and !o"er< those "ho are butch and bo ish are able to contem!late their identities "ithin the relati(e safet of those connotations) In contrast< those of us "ho are feminine are forced to define oursel(es on our o"n terms and de(elo! our o"n sense of self-"orth) It ta&es guts< determination< and fearlessness for those of us "ho are feminine to lift oursel(es u! out of the inferior meanings that are constantl being !ro;ected onto us) If ou re8uire an e(idence that femininit can be more fierce and dangerous than masculinit < all ou need to

do is as& the a(erage man to hold our handbag or a bou8uet of flo"ers for a minute< and "atch ho" far a"a he holds it from his bod ) 4r tell him that ou "ould li&e to !ut our li!stic& on him and "atch ho" fast he runs off in the other direction) In a "orld "here masculinit is res!ected and femininit is regularl dismissed< it ta&es an enormous amount of strength and confidence for an !erson< "hether female- or male-bodied< to embrace their feminine self) 0ut it is not enough for us to em!o"er femaleness and femininit ) We must also sto! !retending that there are essential differences bet"een "omen and men) This begins "ith the ac&no"ledgment that there are e#ce!tions to e(er gender rule and stereot !e< and this sim!l stated fact dis!ro(es all gender theories that !ur!ort that female and male are mutuall e#clusi(e categories) We must mo(e a"a from !retending that "omen and men are +o!!osite- se#es< because "hen "e bu into that m th it establishes a dangerous !recedent) *or if men are big< then "omen must be smallF and if men are strong then "omen must be "ea&) And if being butch is to ma&e ourself roc&-solid< then being femme becomes allo"ing ourself to be malleableF and if being a man means ta&ing control of our o"n situation< then being a "oman becomes li(ing u! to other !eo!le.s e#!ectations) When "e bu into the idea that female and male are +o!!osites<- it becomes im!ossible for us to em!o"er "omen "ithout either ridiculing men or !ulling the rug out from under oursel(es) It is onl "hen "e mo(e a"a from the idea that there are +o!!osite- se#es< and let go of the culturall deri(ed (alues that are assigned to e#!ressions of femininit and masculinit < that "e ma finall a!!roach gender e8uit ) 0 challenging both o!!ositional and traditional se#ism simultaneousl < "e can ma&e the "orld safe for those of us "ho are 8ueer< those of us "ho are feminine< and those of us "ho are female< thus em!o"ering !eo!le of all se#ualities and genders)

PART 1

Trans/Gender Theor

Coming to Terms "ith Transgenderism and Transse#ualit

M4%T =4=-TRA=% P54P@5 are unfamiliar "ith the "ords that "e in the transgender communit use to describe oursel(es< our e#!eriences< and our most !ressing issues) 0oo&s and "ebsites that discuss transgenderism and transse#ualit often include some &ind of glossar < "here these terms are

laid out and defined in a nice< orderl < al!habetical fashion) 2o"e(er< a !otential !roblem "ith the glossar a!!roach is that it gi(es the im!ression that all of these transgenderrelated "ords and !hrases are someho" "ritten in stone< indelibl !assed do"n from generation to generation) This is most certainl not the case) Man of the terms used these da s to describe transgender !eo!le did not e#ist a decade ago) Con(ersel < man of the terms that "ere commonl used a decade ago are no" considered to be out of fashion< outdated< or e(en offensi(e to man !eo!le in the transgender communit ) 5(en the terms that are used fre8uentl toda are regularl dis!uted< as indi(idual transgender !eo!le ma define "ords in a slightl different manner or ha(e aesthetic or !olitical !references for certain "ords o(er others) %o in lieu of a glossar < I "ill use this cha!ter to define man of the transgender-s!ecific terms used throughout the boo& and to e#!lain "h I chose these !articular "ords and !hrases rather than others) It is difficult to tal& about !eo!le "ho are transse#ual or transgender "ithout first defining the "ords +se#- and +gender)- +%e#- commonl refers to "hether a !erson is !h sicall female and/or male) 0ecause the !h sical traits that "e most often ta&e into account "hen describing +se#- are biological in origin Be)g)< se# chromosomes< hormones< re!roducti(e s stems< genitals< and so forthC< there is a tendenc to see se# as being a +natural- as!ect of gender) 2o"e(er< this is not 8uite the case) Cultural e#!ectations and assum!tions !la a large role in sha!ing ho" "e determine and consider se#) *or e#am!le< in our culture< such assum!tions are (er genital-centric' A !erson.s se# is assigned at birth based on the !resence or absence of a !enis) Thus< our genitals !la a far more im!ortant role in determining our legal se# than do our chromosomes B"hich in most cases are ne(er actuall e#aminedC or our re!roducti(e ca!acit ) After all< a "oman can ha(e a h sterectom < or a man can ha(e a (asectom < "ithout changing or nullif ing their legal se#) Indeed< the fact that "e e(en ha(e a +legalse# demonstrates that societ greatl sha!es our understanding of se#) Thus< throughout this boo&< I "ill use the "ord +se#- !rimaril to refer to a !erson.s !h sical femaleness and/or maleness< but I "ill also sometimes use it to refer to the social and legal classes that are associated "ith one.s !h sical se#) The "ord +gender- is regularl used in a number of "a s) Most commonl < it.s used in a manner that.s indistinguishable from +se#- Bi)e)< to describe "hether a !erson is !h sicall < sociall < and legall male and/or femaleC) 4ther !eo!le use the "ord +gender- to describe a !erson.s gender identit B"hether the identif as female< male< both< or neitherC< their gender e#!ression and gender roles B"hether the act feminine< masculine< both< or neitherC< or the !ri(ileges< assum!tions< e#!ectations< and restrictions the face due to the se# others !ercei(e them to be) 0ecause of the man meanings infused into it< I "ill use the "ord +gender- in a broad "a to refer to (arious as!ects of a !erson.s !h sical or social se#< their se#-related beha(iors< the se#-based class s stem the are situated "ithin< or Bin most casesC some combination thereof) =o" that "e understand +se#- and +gender<- "e can begin to consider the "ord transgender< "hich is !erha!s one of the most confusing and misunderstood "ords in the 5nglish language) While the "ord originall had a more narro" definition< since the 1>>?s it has been used !rimaril as an umbrella term to describe those "ho def societal e#!ectations and assum!tions regarding femaleness and malenessF this includes !eo!le "ho are transse#ual Bthose "ho li(e as members of the se# other than the one the "ere assigned at birthC< interse# Bthose "ho are born "ith a re!roducti(e or se#ual anatom that does not fit the t !ical definitions of female or maleC< and gender8ueer Bthose "ho identit outside of the male/female binar C< as "ell as those "hose gender e#!ression differs from their anatomical or !ercei(ed se# Bincluding crossdressers< drag !erformers< masculine "omen< feminine men< and so onC) I "ill also sometimes use the s non mous term gender-(ariant to describe all !eo!le "ho are considered b others to de(iate from societal norms of femaleness and maleness)

The far-reaching inclusi(eness of the "ord +transgender- "as !ur!osel designed to accommodate the man gender and se#ual minorities "ho "ere e#cluded from the !re(ious feminist and ga rights mo(ements) At the same time< its broadness can be highl !roblematic in that it often blurs or erases the distincti(eness of its constituents) *or e#am!le< "hile male crossdressers and transse#ual men are both male-identified transgender !eo!le< these grou!s face a (er different set of issues "ith regards to managing their gender difference) %imilarl < drag 8ueens and transse#ual "omen generall ha(e (er different e#!eriences and !ers!ecti(es regarding gender< des!ite the fact that the are often confused "ith one another b mainstream societ ) Thus< the best "a to reconcile the nebulous nature of the "ord is to recogni,e that it is !rimaril a !olitical term< one that brings together dis!arate classes of !eo!le to fight for the common goal of ending all discrimination based on se#/gender (ariance) While useful !oliticall < transgender is too (ague of a "ord to im!l much commonalit bet"een indi(idual !eo!le.s identities< life e#!eriences< or understanding of gender) Another !oint that is often o(erloo&ed in discussions about transgenderism is that man indi(iduals "ho fall under the transgender umbrella choose not to identif "ith the term) *or e#am!le< man interse# !eo!le re;ect the term because their condition is about !h sical se# Bnot genderC and the !rimar issues the face Be)g)< nonconsensual +normali,ing- medical !rocedures during infanc or childhoodC differ greatl from those of the greater transgender communit )1 %imilarl < man transse#uals disa(o" the term because of its anti-transse#ual roots or because the feel that the transgender mo(ement tends to !ri(ilege those identities< actions< and a!!earances that most (isibl +transgress- gender norms)$ This tendenc renders in(isible the fact that man of us struggle more "ith issues related to our !h sical femaleness or maleness than "e do "ith our e#!ressions of femininit or masculinit ) Throughout this boo&< I "ill use the "ord trans to refer to !eo!le "ho Bto (ar ing degreesC struggle "ith a subconscious understanding or intuition that there is something +"rong- "ith the se# the "ere assigned at birth and/or "ho feel that the should ha(e been born as or "ish the could be the other se#) BIt should be noted that some !eo!le use the "ord +trans- differentl < as a s non m or abbre(iation for the "ord transgenderC) *or man trans !eo!le< the fact that their a!!earances or beha(iors ma fall outside of societal gender norms is a (er real issue< but one that is often seen as secondar to the cogniti(e dissonance that arises from the fact that their subconscious se# does not match their !h sical se#) This gender dissonance is usuall e#!erienced as a &ind of emotional !ain or sadness that gro"s more intense o(er time< sometimes reaching a !oint "here it can become debilitating) There are man different strategies that trans !eo!le ma use to ease their gender dissonance) Perha!s the most common one is tr ing to su!!ress or den one.s subconscious se#) 4thers ma allo" their subconscious se# to come to the surface occasionall < for e#am!le through either crossdressing or role!la ing) %till others ma come to see themsel(es as bigendered Bha(ing a mi#ture of both femininit and masculinit and/or femaleness and malenessC< gender-fluid Bmo(ing freel bet"een gendersC< or gender8ueer Bidentif ing outside of the male/female gender binar C) And those of us "ho ma&e the choice to li(e as the se# other than the one "e "ere assigned at birth are commonl called transse#uals) Perha!s the most underac&no"ledged issue "ith regard to the transgender communit Eand one that is a continuing source of both confusion and contentionEis the fact that man of the abo(e strategies and identities that trans !eo!le gra(itate to"ard in order to relie(e their gender dissonance are also shared b !eo!le "ho do not e#!erience an discomfort "ith regards to their subconscious and !h sical se#) *or e#am!le< some male-bodied crossdressers s!end much of their li(es "ishing the "ere actuall female< "hile others see their crossdressing as sim!l a "a to e#!ress a feminine side of their

!ersonalities) While man drag artists (ie" themsel(es !rimaril as entertainers or en;o !erforming and !arod ing gender stereot !es< some trans !eo!le gra(itate to"ard drag because it !ro(ides them "ith a rare o!!ortunit to e#!ress as!ects of their subconscious se# in a sociall sanctioned setting) And "hile man trans !eo!le identif as gender8ueer because it hel!s them ma&e sense of their o"n e#!eriences of li(ing in a "orld "here their understanding of themsel(es differs so greatl from the "a the are !ercei(ed b societ < other !eo!le identif as gender8ueer because< on a !urel intellectual le(el< the 8uestion the (alidit of the binar gender s stem) Thus< not onl do transgender !eo!le (ar in their !ers!ecti(es and e#!eriences< but indi(iduals "ithin the same transgender subcategor B"hether it be crossdresser< drag artist< gender8ueer< etc)C ma also differ greatl in "hat dri(es them to embrace that identit ) And "hile this boo& !rimaril focuses on transse#ualit < and more s!ecificall on trans "omen Bas that is m e#!erience and !ers!ecti(eC< it is not because I belie(e that transgender !eo!le "ho are not transse#ual are an less im!ortant or legitimateF their e#!ressions of gender are ;ust as (alid as mine and the discrimination the ma face as a result of those e#!ressions is ;ust as real) It is also crucial for us to recogni,e that it is e8uall (alid for a trans !erson to decide to transition and li(e as the other se# as it is for them to instead choose to blur gender boundaries and identif themsel(es outside the gender binar ) There is no one right "a to be trans) 5ach of us sim!l needs to figure out "hat "or&s best for us and "hat allo"s us to best e#!ress "ho "e feel "e are) When discussing transse#uals< it is often necessar to distinguish bet"een those "ho transition from male to femaleE"ho are commonl referred to as trans "omenEand those "ho transition from female to maleE"ho are called trans men) I !refer these terms o(er others because the ac&no"ledge the li(ed and self-identified gender of the trans !erson Bi)e)< "oman or manC< "hile adding the ad;ecti(e +trans- as a "a to describe one !articular as!ect of that !erson.s life e#!erience) In other "ords< +trans "oman- and +trans man- function in a "a similar to the !hrases +Catholic "oman- or +Asian man)0ecause man trans !eo!le choose to relie(e their gender dissonance in "a s other than transitioning< I "ill often use the !hrases male-to-female BMT*C s!ectrum and female-to-male B*TMC s!ectrum to describe all trans !eo!le Bregardless of "hether the are gender8ueer< transse#ual< crossdresser< etc)C "ho e#!erience their gender as being different from or more com!le# than the gender the "ere assigned at birth) %ometimes !eo!le ha(e a tendenc to dismiss or delegitimi,e trans "omen.s and trans men.s gender identities and li(ed e#!eriences b relegating us to our o"n uni8ue categories that are se!arate from +"oman- or +man)- This strateg is often ado!ted b non-trans fol&s "ho "ish to discuss trans !eo!le "ithout e(er bringing into 8uestion their o"n assum!tions and beliefs about maleness and femaleness) An ob(ious e#am!le of this !henomenon is the !re(alence of the terms +she-males<- +he-shes<- and +chic&s "ith dic&s- in reference to trans "omen) %ometimes attem!ts to third-se# or third-gender trans !eo!le are more subtle or subconscious than that< such as "hen !eo!le merge the !hrase +trans "oman- to ma&e one "ord< +trans"oman<- or use the ad;ecti(es MT* and *TM as nouns Bfor e#am!le< +Hulia %erano is an MT*)-C) I do not identif as a +male-to-female-EI identif as a "oman) These attem!ts to relegate trans !eo!le to +third se#- categories not onl disregard the !rofoundl felt gender identit of the transse#ual in 8uestion< but also ignore the (er real e#!eriences that trans !erson has had being treated as a member of the se# that the ha(e transitioned to) When discussing transse#uals. li(es< it is im!ortant to find "ords that accuratel describe their gendered e#!eriences in both the !ast and !resent) Man trans !eo!le sa the understood themsel(es to be female or male for most of their li(es des!ite the fact that it "asn.t the se# the "ere assigned at birth) Therefore< "hen a trans !erson transitions< their subconscious se# or gender identit essentiall

sta s the sameErather< it is their !h sical se# that changes Bhence the term transse#ualC) With regards to the trans !erson.s original se#< I "ill often use the some"hat clun& !hrase the se# Bor genderC the "ere assigned at birth to em!hasi,e the nonconsensual nature of ho" "e are raised< sociali,ed< and treated b societ on the basis of our !h sical se#) *or con(enience< I ma also refer to it as their assigned gender/se# or Bto a lesser e#tentC their birth se#) I ma refer to the se# that the trans !erson has transitioned to as their !referred se#< their identified se# Bto em!hasi,e the fact that it agrees "ith their gender identit C< or their li(ed se# Bto em!hasi,e the fact that the no" li(e and e#!erience the "orld as a member of that se#C) It is common for !eo!le to assume that being or becoming a transse#ual in(ol(es some &ind of +se# change o!eration)- 2o"e(er< this is not necessaril the case) While some transse#uals undergo numerous medical !rocedures as !art of their !h sical transitions< others either cannot afford or choose not to undergo such !rocedures) Indeed< attem!ts to limit the "ord +transse#ual- to onl those "ho !h sicall transition is not onl classist Bbecause of the affordabilit issueC< but ob;ectif ing< as it reduces all trans !eo!le to the medical !rocedures that ha(e been carried out on their bodies) *or these reasons< I "ill use the "ord transse#ual to describe an one "ho is currentl < or is "or&ing to"ard< li(ing as a member of the se# other than the one the "ere assigned at birth< regardless of "hat !rocedures the ma ha(e had) *urther< because there are so man different !aths that a transse#ual !erson ma ta&e to"ard li(ing in their identified se#< I "ill use the "ord transition to describe the !rocess of changing one.s li(ed se#< rather than in reference to an s!ecific medical !rocedure) The most common medical !rocedure for transse#uals to see& out is hormone re!lacement thera! < "hich in(ol(es ta&ing testosterone in the case of trans men< or ta&ing estrogen Band sometimes !rogesteroneC in the case of trans "omen) These are the same se# hormones that &ic& in during !ubert in all !eo!le and the !roduce man of the same bodil changes in adult transse#uals as the do in adolescents' %ome effects are changes in s&in com!le#ion and muscle/fat distribution< breast gro"th in trans "omen< and dee!ened (oices and facial hair gro"th in trans men) These hormone!roduced bod changes are often referred to as secondar se# characteristics Bto distinguish them from so-called !rimar se# characteristics such as re!roducti(e organs and genitalsC) %econdar se# characteristics are the cues that "e most often use "hen "e classif adults as being either "omen or men< "hich e#!lains "h hormone re!lacement thera! is often sufficient to allo" trans !eo!le to li(e unnoticed in their identified se#) While there are a number of !ossible surgeries that a trans !erson ma underta&e< the one that seems to most ca!ture !ublic imagination is se# reassignment surger B%R%C< "hich in(ol(es reconstruction of the genitals to better match that of the transse#ual.s identified se#) %ome trans !eo!le ob;ect to the term %R% and instead !refer alternati(es such as genital reassignment surger < gender confirmation surger < or bottom surger Bto contrast it "ith to! surger ' the remo(al or enhancement of breastsC) Personall < I am not bothered b the technical name of the surger so much as I am b the fact that it gets so much attention in the media and the general !ublic) After all< as someone "ho is not a cardiologist nor has e(er had a heart condition< I reall don.t feel an com!elling need to &no" all of the technical names or hear !la -b -!la accounts of heart surgeries) =or do I need to &no" all of the s!ecific names and doses of chemothera!ies in order to be touched b the stor of someone "ho has sur(i(ed cancer) *or this reason< I am rather disturbed b the fact that so man !eo!leE"ho are neither medical !rofessionals nor trans themsel(esE"ould "ant to hear all of the gor details regarding transse#ual !h sical transformations< or "ould feel that the ha(e an right to as& us about the state of our genitals) It is offensi(e that so man !eo!le feel that it is o&a to !ublicl refer to transse#uals as being +!re-o!or +!ost-o!- "hen it "ould so clearl be degrading and demeaning to regularl describe all bo s and men as being either +circumcised- or +uncircumcised)-

While the s!ecific details of transse#ual-related medical !rocedures should be readil a(ailable for those contem!lating se# reassignment< such information is neither rele(ant nor necessar for one to understand the e#!eriences and !ers!ecti(es of trans !eo!le) After all< "hile m !h sical transition occurred !rimaril o(er a !eriod of a ear and a halfEa mere fraction of m lifeE"hat has remained constant and !er(asi(e Bboth !re-< during< and !ost-transitionC has been the resistance and !re;udice that I ha(e faced from those "ho are not transgender< those "ho become irrationall uncomfortable or disturbed b m gender e#!ression and/or female identit < and those "ho !resume that their identified gender is more natural or (alid than m o"n) *or this reason< I belie(e that one cannot begin to full understand transse#ualit "ithout thoroughl e#amining and criti8uing the !re;udices and !resum!tions of the non-transse#ual ma;orit ) %o although I "ill be discussing transse#uals throughout this boo&< I "ill also be s!ending a great deal of time discussing the beliefs and attitudes common among cisse#ualsEthat is< !eo!le "ho ha(e onl e(er e#!erienced their subconscious se# and !h sical se# as being aligned) %imilarl < !eo!le "ho are not transgender ma be described as being cisgender Balthough I "ill be using this term less often< since the focus of this boo& is on transse#ual "omen rather than the transgender !o!ulation as a "holeC)/ I !refer these terms< but I occasionall use the s non mous terms non-transse#ual and non-transgender) %ome might feel that all of these trans- and gender-related terms I.(e introduced are o(er"helming or confusing) And others< !articularl those in the fields of gender and 8ueer studies< might dismiss much of this language as contributing to a +re(erse discourse-Ethat is< b describing m self as a transse#ual and creating trans-s!ecific terms to describe m e#!eriences< I am sim!l reinforcing the same distinction bet"een transse#uals and cisse#uals that has marginali,ed me in the first !lace) M res!onse to both of these arguments is the same' I do not belie(e that transse#uals and cisse#uals are inherentl different from one another) 0ut the (astl different "a s in "hich "e are !ercei(ed and treated b others< and the "a those differences im!act our uni8ue !h sical and social e#!eriences< lead man transse#uals to see and understand gender (er differentl than our cisse#ual counter!arts) And "hile transse#uals are e#tremel familiar "ith cisse#ual !ers!ecti(es of gender Bas the dominate in our cultureC< most cisse#uals remain largel unfamiliar "ith trans !ers!ecti(es) :sing onl "ords that cisse#uals are familiar "ith in order to describe m gendered e#!eriences "ould be similar to a musician onl choosing "ords that nonmusicians understand "hen describing music) It can be done< but something crucial "ould surel be lost in the translation) Hust as musicians cannot full e#!lain their reaction to a !articular song "ithout bringing u! conce!ts such as +minor &e - or +time signature<- there are certain trans-s!ecific "ords and ideas that "ill a!!ear throughout this boo& that are crucial for me to use in order to !recisel con(e m thoughts and e#!eriences regarding gender) To ha(e an illuminating and nuanced discussion about m e#!eriences and !ers!ecti(es as a trans "oman< "e must begin to thin& in terms of "ords and ideas that accuratel describe that e#!erience)

%&irt Chasers' Wh the Media De!icts the Trans Re(olution in @i!stic& and 2eels

A% A TRA=%%5I:A@ W4MA=< I am often confronted b !eo!le "ho insist that I am not< nor can I e(er be< a +real "oman)- 4ne of the more common lines of reasoning goes something li&e this' There.s more to being a "oman than sim!l !utting on a dress) I couldn.t agree more) That.s "h it.s so frustrating that !eo!le often seem confused because< although I ha(e transitioned to female and li(e as a "oman< I rarel "ear ma&eu! or dress in an o(erl feminine manner) Des!ite the realit that there are as man t !es of trans "omen as there are "omen in general< most !eo!le belie(e that all trans "omen are on a 8uest to ma&e oursel(es as !rett < !in&< and !assi(e as !ossible) While there are certainl some trans "omen "ho bu into mainstream dogma about beaut and femininit < others are outs!o&en feminists and acti(ists fighting against all gender stereot !es) 0ut ou.d ne(er &no" it b loo&ing at the !o!ular media< "hich tends to assume that all transse#uals are male-to-female< and that all trans "omen "ant to achie(e stereot !ical femininit ) The e#istence of transse#ualsE"ho transition from one se# to the other and often li(e com!letel unnoticed as the se# +o!!osite- to the one "e "ere assigned at birthEhas the !otential to challenge the con(entional assum!tion that gender differences arise from our chromosomes and genitals in a sim!le< straightfor"ard manner) We can "rea& ha(oc on such ta&en-for-granted conce!ts as "oman and man< homose#ual and heterose#ual) These terms lose their cut-and-dried meaning "hen a !erson.s assigned se# and li(ed se# are not the same) 0ut because "e are a threat to the categories that enable traditional and o!!ositional se#ism< the images and e#!eriences of trans !eo!le are !resented in the media in a "a that reaffirms< rather than challenges< gender stereot !es)

Trans Woman Archet !es in the Media

Media de!ictions of trans "omen< "hether the ta&e the form of fictional characters or actual !eo!le< usuall fall under one of t"o main archet !es' the +dece!ti(e transse#ual- or the +!athetic transse#ual)- While characters based on both models are !resented as ha(ing a (ested interest in achie(ing an ultrafeminine a!!earance< the differ in their abilities to !ull it off) 0ecause the +decei(ers- successfull !ass as "omen< the generall act as une#!ected !lot t"ists< or !la the role of se#ual !redators "ho fool innocent straight gu s into falling for other +men)Perha!s the most famous e#am!le of a +decei(er- is the character Dil in the 1>>$ mo(ie The Cr ing Game) The film became a !o! culture !henomenon !rimaril because most mo(iegoers "ere una"are that Dil "as trans until about half"a through the mo(ie) The re(elation comes during a lo(e scene bet"een her and *ergus< the male !rotagonist "ho has been courting her) When Dil disrobes< the audience< along "ith *ergus< learns for the first time that Dil is !h sicall male) When I sa" the film< most of the men in the theater groaned at this re(elation) 4nscreen< *ergus has a similarl intense reaction' 2e sla!s Dil and runs off to the bathroom to (omit) The 1>>1 Him Carre (ehicle Ace Jentura' Pet Detecti(e features a +dece!ti(e transse#ual- as a (illain) Police lieutenant @ois 5inhorn B!la ed b %ean KoungC is secretl Ra *in&le< an e#- Miami Dol!hins

&ic&er "ho has stolen the team.s mascot as !art of a scheme to get bac& at Dol!hins 8uarterbac& Dan Marino) The bi,arre !lot ends "hen Jentura stri!s 5inhorn do"n to her under"ear in front of about t"ent !olice officers and announces< +%he is suffering from the "orst case of hemorrhoids I ha(e e(er seen)- 2e then turns her around so that "e can see her !enis and testicles tuc&ed bet"een her legs) All of the !olice officers !roceed to (omit as The Cr ing Game.s theme song !la s in the bac&ground) 5(en though +decei(ers- successfull +!ass- as "omen< and are often !la ed b female actors B"ith the notable e#ce!tion of Ha e Da(idson as DilC< these characters are ne(er intended to challenge our assum!tions about gender itself) 4n the contrar < the are !ositioned as +fa&e- "omen< and their +secret- trans status is re(ealed in a dramatic moment of +truth)- At this moment< the +decei(er-.s a!!earance Bher femalenessC is reduced to mere illusion< and her secret Bher malenessC becomes the real identit ) In a tactic that em!hasi,es their +true- maleness< +decei(ers- are most often used as !a"ns to !ro(o&e male homo!hobia in other characters< as "ell as in the audience itself) This !henomenon is es!eciall e(ident in TJ tal& sho"s li&e Herr %!ringer< "hich regularl runs e!isodes "ith titles li&e +M Girlfriend.s a Gu - and +I.m Reall a ManD- that feature trans "omen coming out to their straight bo friends) 4n a recent 0ritish TJ realit sho" called There.s %omething About Miriam< si# heterose#ual men court an attracti(e "oman "ho< unbe&no"nst to them< is transse#ual) The broadcast of the sho" "as dela ed for se(eral months because the men threatened to sue the sho".s !roducers< alleging that the had been the (ictims of defamation< !ersonal in;ur < and cons!irac to commit se#ual assault) The affair "as e(entuall settled out of court< "ith each man coming a"a "ith a re!orted 1$3<??? 0ritish !ounds Bo(er $??<??? :)%) dollars at the timeC)1 In the 1>7? film ada!tation of Gore Jidal.s no(el M ra 0rec&inridge< the !rotagonist is a trans "oman "ho heads out to 2oll "ood in order to ta&e re(enge on traditional manhood and to +realign the se#es)- This +realignment- a!!arentl in(ol(es ra!ing an e#-football !la er "ith a stra!-on dildo< "hich she does at one !oint during the mo(ie) The recurring theme of +dece!ti(e- trans "omen retaliating against men< often b seducing them< seems to be an unconscious ac&no"ledgment that both male and heterose#ual !ri(ilege is threatened b transse#uals) In contrast to the +decei(ers<- "ho "ield their feminine "iles "ith success< the +!athetic transse#ualcharacters aren.t deluding an one) Des!ite her masculine mannerisms and fi(e o.cloc& shado"< the +!athetic transse#ual- "ill ine(itabl insist that she is a "oman tra!!ed inside a man.s bod ) The intense contradiction bet"een the +!athetic- character.s gender identit and her !h sical a!!earance is often !la ed for laughsEas in the transition of musician Mar& %hubb B!la ed as a bearded baritone b 2arr %hearerC at the conclusion of $??/.s A Might Wind) :nli&e the +decei(ers<- "hose abilit to +!ass- is a serious threat to our culture.s ideas about gender and se#ualit < +!athetic transse#uals-E"ho barel resemble "omen at allEare generall considered harmless) Perha!s for this reason< some of the most endearing !o! culture !ortra als of trans "omen fall into the +!athetic- categor ' Hohn @ithgo".s 4scar-nominated !ortra al of e#- football !la er Roberta Muldoon in 1>9$.s The World According to Gar!< and Terence %tam!.s role as the aging sho"girl 0ernadette in 1>>1.s The Ad(entures of Priscilla< Aueen of the Desert) More recentl < the 1>>9 indie film The Ad(entures of %ebastian Cole begins "ith its teenage !rotagonist learning that his ste!dad 2an&< "ho loo&s and acts li&e a roadie for a .7?s roc& band< is about to become 2enrietta) A s m!athetic character and the onl stable !erson in %ebastian.s life< 2enrietta s!ends most of the mo(ie "earing floral-!rint nightgo"ns and bare-shouldered to!s "ith tons of ;e"elr and ma&eu!) Ket des!ite her e#tremel femme manner of dress< she continues to e#hibit onl stereot !ical male beha(iors<

o(ertl ogling a "aitress and !unching out a gu "ho calls her a +faggot- Bafter "hich she laments< +I bro&e a nail-C) In the case of 2enrietta< this e#treme combination of masculinit and femininit does not seem designed to challenge audiences. assum!tions about maleness and femaleness) 4n the contrar < 2enrietta.s masculine (oice and mannerisms are meant to demonstrate that< des!ite her desire to be female< she cannot change the fact that she is reall and trul a man) As "ith Gar!.s Roberta and Priscilla.s 0ernadette< the audience is encouraged to res!ect 2enrietta as a !erson< but not as a "oman) While "e are su!!osed to admire their courageE"hich !resumabl comes from the difficult of li(ing as "omen "ho do not a!!ear (er femaleE"e are not meant to identif "ith them or to be se#uall attracted to them< as "e are to +decei(ers- li&e Dil) Interestingl < "hile the ob(ious out"ard masculinit of +!athetic transse#ual- characters is al"a s !la ed u!< so too is their lac& of male genitalia Bor their desire to !art "ith themC) In fact< some of the most memorable lines in these mo(ies are uttered "hen the +!athetic transse#ual- character ma&es light of her o"n castration) At one !oint during Priscilla< 0ernadette remar&s that her !arents ne(er s!o&e to her again< +after LsheM had the cho!)- In Gar!< "hen a man is in;ured "hile recei(ing a blo" ;ob during a car accident< Roberta deli(ers the one-liner< +I had mine remo(ed surgicall under general anesthesia< but to ha(e it bitten off in a 0uic& )))- In the 1>>1 fictionali,ed biogra!h 5d Wood< 0ill Murra !la s another +!athetic transse#ual<- 0unn 0rec&inridge) After seeing Wood.s film Glen or Glenda< 0unn is ins!ired to go to Me#ico to ha(e a +se# change<- announcing to Wood< +Kour mo(ie made me reali,e I.(e got to ta&e action) Goodb e< !enisDThe +!athetic- transse#ual.s lighthearted comments about ha(ing her !enis lo!!ed off come in star& contrast to the re(elation of the +decei(er<- "ho is generall found out b someone else in an embarrassing< often (iolent "a ) A *reudian might suggest that the +dece!ti(e- transse#ual.s dangerous nature is s mboli,ed b the !resence of a hidden !enis< "hile the +!athetic- transse#ual.s harmlessness is due to a lac& thereof) A less !hallic inter!retation is that the (er act of +!assingma&es an trans "oman "ho can do so into a +decei(er)- :ltimatel < both +dece!ti(e- and +!athetictransse#ual characters are designed to (alidate the !o!ular assum!tion that trans "omen are trul men) +Pathetic- transse#uals ma "ant to be female< but their masculine a!!earances and mannerisms al"a s gi(e them a"a ) And "hile the +decei(er- is initiall !ercei(ed to be a +real- female< she is e(entuall re(ealed as a "olf in shee!.s clothingEan illusion that is the !roduct of lies and modern medical technolog Eand she is usuall !unished accordingl )

The *ascination "ith +*emini,ation-

In (irtuall all de!ictions of trans "omen< "hether real or fictional< +dece!ti(e- or +!athetic<- the underl ing assum!tion is that the trans "oman "ants to achie(e a stereot !icall feminine a!!earance and gender role) The !ossibilit that trans "omen are e(en ca!able of ma&ing a distinction bet"een identif ing as female and "anting to culti(ate a h !erfeminine image is ne(er raised) In fact< the media often d"ells on the s!ecifics of the femini,ation !rocess< sho"ing trans "omen !utting on their

feminine e#teriors) It.s telling that TJ< film< and ne"s !roducers tend not to be satisfied "ith merel sho"ing trans "omen "earing feminine clothes and ma&eu!) Rather< it is their intent to ca!ture trans "omen in the act of !utting on li!stic&< dresses< and high heels< thereb gi(ing the audience the im!ression that the trans "oman.s femaleness is an artificial mas& or costume) An e#cellent e#am!le of this !henomenon is Transamerica B$??3C< a +budd - road-tri! mo(ie !airing u! trans "oman 0ree 4sbourne B!la ed b *elicit 2uffmanC "ith a son that she "as !re(iousl una"are she had) In the o!ening fi(e minutes of the film< "e see 0ree !racticing along "ith the instructional (ideo *inding Kour *emale Joice< !utting on stoc&ings< !adding her bra< donning a !in& dress suit< !ainting her nails Balso !in&C< and !utting on li!stic&< e e shado"< !o"der< and other cosmetics) This scene Bnot coincidentall C is immediatel follo"ed b the first dialogue in the mo(ie< "here 0ree tells a !s chiatrist that she.s been on hormone re!lacement thera! for three ears< has undergone electrol sis< feminine facial surger < a bro"-lift< forehead reduction< ;a" recontouring< and a tracheal sha(e) This o!ening flurr of cosmetic and medical femini,ation is clearl designed to establish that 0ree.s female identit is artificial and imitati(e< and to reduce her transition to the mere !ursuit of feminine finer ) Throughout the rest of the film< feminine a!!arel and cosmetics are re!eatedl used as a de(ice to highlight 0ree.s fa&eness) There are e#cessi(e scenes in "hich 0ree is sho"n in the act of dressing and undressing< as though her clothing re!resented some &ind of costume) We also see her a!!l ing and fi#ing her ma&eu! nearl e(er chance she gets< and it is difficult not to (ie" the thic& la ers of foundation she constantl "ears as a mas& that is hiding the +real- Bundoubtedl more masculineC 0ree underneath) While man MT* crossdressers often "ear hea( ma&eu! to co(er u! their beard shado"< a trans "oman li&e 0reeE"ho has alread undergone electrol sis and been on hormones for three earsE"ould not need to do this) Indeed< the fact that her foundation begins to de(elo! a sheen from !ers!iration at se(eral !oints in the mo(ie< and that she stumbles in her high heels on more than one occasionEfau# !as that ne(er seem to afflict cisse#ual "omen in 2oll "oodEma&es it clear that the filmma&ers !ur!osel used these female accessories as !ro!s to !ortra 0ree as +doing female- rather badl ) And the certainl succeeded< as *elicit 2uffman comes off seeming infinitel more contri(ed than the se(eral real-life trans "omen Bsuch as Andrea Hames and Cal!ernia AddamsC "ho a!!ear briefl in the film) The media.s "illingness to indulge the audience.s fascination "ith the surface tra!!ings that accom!an the femini,ation of +men- also tarnishes nonfiction and serious attem!ts to tell the stories of trans "omen) *or e#am!le< the $??1 =e" Kor& Times article +As Re!ression 5ases< More Iranians Change Their %e#- is not sensationalistic< describing the rise of transse#ual rights in Iran)$ Ket< one of the t"o !hotos that accom!an the !iece de!icts an Iranian trans "oman !utting on li!stic&) In $??/< The 4!rah Winfre %ho" aired a t"o-!art s!ecial on transse#ual "omen and their "i(es) The entire first e!isode featured a one-on-one inter(ie" "ith Hennifer *inne 0o lan< author of the autobiogra!h %he.s =ot There' A @ife in T"o Genders) While 4!rah Winfre .s con(ersation "ith 0o lan "as res!ectful and serious< the sho" nonetheless o!ened "ith !redictable scenes of "omen !utting on e e ma&eu!< li!stic&< and shoes< and the inter(ie" itself "as inters!ersed "ith +before- !ictures of 0o lan< as if to constantl remind us that she.s reall a man underneath it all) Mass media images of +biological males- dressing and acting in a feminine manner could !otentiall challenge mainstream notions of gender< but the "a the are generall !resented in these femini,ation scenes ensures that this ne(er ha!!ens) The media neutrali,es the !otential threat that trans femininities !ose to the categor of +"oman- b !la ing to the audience.s subconscious belief that femininit itself is artificial) After all< "hile most !eo!le assume that "omen are naturall feminine< the also Brather

h !ocriticall C re8uire them to s!end an hour or t"o each da !utting on their faces and getting all dressed u! in order to meet societal standards for femininit Bunli&e men< "hose masculinit is !resumed to come directl from "ho he is and "hat he doesC) In fact< it.s the assum!tion that femininit is inherentl +contri(ed<- +fri(olous<- and +mani!ulati(e- that allo"s masculinit to al"a s come off as +natural<- +!ractical<- and +sincere- b com!arison) Thus< the media is able to de!ict trans "omen donning feminine attire and accessories "ithout e(er gi(ing the im!ression that the achie(e +true- femaleness in the !rocess) *urther< b focusing on the most feminine of artifices< the media e(o&es the idea that trans "omen are li(ing out some sort of se#ual fetish) This se#uali,ation of trans "omen.s moti(es for transitioning not onl belittles trans "omen.s female identities< but encourages the ob;ectification of "omen as a "hole) 4f course< "hat al"a s goes unseen are the great lengths to "hich !roducers "ill go to de!ict lurid and su!erficial scenes in "hich trans "omen get all dolled u! in !rett clothes and cosmetics) %ha"na Jirago< a %an *rancisco trans acti(ist< musician< and director of the Trann *est film festi(al< has e#!erienced se(eral such incidents "ith local ne"s !roducers) *or instance< "hen Jirago "as organi,ing a forum to facilitate communication bet"een !olice and the trans communit < a ne"s!a!er re!orter a!!roached her and other transgender acti(ists to "rite an article about them) 2o"e(er< the !a!er "as interested not in their !olitics but in their transitions) +The "anted each of us to include Nbefore. and Nafter. !ictures<- %ha"na said) +This !issed me off< and I tried to e#!lain to the "riter that the before-and-after stuff had nothing to do "ith !olice abuse and other issues< li&e trans "omen and 2IJ< but he didn.t get it) %o I "as cut from the !iece)A fe" ears later< someone from another !a!er contacted Jirago and as&ed to !hotogra!h her +getting read - to go out' +I told him I didn.t thin& ha(ing a !icture of me rolling out of bed and hustling to catch Lthe busM "ould ma&e for a com!elling !hoto) 2e said< NKou &no"< getting !rett < !utting on ma&eu!). I refused< but the did get a trans "oman "ho com!lied< and there she "as< !utting on mascara and li!stic& and a !rett dress< none of "hich had an thing to do "ith the article< "hich "as !ur!ortedl about !olitical and social challenges the trans communit faced)-/ Trans "oman =anc =angeroni and her !artner Gordene 4) MacGen,ie< "ho together host the radio !rogram GenderTal&< described t"o similar incidents on one of their !rograms) In both cases< "hile the "ere being filmed< the media !roducers "anted to get footage of the t"o of them !utting on ma&eu! together Bre8uests that =angeroni and MacGen,ie deniedC)1 I m self had a similar e#!erience bac& in $??1< ;ust before I began ta&ing hormones) A friend arranged for me to meet "ith someone "ho "as doing a film about the transgender mo(ement) The filmma&er "as noticeabl disa!!ointed "hen I sho"ed u! loo&ing li&e a some"hat normal gu < "earing a T-shirt< ;eans< and snea&ers) %he e(entuall as&ed me if I "ould mind !utting on li!stic& "hile she filmed me) I told her that "earing li!stic& had nothing to do "ith the fact that I "as transgender or that I identified as female) %he shot a small amount of footage an "a Bsans li!stic&C and said she "ould get in touch "ith me if she decided to use an of it) I ne(er heard bac& from her) When audiences "atch scenes of trans "omen !utting on s&irts and ma&eu!< the are not necessaril seeing a reflection of the (alues of those trans "omenF the are "itnessing TJ< film< and ne"s !roducers. obsessions "ith all ob;ects commonl associated "ith female se#ualit ) In other "ords< the media.s and audience.s fascination "ith the femini,ation of trans "omen is a b -!roduct of their se#uali,ation of all "omen)

The Media.s Transgender Ga!

There is most certainl a connection bet"een the differing (alues gi(en to "omen and men in our culture and the media.s fascination "ith de!icting trans "omen rather than trans men< "ho "ere born female but identif as male) Although the number of !eo!le transitioning in each direction is relati(el e8ual these da s< media co(erage "ould ha(e us belie(e there is a huge dis!arit in the !o!ulations of trans men and "omen)3 Hamison Green< a trans man "ho authored a 1>>1 re!ort that led to the cit of %an *rancisco.s decision to e#tend its ci(il rights !rotections to include gender identit < once said this about the media co(erage of that e(ent' +%e(eral times at the courthouse< "hen the !ress "as doing inter(ie"s< I stood b and listened as re!orters in8uired "ho "rote the re!ort< and "hen I "as !ointed out to them as the author I could see them loo&ing right through me< loo&ing !ast me to find the man in a dress "ho must ha(e "ritten the re!ort and "hom the "ould "ant to inter(ie") More than once a re!orter as&ed me incredulousl < NKou "rote the re!ortO. The assumed that because of m Nnormal. a!!earance that I "ouldn.t be ne"s"orth )-6 Indeed< the media tends to not noticeEor to outright ignoreEtrans men because the are unable to sensationali,e them the "a the do trans "omen "ithout bringing masculinit itself into 8uestion) And in a "orld "here modern !s cholog "as founded u!on the teaching that all oung girls suffer from !enis en( < most !eo!le thin& stri(ing for masculinit seems li&e a !erfectl reasonable goal) Author and se# acti(ist Patric& Califia< "ho is a trans man< addresses this in his 1>>7 boo& %e# Changes' The Politics of Transgenderism' +It seems the "orld is still more titillated b Na man "ho "ants to become a "oman. than it is b Na "oman "ho "ants to become a man). The first is scandalous< the latter is ta&en for granted) This reflects the (er different le(els of !ri(ilege men and "omen ha(e in our societ ) 4f course "omen "ant to be men< the general attitude seems to be< and of course the can.t) And that.s that)-7 4nce "e recogni,e ho" media co(erage of transse#uals is informed b the different (alues our societ assigns to femaleness and maleness< it becomes ob(ious that (irtuall all attem!ts to sensationali,e and deride trans "omen are built on a foundation of uns!o&en misog n ) %ince most !eo!le cannot fathom "h someone "ould gi(e u! male !ri(ilege and !o"er in order to become a relati(el disem!o"ered female< the assume that trans "omen transition !rimaril as a "a of obtaining the one t !e of !o"er that "omen are !ercei(ed to ha(e in our societ ' the abilit to e#!ress femininit and to attract men) This is "h trans "omen li&e m self< "ho rarel dress in an o(erl feminine manner and/or "ho are not attracted to men< are such an enigma to man !eo!le) 0 assuming that m desire to be female is merel some sort of femininit fetish or se#ual !er(ersion< the are essentiall ma&ing the case that "omen ha(e no "orth be ond the e#tent to "hich the can be se#uali,ed)

*eminist De!ictions of Trans Women

There are numerous !arallels bet"een the "a trans "omen are de!icted in the media and the "a that the ha(e been !ortra ed b some feminist theorists) While man feministsEes!eciall ounger ones "ho came of age in the 1>9?s and 1>>?sErecogni,e that trans "omen can be allies in the fight to eliminate gender stereot !es< other feministsE!articularl those "ho embrace gender essentialismE belie(e that trans "omen foster se#ism b mimic&ing !atriarchal attitudes about femininit < or that "e ob;ectif "omen b tr ing to !ossess female bodies of our o"n) Man of these latter ideas stem from Hanice G) Ra mond.s 1>7> boo& The Transse#ual 5m!ire' The Ma&ing of the %he-Male< "hich is !erha!s the most influential feminist "riting on transse#uals) @i&e the media< Ra mond (irtuall ignores trans men< dismissing them as +to&ens<- and instead focuses almost e#clusi(el on trans "omen< insisting that the transition in order to achie(e stereot !ical femininit ) %he e(en argues that +most transse#uals conform more to the feminine role than e(en the most feminine of natural-born "omen)-9 This fact does not sur!rise Ra mond< since she belie(es that femininit itself is an artificial b -!roduct of a !atriarchal societ ) %o des!ite the fact that trans "omen ma attain femininit < Ra mond does not belie(e that the become +real- "omen) BTo em!hasi,e this< she refers to trans "omen as +male-to-constructed-females- and addresses them "ith masculine !ronouns throughout the boo&)C Thus< Ra mond builds her case b rel ing on the same tactics as the media' %he de!icts trans "omen as h !erfeminine Bin order to ma&e their female identities a!!ear highl artificialC and she h !erse#uali,es them Bb !la ing do"n the e#istence of trans !eo!le "ho transition to maleC) :nli&e the media< Ra mond does ac&no"ledge the e#istence of trans "omen "ho are not stereot !icall feminine< albeit reluctantl ) %he "rites< +I ha(e been (er hesitant about de(oting a cha!ter of this boo& to "hat I call the Ntransse#uall constructed lesbian-feminist).-> 0ecause she belie(es that lesbian-feminists re!resent +a small !ercentage of transse#uals- Ba claim that she ne(er (erifiesC< she does not seem inclined to discuss their e#istence at all e#ce!t for the +recent debate and di(isi(eness Lthe sub;ectM !roduced "ithin feminist circles)-1? 0eing that Ra mond belie(es that femininit undermines "omen.s true "orth< ou might thin& that she "ould be o!en to trans "omen "ho denounce femininit and !atriarchal gender stereot !es) 2o"e(er< this is not the case) Instead< she argues< +As the male-to-constructed-female transse#ual e#hibits the attem!t to !ossess "omen in a bodil sense "hile acting out the images into "hich men ha(e molded "omen< the male-toconstructed-female "ho claims to be a lesbian-feminist attem!ts to !ossess "omen at a dee!er le(el)-11 Throughout the rest of the cha!ter< she discusses ho" lesbian-feminist trans "omen use +dece!tion- in order to +!enetrate- "omen.s s!aces and minds) %he sa s< +although the transse#uall constructed lesbian-feminist does not e#hibit a feminine identit and role< he does e#hibit stereot !ical masculine beha(ior)-1$ This essentiall !uts trans "omen in a double bind' If the act feminine the are !ercei(ed as being a !arod < but if the act masculine it is seen as a sign of their true male identit ) This damned-if-the -do< damned-if-the -don.t tactic is reminiscent of the !o! cultural +dece!ti(e-/+!athetic- transse#ual archet !es) 0oth Ra mond and the media ensure that trans "omen E"hether the are feminine or masculine< "hether the +!ass- or notE"ill in(ariabl come off as +fa&e- "omen no matter ho" the loo& or act) While much of The Transse#ual 5m!ire is clearl o(er the to! Bthe !remise of the boo& is that +biological "oman is in the !rocess of being made obsolete b bio-medicine-C< man of Ra mond.s arguments are echoed in contem!orar attem!ts to ;ustif the e#clusion of trans "omen from "omen.s organi,ations and s!aces) In fact< the "orld.s largest annual "omen-onl e(ent< the Michigan

Wom n.s Music *esti(al Boften referred to sim!l as +Michigan-C< still enforces a +"om n-born"om n--onl !olic that is s!ecificall designed to !re(ent trans "omen from attending)1/ Man of the e#cuses used to rationali,e trans "omen.s e#clusion are not designed to !rotect the (alues of "omen-onl s!ace< but rather to reinforce the idea that trans "omen are +real- men and +fa&e- "omen) *or e#am!le< one of the most cited reasons that trans "omen are not allo"ed in the festi(al is that "e are born "ith< and man of us still ha(e< !enises Bman trans "omen either cannot afford to or choose not to ha(e se# reassignment surger C) It is argued that our !enises are dangerous because the are a s mbol of male o!!ression and ha(e the !otential to trigger "omen "ho ha(e been se#uall assaulted or abused b men) %o !enises are banned from the festi(al< rightO Well< not 8uite' The festi(al does allo" "omen to !urchase and use dildos< stra!-ons< and !ac&ing de(ices< man of "hich closel resemble !enises) %o !halluses in and of themsel(es are not so bad< ;ust so long as the are not attached to a trans "oman) Another reason fre8uentl gi(en for the e#clusion of trans "omen from Michigan is that "e su!!osedl "ould bring +male energ - into the festi(al) While this seems to im!l that e#!ressions of masculinit are not allo"ed< nothing could be further from the truth) Michigan allo"s drag &ing !erformers "ho dress and act male< and the festi(al stage has featured se(eral female-bodied !erformers "ho identif as transgender and sometimes describe themsel(es "ith male !ronouns)11 Presumabl < @isa Jogel B"ho is sole !ro!rietor of the festi(alC allo"s this because she belie(es that no !erson "ho is born female is ca!able of e#hibiting authentic masculinit or +male energ )- =ot onl is this an insult to trans men Bas it suggests that the can ne(er be full masculine or maleC< but it im!lies that +male energ - can be measured in some "a inde!endent of "hether the !erson e#!ressing it a!!ears female or male) This is clearl not the case) 5(en though I am a trans "oman< I ha(e ne(er been accused of e#!ressing +male energ <- because !eo!le !ercei(e me as a "oman) When I do act in a +masculine- "a < !eo!le describe me as a +tombo - or +butch<- and if I get aggressi(e or argumentati(e< !eo!le call me a +bitch)- M beha(iors are still the sameF it is onl the conte#t of m bod B"hether !eo!le see me as female or maleC that has changed) This is the ine(itable !roblem "ith all attem!ts to !ortra trans "omen as +fa&e- females B"hether media or feminist in originC' The re8uire one to gi(e different names< meanings< and (alues to the same beha(iors de!ending on "hether the !erson in 8uestion "as born "ith a female or male bod Bor "hether the are !ercei(ed to be a "oman or a manC) In other "ords< the re8uire one to be se#ist) When !eo!le insist that there are essential differences bet"een "omen and men< the further a line of reasoning that ultimatel refutes feminist ideals rather than su!!orting them) *rom m o"n e#!erience in ha(ing transitioned from one se# to the other< I ha(e found that "omen and men are not se!arated b an insurmountable chasm< as man !eo!le seem to belie(e) Actuall < most of us are onl a hormone !rescri!tion a"a from being !ercei(ed as the +o!!osite- se#) Personall < I "elcome this idea as a testament to ;ust ho" little difference there reall is bet"een "omen and men) To belie(e that a "oman is a "oman because of her se# chromosomes< re!roducti(e organs< or sociali,ation denies the realit that e(er single da < "e classif each !erson "e see as either female or male based on a small number of (isual cues and a ton of assum!tion) The one thing that "omen share is that "e are all !ercei(ed as "omen and treated accordingl ) As a feminist< I loo& for"ard to a time "hen "e finall mo(e be ond the idea that biolog is destin < and recogni,e that the most im!ortant differences that e#ist bet"een "omen and men in our societ are the different meanings that "e !lace onto one another.s bodies)

0efore and After' Class and 0od Transformations

TRA=%%5I:A@ @IJ5% AR5 full of obstaclesEchildhood isolation< denial< de!ression< coming out< and managing our gender difference in a less than hos!itable "orld) We ha(e to na(igate the legal limbo that surrounds "hat +se#- a!!ears on our dri(er.s licenses and !ass!orts< "hich restrooms "e can safel use< and "ho "e are allo"ed to marr ) Man of us face "or&!lace discrimination< !olice harassment< and the constant threat of (iolence) Ket the media focuses (er little on an of this) Instead< TJ sho"s and documentaries about transse#uals tend to focus rather e#clusi(el on one !articular as!ect of our li(es' our !h sical transitions) %uch transition-focused !rograms al"a s seem to follo" the same format< "hich includes rigorous discussions of all of the medical !rocedures in(ol(ed Bhormones< surgeries< electrol sis< etc)C and !lent of the re8uisite before-and-after shots) 0efore I transitioned< I found these !rograms !redictable and formulaic< but I also found them hel!ful to a certain e#tent) As someone "ho had often thought about changing m se#< the ga(e me a certain understanding of "hat I might be able to e#!ect if I "ere to !ursue such a !ath m self) 0ut of course< I "as a demogra!hic anomal ) Clearl these sho"s "ere being made b and for !eo!le "ho did not identif "ith the trans !erson in the !rogram and "ho "ere not contem!lating se# reassignment themsel(es) 0ac& then< I ne(er reall 8uestioned "h a nontrans audience might be so interested in the minutiae of the transitioning !rocess and trans-related medical !rocedures) =o"< after fi(e ears of li(ing as an out transse#ual< I ha(e come to reali,e that these documentaries and TJ !rograms re(eal an e(en dee!er underl ing com!ulsion on the !art of man cisse#ual !eo!le< one that goes "a be ond natural curiosit < to d"ell almost e#clusi(el on the !h sical as!ects of the transition !rocess "hen contem!lating transse#ualit ) @i&e most transse#uals< I ha(e scores of anecdotes that highlight this tendenc ' During the 8uestion and ans"er session at a literar e(ent< after reading a !iece about the murder of trans "oman G"en Arau;o< I "as as&ed b an audience member if I had an electrol sis done on m faceF after I did a "or&sho! for college students on binar gender norms and the "a "e !ro;ect our ideals about gender onto other !eo!le< a oung "oman as&ed me se(eral 8uestions about "hether or not I.d had a +se# change o!eration-F after creating s"itchhitter)net< m coming-out-as-trans "ebsite< I recei(ed an angr email from a stranger com!laining that I did not !ut an before-and-after !ictures u! on the site< as if the /<7??-"ord 8uestion and ans"er section and the 1<3??-"ord mini-autobiogra!h describing m e#!eriences being trans "asn.t sufficient for that !erson to full gras! m transse#ualit Ehe needed to see the changes firsthand) 4f course< it.s not ;ust strangers "ho as& to see before-and-after shots of me) When friends< colleagues< or ac8uaintances find out that I am trans< it is not uncommon for them to as& if I ha(e an +before!ictures the can see< as if I ;ust so ha!!en to &ee! a bo !hoto of m self hand < ou &no"< ;ust in case) I usuall res!ond b telling them that before I transitioned I loo&ed e#actl li&e I do no"< e#ce!t that I "as a bo ) The ne(er seem !articularl satisfied "ith that ans"er)

The thing that stri&es me the most about the desire to see before-and-after !ictures< or to hear all of the gor details about se# reassignment !rocedures< is ho" bold !eo!le often are about it) After all< these !eo!le ha(e to &no" that I felt uncomfortable as male< that it "as a difficult and often miserable !art of m life) %o "h on earth "ould the as& to see !ictures of me from that time !eriodO *rom m !ers!ecti(e< it is as thoughtless as if I had told someone that I "as suffering from de!ression a fe" ears ago and for them to ha(e res!onded< +4h< do ou ha(e an !ictures of ourself from bac& thenOAnd reall < is there an thing more disres!ectful and ina!!ro!riate than as&ing someone Bin !ublic< no lessDC "hether the ha(e had an medical !rocedures !erformed on their genitalsO %o "hat dri(es these other"ise "ell-meaning !eo!le to "ant to &no" about the !h sical as!ects of m transition so badl that the are "illing to disregard common courtes and discretionO Well< I "asn.t 8uite sure m self until about t"o ears ago< during the height of the realit TJ !lastic surger cra,e< "hen sho"s li&e 5#treme Ma&eo(er< The %"an< and I Want a *amous *ace filled the air"a(es) These sho"s seemed to be catering to a (er similar audience desire' to "itness a dramatic !h sical transformation !rocess re!lete "ith before-and-after !hotos of the sub;ect) Also around that time< gastric b !ass surger began recei(ing a lot of media attention< and there "ere numerous !rograms dedicated to follo"ing !eo!le "ho "ere described as being +morbidl obese- through their surger and reco(er < ending of course "ith the mandator before-and-after shots !unctuating ;ust ho" much "eight the sub;ects had lost) 4n Disco(er 2ealth Channel< there is e(en a series that.s called Plastic %urger ' 0efore P After< "hich often combines con(entional !lastic surgeries and gastric b !asses in the same e!isode) What reall im!ressed me about these sho"s "as ho" similar the are in format to man of the transse#ual documentaries I ha(e seen' The feature sub;ects "ho are unha!! "ith their bodies in some "a < s m!athetic and able doctors "ho describe the forthcoming !rocedures in great detail< hos!ital shots on the da of surger and immediatel after"ard< a final scene after full reco(er "here the sub;ect tal&s about ho" ha!! the are "ith the results< and side-b -side before-and-after !hotos that demonstrate the remar&able transformation in its entiret ) %ometimes these sho"s are e(en set to slightl disturbing music that< "hen combined "ith the narrator.s dramatic (oice-o(er< im!resses u!on the (ie"er that the are "atching something that is simultaneousl "ondrous and taboo) The onl significant difference bet"een man transse#ual documentaries and these !lastic surger sho"s is that the former re8uire a little more bac&ground and e#!lanation as to "h the sub;ect "ants to change their se# in the first !lace B!resumabl < the desire to become thinner or more con(entionall attracti(e needs no e#!lanationC) %o "h do !lastic surgeries< gastric b !asses< and se# reassignment !rocedures recei(e such similar treatment in these !rogramsO It is not sim!l because the all !ortra cutting-edge medical !rocedures) After all< there are !lent of sho"s that feature (arious medical techni8ues and surgeries< but the are generall far more serious and less sensationalistic in tone) =or can it be said that the rarit of these !rocedures leads to the !ublic.s fascination "ith them) While se# reassignment is still fairl rare< >)$ million cosmetic !lastic surger !rocedures and an estimated 11?<??? gastric b !ass surgeries "ere !erformed in $??1)1 It also can.t sim!l be that these sho"s de!ict transformations of some &ind) After all< one occasionall sees behind-the-scenes !rograms about 2oll "ood ma&eu! artists and costume designers "ho can drasticall change an actor.s a!!earance< et the are ne(er gi(en the sensationalistic s!in that these other t !es of transformations recei(e) There are also !lent of !rograms that feature nonsurgical ma&eo(ers Bfor e#am!le< Aueer 5 e for the %traight Gu and What =ot to WearC< but the tend to ha(e a more laid-bac& and informati(e feel< seducing the audience "ith their ou-can-do-this- ourself attitude< in contrast to !lastic surger and se# reassignment sho"s< "hich ha(e a far more cold and (o euristic feel to them) And "hile a "oman "ho changes her hair color and

st le< or a man "ho sha(es off his beard< undergoes a significant transformation< one that often lea(es them loo&ing li&e a com!letel different !erson< the audience is not encouraged to ga"& o(er their before-and-after !ictures in the same "a the do "ith the sub;ects of !lastic surger and se# reassignment !rograms) I "ould argue that the ma;or reason that !lastic surgeries< gastric b !asses< and se# reassignments are all gi(en similar sensationalistic treatments is because the sub;ects cross "hat is normall considered an im!enetrable class boundar ' from unattracti(e to beautiful< from fat to thin< and in the case of transse#uals< from male to female< or from female to male) 4f course< attracti(eness as a class issue !ermeates much of "hat "e see on TJEit determines "ho gets to be the !rotagonist or lo(e interest and "ho ends u! being the nerd ne#t-door neighbor or comic relief) And "hile TJ ad(ertisements ma encourage us to bu (arious beaut !roducts that are su!!osed to ma&e us loo& incrementall more attracti(e< or dieting and e#ercising !rograms that are su!!osed to hel! us lose that e#tra ten< t"ent < e(en fort !ounds< it is commonl acce!ted that "e each ha(e certain !h sical limits that "e are unable to o(ercome< limits that generall determine our social status regarding attracti(eness) In fact< the large amount of effort that man of us !ut into attaining the relati(el small im!ro(ements in our a!!earance that are achie(able b e#ercising< dieting< and !urchasing beaut !roducts is a testament to ho" much "e are ;udged Band ho" "e ;udge othersC based on con(entional standards of beaut and si,e) %o "hen somebod does cross those su!!osedl im!assable boundaries< essentiall changing their social class from not-so-attracti(e to stunning< or from +morbidl obese- to thin< it can change our thin&ing about beaut and attraction) As a transse#ual< I find m self dealing "ith this same !henomenon all the time< onl "ith gender) Whether !eo!le reali,e it or not< most of us (alue< treat< and relate to "omen and men (er differentl < although not necessaril in a conscious or malicious "a ) Rather< li&e our attitudes about beaut and attraction< these !re;udices are !racticall in(isible to us< as the are "o(en into our social fabric) %o "hen I tell someone that I used to be male< the are often dumbfounded at first< as if the ha(e difficult reconciling that someone "ho seems so naturall female to them could ha(e once been something the consider to be so com!letel different) The fact that a single indi(idual can be both female and male< or ugl and beautiful< at different !oints in their life challenges the commonl held belief that these classes are mutuall e#clusi(e and naturall distinct from one another) Coming face-to-face "ith an indi(idual "ho has crossed class barriers of gender or attracti(eness can hel! us recogni,e the e#tent to "hich our o"n biases< assum!tions< and stereot !es create those class s stems in the first !lace) 0ut rather than 8uestion our o"n (alue ;udgments or notice the "a s that "e treat !eo!le differentl based on their si,e< beaut < or gender< most of us refle#i(el react to these situations in a "a that reinforces class boundaries' We focus on the !resumed +artificialit - of the transformation the sub;ect has undergone) Pla ing u! the +artificial- as!ects of the transformation !rocess gi(es one the im!ression that the class barrier itself is +natural<- one that could not ha(e been crossed if it "ere not for modern medical technolog ) 4f course< it is true that !lastic surgeries and se# reassignments are +artificial<- but then again so are the e#ercise bi&es "e "or& out on< the anti"rin&le moisturi,ers "e smear on our faces< the d es "e use to color our hair< the clothes "e bu to com!lement our figures< and the TJ sho"s< mo(ies< maga,ines< and billboards that bombard us "ith +ideal- images of gender< si,e< and beaut that set the standards that "e tr to li(e u! to in the first !lace) The class s stems based on attracti(eness and gender are e#traordinaril +artificial-E et onl those !ractices that seem to sub(ert those classes Brather than reaffirm themC are e(er characteri,ed as such)

%ho"s de!icting !lastic surger < gastric b !asses< and se# reassignments are designed B"hether consciousl or unconsciousl C to single out and e#aggerate the su!!osed +artificial- nature of these !rocedures< thus gi(ing the audience the o!!ortunit to en;o the s!ectacle of these dramatic transformations "ithout e(er bringing into 8uestion the authenticit of the class barrier that is being crossed) The more dramatic the change< the more +artificial- the "hole !rocess "ill ine(itabl seem) This is "h !lastic surger sho"s rarel de!ict !eo!le "ho are con(entionall attracti(e from the outset< e(en though such !eo!le certainl re!resent a significant !ortion of those "ho see& out !lastic surger ) =or do the follo" sub;ects "ho merel "ant a nose ;ob or a tumm tuc&) Rather< these !rograms almost al"a s de!ict !eo!le of either a(erage or less-than-a(erage attracti(eness< and "ho undergo multi!le !rocedures at once< thus creating the most dramatic and e#tensi(e !h sical change !ossible) %imilarl < the sub;ects of se# reassignment !rograms rarel e(er begin the !rocess as (er feminine males or as (er masculine females< e(en though man !re-transition trans !eo!le fall into these categories) %ho"ing such !eo!le transitioning to become trans "omen and trans men< res!ecti(el < "ould not onl ma&e their transformation seem less dramaticF it "ould gi(e the im!ression that se# reassignment merel confirms the sub;ect.s +natural- gender identit < as o!!osed to +artificiall altering that !erson.s biological se#) Perha!s for this reason< the most commonl de!icted sub;ect on these !rograms is a trans "oman "ho starts out as a seemingl masculine male) In addition to the reasons for the media.s focus on trans "omen rather than trans men B"hich I discussed in cha!ter $C< there are additional !h sical reasons to account for this !henomenon) Trans "omen often ha(e more difficulties +!assing- as their identified se# than trans men do< not onl because of limitations of the MT* transition !rocess in re(ersing some of the irre!arable effects of !rolonged e#!osure to testosterone< but because !eo!le in our culture !redominantl rel on male Brather than femaleC cues "hen determining the se# of other !eo!le)$ Therefore< some trans "omen re8uire more !rocedures if the "ish to be ta&en seriousl as their identified se#) %e# reassignment TJ !rograms I ha(e seen ha(e follo"ed trans "omen not onl through electrol sis< hormone re!lacement thera! < and bottom surger B"hich are all fairl commonC< but also some"hat less common !rocedures< such as to! surger to increase the si,e of their breasts< tracheal sha(es to reduce the si,e of their Adam.s a!!les< and (oice lessons to o(ercome their dee! (oices) %uch sho"s also fre8uentl de!ict trans "omen "or&ing "ith mo(ement coaches and fashion consultants< e(en though it is safe to sa that the o(er"helming ma;orit of trans "omen ne(er engage in such a ste!) These !rograms. concentration on trans !eo!le "ho undergo multi!le medical !rocedures< or "ho ta&e lessons to hel! them +!ass- as their identified se#< tends to ma&e in(isible the man trans men and "omen "ho +!ass- rather easil after hormone re!lacement thera! alone< or "ho choose not to undergo all of the !rocedures commonl associated "ith transse#ualit ) *ocusing !rimaril on those trans !eo!le "ho undergo the most !rocedures during their transitions not onl sho"s a more dramatic changeEone that reinforces the idea that se# reassignment is +artificial-Ebut also fosters the audience.s assum!tion that trans !eo!le are merel mimic&ing or im!ersonating the other se# rather than e#!ressing their natural gender identit or subconscious se#) Perha!s no element in these se# reassignment and !lastic surger sho"s hel!s confirm the audience.s assum!tions about gender and attracti(eness more than the before-and-after !hotos) These !ictures are designed to o(erem!hasi,e stereot !es) In the !rograms that feature !lastic surger and gastric b !ass surger < the sub;ect is almost al"a s "earing frum! clothes and fro"ning in the +before- !icture< and dressed smart and smiling in the +after- !icture< adding to the !erce!tion that the ha(e become more

attracti(e) In the transse#ual documentaries< +before- !hotos of trans "omen almost al"a s de!ict them in the most masculine of "a s' !la ing s!orts as a oung bo < "ith facial hair and "earing a "edding tu#edo or militar uniform as a oung man) %imilarl < +before- shots of trans men often include !ictures of them "earing birthda dresses as a child< or high school earboo& !hotos of them "ith long hair) The !ur!ose for choosing these more stereot !icall female and male images o(er other !otential +before- !ictures Bfor instance< ones "here the sub;ect loo&s more gender-(ariant or genderneutralC is to em!hasi,e the +naturalness- of the trans !erson.s assigned se#< thereb e#aggerating the +artificialit - of their identified se#) In real life< before-and-after !hotos don.t al"a s de!ict such clear-cut gender differences) 4ne time< a friend "ho has onl &no"n me as a "oman (isited our a!artment and sa" "edding !hotos of me and m "ife< Dani< for the first time) Des!ite the fact that I am !h sicall male and "earing a tu#edo in the !ictures Bas "e "ere married before I !h sicall transitionedC< I do not loo& (er masculineF instead< I loo& li&e the small< long-haired< androg nous bo that I used to be) M friend seemed a little let do"n b the !hotos) %he muttered< +It.s "eird< because it loo&s ;ust li&e ou in the !ictures< e#ce!t that ou.re a gu )- %imilarl < "hene(er old friends meet u! "ith me for the first time since m transition< the almost in(ariabl comment on ho" strange it is that I seem li&e the e#act same !erson to them< e#ce!t that no" I am female) It.s as if our com!ulsion to !lace "omen and men into different categories of our brain< to see them as +o!!osite- se#es< is so intense that "e ha(e trouble imagining that it is !ossible for a !erson to change their se# "ithout someho" becoming an entirel different !erson) These da s< "hene(er !eo!le as& me lots of 8uestions about m !re(ious male life and the medical !rocedures that hel!ed facilitate m transition to female< I reali,e that the are ma&ing a des!erate and concerted effort to !reser(e their o"n assum!tions and stereot !es about gender< rather than o!ening their minds u! to the !ossibilit that "omen and men do not re!resent mutuall e#clusi(e categories) When the re8uest to see m +before- !hotos or as& me "hat m former name "as< it is because the are tr ing to (isuali,e me as male in order to anchor m e#istence in m assigned se#) And "hen the focus on m !h sical transition< it is so the can imagine m femaleness as a !roduct of medical science rather than something that is authentic< that comes from inside me) I &no" that man in the trans communit belie(e that these TJ sho"s and documentaries follo"ing transse#uals through the transition !rocess ser(e a !ur!ose< offering us a bit of (isibilit and the rare chance to be de!icted on TJ as something other than a ;o&e) 0ut in actualit < the accom!lish little more than reducing us to our !h sical transitions and our anatomicall +altered- bodies) In other "ords< these !rograms ob;ectif us) And "hile it has become some"hat customar for trans !eo!le to allo" the media to use our +before- !ictures "hene(er "e a!!ear on TJ< this onl enables the cisse#ual !ublic to continue !ri(ileging our assigned se# o(er our subconscious se# and gender identit ) If "e trul "ant to be ta&en seriousl in our identified se#< then "e must not onl refuse to indulge cisse#ual !eo!le.s com!ulsion to !igeonhole us in our assigned se#< but call them out on the "a that the continuousl ob;ectif our bodies "hile refusing to ta&e our minds< our !ersons< and our identities seriousl )

0o gasms and Girlgasms' A *ran& Discussion About 2ormones and Gender Differences

T24:G2 I AM 4*T5= R5@:CTA=T to indulge !eo!le.s fascination "ith the details of m !h sical transition from male to female< I "ill often ma&e an e#ce!tion regarding the !s chological changes I e#!erienced due to hormones) The reason for this is 8uite sim!le' %e# hormones ha(e become horribl !olitici,ed in our culture< e(ident in the "a that !eo!le blatantl blame testosterone for nearl all instances of male aggression and (iolence< or the "a that "omen "ho become legitimatel angr or u!set often ha(e their o!inions dismissed as mere s m!toms of their bod chemistr ) %uch hormonal fol&lore has strongl influenced medicine< as e(idenced b the countless shodd < !seudoscientific studies claiming to (erif !o!ular assum!tions about testosterone and estrogen) 4f course< such o(ert !olitici,ation has created a significant bac&lash of !eo!le "ho no" !la do"n the role of hormones in human beha(ior< "ho argue that most of their !resumed effects Bma&ing men o(erl aggressi(e and "omen o(erl emotionalC are better e#!lained b sociali,ationEafter all< oung bo s are encouraged to be aggressi(e and discouraged from sho"ing emotions< and (ice (ersa for girls) 2a(ing e#!erienced both female and male hormones firsthand< I feel it.s m dut to s!oil this nature(ersus-nurture debate b offering the follo"ing descri!tion and inter!retation of m !ersonal e#!eriences +transitioning- from testosterone to estrogen and !rogesterone) 0ut before I begin< there are t"o im!ortant !oints that must be made !rior to an discussion regarding hormones) *irst< contrar to !o!ular belief< hormones do not sim!l act li&e unilateral on/off s"itches controlling female/feminine or male/masculine de(elo!ment) All !eo!le ha(e both androgens B"hich include testosteroneC and estrogens in their s stems< although the balance is ti!!ed more to"ard the former in men and the latter in "omen) =ot onl are there different t !es of androgens and estrogens< but these hormones re8uire different steroid rece!tors to function< are metaboli,ed b numerous en, mes that can shift the balance b con(erting one hormone to another< and function b regulating the le(els of scores of +do"nstream genes<- "hich are more directl res!onsible for !roducing s!ecific hormonal effects) 0ecause of all these (ariables< there.s an e#tensi(e amount of natural (ariation built into the "a indi(idual !eo!le e#!erience and !rocess s!ecific hormones) The second issue to &ee! in mind is the difficult in distinguishing +real- hormone effects from their !ercei(ed or !resumed effects) *or e#am!le< shortl after I began hormone thera! < I had a strong cra(ing for eggs) I immediatel attributed this to the hormones until other trans "omen told me that the ne(er had similar cra(ings) %o !erha!s that "as an effect of the hormones onl I had) 4r ma be I "as going through an +egg !hase- that ;ust so ha!!ened to coincide "ith the start of m hormone thera! ) 2ence< the !roblem' =ot onl can hormones affect indi(iduals differentl < but "e sometimes attribute coincidences to them and !ro;ect our o"n e#!ectations onto them) *or these reasons< I "ill limit m discussion here to those hormonal changes I ha(e e#!erienced that ha(e been corroborated b other trans "omen I ha(e s!o&en "ith) Also< rather than get into the more !h sical effects of hormones Bi)e)< muscle/fat distribution< hair gro"th< etc)C "hich are not in dis!ute< I "ill focus !rimaril on the +!s chological- changesEin m emotions< senses< and se#ualit Ethat I e#!erienced earl on "hen I began ta&ing estrogen along "ith an anti-androgen< "hich su!!resses endogenous testosterone le(els< to shift m hormonal balance into the range that most adult "omen e#!erience)

Peo!le often sa that female hormones ma&e "omen +more emotional- than men< but in m (ie" such claims are an o(ersim!lification) 2o" "ould I describe the changes I "ent through< thenO In retros!ect< "hen testosterone "as the !redominant se# hormone in m bod < it "as as though a thic& curtain "ere dra!ed o(er m emotions) It deadened their intensit < made all of m feelings !ale and (ague as if the "ere ghosts that "ould haunt me) 0ut on estrogen< I find that I ha(e all of the same emotions that I did bac& then< onl no" the come in cr stal clear) In other "ords< it is not the actual emotions< but rather their intensit that has changedEthe highs are "a higher and the lo"s are "a lo"er) Another "a of sa ing it is that I feel m emotions more no"F the are in the foreground rather than the bac&ground of m mind) The anecdote that !erha!s best ca!tures this change occurred about t"o months after I started hormone thera! ) M "ife< Dani< and I had an argument and at one !oint I started to cr Esomething that "as not all that uncommon for me "hen I "as hormonall male) What "as different "as that after about a minute or so< I began to laugh "hile simultaneousl continuing to cr ) When Dani as&ed me "h I "as laughing< I re!lied< +I can.t turn it off)- 0ac& "hen I "as hormonall male< I felt as though I "as al"a s ca!able of sto!!ing the cr < of holding it all in< if I reall "anted to) =o"< I find it nearl im!ossible to hold bac& the tears once I start cr ing) I.(e learned instead to ;ust go "ith it< to let m self e#!erience the cr < and it feels a lot more cathartic as a result) In general< e(en though m emotions are much more intense these da s< I certainl do not feel as though the get in the "a of m logic or reasoning< or that the single-handedl control m e(er thought or decision) I remain !erfectl ca!able of acting on rational thought rather than follo"ing m feelings) 2o"e(er< "hat I can no longer do Bat least to the e#tent that I used toC is com!letel ignore m emotions< re!ress them< or entirel shut them out of m mind) The change in the intensit of m emotions is !aralleled in m sense of touch as "ell) I cannot sa for sure that m sense of touch has im!ro(edEthat I am able to feel things that I couldn.t beforeEbut it surel !la s a greater role in ho" I e#!erience the "orld) Whene(er I am interested in something< "hether it.s a boo&< a !iece of art"or&< an article of clothing< or an ob;ect or material of an &ind< I feel com!elled to touch it< to handle it< as though m understanding of it "ould be incom!lete "ithout the tactile &no"ledge of ho" it !h sicall feels to me) In contrast< "hen hormonall male< I generall felt satisfied "ith sim!l seeing an ob;ect of interest) :nli&e m emotions and sense of touch< "hich seem to ha(e !rimaril increased in intensit < m sense of smell has definitel increased in sensiti(it ) That is to sa < I no" can smell things that I "as !re(iousl unable to detect) Though it sounds li&e a clichQ< during the first s!ring after m transition I "as blo"n a"a b ho" flo"ers smelled to me) While I.d al"a s found them (er fragrant< I suddenl smelled all of these subtle notes and !erfumes that I had ne(er been a"are of before) I also had similar e#!eriences "ith the aroma of certain foods) Perha!s the most interesting facet of this change for me has been sensing ne" smells in !eo!le) I find that men no" sometimes ha(e a reall strong< some"hat s"eet smell to them that I had ne(er been !ri( to before) 0ut it is not sim!l that I ha(e gained the abilit to !ic& u! on male odors or +!heromones<- because I also no" detect ne" smells "ith "omen) During m transition< I noticed that "hen I "ould &iss Dani or nu,,le m nose into her nec&< it felt as though fire"or&s "ere going off in m brain) I "as barraged "ith ama,ingl s"eet< soothing< and sensual smells that not onl se#uall stimulated me< but also made me feel closer to her< as if I "ere connected to her in a "a that I hadn.t been before) Indeed< the increase in m senses of smell and touch< and the "a I feel more +in touch- "ith m emotions< has led me to feel more in tune "ith the "orld< and "ith other !eo!le)

Without a doubt< the most !rofound change that has come "ith m hormonal transition has been in m se#ualit ) In fact< the (er first change that I noticedE"hich came during m first fe" "ee&s on estrogen/anti-androgensE"as a shar! decrease in m se# dri(e) I noticed this for the first time at the end of a reall bus "ee&< after "or&ing man hours and being out late most nights) It suddenl occurred to me< onl after the fact< that I had neither had se# nor masturbated during the entire "ee&) While this ma not seem im!ressi(e to some readers< for me< at the time< it "as com!letel unheard-of) I could barel go a da < let alone t"o da s< "ithout some form of release Bin fact< for much of m adult male life< masturbating "as an acti(it that I t !icall indulged in one to three times a da C) While m se# dri(e ma ha(e decreased< this surel does not mean that I ha(e lost interest in se# entirel ) I still intensel en;o masturbation and se#< it.s ;ust that I cra(e it about three to four times a "ee& rather than one to three times a da ) While the 8uantit of m se#ual e#!eriences has decreased significantl < the 8ualit of those e#!eriences has increased e#!onentiall ) Indeed< I called this cha!ter +0o gasms and Girlgasmsbecause< for me< the differences in ho" m bod res!onds to se#ual stimuliEho" I +get off<- if ou "illEhas been the most dramatic Band in man "a s most en;o ableC hormonal change that I.(e e#!erienced) I began to notice these changes "ithin the first fe" "ee&s of starting hormone thera! ) 5(en before I lost the abilit to maintain erections< I found that "hat used to e#cite meEthat bac&-andforth stro&ing action that males t !icall !referEreall "asn.t doing the tric& an more) I ;ust felt li&e I needed something more) %o I started e#!erimenting "ith Dani.s (ibrators) When I had tried them in the !ast< the al"a s felt li&e too much stimulation< but no" the suddenl felt absolutel incredible) And bac& "hen I "as hormonall male< se#ual stimulation "ould cause me to climb rather ra!idl to"ard the !ea& of orgasmF if I "anted the e#!erience to last longer< I had to &ee! !ulling bac& ;ust before I hit that !reci!ice) 0ut no" I found that I could go "a be ond "hat used to be the !oint of orgasm< "rithing for fifteen minutes in a se#ual state that "as far more intense than I had e(er e#!erienced before) =o"< m orgasms are "a more in the female rather than male range' The t !icall ta&e longer to achie(e Bbut are "ell "orth the "aitC< each one has a different fla(or and intensit < the are less centrali,ed and more diffuse throughout m bod < and the are often multi!le) =ot sur!risingl < changes in m senses ha(e also greatl influenced m se#ualit ) =ot onl am I more se#uall e#cited b the scent of m !artner< but the increase in m tactile senses ma&e m "hole bod feel ali(eEelectricEduring se#) =o"here is this more ob(ious than in m ni!!les< "hich seem to ha(e a direct connection to m groin) It also has become a!!arent to me that I am less (isual "ith regard to m se#ualit ) I don.t thin& that I recogni,ed this at first< !robabl because it is harder to notice the gradual loss of a sensation than the a!!earance of a ne" one) I onl reali,ed it about a ear later< "hen I began ta&ing !rogesterone for ten da s out of the month to simulate the endogenous e#!ression of !rogesterone in most "omen) The first thing I noticed u!on ta&ing !rogesterone is that m se# dri(e< !articularl in res!onse to (isual in!ut< shar!l increased) In fact< the (isual effects of !rogesterone (er much reminded me of ho" I res!onded to (isual stimuli "hen I "as hormonall male) :!on hearing m e#!erience< I am sure that some !eo!leE!articularl those "ho fa(or social< rather than biological< e#!lanations of gender differenceE"ill be some"hat disa!!ointed at the !redictable nature of m transformation) %ome ma e(en assume that I am bu ing into female stereot !es "hen I describe m self becoming a more "ee! < touch -feel < flo"er-adoring< less se#uall aggressi(e !erson) =ot onl are similar e#!eriences regularl described b other trans "omen< but trans men t !icall gi(e reci!rocal accounts' The almost uni(ersall describe an increase in their se# dri(es B"hich become more res!onsi(e to (isual in!utsC< male-t !e orgasms Bmore centrali,ed< 8uic&er to achie(eC< a decrease in their sense of smell< and more difficult cr ing and discerning their emotions)1

4n the other hand< those "ho are eager to ha(e !o!ular !resum!tions about hormones confirmed "ill !robabl be ;ust as disa!!ointed to hear "hat has not noticeabl changed during m hormonal transition' m se#ual orientationF the +t !es- of "omen I am attracted toF m tastes in music< mo(ies< or hobbiesF m !oliticsF m sense of humorF m le(els of aggression< com!etiti(eness< nurturing< creati(it < intelligenceF and m abilit to read ma!s or do math) While it "ould be irres!onsible for me to sa that these human traits are entirel hormone-inde!endent Bas it is !ossible that fetal hormones !otentiall !la some role in !redis!osing us to such traitsC< the clearl are not controlled b adult hormone le(els to the e#tent that man !eo!le argue or assume) While transse#ual accounts of hormones are largel in agreement "ith one another< I also find it illuminating to e#amine the more subtle differences bet"een our indi(idual e#!eriences) *or e#am!le< I ha(e heard se(eral trans men describe ho" the started to consume !orn (oraciousl u!on ta&ing testosterone) While m se#ualit "as definitel more (isual "hen I "as hormonall male< and I certainl en;o ed loo&ing at !orn on occasion< I still al"a s !referred erotic stories and fantasies to !ictures of na&ed bodies) %imilarl < I ha(e heard some trans men sa that the almost ne(er cr since ta&ing testosterone< "hereas I used to cr some"hat often Balthough not nearl as often as I do no"C "hen I "as hormonall male) %ome trans men ha(e also described becoming more aggressi(e or com!etiti(e since ta&ing testosterone Balthough man others describe themsel(es as becoming more calmC)$ 2o"e(er< "hen I "as hormonall male< I t !icall found m self to be the least aggressi(e or com!etiti(e gu in an room that I entered) This is not to sa that I "as !assi(e< as I ha(e al"a s been moti(ated and eager to succeed at an tas& I ha(e ta&en on) Rather< I ha(e ne(er reall felt an desire to ha(e m success come at the e#!ense of others) Thus< it is clear that t !ical male le(els of testosterone< in and of itself< are insufficient to !roduce man of these stereot !icall male beha(iors< most li&el because of the (ariabilit that e#ists from !erson to !erson in the "a this hormone is !rocessed and e#!erienced) While a !art of me is tem!ted to attribute m a!!arent im!er(iousness to testosterone to the fact that I am transEthat on some le(el< I "as ne(er full or com!letel maleEI also reali,e that man cisse#ual !eo!le are e#ce!tions in this regard as "ell) I &no" !lent of non-trans men "ho are not !articularl into !orn< "ho are not (er aggressi(e< and/or "ho often cr ) I ha(e also met "omen "ho ha(e high se# dri(es< "ho en;o !orn< and/or "ho are ;ust as aggressi(e and com!etiti(e as the a(erage al!ha male) Thus< there seems to be more (ariation among "omen and among men than there is bet"een the a(erages of these t"o grou!s) Ac&no"ledging this (ariation is absolutel crucial in order for us to finall mo(e be ond o(erl sim!listic Band binar C biolog (ersus-sociali,ation debates regarding gender) After all< there are (er real biological differences bet"een hormones' Testosterone "ill !robabl ma&e an gi(en !erson cr less fre8uentl and ha(e a higher se# dri(e than estrogen "ill) 2o"e(er< if one "ere to argue that this biological difference re!resents an essential gender differenceEone that holds true for all "omen and all menEthe "ould be incorrect) After all< there are some men "ho cr more than certain "omen< and some "omen "ho ha(e higher se# dri(es than certain men) Perha!s "hat is most telling is that< as a societ < "e regulate these hormonall influenced beha(iors in a "a that seems to e#aggerate their natural effects) We acti(el discourage bo s from cr ing< e(en though testosterone itself should reduce the chance of this ha!!ening) And "e encourage men to act on their se# dri(es Bb !raising them as +studs-C "hile discouraging "omen from doing the same Bb dismissing them +sluts-C< des!ite the fact that most "omen "ill end u! ha(ing a lo"er se# dri(e than most men an "a ) While man gender theorists ha(e focused their efforts on attem!ting to demonstrate that this sort of sociali,ation !roduces gender differences< it seems to me more accurate to sa that in man cases sociali,ation acts to e#aggerate biological gender differences that alread e#ist) In other "ords< it

coa#es those of us "ho are e#ce!tional Be)g)< men "ho cr often or "omen "ith high se# dri(esC to hide or curb those tendencies< rather than sim!l falling "here "e ma on the s!ectrum of gender di(ersit ) 0 attem!ting to !la do"n or erase the e#istence of such e#ce!tions< sociali,ation distorts biological gender difference to create the im!ression that essential differences e#ist bet"een "omen and men) Thus< the !rimar role of sociali,ation is not to !roduce gender difference de no(o< but to create the illusion that female and male are mutuall e#clusi(e< +o!!osite- se#es) Recogni,ing the distinction bet"een biological and essential gender differences has enormous ramifications for the future of gender acti(ism) %ince there is natural (ariation in our dri(es and the "a "e e#!erience the "orld< attem!ts to minimi,e gender differences Bi)e)< insisting that !eo!le stri(e to be unise# or androg nousC are rather !ointlessF "e should instead learn to embrace all forms of gender di(ersit < "hether t !ical Bfeminine "omen and masculine menC or e#ce!tional Bmasculine "omen and feminine menC) *urther< since some attributes that are considered feminine Be)g)< being more in tune "ith one.s emotionsC or masculine Be)g)< being !reoccu!ied "ith se#C are clearl affected b our hormones< attem!ts b some gender theorists to frame femininit and masculinit as being entirel artificial or !erformati(e seem mis!laced) Rather than focus on ho" femininit and masculinit are !roduced Ban issue that has unfortunatel dominated the field of gender studies of lateC< "e should instead turn our attention to the "a s these gender traits are inter!reted) The issue of inter!retation becomes ob(ious "hen considering transse#uals) *or e#am!le< one cannot hel! but notice ho" much more em!o"ering trans male descri!tions of hormonal transition tend to sound com!ared to those of trans "omen) Trans men e#!erience an increase in their se# dri(e< become less emotional< and their bodies become harder and strongerEall of these changes ha(ing !ositi(e connotations in our societ ) In contrast< I ha(e e#!erienced a decrease in m se# dri(e and become more emotional< softer< and "ea&erEall traits that are (ie"ed negati(el ) The reason for these differing connotations is ob(ious' In our culture< femininit and femaleness are not a!!reciated nor (alued to the e#tent that masculinit and maleness are) And "hile embracing m o"n femaleness and femininit during m transition "as !ersonall em!o"ering and re"arding< I ne(ertheless felt o(er"helmed b all of the negati(e connotations and inferior meanings that other !eo!le began to !ro;ect onto me) These meanings "ere not onl !ro;ected onto m female bod < but onto the hormones themsel(es' from the "arning label on m !rogesterone !rescri!tion that read< +Ma cause dro"siness or di,,iness- and +A(oid o!erating hea( machiner <- to the men "ho ha(e hinted that m female hormones "ere res!onsible for the fact that I disagreed "ith their o!inion< and the "omen "ho sneered< +Wh "ould ou e(er "ant to do thatO- u!on finding out that I ha(e chosen to c cle m hormones) 4nce "e start thin&ing about gender as being sociall e#aggerated Brather than sociall constructedC< "e can finall tac&le the issue of se#ism in our societ "ithout ha(ing to dismiss or undermine biological se# in the !rocess) While biological gender differences are (er real< most of the connotations< (alues< and assum!tions "e associate "ith female and male biolog are not)

0lind %!ots' 4n %ubconscious %e# and Gender 5ntitlement

4=5 4* T25 M4%T *R:%TRATI=G A%P5CT% about being a transse#ual is that I.m fre8uentl as&ed to e#!lain to other !eo!le "h I decided to transition) Wh did I feel it "as necessar to !h sicall change m bod O 2o" could I !ossibl &no" that I.d be ha!!ier as a "oman "hen I had onl e(er e#!erienced being maleO If I don.t belie(e that "omen and men are +o!!osite- se#es< then "h change m se# at allO :nfortunatel < "hile these are among the most common 8uestions !eo!le as&< the are also the ones to "hich !eo!le are the least o!en to hearing m ans"er) After ha(ing fielded these sorts of 8uestions from m friends and famil < at high school and college classes "here I.(e been in(ited to s!ea&< and from fello" 8ueers and feminists "ith "hom I.(e shared discussions about gender< I ha(e come to the conclusion that most cisse#uals ha(e a !articular blind s!ot at the source of their seemingl endless curiosit Band often doubtC about ho" someone "ho is born into a certain !h sical se# can come to &no" themsel(es as a member of the other se#) This blind s!ot has to do "ith "hat has been commonl called gender identit ) Personall < I ha(e al"a s found the term +gender identit - to be rather misleading) After all< identif ing as something< "hether it be as a "oman< a Democrat< a Christian< a feminist< a cat !erson< or a metalhead< seems to be a conscious< deliberate choice on our !art< one that "e ma&e in order to better describe ho" "e thin& "e fit into the "orld) Thus< "ith regard to transse#uals< the !hrase +gender identit - is !roblematic because it seems to describe t"o !otentiall different things' the gender "e consciousl choose to identif as< and the gender "e subconsciousl feel oursel(es to be) To ma&e things clearer< I "ill refer to the latter as subconscious se#) The main reason I ma&e this distinction bet"een gender identit and subconscious se# is that it best e#!lains m o"n !ersonal e#!eriences) I did not ha(e the 8uintessential trans e#!erience of al"a s feeling that I should ha(e been female) *or me< this recognition came about more graduall ) The first memories I ha(e of being trans too& !lace earl in m elementar school ears< "hen I "as around fi(e or si#) 0 this time< I "as alread consciousl a"are of the fact that I "as !h sicall male and that other !eo!le thought of me as a bo ) During this time< I e#!erienced numerous manifestations of m female subconscious se#' I had dreams in "hich adults "ould tell me I "as a girlF I "ould dra" !ictures of little bo s "ith needles going into their !enises< imagining that the medicine in the s ringe "ould ma&e that organ disa!!earF I had an une#!lainable feeling that I "as doing something "rong e(er time I "al&ed into the bo s. restroom at schoolF and "hene(er our class s!lit into grou!s of bo s and girls< I al"a s had a snea&ing sus!icion that at an moment someone might ta! me on the shoulder and sa < +2e < "hat are ou doing hereO Kou.re not a bo )I "asn.t sure "hat to ma&e of these feelings at the time) After all< I "as ob(iousl a bo Ee(er bod thought so) And unli&e other MT* s!ectrum children< I ne(er reall "anted to ta&e !art in girlish acti(ities< such as !la ing house) 0eing that< li&e most elementar school children< m understanding of +girl- and +bo - "as largel based on gender !references in to s< acti(ities< and interests< it "asn.t clear to me ho" to reconcile m (ague< subconscious feelings "ith m !assion for dinosaurs and m desire to be a ma;or league baseball !la er "hen I gre" u!) It "asn.t until the age of ele(en that I consciousl recogni,ed these subconscious feelings as an urge or desire to be female) The first incident that led to this disco(er ha!!ened late one night< after engaging in a losing battle "ith insomnia) I found m self ine#!licabl com!elled to remo(e a set of "hite< lac curtains from the "indo" and "ra! them around m bod li&e a dress) I "al&ed to"ard the mirror) %ince I "as a !re!ubescent bo "ith one of those longish bo haircuts that "ere !o!ular in the late

.7?s< the curtains alone "ere sufficient to com!lete m transformation' I loo&ed li&e a girl) I stared at m reflection for o(er an hour< stunned) It felt li&e an e!i!han because< for some une#!lainable reason< seeing m self as a girl made absolutel !erfect sense to me) The second disco(er ha!!ened shortl thereafter) 5(er da after school< I used to !la b m self in m bedroom< ma&ing u! little ad(enture stories that I "ould act out) *or a "hile Bmost li&el ins!ired b m mirror e!i!han C< the ad(entures I created had a !lot t"ist "here m imaginar nemesis "ould turn me into a girl and I "ould s!end the rest of the stor tr ing to find him so that he could turn me bac& into a bo ) After a "hile< I got bored "ith that last !art of the stor < so I "ould sim!l continue throughout the rest of the ad(enture as a girl) I did this for a cou!le "ee&s before I reali,ed that the +being a girl- !art of the stor "as much more than ;ust !la ) It became ob(ious to me that I actuall "anted to be a girl and that< on some le(el< it felt right) Tr ing to translate these subconscious e#!eriences into conscious thought is a mess business) All of the "ords a(ailable in the 5nglish language com!letel fail to accuratel ca!ture or con(e m !ersonal understanding of these e(ents) *or e#am!le< if I "ere to sa that I +sa"- m self as female< or +&ne"- m self to be a girl< I "ould be den ing the fact that I "as consciousl a"are of m !h sical maleness at all times) And sa ing that I +"ished- or +"anted- to be a girl erases ho" much being female made sense to me< ho" it felt right on the dee!est< most !rofound le(el of m being) I could sa that I +felt- li&e a girl< but that "ould gi(e the false im!ression that I &ne" ho" other girls Band other bo sC felt) And if I "ere to sa that I "as +su!!osed to be- a girl< or that I +should ha(e been bornfemale< it "ould im!l that I had some sort of cosmic insight into the grand scheme of the uni(erse< "hich I most certainl did not) Perha!s the best "a to describe ho" m subconscious se# feels to me is to sa that it seems as if< on some le(el< m brain e#!ects m bod to be female) Indeed< there is some e(idence to suggest that our brains ha(e an intrinsic understanding of "hat se# our bodies should be)1 *or e#am!le< there ha(e been numerous instances in "hich male infants ha(e been surgicall reassigned as female shortl after birth due to botched circumcisions or cloacal e#stro!h Ba non-interse# medical conditionC) Des!ite being raised female and a!!earing to ha(e female genitals< the ma;orit of such children e(entuall come to identif as male< demonstrating that brain se# ma o(erride both sociali,ation and genital se#)$ There ha(e also been studies that ha(e e#amined a small< se#uall dimor!hic region of the brain &no"n as the 0%Tc) Researchers found that the structure of the 0%Tc region in trans "omen more closel resembles that of most "omen< "hile in trans men it resembles that of most men)/ @i&e all brain research< such studies ha(e certain limitations and ca(eats< but the do suggest that our brains ma be hard"ired to e#!ect our bodies to be female or male< inde!endent of our sociali,ation or the a!!earance of our bodies) Personall < I am dra"n to the brain-hard"iring h !othesis< not because I belie(e that it has been !ro(en scientificall be ond a doubt< but because it best e#!lains "h the thoughts I ha(e had of being female al"a s felt (ague and e(er-!resent< li&e the "ere an unconscious &no"ing that al"a s seemed to def conscious realit ) It "ould also account for ho" I &ne" there "as something "rong "ith me being a bo before I e(er could consciousl !ut it into "ordsF "h I had dreams about being or becoming a girl "ell before I e#!erienced an conscious desire to be female or feminineF "h m first e#!eriences masturbating as a teen B"hich ha!!ened before I had e(er seen or heard an thing about "hat ha!!ens "hen !eo!le ha(e se#C in(ol(ed me s!reading m legs< !lacing m hand on m crotch< and roc&ing m hand bac& and forth the "a man girls instincti(el do it) The brain-hard"iring h !othesis can also account for "h thin&ing of m self as female has al"a s

been be ond m conscious reach< "h I "as unable to re!ress it or rationali,e it a"a no matter ho" hard I tried) A lot of !eo!le assume that trans !eo!le ha(e an addict-li&e obsession "ith being the other se#' The more "e thin& about it< the more "e "ant it or con(ince oursel(es into belie(ing it to be true) I ha(e found that being trans is 8uite the o!!osite' The more I tried to ignore the thoughts of being female< the more !ersistentl the !ushed their "a bac& into the forefront of m mind) In that "a < the felt more li&e other subconscious feelings< such as hunger or thirst< "here neglecting the urge onl ma&es the feeling more intense "ith time) I am sure that some !eo!le "ill ob;ect to me referring to this as!ect of m !erson as a subconscious +se#- rather than +gender)- I !refer +se#- because I ha(e e#!erienced it as being rather e#clusi(el about m !h sical se#< and because for me this subconscious desire to be female has e#isted inde!endentl of the social !henomena commonl associated "ith the "ord +gender)- As mentioned !re(iousl < m initial e#!erience "ith m female subconscious se# "as not accom!anied b an corres!onding desire to e#!lore female gender roles or to e#!ress femininit ) =or "as it the result of me tr ing to +fit in- to societal gender norms because< b all accounts< I "as considered to be a fairl normal-acting oung bo at the time) And m female subconscious se# "as most certainl not the result of sociali,ation or social gender constructs< as it defied e(er thing I had been taught "as true about gender< as "ell as the constant encouragement I recei(ed to thin& of m self as a bo and to act masculine) Although I belie(e that m female subconscious se# originated "ithin me Bi)e)< that it is an intrinsic !art of m !ersonC< things "ere ine(itabl com!licated once m conscious mind began !rocessing these feelings< coming u! against the realit of not onl m !h sical maleness< but the fact that I had to function in a "orld "here e(er bod else related to me as male) This intersection of subconscious and conscious se# is "hat I !refer to thin& of as gender identit ) When one.s subconscious and conscious se#es match< as the do for cisse#uals< an a!!ro!riate gender identit ma emerge rather seamlessl ) *or me< the tension I felt bet"een these t"o dis!arate understandings of m self "as "holl ;arring) 5(en as a oungster< I reali,ed that there "ere reall onl three "a s to !otentiall resol(e the !roblem' I could su!!ress m subconscious se# B"hich I tried to do< but "as ne(er full successfulC< acce!t m subconscious se# as m conscious se# B"hich "ould entail not onl den ing m !h sical maleness< but announcing to m famil and friends that I "as a girlEan action that I &ne" "ould be both dangerous and de(astating for e(er one in(ol(edC< or learn to manage the difference bet"een m conscious and subconscious se#es< finding no(el "a s of relating to m gender that "ould allo" me to straddle both maleness and femaleness to certain e#tents) While I ha(e found m subconscious se# to be im!er(ious to conscious thought or social influence< m gender identit Bi)e)< the "a I consciousl relate to m genderC has been (er much sha!ed b cultural norms and m o"n !ersonal beliefs and e#!eriences) *or e#am!le< e(en though m initial reali,ation of "anting to be female occurred !rior to me e#!eriencing se#ual attraction and inde!endent of an desire to ta&e !art in stereot !icall girlish acti(ities and interests< that reali,ation led me to 8uestion Band e(entuall e#!eriment "ithC m se#ualit and gender e#!ression) After all< li&e most children< I "as raised to belie(e that men "ere su!!osed to be masculine and attracted to "omen< and that "omen "ere su!!osed to be feminine and attracted to men) The fact that I "anted to be female necessaril thre" these other gender-related facets into flu#) In fact< the first thought that crossed m mind "hen I disco(ered that I "anted to be female "as that I must be ga < an idea no doubt ins!ired b flambo antl feminine ga male stereot !es that regularl a!!eared on TJ in the .7?s) 2o"e(er< once I hit !ubert and m se#ual desire &ic&ed in< I found m self attracted to "omen and not men< "hich onl ser(ed to confuse me more< since at the time I hadn.t e(en heard the "ord +lesbian)-

As time "ent on< I latched onto all sorts of other gender identities and theories that seemed to hold !otential e#!lanations for m subconscious feelings) *or 8uite a "hile< I thought of m self as a crossdresser and (ie"ed m female subconscious se# as a +feminine side- that "as tr ing to get out) 0ut after ears of crossdressing< I e(entuall lost interest in it< reali,ing that m desire to be female had nothing to do "ith clothing or femininit !er se) There "as also a !eriod of time "hen I embraced the "ord +!er(ert- and (ie"ed m desire to be female as some sort of se#ual &in&) 0ut after e#!loring that !ath< it became ob(ious that e#!lanation could not account for the (ast ma;orit of instances "hen I thought about being female in a nonse#ual conte#t) And after reading Gate 0ornstein.s and @eslie *einberg.s "ritings for the first time< I embraced the "ords +transgender- and +8ueer)- I began to thin& of m self as bigendered< (ie"ing m female subconscious se# as being ;ust as legitimate as m !h sical maleness) In the ears ;ust !rior to m transition< I started to e#!ress m femaleness as much as !ossible "ithin the conte#t of ha(ing a male bod F I became a (er androg nous 8ueer bo in the e es of the "orld) While it felt relie(ing to sim!l be m self< not to care about "hat other !eo!le thought of me< I still found m self gra!!ling "ith a constant< com!elling subconscious &no"ledge that I should be female rather than male) After t"ent ears of e#!loration and e#!erimentation< I e(entuall reached the conclusion that m female subconscious se# had nothing to do "ith gender roles< femininit < or se#ual e#!ressionEit "as about the !ersonal relationshi! I had "ith m o"n bod ) *or me< the hardest !art about being trans has not been the discrimination or ridicule that I ha(e faced for def ing societal gender norms< but rather the internal !ain I e#!erienced "hen m subconscious and conscious se#es "ere at odds "ith one another) I thin& this is best ca!tured b the !s chological term +cogniti(e dissonance<- "hich describes the mental tension and stress that occur in a !erson.s mind "hen the find themsel(es holding t"o contradictor thoughts or (ie"s simultaneousl Ein this case< subconsciousl seeing m self as female "hile consciousl dealing "ith the fact that I "as male) This gender dissonance can manifest itself in a number of "a s) %ometimes it felt li&e stress or an#iousness< "hich led to marathon battles "ith insomnia) 4ther times< it surfaced as ;ealous or anger at other !eo!le "ho seemed to en;o ta&ing their gender for granted) 0ut most of all< it felt li&e sadness to meE a sort of gender sadnessEa chronic and !ersistent grief o(er the fact that I felt so "rong in m bod ) %ometimes !eo!le discount the fact that trans !eo!le feel an actual !ain related to their gender) 4f course< it is eas for them to dismiss gender dissonance' It.s in(isible and B!erha!s more rele(antl C the themsel(es are unable to relate to it) These same !eo!le< ho"e(er< do understand that being stuc& in a bad relationshi! or in an unfulfilling ;ob can ma&e a !erson miserable and lead to a de!ression so intense that it s!ills o(er into all other areas of that !erson.s life) These t !es of !ain can be tolerated tem!oraril < but in the long run< if things do not change< that stress and sadness can ruin a !erson) Well< if that much des!air can be generated b a fort -hour-a-"ee& ;ob< then ;ust imagine ho" des!ondent and distressed one might become if one "as forced to li(e in a gender that felt "rong for t"ent -four hours a da < se(en da s a "ee&) :nli&e most forms of sadness that I.(e e#!erienced< "hich ine(itabl ease "ith time< m gender dissonance onl got "orse "ith each !assing da ) And b the time I made the decision to transition< m gender dissonance had gotten so bad that it com!letel consumed meF it hurt more than an !ain< !h sical or emotional< that I had e(er e#!erienced) I &no" that most !eo!le belie(e that transse#uals transition because "e "ant to be the other se#< but that is an o(ersim!lification) After all< I "anted to be female almost m "hole life< but I "as far too terrified of the label +transse#ual<- or of ha(ing !otential regrets< to seriousl consider transitioning) What changed during that t"ent -some- ear !eriod "as not m desire to be female< but rather m abilit to co!e "ith being male< to co!e "ith m o"n gender dissonance) When I made the decision to transition< I honestl had no idea "hat it "ould be li&e for me to li(e as female) The onl thing I &ne" for sure "as that !retending to be male "as

slo"l &illing me) Transse#uals "ill often sa that the can ne(er &no" for sure "hether the should !h sicall transition until the begin ta&ing hormonesEif the find that the li&e the changes in their bod and the "a the feel< then it "as the right decisionF if not< then it "as the "rong one) While not a !articularl hel!ful bit of ad(ice< it is consistent "ith m o"n !ersonal e#!erience) I honestl "as not 1?? !ercent sure that transitioning "ould ease m gender dissonance until after m first fe" "ee&s of being on female hormones) The "a the made me feel< and the subse8uent changes the brought about in m bod < ;ust felt ))) right) There is reall no other "ord to describe it) It is t !ical for cisse#uals to assume that trans !eo!le transition in order to obtain gender-related !ri(ileges of some sort) %uch assum!tions are undermined b the fact that !ost-transition transse#uals ma end u! being either female or maleF being bise#ual< homose#ual< or heterose#ualF or a!!earing gender-normati(e or gender-nonconforming) In m case< I "ent from being a straight man to a lesbian "oman in the e es of the "orld) And "hile I ha(e lost the significant benefits of male and heterose#ual !ri(ilege< I still consider m transition to be "ell "orth it) 0ecause for the first time in m life< I no" regularl e#!erience "hat I consider to be the most im!ortant gender !ri(ilege of all' feeling at home in m o"n se#ed bod ) Rather than li(ing "ith gender dissonance< I no" e#!erience gender concordance) Man cisse#ual !eo!le seem to ha(e a hard time acce!ting the idea that the too ha(e a subconscious se#Ea dee!-rooted understanding of "hat se# their bodies should be) I su!!ose that "hen a !erson feels right in the se# the "ere born into< the are ne(er forced to locate or 8uestion their subconscious se#< to differentiate it from their !h sical se#) In other "ords< their subconscious se# e#ists< but it is hidden from their (ie") The ha(e a blind s!ot) I do belie(e that it is !ossible for cisse#uals to catch a glim!se of their subconscious se#) When I do !resentations on trans issues< I tr to accom!lish this b as&ing the audience a 8uestion' +If I offered ou ten million dollars under the condition that ou li(e as the other se# for the rest of our life< "ould ou ta&e me u! on the offerO- While there is often some "iseass in the audience "ho "ill sa +Kes<the (ast ma;orit of !eo!le sha&e their heads to indicate +=o)- Their res!onses clearl ha(e nothing to do "ith gender !ri(ileges< because both "omen and men< 8ueers and straights insist that the "ouldn.t be "illing to ma&e that change) When I as& indi(iduals "h the ans"ered no< the usuall get a bit flustered at first< as if the are at a loss for "ords) 5(entuall < the end u! sa ing something li&e< +0ecause I ;ust am a "oman Bor manC<- or< +It ;ust "ouldn.t be right)@et.s face it' If cisse#uals didn.t ha(e a subconscious se#< then se# reassignment "ould be far more common than it is) Women "ho "anted to succeed in the male-dominated business "orld "ould sim!l transition to male) @esbians and ga men "ho "ere ashamed of their 8ueerness "ould sim!l transition to the other se#) Gender studies grad students "ould transition for a fe" ears to gather data for their theses) Actors !la ing transse#uals "ould go on hormones for a fe" months in order to ma&e their !ortra als more authentic) Criminals and s!ies "ould !h sicall transition as a "a of going underco(er) And contestants on realit sho"s "ould be "illing to change their se# in the ho!e of achie(ing fifteen minutes of fame) 4f course< such scenarios seem absolutel ridiculous to us) The are unfathomable because< on a !rofound< subconscious le(el< "e all understand that our !h sical se# is far more than a su!erficial shell "e inhabit) *or me< this is the most frustrating !art about cisse#uals "ho e#!ress confusion or disbelief as to "h transse#uals choose to transition) The are unable to see that their disbelief stems directl from their o"n e#!erience of feeling at home in the se# the "ere born into< their o"n gender

concordance) In other "ords< it is their o"n subconscious se#Eand their inabilit to recogni,e itEthat ma&es it difficult for them to understand "h an one "ould "ant to change their se#) All of this reminds me of "hen I "as gro"ing u! in the .7?s and earl .9?s< "hen most straight !eo!le had a similar blind s!ot regarding se#ual orientation) Peo!le often e#!ressed an inabilit to fathom ho" someone could be attracted to the same se#) The said ridiculous things li&e< +It.s ;ust not natural<- +It must be a !hase<- and +I ;ust don.t understand it)- The actuall had the ner(e Bor nai(etQC to as& 8ueer !eo!le< +0ut ho" do ou &no" that ou.re reall ga O- "ithout e(er thin&ing to as& themsel(es the reci!rocal 8uestion' +2o" do I &no" that I.m reall straightOPerha!s the most im!ortant conce!tual change that has facilitated the gradual acce!tance of @G0 fol&s o(er the last t"ent -fi(e ears is that straight !eo!le are no longer able to ta&e their attraction to the other se# com!letel for granted< to assume that it is the one +natural- form of se#ualit ) The no" recogni,e that< li&e 8ueer !eo!le< the ha(e a se#ual orientation tooEthe are heterose#ual) %imilarl < I do not belie(e that trans !eo!le "ill be full acce!ted in this societ until cisse#ual !eo!le recogni,e that the also ha(e a subconscious se# and that< if the are not battling a constant barrage of subconscious thoughts about being the other se#< then their subconscious se# most li&el matches their !h sical one) Recogni,ing our o"n blind s!otsEour inabilit to full com!rehend gender and se#ual inclinations that "e ha(e not e#!erienced firsthandEis an im!ortant first ste! to"ard eliminating all of the gender entitlement that e#ists in the "orld) :nli&e gender dissonance< "hich is onl e#!erienced b trans !eo!le< gender entitlement can affect an one) It is best described as the arrogant con(iction that one.s o"n beliefs< !erce!tions< and assum!tions regarding gender and se#ualit are more (alid than those of other !eo!le) Gender entitlement often leads to gender an#iet < the act of becoming irrationall u!set b or being made uncomfortable b the e#istence of those !eo!le "ho challenge or bring into 8uestion one.s gender entitlement) There are man different Bbut often o(erla!!ingC forms of gender entitlement and gender an#iet ) *or e#am!le< one of the most fre8uentl discussed forms of gender entitlement is heterose#ism< the belief that heterose#ualit is the onl +natural<- legitimate< or morall acce!table form of se#ual desire) 2eterose#ist gender entitlement can lead to homo!hobia< "hich is an e#!ression of gender an#iet directed against those !eo!le "ho engage in same-se# relationshi!s) %imilarl < the gender-entitled belief that all "omen are Bor should beC feminine and men masculineE"hich some ha(e called cisgenderismEgi(es rise to trans!hobia< a gender an#iet that is directed against !eo!le "ho fall outside of those norms) While homo!hobia and trans!hobia ha(e both recei(ed mainstream attention< thin&ing in terms of gender entitlement and gender an#iet also allo"s us to consider less "ell-&no"n Bbut ;ust as dis!aragingC forms of gender and se#ual discrimination) *or e#am!le< man ga s and lesbians "ho belie(e that all !eo!le are +naturall - either homose#ual or heterose#ual often e#!ress bi!hobia< a gender an#iet directed to"ard bise#ual !eo!le because the challenge the !resum!tion that !eo!le can onl be attracted to one se# or the other) I ha(e also met some !eo!le in the transgender communit "ho feel that identif ing outside of the male/female binar is su!erior to< or more enlightened than< identif ing "ithin it) %uch !eo!le often e#!ress gender an#iet Bbinar -!hobiaOC at !eo!le "ho identif strongl as either female or male) What should be ob(ious b no" is that all forms of gender entitlement and gender an#iet are< at their core< e#!ressions of insecurit ) After all< !eo!le "ho are trul comfortable "ith their o"n desires and e#!ressions of gender and se#ualit do not ha(e an need to be bothered or concerned b dissimilar e#!ressions and desires in others) 2o"e(er< "hen "e indulge in our o"n insecurities and resort to

gender entitlement< "e not onl den the (ariation that e#ists in human gender and se#ualit < but "e arrogantl !resume that other !eo!le should curb or conform their inclinations and desires in order to meet our e#!ectations) The most !roducti(e "a that "e as indi(iduals can o(ercome our gender entitlement is b coming to terms "ith our o"n blind s!ots< ac&no"ledging that there are certain gender and se#ual e#!ressions and desires that "e cannot &no"< that "e "ill ne(er e#!erience firsthand) Thus< the !ath to"ard o(ercoming homo!hobia or bi!hobia is to become more in touch "ith our o"n se#ual orientations< to recogni,e that other !eo!le.s se#ual orientations ha(e no bearing on our o"n) The transgender mo(ement has ta&en a similar a!!roach to confronting trans!hobia< b encouraging cisgender !eo!le to become comfortable "ith their o"n e#!ressions of femininit and/or masculinit in order to be res!ectful of those e#!ressions in others) This a!!roach has most certainl benefited man transse#uals< as it has hel!ed con(ince some of the !ublic that "e should be allo"ed to e#!ress our genders "ithout being discriminated against) :nfortunatel < confronting trans!hobia has done (er little to ease cisse#ism< i)e)< the belief that transse#ual genders are less +real- or legitimate that cisse#ual genders) *or me< this is most e(ident "hen I interact "ith !eo!le "ho acce!t m feminine beha(ior and female identit but adamantl dra" the line "hen it comes to acce!ting m transse#ual bod ) 0ecause most !eo!le ha(e not come to terms "ith their o"n subconscious se# and its relation to their !h sical se#< the tend to e#!erience un"arranted distress regarding se#/gender-(ariant bodies) Man !eo!le "ho sa the fa(or transgender rights tend to bal& "hen it means that the ha(e to share a loc&er room or !ublic sho"er "ith a transse#ual) And !lent of !eo!le are su!!orti(e of their transgender friends and colleagues< but< h !ocriticall < "ould be disturbed if the !erson the "ere dating< slee!ing "ith< or !artnered to "ere to come out to them as transse#ual) It is high time for gender-an#ious cisse#uals to loo& dee! "ithin themsel(es and as& "h the choose to (ie" transse#ual bodies as unsettling or disturbing) 2o" can the consider a !h sical bod to be attracti(e or innocuous "hen it is assumed to be cisse#ual< then suddenl find it to be horrific or threatening u!on the disco(er that it is transse#ualO And if such dramaticall different res!onses can be elicited b the same human being under different circumstances< doesn.t that indicate that the real difference resides in the cisse#ual mind and not in the transse#ual bod O 4nce again< I am reminded of the 1>9?s< "hen it "as !o!ular for !eo!le in the earliest stages of acce!ting homose#ualit to sa < +I don.t care "hat other !eo!le do in the !ri(ac their o"n bedrooms< ;ust as long as the don.t flaunt it in front of me)- Toda < it is ob(ious to most of us that such remar&s are merel !re;udice disguising itself as tolerance) %imilarl < it is time for gender-an#ious cisse#uals to start coming to terms "ith their o"n thinl (eiled cisse#ism< to as& themsel(es "h the feel entitled to +flaunt- their cisse#ual bodies Be)g)< to shamelessl tal& about their femaleness or maleness< their bod !arts and their functionsC or to ta&e certain gendered rights for granted Be)g)< using !ublic restrooms< freel sharing their bodies "ith lo(ers "ithout ha(ing to confess< come out< or e#!lain an thingC "hile simultaneousl insisting that transse#ual bodies remain hidden from their (ie" or be held to different standards) Gender-an#ious cisse#uals must begin to admit that the issues the ha(e "ith our transse#ual bodies stem directl from their o"n insecurities< from their fear of ha(ing their o"n genders and se#ualities be brought into 8uestion) %o long as most cisse#uals refuse to come to terms "ith their o"n blind s!otsEs!ecificall their o"n subconscious se#Ethe countless subtle and not-so-subtle "a s in "hich the ob;ectif trans !eo!le and treat us as secondclass citi,ens "ill remain fore(er out of their (ie")

Intrinsic Inclinations' 5#!laining Gender and %e#ual Di(ersit

I= T25 @A%T C2APT5R< I stated that recogni,ing subconscious se# as se!arate from !h sical se# is crucial to furthering a better understanding of transse#ualit and anti-trans discrimination) There is at least one other as!ect of gender that "e must come to terms "ith before "e can discuss the entire s!ectrum of gender and se#ual di(ersit ' gender e#!ression< "hich refers to "hether our !resentation< beha(iors< interests< and/or affinities are considered feminine< masculine< or some combination thereof)1 Gender e#!ression is regularl confused "ith subconscious se# and/or se#ual orientation) *or e#am!le< !eo!le often assume that transse#uals transition not to align our !h sical and subconscious se#es< but because "e "ant to e#!ress either femininit or masculinit ) %imilarl < it is common for some !eo!le to be mista&en for being lesbian or ga sim!l because the are some"hat masculine as "omen go or feminine as men go< res!ecti(el ) :nli&e our se#ual orientation and subconscious se#< "hich are usuall in(isible to the rest of the "orld< other !eo!le can readil (ie" our gender e#!ression< ma&ing it !erha!s the most "idel commented on< criti8ued< and regulated as!ect of gender) Indeed< the fact that gender e#!ression is so highl regulated in our societ has led man to argue that femininit and masculinit are merel social constructs Bi)e)< the do not occur naturall < but rather are in(entions or artifacts of human cultureC) According to this social constructionist model< bo s are sociali,ed to become masculine and girls feminineF "e learn to !roduce these gender e#!ressions (ia a combination of !ositi(e and negati(e reinforcement< and through imitation< !ractice< and !erformance) %ocial constructionists !oint to the fact that the "ords +femininit - and +masculinit - do not merel describe human beha(ior< but re!resent ideals that all !eo!le are encouraged to meet) To demonstrate this< the focus much of their attention on sociall influenced manifestations of gender e#!ression Boften called gender rolesC< "hich include feminine and masculine differences in s!eech !atterns and "ord choice< mannerisms< roles in relationshi!s< st les of dress< aesthetic !references< interests< occu!ations< and so on) %ocial constructionists also argue that the fact that these gender roles can (ar o(er time< and from culture to culture< is indicati(e of their constructed nature) 4n the other side of this debate are gender essentialists< "ho belie(e that those born male are sim!l !re!rogrammed to act masculine< and those born female are !re!rogrammed to act feminine) 5(idence to su!!ort their case includes the !redominance of femininit in "omen and masculinit in men< in our culture and other culturesF the fact that girls tend to beha(e in a girlish manner and bo s in a bo ish manner from a (er earl ageF that e(en in !rehistoric humans< "omen and men seemed to !erform different sets of tas&sF and that s!ecies other than humans also sho" signs of gender dimor!hic beha(ior) Among gender essentialists< it.s generall assumed that genetic Band subse8uent anatomical and hormonalC differences bet"een females and males are the ultimate source for these beha(ioral differences) Des!ite their insistence< such direct lin&s bet"een s!ecific genes and s!ecific gendered beha(iors in humans continue to remain elusi(e)

As someone "ho both is a geneticist and has e#!erienced firsthand the (er different "a s in "hich "omen and men are treated and (alued in our societ < I belie(e that both social constructionists and gender essentialists are "rong Bor at least the are both onl !artiall rightC) The fatal fla" of the gender essentialist argument is the ob(ious fact that not all men are masculine and not all "omen are feminine) There are e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions' There are masculine "omen< feminine men< and !eo!le of both se#es "ho e#!ress combinations of femininit and masculinit ) Peo!le "ho ha(e e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions Bli&e those "ith e#ce!tional subconscious se#es and se#ual orientationsC e#ist in (irtuall all cultures and throughout histor < "hich suggests that the re!resent a natural !henomenon) Gender essentialists often tr to dismiss such e#ce!tions as anomalies< the result of biological errors or de(elo!mental defects) 2o"e(er< e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions< subconscious se#es< and se#ual orientations all occur at fre8uencies that are se(eral orders of magnitude higher than one "ould e#!ect if the re!resented genetic +mista&es)-$ *urther< the fact that "e acti(el encourage bo s to be masculine< and ostraci,e and ridicule them if the act feminine Band (ice (ersa for girlsC< strongl suggests that "ere it not for sociali,ation< there "ould be e(en more e#ce!tional gender e#!ression than there is no") :nfortunatel < a strict social constructionist model does not easil account for e#ce!tional gender e#!ression either) Man girls "ho are masculine and bo s "ho are feminine sho" signs of such beha(ior at a (er earl age Boften before such children ha(e been full sociali,ed "ith regard to gender normsC< and generall continue to e#!ress such beha(ior into adulthood Bdes!ite the e#treme amount of societal !ressure that "e !lace on indi(iduals to re!roduce gender e#!ression a!!ro!riate for their assigned se#C) This strongl suggests that certain e#!ressions of femininit and masculinit re!resent dee!< subconscious inclinations in a manner similar to those of se#ual orientation and subconscious se#) BI use the "ord +inclination- here as a catchall !hrase to describe an !ersistent desire< affinit < or urge that !redis!oses us to"ard !articular gender and se#ual e#!ressions and e#!eriences)C While I belie(e that such inclinations are li&el to be hard"ired into our brains Bas the e#ist on a subconscious le(el and often remain constant throughout our li(esC< I hesitate to define them as !urel biological !henomena< as social factors clearl !la a strong role in ho" each indi(idual inter!rets these inclinations) In fact< in most cases it is im!ossible to distinguish our inclinations from our sociali,ation< since the both t !icall !oint us in the same direction) Generall < "e onl e(er notice our inclinations "hen the are e#ce!tionalE"hen the de(iate from both biological and social norms) *urther e(idence that gender inclinations re!resent naturall occurring !henomena can be found in other s!ecies) If one loo&s across a "ide s!ectrum of mammals and birds B"hose gender and se#ual e#!ressions are !resumabl not sha!ed b social constructs to the e#tent that ours areC< one generall finds certain beha(iors and affinities that seem to !redominate in one se#< but "hich also occur at lo"er but substantial fre8uencies in the other se# as "ell)/ Thus< an model that attem!ts to e#!lain human gender e#!ression< se#ual orientation< and subconscious se# must ta&e into account the fact that both t !ical and e#ce!tional forms of these inclinations occur naturall Bi)e)< "ithout social influenceC to (ar ing degrees) In order to reconcile this issue< I "ould li&e to !ut for"ard "hat I call an intrinsic inclination model to e#!lain human gender and se#ual (ariation) 2ere are the basic tenets of this model'1) %ubconscious se#< gender e#!ression< and se#ual orientation re!resent se!arate gender inclinations that are determined largel inde!endentl of one another) BThis model does not !reclude the !ossibilit that these three inclinations ma themsel(es be com!osed of multi!le< se!arable inclinations< or that additional gender inclinations ma e#ist as "ell)C

$) These gender inclinations are< to some e#tent< intrinsic to our !ersons< as the occur on a dee!< subconscious le(el and generall remain intact des!ite social influences and conscious attem!ts b indi(iduals to !urge< re!ress< or ignore them)

/) 0ecause no single genetic< anatomical< hormonal< en(ironmental< or !s chological factor has e(er been found to directl cause an of these gender inclinations< "e can assume that the are 8uantitati(e traits Bi)e)< multi!le factors determine them through com!le# interactionsC) As a result< rather than !roducing discrete classes Bsuch as feminine and masculineF attraction to "omen or menC< each inclination sho"s a continuous range of !ossible outcomes)

1) 5ach of these inclinations roughl correlates "ith !h sical se#< resulting in a bimodal distribution !attern Bi)e)< t"o o(erla!!ing bell cur(esC similar to that seen for other gender differences< such as height)1 While it ma be true that< on a(erage< men are taller than "omen< such a statement becomes (irtuall meaningless "hen one e#amines indi(idual !eo!le< as an gi(en "oman ma be taller than an gi(en man) Most !eo!le ha(e heights that are relati(el close to the a(erage< but others fall in outl ing areas of the range Bfor instance< some "omen are 6 feet $ inches and some men are 3 feet 1 inchesC) %imilarl < "hile "omen on a(erage are more feminine than men< some "omen are more masculine than certain men< and some men more feminine than certain "omen)

0ecause these inclinations a!!ear to ha(e multi!le in!uts and sho" a continuous range of outcomes< it is incorrect to assume that those "ith e#ce!tional se#ual orientations< subconscious se#es< or gender e#!ressions re!resent de(elo!mental< biological< or en(ironmental +errors-F rather< the are naturall occurring e#am!les of human (ariation)

Reconciling Intrinsic Inclinations "ith %ocial Constructs

The beaut of the intrinsic inclinations model is that it simultaneousl e#!lains "h most !eo!le a!!ear to ha(e t !ical genders Be)g)< most men come to identif as male< act masculine< and are attracted to "omen< and the in(erse for "omenC and accounts for the (ast di(ersit of gender and se#ualit that e#ists in the "orld) It e#!lains "h ga men and lesbians ma be butch or femme or androg nousF "h masculine girls can gro" u! to be lesbians< trans men< or heterose#ual "omenF and

"h trans "omen can be bise#ual< straight< or lesbian) In addition to the (ariation that e#ists "ithin these three gender inclinations< there is additional di(ersit "ith regard to !h sical se# itself) Ph sical se# can be further di(ided into multi!le< se!arable characteristics' chromosomal se# BII and IKC< gonadal se# Bo(aries and testesC< genital se# Bclitoris< (agina< and !enisC< hormonal se# Bestrogens and androgensC< and a host of secondar se# characteristics Bsuch as breast gro"th in "omen< beard gro"th in men< etc)C) While "e li&e to thin& of females and males as constituting discrete< mutuall e#clusi(e classes< about t"o in one hundred !eo!le are born interse#)3 %o there is a (ast amount of naturall occurring se#ual and gender (ariation in the "orld) The 8uestion becomes' 2o" do "e ma&e sense of it allO That.s "here social constructs come in) While (ariation in our se# characteristics and gender inclinations ma occur naturall < the "a "e inter!ret those traits< and the identities and meanings "e associate "ith them< can (ar significantl from culture to culture) In our societ < "hat it means to be a "oman or a manEthe s mbols< customs< e#!ectations< restrictions< and !ri(ileges associated "ith those classesEare (er different toda than the "ere fift ears ago) This holds true for both t !ical and e#ce!tional gender inclinations) *or e#am!le< in this time and !lace I am able to identif as a "oman< a d &e< a transse#ual< and a transgender !ersonEto me< each of these identities re!resents a slightl different Bbut some"hat o(erla!!ingC as!ect of m gender and se#ualit ) 2o"e(er< had I been born a half centur earlierEbefore most of these labels "ere commonl used or e(en e#istedEit "ould be im!ossible for me to identif the "a that I do no") Perha!s m female subconscious se# "ould ha(e led me to tr +!assing- and li(ing as a "oman< as trans !eo!le often did before medical means of transitioning became "idel a(ailable) 4r !erha!s I "ould ha(e ta&en !art in the homose#ual underground of the time< "hich "as an amalgamation of !eo!le "ho "ould !robabl be considered lesbian< ga < bise#ual< and transgender toda ) 4r ma be< una"are of the e#istence of an other gender-(ariant !eo!le< I might ha(e remained closeted for lac& of an ob(ious alternati(e) *urther< had I been born in some other countr < I might ha(e de(elo!ed a (er different transgender identit ) 5#am!les of MT* s!ectrum transgender !eo!le in other cultures include Indian hi;ras< 0ra,ilian trans(estis< Thai &atoe s< and =ati(e American +berdaches<- or +t"o-s!irited !eo!le)-6 These transgender identities differ not onl in name but in their customs< !ractices< and social roles) Part of the reason these grou!s differ relates to the fact that their cultures !lace more em!hasis on certain gender inclinations o(er others) In some cultures< a !erson.s gender e#!ression !la s a larger role in determining gender than "e e#!erience in the :nited %tates) 4ther cultures seem to !lace more em!hasis on "hether the !erson in 8uestion engages in se#ual relationshi!s "ith "omen or men) In our culture< "e di(ide !eo!le into t"o grou!sEfemales and malesEalmost e#clusi(el based on their !h sical se#) 4f course< man !h sical se# characteristics are not readil (isible to us< so it is more correct to sa that "e tend to rel e#clusi(el on genital se# "hen assigning a !erson.s se# at birthF "ith children< "e rel on gender e#!ression and rolesF "ith adults< "e rel !rimaril on secondar se# characteristics) The fact that "e !ercei(e t"o ma;or categories of gender enables us to (ie" "omen and men as +o!!osites-Ea !remise that is founded on a series of egregiousl incorrect assum!tions) *irst< in order for the t"o se#es to be +o!!osites<- the must first be mutuall e#clusi(e) Therefore< on a societal le(el< "e !ur!osefull ignore the (ariation that e#ists in se# characteristics and create the illusion that there is absolutel no o(erla! bet"een the !h sical se#es) %econd< "e ignore the realit that intrinsic inclinations !roduce a continuous range of !ossibilities< and instead assume that each inclination !roduces onl one of t"o !ossible outcomes< mirroring the t"o se#es) Thus< "e assume that !eo!le can

onl be attracted to "omen or men Bnot bothC< the can onl be feminine or masculine Bnot bothC< and the can onl identif as female or male Bnot bothC) The third assum!tion "e ma&e is to !resume that the t !ical inclination for each se# holds true for all !eo!le of that se#) Thus< all female-bodied !eo!le are assumed to be feminine< to be attracted to men< and to identif as female Band (ice (ersa for malebodied !eo!leC) The (er idea that there are +o!!osite- se#es unnecessaril !olari,es "omen and menF it isolates us from one another and e#aggerates our differences) It !ro(ides the frame"or& for us to !ro;ect other +o!!osite- !airs onto female and male Band femininit and masculinit C) Thus< "e assume that men are aggressi(e and "omen are !assi(eF men are tough and "omen are "ea&F men are !ractical and "omen are emotionalF men are big and "omen are smallF and so on) As a culture< "e regularl bu into this "a of thin&ing des!ite the fact that "e all encounter countless e#ce!tions that !ro(e these assum!tions incorrect' "omen "ho are aggressi(e< tough< !ractical< and/or big< and men "ho are !assi(e< "ea&< emotional< and/or small) This idea of +o!!osites- creates e#!ectations for femaleness/femininit and maleness/masculinit that all !eo!le are encouraged to meet< and simultaneousl delegitimi,es all beha(iors that do not fit these ideals) *or e#am!le< !eo!le regularl ma&e comments about "omen "ho are aggressi(e< "hile male acts of aggression are rarel commented on Bas aggression is built into our !reconce!tion of maleness and masculinit C) %imilarl < !eo!le often ma&e a big deal o(er men "ho cr in !ublic< but not o(er "omen "ho do the same Bas e#!ressing emotion is built into our !resum!tions of femininit and femalenessC) %ometimes these e#ce!tional beha(iors are further dismissed as illegitimate and unnatural through the use of gender-s!ecific insults Be)g)< an aggressi(e "oman might be called a +bitch-F an emotional man might be called a +"im!- or a +siss -C) Man o!!onents of this (ie" of gender refer to it as the binar gender s stem< "hich im!lies that its !roblematic nature stems !rimaril from the fact that it consists of onl t"o classes' male and female) Personall < I do not thin& that there is necessaril an harm in us recogni,ing that there are t"o ma;or categories of se#< so long as "e reali,e that these categories are neither discrete nor mutuall e#clusi(e< and that "e remain res!ectful of the fact that man !eo!le ha(e e#ce!tional se# characteristics and gender inclinations) In fact< as a trans !erson< ha(ing s!ent most of m life battling gender dissonance< I don.t ha(e the !ri(ilege that others ha(e of being able to !resume that the femaleness or maleness of m bod or mind is entirel meaningless< su!erficial< or unim!ortant) I ha(e found that m !h sical se#< and ho" it relates to m subconscious se#< is incommensurabl im!ortant to me) I "ould argue that the ma;or !roblem "ith the binar gender s stem is not that it is binar Bas most !h sical se# characteristics and gender inclinations a!!ear to be bimodal in natureC but rather that it facilitates the nai(e and o!!ressi(e belief that "omen and men are +o!!osites)- 0ecause the idea that "omen and men are +o!!osite- se#es automaticall creates assum!tions and stereot !es that are differentl a!!lied to each se#< I call this (ie" of gender o!!ositional se#ism) =ot onl does o!!ositional se#ism form the frame"or& that fosters the entrenchment of traditional se#ism Bthe idea that maleness and masculinit are su!erior to femaleness and femininit C< it marginali,es those of us "ho ha(e e#ce!tional se#ual and gender traits) It accom!lishes this< in !art< b in(alidating our natural gender inclinations and se# characteristics' A ga man.s attraction to men is not seen to be as legitimate as that of a heterose#ual "omanF a trans man.s male identit is not seen to be as (alid as that of a cisse#ual manF a male-bodied transgender !erson.s femininit is not seen to be as authentic as a cisgender "oman.sF and interse# bodies are not considered to be as natural as noninterse# female and male bodies) 4!!ositional se#ism delegitimi,es e#ce!tional gender and se#ual traits< and can also create hostilit

and fear to"ard those "ho dis!la them) *or e#am!le< the fact that I am a lesbian or a transse#ual reall shouldn.t ha(e an bearing on an one else.s gender or se#ualit Bafter all< gender inclinations are not contagiousC) 2o"e(er< !eo!le "ho ha(e not gi(en an critical thought to their o"n se#ual orientation< subconscious se#< and/or gender e#!ressionEand "ho therefore deri(e their o"n identities from o!!ositional assum!tions about genderEma feel that their se#ualit and gender are threatened b m e#istence) After all< if ou belie(e that a "oman is defined as someone "ho is not male< masculine< or attracted to "omen< and that a man is defined as someone "ho is not female< feminine< or attracted to men< then the fact that I ha(e changed m se#< or that I.m a "oman "ho is attracted to other "omen< "ill ine(itabl bring e(er one else.s gender and se#ualit into 8uestion) 0ecause m lesbian and trans status a!!ears to blur the (er meaning of +"oman<- other "omen might feel that I someho" undermine their o"n sense of femaleness< "hile some men might fear that if the "ere to become attracted to me< it might undermine their o"n maleness) %o in a sense< the notion of +o!!osite se#es- intert"ines all of our genders and se#ualities "ith one another) This interconnectedness of genders hel!s e#!lain "h "e are encouraged to modif our o"n beha(iors to better fit gender norms< and "h "e go out of our "a to encourage gendera!!ro!riate Band to discourage gender-ina!!ro!riateC beha(iors in others) The countless a!!ro(ing or disa!!ro(ing comments that "e ma&e about other !eo!le.s gender !resentations< identities< and beha(iors create an atmos!here in "hich man !eo!le "ith e#ce!tional gender and se#ual traits feel that the ha(e to remain closeted) It also causes !eo!le "ith t !ical gender inclinations and se# characteristics to become self-conscious and on guard< as their gender ma be brought into 8uestion at an time) Thus< o!!ositional se#ism e#acerbates gender an#iet in all !eo!le< and is a ma;or factor res!onsible for most of the !re;udice and discrimination directed at se#ual minorities) :nfortunatel < one of the most common "a s !eo!le "ith e#ce!tional gender and se#ual traits tr to counter such discrimination is b neutrali,ing the significance of their !articular e#ce!tional traits "hile simultaneousl em!hasi,ing the "a s in "hich the other"ise u!hold o!!ositional se#ist ideals) *or e#am!le< man !eo!le "ho are attracted to members of their o"n se# ha(e tried to con(ince the !redominantl straight mainstream !ublic that +"e.re ;ust li&e ou e#ce!t for our se#ual orientation)This< of course< !la s do"n the realit that man !eo!le "ho identif as bise#ual< ga < or lesbian also ha(e e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions< se# characteristics< and/or subconscious se#es) At the same time< man !eo!le in the transgender communit ha(e tried to neutrali,e their e#ce!tional gender traits b stressing their heterose#ualit ' %ome transse#uals insist that their goal is to become +normal- "omen or men Bi)e)< straight< "ith a!!ro!riate gender e#!ressionCF and male crossdressers often em!hasi,e the fact that the identif as men and are attracted to "omen Bi)e)< +normal- subconscious se# and se#ual orientationC) The ob(ious !roblem "ith all of these a!!roaches is that the marginali,e those "ho ha(e multi!le e#ce!tional gender and se#ual traits) And their limited success is ultimatel due to the fact that the attem!t to cure the s m!tom Bhomo!hobia< trans!hobia< etc)C rather than the source of the !roblem Bo!!ositional se#ismC) After all< the reason the mainstream !ublic regularl confuses homose#uals< bise#uals< transgender !eo!le< and interse# !eo!le is that< in their e es< "e all re!resent the same thing) We are all often lum!ed together as +8ueer-Ee#ce!tions that challenge the mainstream o!!ositional assum!tions about gender) Therefore< "hile it is im!ortant to educate !eo!le about the distinctions bet"een different gender inclinations and se# characteristics< and the uni8ue identities< issues< and challenges each minorit grou! faces because of those s!ecific differences< it is also im!ortant to stand together to challenge the m th that "omen and men are +o!!osites)In m e#!erience as a trans acti(ist< I ha(e found that the biggest obstacle facing those "ho fall under

the +8ueer- or +@G0TIA- umbrella< "ith regards to coming together to challenge o!!ositional se#ism< is !rimaril a conce!tual one) 4(er the ears< different 8ueer subgrou!s ha(e each de(elo!ed their o"n theories and language to describe and communicate their !articular struggles) Man of these conce!ts< "hile effecti(e in single-inclination acti(ism< are counter!roducti(e in the fight against o!!ositional se#ism because the marginali,e and ma&e in(isible the e#!eriences of other 8ueers) *or e#am!le< the ga rights mo(ement has historicall framed much of their acti(ism around the !remise that heterose#uals o!!ress homose#uals) This o(ersim!lification creates the false im!ression that homose#ual and heterose#ual !eo!le are +o!!osites-Ean idea that marginali,es bise#uals) *urther< the terms most commonl used to describe the !re;udice faced b lesbians and ga men E+homo!hobia- and +heterose#ism-Emista&enl im!l that 8ueer !eo!le are !rimaril discriminated against because of their se#ual orientation) This is a false assum!tion< as those in the lesbian and ga communities "ho arguabl face the harshest discrimination from the straight "orld are those "ho also e#hibit e#ce!tional gender e#!ression Bi)e)< out"ardl feminine ga men and butch lesbian "omenC) This !ri(ileging of se#ual orientation o(er other gender inclinations has allo"ed some ga rights acti(ists to e#clude gender-(ariant !eo!le from their mo(ement Bunder the !remise that the are focused on se#ual orientation< not gender identit or e#!ressionC< "hile simultaneousl claiming that the !re;udice and (iolence faced b transgender !eo!le is the result of +homo!hobia)- This a!!ro!riation of gender-(ariant e#!eriences and struggles b single-issue ga rights acti(ists seems to ser(e the sole !ur!ose of !lacing cisgendered ga s and lesbians ato! the 8ueer !ec&ing order) An mo(ement "hose goal is to trul end !re;udice against all 8ueer !eo!le must begin b re!lacing ga s!ecific !hrases Bli&e +heterose#ism-C "ith more inclusi(e ones Bsuch as +o!!ositional se#ism-C that are e8uall res!ectful of all e#ce!tional gender and se#ual traits< and "hich ac&no"ledge the fact that< in man cases< homo!hobia and trans!hobia are indistinguishable !henomena) The transgender mo(ement< "hich "as !rimaril made u! of those e#cluded b mainstream ga rights grou!s< has conce!tual and linguistic !roblems of its o"n) The fact that at least t"o o(erla!!ing classes of !eo!leEthose "ith e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions and those "ith e#ce!tional subconscious se#es Eha(e been subsumed b the categor +transgender- has created a lot of unnecessar tension and confusion) The result is that at least t"o different Band largel incom!atibleC (ie"s of gender ha(e gained hold in this communit ) The first one< "hich is for"arded b man transse#uals< can be summed u! b the !o!ular !hrase +se# is in the bod < and gender is in the mind)- While this sa ing is useful to con(e "h a transse#ual might "ant to change their !h sical se# to match their identified se#< it o(ersim!lifies the conce!t of gender) The fact that the "ord +gender- is shorthand for subconscious se# inad(ertentl !ri(ileges subconscious se# o(er gender e#!ression) *urther< it mista&enl im!lies that more sociall influenced as!ects of gender Bsuch as gender identit and gender rolesC< as "ell as one.s abilit or "illingness to conform to o!!ositional se#ist ideals< stem directl from one.s subconscious se#< "hich is most certainl not true) Peo!le "ho es!ouse this (ie" often loo& do"n on those !eo!le "ho identif outside of the male/female binar < or "ho e#!ress combinations of masculinit and femininit < !resuming that these grou!s do not re!resent +serious- or +truetransgender !eo!le) A different (ie" is held b those transgender !eo!le "ho insist that gender itself is entirel constructed) Man feel em!o"ered b this idea because it frees their e#ce!tional gender traits from the social stigma inherent in o!!ositional se#ism) 0ut it also o(ersim!lifies the conce!t of +gender- b dismissing the !ossibilit that there are an intrinsic inclinations< such as subconscious se# and gender e#!ression< that contribute to our gender identities and gender roles< res!ecti(el ) This sort of thin&ing< "hen ta&en to the e#treme< can !ri(ilege those !eo!le "ho are !redis!osed to"ard being bigendered and bise#ual) In this scenario< someone "ho feels comfortable identif ing outside the male/female

gender binar < e#!ressing combinations of both femininit and masculinit < and/or ha(ing se#ual relations "ith both male- and female-bodied !eo!le< ma falsel assume that their +bi- inclinations re!resent a natural state that is !resent in all other !eo!le) *rom this +bi-se#ist- !ers!ecti(e< !eo!le "ho identif e#clusi(el as either female or male< feminine or masculine< homose#ual or heterose#ual< are assumed to ha(e de(elo!ed such !references as the result of being du!ed b binar gender norms and sociali,ation) This (ie" has also led to the creation of another o!!ositional binar of sorts< !itting those transgender !eo!le "ho identif outside the gender binar Band "ho are therefore !resumed to challenge gender normsC against transse#uals B"ho are accused of su!!orting the gender status 8uo b transitioning to their identified se#C) %uch argumentsEthat bigendered and gender8ueer !eo!le are more +radical- or +8ueer- than transse#ualsEare highl reminiscent of similarl nai(e accusations made in the !ast b homose#uals "ho argued that the "ere more +radical- or +8ueer- than bise#uals) The creation of such radical/conser(ati(e gender binaries are both self-absorbed and anti-8ueer< as the dismiss the (er real discrimination transse#uals and bise#uals face in fa(or of establishing !ec&ing orders "ithin the 8ueer communit ) These e#am!les demonstrate ho" gender theories designed to free certain !eo!le from gender-related stigma or o!!ression can often inad(ertentl marginali,e other se#ual minorities< or e(en "orse< create ne" gender hierarchies that are ;ust as o!!ressi(e as the initial s stem) There are se(eral telltale signs of fla"ed gender theories) *irst< "e should be"are of an gender theor that ma&es the assum!tion that there is an one +right- or +natural- "a to be gendered or to be se#ual) %uch theories are t !icall narcissistic in nature< as the merel re(eal their designers. desire to cast themsel(es on to! of the gender hierarch ) *urther< if one !resumes there is onl one +right- or +natural- "a to be gendered< then the onl "a to e#!lain "h some !eo!le dis!la t !ical gender and se#ual traits "hile others dis!la e#ce!tional ones is b surmising that one of those t"o grou!s is being intentionall led astra someho") Indeed< this is e#actl "hat the religious right argues "hen the in(ent stories about homose#uals "ho acti(el recruit oung children (ia the +ga agenda)- Those "ho claim that "e are all born "ith bise#ual< androg nous< or gender-neutral tendencies Bonl to be molded into heterose#ual< masculine men and feminine "omen (ia sociali,ation and gender normsC use a similar strateg ) I ta&e issue "ith an theor that suggests that !eo!le are so easil du!ed into leading such contri(ed se#ual and gendered li(es< as m o"n e#ce!tional gender inclinations ha(e been too strong and !ersistent to be ignored or resha!ed b societ ) And "hile o!!ositional se#ism certainl leads man !eo!le to closet their gender inclinations< I find it difficult to belie(e that the (ast ma;orit of !eo!le are hiding their true genders and se#ualities or ha(e resigned themsel(es to acce!ting "holl artificial ones) I "ould argue that our culture.s o!!ositional gender s stem can onl be held so firml in !lace because it resonates "ith the ma;orit .s gender inclinations Bthat mostEbut not allEmen gra(itate to"ard masculinit and "omen to femininit C) %econd< "e should be"are of an theor that attem!ts to o(ersim!lif gender) It is common for articles or boo&s about gender to begin b defining gender in an e#clusi(e "a < such as "hether a !erson is feminine or masculine Bi)e)< gender e#!ression/gender rolesC< "hether the identif as female or male Bi)e)< subconscious se#/gender identit C< or "hether the beha(e according to the social norms associated "ith each se#) These assum!tions se(erel limit the terms of the debate) The truth is that an dialogue about gender must begin "ith the ac&no"ledgment that the "ord +gender- has scores of meanings< and all of them must be seriousl considered if "e ho!e to ha(e an honest and fruitful discussion on the sub;ect) Thus< theories that rel on either strictl gender essentialist or social constructionist definitions of gender< or that !ri(ilege certain gender inclinations o(er others< are destined to be inade8uate in e#!laining the (ast di(ersit of gender and se#ual traits that e#ist in the "orld< and "ill ine(itabl ma&e in(isible certain se#ual minorities)

*inall < "e should 8uestion an (ie" of gender founded on gender entitlement) When "e !ro;ect our o"n gender-based assum!tions and o!inions onto other !eo!le.s beha(iors and bodies< "e necessaril erase the distinctness of their indi(idual genders and se#ualities) 5ach of us has a uni8ue e#!erience "ith gender< one that is influenced b a host of e#trinsic factors< such as culture< religion< race< economic class< u!bringing< and abilit < as "ell as intrinsic factors including our anatom < genetic and hormonal ma&eu!< subconscious se#< se#ual orientation< and gender e#!ression) Together< these factors hel! determine the gendered e#!eriences "e are e#!osed to< as "ell as the "a s "e !rocess and ma&e sense of them) *or this reason< no !erson is ca!able of full understanding our o"n gendered !ers!ecti(es and e#!eriences< nor are "e able to !resume the gendered histories< desires< moti(es< and !erce!tions of others) As a transse#ual< I ha(e been fortunate enough to ha(e had the rather rare Band surrealC e#!erience of being !ercei(ed b others as both a "oman and a man< as homose#ual and heterose#ual< as feminine< masculine< and gender-ambiguous at different !oints in m life) Peo!le treated me in (astl different "a s in each case< and the assum!tions the made about m gender and se#ualit often had little to do "ith m o"n identit and life histor ) As a gender acti(ist< I belie(e that it.s crucial for us to finall recogni,e this massi(e difference that e#ists bet"een !erce!tion and !ersonal e#!erience) While I do not belie(e that there is an im!enetrable "all that se!arates "omen from men< or 8ueers from straights< I do belie(e that one e#ists bet"een our o"n e#!eriential gender< "hich "e li(e< feel< and e#!erience firsthand< and the genders of others< "hich "e merel !ercei(e or ma&e !resum!tions about but can ne(er trul &no" in a tangible "a ) It is time for discourses in gender and se#ualit to ac&no"ledge this great di(ide< to mo(e be ond the insolent rhetoric of gender entitlement and one-si,e-fits-all gender theories) We must sto! !ro;ecting "hat "e "ish "ere true about gender and se#ualit onto other !eo!le< and instead learn to ield to their uni8ue indi(idual identities< e#!eriences< and !ers!ecti(es)

Pathological %cience' Debun&ing %e#ological and %ociological Models of Transgenderism

T25 RI%5 4* M4D5R= M5DICI=5 and !s cholog o(er the last t"o centuries has generated a large amount of interest and in(estigation into the origins and e#!ressions of human gender and se#ualit ) Researchers in "hat is sometimes called the field of +se#olog - ha(e tried to ta&e a multidisci!linar a!!roach< a!!l ing their (arious e#!ertise in !s cholog < medicine< e!idemiolog < endocrinolog < and sociolog to better understand the nature of both t !ical and e#ce!tional forms of se#< gender< and se#ualit ) 2o"e(er< in a climate so !ermeated b traditional and o!!ositional se#ism< it.s (irtuall im!ossible to com!letel se!arate scientific in8uir from one.s o"n !ersonal and !olitical (ie"s) While some se#ologists< such as Magnus 2irschfeld and Alfred Ginse < seemed to ha(e been dri(en b a desire to ma&e the "orld safe for those "ho differ from se#ual and gender norms< others ha(e sought to erase or eradicate those e#ce!tional genders and se#ualities instead) While these latter researchers li&el considered themsel(es "ell-intentioned< the ha(e left a legac in "hich naturall

occurring< e#ce!tional se# characteristics and gender inclinations are routinel (ie"ed as abnormalities< !ara!hilias< and !athologies) 4ne of the most acti(e areas of se#ological stud has been transse#ualit < and that "or& "as !ossible because trans !eo!le ha(e often been re8uired to sub;ect themsel(es to research in order to gain access to hormones and surger ) This de!endent relationshi! "as instituted b the 2arr 0en;amin International Gender D s!horia Association B20IGDAC< a !rofessional organi,ation that sets the guidelines for the +!s chiatric< !s chological< medical< and surgical management of gender identit disorders)-1 :ntil 1>>9< The 20IGDA %tandards of Care stated that +LaMn and all recommendations for se# reassignment surger and hormone thera! should be made onl b clinical beha(ioral scientists)-$ 0ecause these medical !rocedures are !rere8uisites for obtaining legal change of se# in the :nited %tates< the !s chiatric communit Bas "ell as other !s chologists< !h sicians< and se#ologists "ho had a hand in establishing the standards of careC has become !ositioned as +gate&ee!ers- of medical and legal se# reassignment) During the last half centur < this grou! has amassed a large bod of research on the sub;ects of transse#ualit and transgenderism that has (er much sha!ed the "a our culture (ie"s and (alues transgender !eo!le< as "ell as ho" transgender !eo!le come to understand themsel(es) 2o"e(er< this bod of research< though !resented as +scientific- and +ob;ecti(e<- re(eals more about the researchers. biases and assum!tions than it does about the transgender !o!ulation)

4!!ositional %e#ism and %e# Reassignment

As I mentioned in !re(ious cha!ters< trans !eo!le B"ho ha(e a subconscious se# that is not in concordance "ith their !h sical se#C often suffer from gender dissonance< "hich is best thought of as the !s chological strain of ha(ing to constantl !retend to be a member of a gender "ith "hich the do not identif ) 4(er the ears< se#ologists ha(e tried e(er thing imaginable to +cure- trans !eo!le of gender dissonance< including !s choanal sis< a(ersion and electroshoc& thera!ies< administering assigned-se#-consistent hormones Bi)e)< androgens for male-bodied trans !eo!le< estrogens for femalebodied trans !eo!leC and !s chotro!ic drugsEall to no a(ail) The onl thing that has e(er been sho"n to successfull alle(iate gender dissonance is allo"ing the trans !erson to li(e in their identified gender)/ There is an e#traordinar amount of historical and anthro!ological e(idence to further su!!ort this strateg < as trans !eo!le across cultures and throughout histor ha(e chosen to li(e as members of the other se#< often ta&ing on the roles< manner of dress< and/or occu!ations associated "ith their identified genders and< in some cases< !h sicall and hormonall altering their bodies (ia castration)1 In the last centur < ad(ances in medicine ha(e offered trans !eo!le the o!!ortunit to !h sicall transition B(ia hormones and surger C in addition to sociall transitioning) 4ne of the most !rominent ad(ocates for allo"ing this o!tion "as endocrinologist 2arr 0en;amin Bfor "hom 20IGDA "as later namedC) 0en;amin.s first encounter "ith trans !eo!le too& !lace in the earl 1>$?s< "hen an MT* s!ectrum indi(idual sought his hel! in obtaining female hormones in order to induce female de(elo!mentEa re8uest "hich 0en;amin e(entuall fulfilled and "hich led to +emotional im!ro(ement- on the !art of

the trans !erson)3 4(er the ears< 0en;amin met "ith countless trans !eo!le< often through referrals from other se#ologists< and "as a!!arentl struc& b their des!eration< the failure of con(entional thera!ies Bsuch as !s chothera! C to relie(e their !ain< the medical and !s chiatric communit .s general un"illingness to ta&e their re8uests to !h sicall transition seriousl < and the fact that man turned to suicide or self-castration "hen their onl o!tion "as to remain in their assigned se#) %ince se# reassignment surger "as not generall a(ailable in the :nited %tates at the time< 0en;amin focused on the use of hormone re!lacement thera! < "hich he found "ent a long "a to"ard easing gender dissonance in trans !eo!le) While he belie(ed that se# reassignment surger should be made a(ailable in the +more serious and intense cases<- he also ad(ocated the use of hormones to relie(e gender dissonance in those trans !eo!le "ho "ere not able to or did not "ant to full transition to the other se#)6 In his 1>66 boo&< The Transse#ual Phenomenon< 0en;amin outlined a se(en-!oint< Ginse es8ue scale to describe !eo!le on the MT* s!ectrum< ranging from "hat he called +!seudo trans(estites- to +true transse#uals)- Though it "as fla"ed in some res!ects< his scale did ac&no"ledge that there "as a large (ariation among trans !eo!le in terms of their "anting to tem!oraril < !artiall < or com!letel transition to the other se#< and "hether that transition "ould be of a social< hormonal< and/or surgical nature)7 0ut as transse#ualit gained more attentionEalmost all of it negati(eEfrom the mainstream media and the !s chiatric and medical establishments< there "as increasing !ressure to !lacate the !ublic.s !re;udices and fears about se# reassignment)9 In res!onse< man of those "ho "ere !ositioning themsel(es as gate&ee!ers argued in fa(or of an a!!roach that "as 8uite different from the one 0en;amin initiall ad(ocated< one that "ould regulate and limit the a(ailabilit of hormones and se# reassignment !rocedures onl to those trans !eo!le "ho "ould be able to successfull blend into societ as +normal- "omen and men) According to this strateg < the gate&ee!ers. ;ob "as to sort out the +true- transse#uals B"ho "ould be allo"ed to full transitionC from all other trans !eo!le B"ho "ould be denied an medical inter(ention other than !s chothera! C) This highl dichotomous a!!roach to treating trans !eo!le reflected the fact that most other se#ologists "ho became in(ol(ed in transse#ualit Esuch as Hohn Mone < "ho !ioneered the use of nonconsensual genital surgeries on interse# infants< and Richard Green< "ho is reno"ned for his use of beha(ioral modification to eliminate femininit in oung bo sEseemed to be !rimaril interested in +curing- Bi)e)< eliminatingC se#-< gender-< and se#ualit -related ambiguities) 0 the late 1>6?sE"ith the establishment of se(eral :)%) gender identit clinics and the !ublication of Green and Mone .s medical antholog Transse#ualism and %e# ReassignmentEa standard !rotocol for dealing "ith !eo!le "ho re8uested se# reassignment had started to emerge)> These guidelines for treatment "ere later codified "ith the release of the original 20IGDA %tandards of Care in 1>7>< and "hile the ha(e e(ol(ed some"hat o(er timeEes!eciall since the mid-1>>?s< "hen 20IGDA finall began to incor!orate changes suggested b the transgender communit Ethe follo" the same basic outline toda )1? While this cha!ter is largel "ritten in !ast tense Bto maintain grammatical consistenc C< it should be said that most gate&ee!ers toda still follo" this same basic !rotocol< and man still e(aluate their trans clients based on the o!!ositional and traditional se#ist criteria that I discuss throughout this cha!ter) The first ste! in this !rocess "as a !eriod of !s chothera! Blasting at least three months< often moreC< during "hich time a mental health !rofessional "ould e(aluate the client) If the trans !erson recei(ed a recommendation from that thera!ist B"hich toda comes in the form of a diagnosis of gender identit disorder< or GIDC< the "ould then be allo"ed to begin their +real-life test-Ea one- or t"o- ear !eriod during "hich the "ere re8uired to li(e full-time in their identified se#) If the real-life test "as deemed successful b both the transse#ual and the thera!ist< the trans !erson "ould be eligible for hormone re!lacement thera! Bin those cases "here hormones "ere

not !rescribed before or concurrent "ith the real-life testC and se# reassignment surger B"hich usuall re8uired a recommendation from a second mental health !rofessionalC) While the gate&ee!ers consistentl argued that these methods "ere designed to !rotect the transse#ual< the "a the "ere e#ecuted Bes!eciall !rior to the mid-1>>?sC re(eals an underl ing agenda) Whether unconscious or deliberate< the gate&ee!ers clearl sought to B1C minimi,e the number of transse#uals "ho transitioned< B$C ensure that most !eo!le "ho did transition "ould not be +gender-ambiguous- in an "a < and B/C ma&e certain that those transse#uals "ho full transitioned "ould remain silent about their trans status) These goals "ere clearl disad(antageous to transse#uals< as the limited trans !eo!le.s abilit to obtain relief from gender dissonance and ser(ed to isolate trans !eo!le from one another< thus rendering them in(isible) Rather< these goals "ere !rimaril designed to !rotect the cisse#ual !ublic from their o"n gender an#iet b ensuring that most cisse#uals "ould ne(er come face-to-face "ith someone the &ne" to be transse#ual) The gate&ee!ers. attem!ts to su!!ress the number of trans !eo!le allo"ed to transition occurred at (irtuall e(er ste! of the se# reassignment !rocess) *or e#am!le< the gender identit clinics that "ere established to treat Band carr out research onC trans !eo!le often acce!ted onl a small !ercentage of those "ho a!!lied to their !rograms Bfor e#am!le< the !rogram at Hohns 2o!&ins :ni(ersit onl a!!ro(ed t"ent -four of the first t"o thousand re8uests the recei(ed for se# reassignment surger C)11 And sim!l being acce!ted into one of these !rograms "as not a guarantee that one "ould be allo"ed to transition) *irst< the trans !erson had to undergo e#tensi(e< sometimes indefinite< !eriods of !s chothera! designed to e(aluate "hether or not the met the !s chiatrist.s criteria for +truetransse#uals< rather than the arguabl more im!ortant tas& of !re!aring the trans !erson for the emotional and !h sical changes associated "ith transitioning) Those "ho recei(ed recommendations "ere re8uired to continue in thera! through the entire transitioning !rocess Bi)e)< until after surger C) This re8uirement of se(eral ears of !s chothera! Ein addition to the e#!enses of hormones< surger < and other !rocedures that "ere generall not co(ered b health insuranceEcreated a huge financial burden that se(erel limited the number of !eo!le "ho "ould ha(e the economic means to transition in the first !lace) Those "ho "ere allo"ed to begin the real-life test often faced additional obstacles< as some gender identit clinics Band earl (ersions of The 20IGDA %tandards of CareC re8uired trans !eo!le to begin their tests !rior to starting hormone re!lacement thera! )1$ %ince an e#traordinaril small !ercentage of trans !eo!le are !h sicall able to +!ass- as their identified se# "ithout the aid of hormones< this unnecessaril e#!osed the transse#ual to all sorts of discrimination< harassment< and !otential (iolence) This !ost!oning of hormones essentiall !er(erted the real-life test< turning it into little more than a ha,ing !eriod designed to "eed out transse#uals "ho "ere the least +!assable- in their identified se#) The gate&ee!ers also &e!t the number of transitioned transse#uals lo" b re8uiring them to conform to o!!ositional se#ist ideals regarding gender) This "as !rimaril achie(ed b ma&ing +!assing- a !rere8uisite for transitioning)1/ %uch criteria ensured that cisse#ual !re;udices about the !referred si,es and sha!es of female and male bodies "ould be the ultimate arbiters of "hether a trans !erson "ould be allo"ed to transition or not) =ot onl did the trans !erson ha(e to !h sicall +!ass- as their identified se#< the needed to e#hibit the +a!!ro!riate- se#ual orientation Bheterose#ualC and gender e#!ression Bmasculinit for trans menF femininit for trans "omenC for that se# as "ell) Man critics ha(e !ointed to these restrictionsE!articularl the fact that trans !eo!le "ho !rofessed an attraction to members of their identified se# "ere regularl denied recommendations for transitioningEas e(idence of +heterose#ism- or +homo!hobia- among the gate&ee!ers) :nfortunatel < such accusations are o(erl sim!listic and some"hat mis!laced) If an thing< the gate&ee!ers "ere first and foremost cisse#ist

rather than heterose#ist) After all< the re8uirement that trans !eo!le had to be heterose#ual in their identified se# "as enforced long after +homose#ualit - had been remo(ed from the D%M)11 *urthermore< the gate&ee!ers "ere not onl restricting e#ce!tional se#ual orientation in transse#uals< but e#ce!tional gender e#!ression as "ell) %o "hile the gate&ee!ers generall ac&no"ledged that cisse#uals (aried significantl in their se#ual orientations and gender e#!ressions< the chose to hold transse#uals to a com!letel different Band more rigidC set of standards) 0 focusing so intensel on the transse#ual.s abilit to +!ass- and conform to o!!ositional se#ist notions of gender< the gate&ee!ers reduced the issue of relie(ing trans !eo!le.s gender dissonance to a secondar < if not marginal< concern) *or e#am!le< !rominent and fre8uentl cited research articles that attem!ted to assess the efficac of se# reassignment often relied on factors designed to measure the transse#ual.s abilit to +!ass<- "ithout considering "hether or not transitioning im!ro(ed the emotional "ell-being of the trans !erson)13 The tendenc to dismiss the !rofound !ain associated "ith gender dissonance can also be found in the countless condescending remar&s that a!!ear in research articles referring to transse#uals as being +im!atient- and characteri,ing their desire for se# reassignment as +obsessi(e/com!ulsi(e)-16 This insensiti(it to"ard trans !eo!le.s !ain indicates that the gate&ee!ers "ere far more concerned "ith !rotecting the cisse#ual "orld from the e#istence of transse#ualit than the "ere "ith treating trans !eo!le.s gender dissonance) Perha!s nothing demonstrates this better than the gate&ee!ers. "illingness to den trans !eo!le treatment Bdes!ite &no"ing ho" common it "as for this grou! to become de!ressed and suicidal "hen unable to transitionC solel based on the su!erficial criteria of trans !eo!le.s a!!earances) 0ecause relief from gender dissonance de!ended on one.s abilit to li(e u! to these rigid and o!!ositional se#ist e#!ectations< trans !eo!le 8uic&l learned Bboth b reading the research articles and through con(ersations "ith other transse#ualsC e#actl "hat the needed to sa and ho" the needed to act in order to !rocure a recommendation for hormones and se# reassignment) *or e#am!le< most trans "omen understood that the needed to sho" u! for their !s chothera! a!!ointments "earing dresses and ma&eu!< e#!ressing stereot !icall feminine mannerisms< insisting that the had al"a s felt li&e "omen tra!!ed inside men.s bodies< that the .d identified as female since the "ere small children< that the "ere attracted to men but currentl a(oided intimate relations because the did not see themsel(es as homose#ual< and that the "ere re!ulsed b their o"n !enises) Those "ho did not follo" this scri!t ris&ed ha(ing their re8uests for se# reassignment denied) 4f course< the gate&ee!ers e(entuall reali,ed that man < if not most< trans !eo!le "ere merel telling them "hat the "anted to hear< and their resentment around this can be found in the articles the !ublished< "hich often contain descri!tions of transse#uals as being +dece!ti(e- and +liars)-17 A!!arentl < the found it more !roducti(e to (ent about their e#!eriences in the medical literature rather than 8uestion the legitimac of their +true transse#ual- archet !e or ac&no"ledge the role that their o"n o!!ositional se#ist assum!tions !la ed in forcing trans !eo!le to lie in order to obtain relief from gender dissonance) It is !articularl h !ocritical that gate&ee!ers accused trans !eo!le of being +liars<- as their o"n !rotocols t !icall directed transse#uals to lie about their !asts after transitioning) In "hat seems to be com!lete contradiction of the most basic tenets of !s chothera! < trans !eo!le "ere re8uired to in(ent gender-consistent Bi)e)< cisse#ualC histories for themsel(es< so that if the "ere e(er 8uestioned about their !asts< the "ould not ha(e to re(eal their trans status)19 While this re8uirement "as !ur!ortedl !ut into !lace to !rotect the transse#ual from the cisse#ual !ublic< it is clear that "hat concerned the gate&ee!ers the most "as !rotecting the cisse#ual !ublic from the transse#ual) Proof of this e#ists in documents of trans !eo!le "ho "ere o!en about being transse#ual< or "ho attem!ted to financiall ca!itali,e on that status Bfor e#am!le< b becoming entertainers or re(ealing their stories to the !ublicC< being described as +socio!athic- in the medical literature)1> Canonical "ritings on transse#ualit also

argued that< for transse#uals embar&ing on their transitions< a +change in geogra!hic location is almost mandator <- and that +continued association "ith an em!lo er ))) should be terminated so as to a(oid an embarrassment to the em!lo er)- B5m!hasis mine)C$? Regarding famil < gate&ee!ers suggested< +Koung children are better told that their !arents are di(orcing and that Dadd "ill be li(ing far a"a and !robabl unable to see them)-$1 At e(er turn< the gate&ee!ers !rioriti,ed their concern for the feelings of cisse#uals "ho "ere related to< or ac8uainted "ith< the transse#ual o(er those of the trans !erson) The gate&ee!ers. re8uirement that transse#uals so com!letel hide their trans status created innumerable obstacles for trans !eo!le' the shame and self-loathing that is associated "ith li(ing in the closetF ha(ing to cut off relationshi!s "ith famil and friends< thus eliminating an !ossible social su!!ort s stem the ma ha(e had !re(iousl F ha(ing to loo& for a ne" ;ob< in a ne" location< "ithout being able to reference their !ast em!lo ment histor and "hile continuing to !a the thera! and medical bills necessar to com!lete their transitionEall of this on to! of ha(ing to na(igate their "a through the "orld in their identified gender for the first time) 0ecause of the combination of all of these stresses< it "as not uncommon for transse#uals to become highl de!ressed or suicidal !ost-transition) 4ften< gate&ee!ers "ould assume that such !roblems stemmed from the transse#ual.s o"n gender issues rather than from the closeted and isolated li(es the "ere forced to lead) *or e#am!le< one transse#ual "ho became de!ressed< !rimaril because of her fears that others "ould disco(er her trans status and that she "ould be re;ected if she "ere found out< "as described b the gate&ee!ers as +still struggling "ith the !roblem of gender identification)-$$ What became lost in gate&ee!er discourse regarding transse#ualit Bes!eciall "ith regard to incidents of !ost-transition de!ression and +transse#ual regret-C "as an distinction bet"een the trans !erson.s gender dissonance Ban intrinsic matterC and the emotional stress the transse#ual e#!erienced as a result of ha(ing to deal "ith the gender an#iet of the cisse#ual !ublic B"hich "as an e#trinsic matterC) Indeed< the blurring of these se!arate issues "as codified "ith the in(ention of the !s chological term gender d s!horia< "hich made in(isible cisse#ual gender an#iet b conflating it "ith the trans !erson.s intrinsic gender dissonance)$/ The regular use of the !hrase b gate&ee!ers illustrates their assum!tion that it "as the transse#uals. res!onsibilit to sha!e their li(es around the cisse#ual !ublic.s !re;udice against them) And "hile most gate&ee!ers surel sa" themsel(es as +treating- trans !eo!le< their o"n insistence that trans !eo!le +!ass- as cisse#ual and hide their trans status after transitioning onl enabled societal cisse#ism)

Traditional %e#ism and 5ffemimania

Gate&ee!ers also !racticed traditional se#ism< as e(ident in the "a their research and "ritings focused almost e#clusi(el on MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le) This occurred e(en though their o"n estimates t !icall sho"ed MT* transse#ualit to be merel three-times more !re(alent than in the *TM direction)$1 4f course< as !re(iousl discussed< gate&ee!er statistics "ere often ;ust a reflection of their o"n biases Bi)e)< if the chose not to e#amine or treat ou< ou "ould not be counted as a transse#ualC) Toda Bno" that information and access to transitioning is more "idel a(ailableC< trans !eo!le seem to

be transitioning in both directions at roughl e8ual rates) This strongl suggests that the higher rates of MT* transse#ualit cited in the !ast "ere sim!l an artifact of the gate&ee!ers. !references for stud ing and +treating- it) Man attem!ts to e#!lain the gate&ee!ers. focus on trans "omen o(er trans men ha(e centered on the assum!tion that traditional se#ism "as occurring based on the trans !erson.s assigned se#) *or e#am!le< man ha(e !ointed out that trans "omen< ha(ing been raised male< tended to ha(e more financial resources to afford the e#tremel costl thera!ies and !rocedures associated "ith transitioning) 4thers ha(e argued that a female-bodied !erson "ho "anted to transition to male "ould be ta&en far less seriousl than a male-bodied !erson "ho e#!ressed a desire to transition to female)$3 While the idea that a gate&ee!er "ould ta&e a +man- more seriousl than a +"oman- !robabl !la ed some role in fostering this discre!anc < I "ould argue that< more often than not< traditional se#ism tended to "or& in the other direction) In other "ords< the gate&ee!ers focused on MT* s!ectrum indi(iduals not because of that grou!.s male !ri(ilege !er se< but because the considered male e#!ressions of femininit to be more disturbing and !otentiall threatening to societ than female e#!ressions of masculinit ) The idea that +male femininit - is more !s cho!athological than +female masculinit - can be found throughout the transgender-s!ecific diagnoses in the most recent edition of the D%M BD%M-IJ-TRC ) *or e#am!le< the entr for trans(estic fetishism B"hich e#em!ts *TM s!ectrum trans !eo!leC is listed in the D%M as a !ara!hilia< a !s chiatric categor for se#ual beha(iors described as in(ol(ing +B1C nonhuman ob;ects< B$C the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one.s !artner< or B/C children or other nonconsenting !ersons)- The trans(estic fetishism diagnosis is "ritten in such a (ague "a as to include most< if not all< heterose#ual men "ho routinel crossdress)$6 Gatherine Wilson< "ho "rites for GID Reform Ad(ocates Ban organi,ation that "or&s to reform the !s chiatric classification of gender di(ersit as mental disorderC< has !ointed out ho" this diagnosis< "hile targeting male-bodied !eo!le< is mired in traditional se#ism'Curiousl < "omen and ga men are free to "ear "hate(er clothing the choose "ithout a label of mental illness) This criterion ser(es to enforce a stricter standard of conformit for straight males than "omen or ga men) Its dual standard not onl reflects the social !ri(ilege of heterose#ual males in American culture< but !romotes it) 4ne im!lication is that biological males "ho emulate "omen< "ith their lo"er social status< are !resumed irrational and mentall disordered< "hile biological females "ho emulate males are not) A second im!lication stereot !icall associates femininit and cross dressing "ith male homose#ualit and ser(es to !unish straight males "ho transgress this stereot !e)$7

A similar tactic of !unishing femininit in bo s more (igorousl than masculinit in girls can be found in the D%M.s gender identit disorder BGIDC in children diagnosis) As Wilson !oints out< +0o s are ine#!licabl held to a much stricter standard of conformit than girls in their choice of clothing and acti(ities) A sim!le !reference for crossdressing or simulating female attire meets the diagnostic criterion for bo s but not for girls< "ho must insist on "earing onl male clothing to merit diagnosis)-$9 The GID in children diagnosis has come under a lot of scrutin since it "as instituted in 1>9?< as it is often used as the ;ustification for carr ing out beha(ioral modification Bincluding a(ersion and electroshoc& thera!iesC on children in an attem!t to eliminate their e#ce!tional gender e#!ression and

!re(ent them from gro"ing u! to be 8ueer)$> While children of both se#es ha(e been sub;ected to these !rocedures< the lion.s share of the research and funding for such !ro;ects has targeted femininit in bo s rather than masculinit in girls) In fact< the largest grant a"arded to this sort of research has gone to the +*eminine 0o Pro;ect<- "hich "as conducted b Richard Green and summari,ed in his 1>97 boo& The +%iss 0o % ndrome- and the De(elo!ment of 2omose#ualit )/? Green B"ho is also a former 20IGDA !resident and coeditor of the boo& Transse#ualism and %e# ReassignmentC is ;ust one of man researchers "hose "or& seems to be !rimaril focused on stud ing all (arieties of feminine or female-associated beha(iors and inclinations in male-bodied !eo!le) I "ould describe much of this research as stemming from effemimaniaEan obsession "ith +male femininit )4ne of the characteristic traits of effemimanic research is that it tends to conflate feminine gender e#!ression< male homose#ualit < and MT* transse#ualit "ith one another< often treating them as though the "ere different s m!toms of the same +disease)- This is e(ident in the theories !s chiatrists and se#ologists ha(e offered to e#!lain the etiolog of these !henomena) The most common of these theories is that the combination of a dominant or smothering mother and a !assi(e or distant father leads oung bo s to identif "ith their mothers and emulate their mothers. beha(iors)/1 BThis theor < "hich "as fiercel for"arded b effemimanic !s chiatrist Robert %toller< has been regularl a!!lied to both male homose#ualit and MT* transse#ualit )C Jariations on this theor remained !o!ular in the !s chiatric communit for man decades< des!ite !s chiatrists. inabilit to e#!lain all< or e(en most< instances of +male femininit )- Another common theor is that a male child.s de(elo!ing brain ma be ina!!ro!riatel influenced b the mother.s female hormones in utero) 4thers ha(e suggested that both male homose#ualit and MT* transse#ualit ma arise from I chromosome-s!ecific mutations or genomic im!rinting e(ents that a mother !asses on to her son B"ho is susce!tible due to the fact that he has a single I chromosomeC) /$ 4f course< the one thing that these theories all ha(e in commonE besides the fact that the all blame the mother for her son.s feminine inclinationsEis that the cannot be a!!lied to Bnor do the e(en attem!t to account forC the e#istence of e#ce!tional gender inclinations in those born and raised female) 5ffemimania in se#olog has led to the creation of additional labels and subcategories for MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le that are rarel < if e(er< a!!lied to *TM s!ectrum indi(iduals) The most common of these is the distinction bet"een trans(estites and transse#uals) According to gate&ee!er lore< trans(estites are male-identified< are attracted to "omen< and sho" no interest in transitioning< "hile MT* transse#uals are female-identified< attracted to men< and "ish to full transition) %ome gate&ee!ers continue to rel on such stereot !es des!ite the o(er"helming e(idence that such cut-anddried categories do not e#ist' %ome male trans(estites are bise#ual or ga < and man "ho seem heterose#ual often fantasi,e about ha(ing se# "ith menF man MT* transse#uals are bise#ual or lesbianF some MT* trans !eo!le choose to li(e full-time as "omen "ithout undergoing se# reassignmentF and a significant !ercentage of trans(estites e(entuall come to identif as transse#ual and see& out se# reassignment) Another common classification s stem s!ecificall designed to describe (ariations among MT* s!ectrum indi(iduals is the distinction bet"een !rimar and secondar transse#uals)// According to this model< !rimar transse#uals fit the classic archet !e of +true- transse#uals' The tend to become a"are of their female gender identit (er earl in childhood< the are often (er feminine throughout their li(es< and the are generall attracted to men) %econdar transse#uals tend to disco(er their female gender identit much later in life Busuall during !ubert C< the are t !icall less feminine than !rimar transse#uals< and the are usuall attracted to "omen) A h !erse#uali,ed (ersion of this model recentl garnered attention "ith the !ublication of H) Michael 0aile .s $??/ boo& The Man Who Would 0e Aueen)/1 0aile refers to !rimar -t !e MT* transse#uals as being +homose#ual- and

claims that the are merel feminine men "hose decision to transition to female arises from their desire to be intimate "ith men) 0aile further claims that secondar -t !e transse#uals are +autog ne!hilic-E essentiall men "ho are attracted to "omen and "ho see& se# reassignment because the are turned on b the idea of ha(ing female bodies themsel(es) Des!ite the fact that the conce!t of autog ne!hilia B"hich "as originall coined b fello" gate&ee!er Ra 0lanchard in the late 1>9?sC is based on dubious e(idence and has ne(er been scientificall substantiated< it also a!!ears in the D%M)/3 4f course< an one "ho has s!ent an significant time in the transgender communit Ebe ond inter(ie"ing fol&s at a nearb gender identit clinic< a local crossdressing su!!ort grou!< or the trann bar scene B"here 0aile a!!arentl conducted much of his researchCEreali,es that there are countless e#ce!tions to all of these models)/6 Rather than tr ing to sho(e all trans !eo!le into some rigid< dichotomous model< one could instead easil e#!lain the (ast di(ersit that e#ists in the transgender !o!ulation b assuming that gender e#!ression< subconscious se#< and se#ual orientation are determined largel inde!endentl of one another Bas I did in cha!ter 6< +Intrinsic Inclinations-C) This "ould not onl account for the (ariation seen among transgender !eo!le< but can also e#!lain "h some trans !eo!le consciousl identif as the other se# from their earliest memories< "hile others come to this reali,ation later in life) After all< !rior to !ubert < social distinctions bet"een girls and bo s are almost solel based on gender e#!ression and gender roles) Thus< a !h sicall male child "ho has both a feminine gender e#!ression and a female subconscious se# is li&el to come to the conclusion that the are Bor should beC a girl rather than a bo ) 4n the other hand< if that same child "ere masculine in gender e#!ression< the might initiall identif as a bo Eboth because of their !h sical se# and their tendenc to e#hibit stereot !icall masculine beha(iorsEand might not become consciousl a"are of their female subconscious se# until !ubert < "hen !h sical se# becomes the !redominant distinguishing characteristic bet"een females and males) This model can also e#!lain "h man crossgender-identified bo s gro" u! to be ga or bise#ual rather than transse#ual' Their earl cross-gender identification arises from their feminine gender e#!ression rather than from a female subconscious se#) %o if a relati(el straightfor"ard intrinsic inclination model can e#!lain all of the (ariation among trans !eo!le on both the MT* and *TM s!ectrums< then "h ha(e so man gate&ee!ers continued to !ut for"ard effemimanic< MT*-s!ecific models to describe transgenderismO 0ecause effemimania is first and foremost an e#!ression of traditional se#ism) And because the gate&ee!ers often "or& from the im!licit assum!tion that femininit is inferior to masculinit < it should be no sur!rise that the (ie" +male femininit - to be a greater concern than +female masculinit )- %uch assum!tions are illuminated in Ph llis 0ur&e.s 1>>6 boo& Gender %hoc&< "hich focuses hea(il on Richard Green.s *eminine 0o Pro;ect) 0ur&e describes Green.s line of reasoning as in(ol(ing +a de(aluation of all that is traditionall feminine "hen it a!!ears strongl in a bo ) Girls are not chosen Las !la matesM b bo s because the li&e themF the are chosen because the can be dominated< or are not a threat) Acti(ities are chosen not because the are en;o ed< but because bo s fail at masculine acti(ities< because if the bo s could succeed at masculine acti(ities< "h "ould the bother "ith feminine acti(itiesO-/7 %ome might be inclined to (ie" effemimania as sim!l a manifestation of homo!hobia or trans!hobia< but this "ould be inaccurate) 5ffemimania s!ecificall targets femininit rather than homose#ualit or transse#ualit as a "hole) *or e#am!le< in her 1>>1 essa +2o" to 0ring Kour Gids :! Ga ' The War on 5ffeminate 0o s<- 5(e Gosofs& %edg"ic& discusses ho" Richard C) *riedman< a !s choanal st and the author of Male 2omose#ualit ' A Contem!orar Ps choanal tic Pers!ecti(e< s!ea&s rather admirabl about ga men "ho e#hibit masculine traits< "hile correlating +adult ga male effeminac "ith Nglobal character !s cho!atholog . and "hat he calls Nthe lo"er !art of the !s chostructural s!ectrum).-/9 And "hile all forms of transse#ualit are still formall !athologi,ed< it has been 8uite common for gate&ee!ers to claim that trans men are more !s chologicall +stable- than trans

"omen)/> 4ften< such comments are made "ithout an further e#!lanation< leading one to sus!ect that these characteri,ations stem from the gate&ee!ers. uns!o&en assum!tion that masculinit and the desire to be male are< in and of themsel(es< more rational and health tendencies than femininit and the desire to be female) Another issue that seems to fuel effemimania is our cultural tendenc to se#uali,e femininit and femaleness in all its forms) While countless feminist "riters and theorists ha(e anal ,ed the "a s in "hich the se#uali,ation of femaleness and femininit !ermeates (irtuall e(er as!ect of our culture and has a negati(e im!act on most "omen.s li(es< the ha(e t !icall ignored the "a this tendenc creates an en(ironment in "hich +male femininit - is almost al"a s considered in !urel se#ual terms) *or e#am!le< most !o!ular images and im!ressions of trans "omen re(ol(e around se#ualit ' from +she-male- and +chic&s "ith dic&s- !ornogra!h to media !ortra als of us as se#ual decei(ers< !rostitutes< and se# "or&ers) And of course< there are the recurring themes of trans "omen "ho transition in order either to gain the se#ual attention of men or to fulfill some &ind of bi,arre se# fantas Bboth of "hich a!!ear regularl in the media< and also in 0aile and 0lanchard.s model of MT* transgenderismC) In this conte#t< it.s eas to understand "h 0aile and 0lanchard "ere able to get a"a "ith !ro!osing a homose#ual/autog ne!hilic model for MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le "ithout e(er being challenged b their !rofessional !eers to a!!l their theories to *TM s!ectrum trans !eo!le) To do so "ould re8uire these !redominantl straight- and male-identified gate&ee!ers to (ie" masculinit and maleness in !urel erotic termsEin other "ords< to reduce maleness to the status of mere se#ual ob;ect Bsomething that the "ould be loath to do in the unli&el e(ent that this line of reasoning e(er crossed their mindsC) This un"illingness to se#uali,e masculinit to the e#tent that femininit is se#uali,ed e#!lains "h the gate&ee!ers endlessl d"elled on e(er !ercei(ed nuance and (ariation that occurred in the se#ual !ractices and fantasies of the MT* s!ectrum !o!ulation "hile simultaneousl adamantl claiming that there "as no such thing as female trans(estism< no erotic com!onent to *TM crossdressing< and no such thing as a ga -identified trans man)1? 4f course< such identities and e#!eriences ha(e al"a s e#isted< and ha(e been documented b members of the transgender communit and b researchers outside the field of se#olog ) The se#uali,ation of trans "omen has also had a !rofound effect on the criteria used to determine "hich transse#uals ha(e been allo"ed to transition) While both trans men and trans "omen "ere historicall re8uired to meet the gate&ee!ers. o!!ositional se#ist ideals< trans "omen often faced an additional standard' The had to be se#uall desirable in their identified se# as "ell) In the 1>7?s< %u,anne H) Gessler and Wend McGenna came across se(eral instances in "hich gate&ee!ers "ere rather blatant about this !ractice' +A clinician during a !anel session on transse#ualism at the 1>71 meeting of the American Ps chological Association said that he "as more con(inced of the femaleness of a male-to-female transse#ual if she "as !articularl beautiful and "as ca!able of e(o&ing in him those feelings that beautiful "omen generall do) Another clinician told us that he uses his o"n se#ual interest as a criterion for deciding "hether a transse#ual is reall the gender she/he claims)-11 While not all gate&ee!ers relied on their o"n se#ual attraction to assess "hether trans "omen "ould gain their a!!ro(al for se# reassignment< it is clear that most too& the issue of se#ual desirabilit into consideration) *or e#am!le< in 1>6>< gate&ee!er Hohn Randell stated< +In both se#es< the indi(iduals chosen for o!eration "ere selected because the "ere credible in their im!ersonation or< in the case of some males< had "on se#ual acce!tance in the female role des!ite minor incongruous features)-1$ Thus< being se#uall desirable often su!erseded other transitioning criteria) *urther< as one reads through MT* transse#ual case studies< it becomes readil a!!arent that the "ord +attracti(e- is

regularl used in con;unction "ith trans "omen "hom the gate&ee!ers consider to be successful in their transitions) Those "ho "ould argue that this em!hasis on the se#ual desirabilit of trans "omen is a thing of the !ast might "ant to ta&e a loo& at H) Michael 0aile .s boo&< "hich I mentioned !re(iousl B!ublished in $??/C< in "hich he comments< +There is no "a to sa this as sensiti(el as I "ould !refer< so I "ill ;ust go ahead) Most homose#ual transse#uals are much better loo&ing than most autog ne!hilic transse#uals)-1/ While not all gate&ee!ers are guilt of se#uali,ing their trans female clients to this e#tent< it is clear that man < if not most< e#!ect trans "omen to ma&e themsel(es as con(entionall !rett as !ossible) In Anne 0olin.s 1>99 boo& In %earch of 5(e< a trans "oman she inter(ie"ed !ut it this "a ' +%hrin&s ha(e the idea that to be a transse#ual ou must be a traditionall feminine "oman' s&irts< stoc&ings< the "hole nine ards)-11 Another trans "oman sums u! the !roblem this "a ' +Kou must conform to a doctor.s idea of a "oman< not necessaril ours)-13 Ji(iane =amaste.s $??? boo& In(isible @i(es includes an inter(ie" "ith a trans "oman "ho "as initiall denied hormones b a gate&ee!er because she sho"ed u! for her thera! a!!ointment "earing +male- clothes) %he recounts' +I ;ust "ent bac&< and this time I did all m &ohl Lma&eu!M< inside and outside m e es< L"oreM m little fa&e fur ;ac&et and m tight blac& !ants) And she said< NKou.(e come a long "a since I sa" ou first) And no" I am con(inced that ou.re transse#ual). It "as li&e three "ee&s laterD-16 In m o"n con(ersations "ith trans "omen< I.(e found that such e#!ectations are still 8uite !re(alent) 4n a trans-"oman-focused email list that I "as a member of in the earl $???s< a ne" member !osted that she had ;ust scheduled her first thera! a!!ointment and she as&ed if an one had an ad(ice for her) %adl < there "ere about t"ent res!onses< mostl from trans "omen "ho.d had the e#!erience of being turned do"n because the had "orn +male- or unise# clothing to their (isits< and then later being a!!ro(ed after sho"ing u! to their a!!ointments "earing dresses and ma&eu!) While such standards are clearl traditionall se#ist< it should once again be !ointed out that the are also cisse#ist< as the re8uire transse#ual "omen to meet a more rigid standard of femininit than cisse#ual "omen in order to be considered female) In cha!ter $< +%&irt Chasers<- I discussed the "a s in "hich trans "omen are often re8uired to !ro(e their femaleness through su!erficial meansE!articularl b "earing dresses< heels< ma&eu!< etc)Eand then are dismissed as being +fa&e- "omen or +female im!ersonators- because of the !ercei(ed artifice in(ol(ed) The same criticism can be a!!lied to the gate&ee!ers "ho com!lained or commented on trans "omen.s +e#aggeration- of their femininit "ithout e(er considering that their o"n criteria (irtuall re8uired trans "omen to maintain a h !erfeminine a!!earance in order to gain access to the means of transitioning) In 1>6>< Mone Band coauthorsC discussed the results of tests the had administered to transse#uals to measure their feminine and masculine tendencies)17 The authors !raised trans men for gi(ing ans"ers that "ere +masculine<- but not an more +masculine- than those of the a(erage cisse#ual man) At no time did the authors consider the !ossibilit that the trans men.s une#aggerated masculine res!onses "ere made !ossible b the fact that most gate&ee!ers< being male themsel(es< understood that there "as more than one "a to be a man) In contrast< trans "omen "ere derided for ha(ing scores that "ere higher on the feminine range than that of the a(erage "oman) Ket trans "omen "ere re8uired to act more feminine than the a(erage "oman in order to be ta&en seriousl as transse#uals) 5(idence to su!!ort the idea that trans "omen.s h !erfeminine test scores "ere merel an attem!t to a!!ease the traditionall se#ist biases of the gate&ee!ers can be found in Anne 0olin.s 1>99 "or& In %earch of 5(e) When 0olinE"ho is not a gate&ee!er and "hose interactions "ith trans "omen occurred entirel outside of a clinical settingEadministered a similar test< she found that trans

"omen.s scores "ere a lot more (aried and closer to the norm of cisse#ual "omen) %he commented< +The im!ortance of fulfilling careta&er e#!ectations ))) ma be the single most im!ortant factor res!onsible for the !re(alent medicalmental health conce!tions of transse#ualism)-19 This< of course< is the ma;or !roblem "ith most medical< !s chiatric< and se#ological research into transgenderism) While generall !resented under the guise of ob;ecti(e science< the bod of research com!iled b the gate&ee!ers has been so undermined b their o"n biases that their results are nothing more than a research artifact) The gate&ee!ers consistentl claimed that transse#ualit "as a +rare!henomenon "ithout ac&no"ledging that the themsel(es !la ed an acti(e role in restricting the number of trans !eo!le "ho "ould be allo"ed to transitionF the belie(ed that crossdressing and transse#ualit !rimaril +afflicted- those assigned a male se# at birth "ithout reali,ing that their o"n effemimania rendered *TM s!ectrum indi(iduals in(isible) Indeed< the ma;orit of research on transgenderism and transse#ualit the !roduced clearl fit the criteria for +!athological science<- a term used to describe "or& that initiall conforms to the scientific method< but then unconsciousl (eers from that method and begins a !athological !rocess of "ishful data inter!retation)1>

Criti8uing the Critics

%e#ologists ha(e greatl sha!ed the "a the !ublic at large (ie"s transse#uals Bas "ell as the "a man transse#uals come to (ie" themsel(esC< but the are not the onl grou! to !osition themsel(es as +authorities- on transse#ualit ) 4(er the ears< man academics in the social sciences and in gender studies ha(e also "ritten e#tensi(el on the sub;ect) :nli&e the gate&ee!ers< "ho ha(e often e#!ressed consternation and condemnation for those transse#uals "ho fail to li(e u! to societ .s traditional and o!!ositional se#ist e#!ectations regarding gender< man academics ha(e had the reci!rocal concernE namel < that transse#uals "or& too hard to achie(e gender normalc ) This concern t !icall arises from the assum!tion Bembraced b man in the humanitiesC that transse#ualit is a modern construction< something that "ould not e#ist if it "ere not for medical technolog < !s chological !atholog < !atriarch < heterose#ism< ca!italism< and/or our culture.s rigid binar gender norms) 0ecause academics in the fields of sociolog and gender studies ha(e been dis!osed to"ard see&ing out the societal causes of transse#ualit < the ha(e tended to o(erloo& or dismiss the !ossibilit that intrinsic inclinations Bi)e)< subconscious se#C dri(e trans !eo!le to"ard transitioning) *raming the issue this "a has ensured that transse#ualit can onl be understood as a form of +false consciousness- and that transse#uals themsel(es can onl be conce!tuali,ed in one of t"o "a s' as +du!es- B"ho are misled into transitioning b gate&ee!ersC or as +fa&es- B"ho are so distressed b their o"n e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions and/or se#ual orientations that the are "illing to go to the e#treme lengths of surgicall altering their bodies and un8uestioningl embracing se#ist ideals in order to fit into straight mainstream societ C) While sociological models of transse#ualit and transgenderism ha(e not had as direct an im!act on the li(es of trans !eo!le as se#ological models ha(e< both models foster the false im!ression that cisse#ual +e#!erts- B"hether academic or clinicalC are ca!able of understanding transse#ualit better than transse#uals themsel(esEan idea that is as !roblematic as suggesting that male +e#!erts- can

understand "omanhood better than "omen< or that heterose#ual +e#!erts- can understand homose#ualit better than ga s and lesbians) *urther< "hile sociological and gender studies accounts of transse#ualit ha(e not garnered the !ublic attention that their se#ological counter!arts ha(e< the ha(e !rofoundl sha!ed the manner in "hich trans !eo!le are discussed and considered in academia and in feminism) In this section< I "ill debun& man of the most common academic misconce!tions regarding transse#ualit ) While some of the arguments I criti8ue ma seem unfamiliar< e(en esoteric< to readers outside the fields of sociolog and gender studies< it is (ital to address these !oints here< as the are encountered re!eatedl in 8ueer and feminist !olitics) 4ne of the most !re(alent academic misconce!tions regarding transse#ualit is that the gate&ee!ers acti(el !romote the use of se# reassignment and !re on gender-(ariant !eo!le< enticing them "ith the !romise of assimilating them into +normal- "omen and men) 4ne of the more influential research articles es!ousing this (ie" "as "ritten b sociologists D"ight 0) 0illings and Thomas :rban in 1>9$< in "hich the claimed that +transse#ualism is a sociall constructed realit "hich onl e#ists in and through medical !ractice)- B5m!hasis theirs)C3? In 0illings.s and :rban.s e es< +transse#ual thera! ))) !ushes !atients to"ard an alluring "orld of artificial (aginas and !enises rather than to"ard selfunderstanding and se#ual !olitics)-31 Hanice G) Ra mond has a similar (ie") In her 1>7> boo& The Transse#ual 5m!ire Bdiscussed !re(iousl in cha!ter $C< she described se# reassignment as a +male inter(entionist technolog - in "hich +LtMransse#uals surrender themsel(es to ))) thera!ists and technicians)-3$ %he goes on to suggest that trans !eo!le "ould be better off if the "ere counseled using the same +consciousness-raising- methods that she e#!erienced in the feminist mo(ement)3/ %o< in other "ords< both sets of authors belie(e that transse#ualit "ould not e#ist if trans !eo!le sim!l became more educated and in(ol(ed in feminism and se#ual !olitics) %o ho" do Ra mond< 0illings< and :rban e#!lain "h trans !eo!le are so easil +du!ed- into transitioning "hen transse#ualit itself is considered taboo b societ at largeO Their rationale is that transse#ualit has become sociall acce!table< a rather outrageous claim considering the "ere "riting during the late 1>7?s and earl 1>9?s< res!ecti(el )31 4f course< the idea that transse#uals are highl susce!tible to suggestion and easil ield to medical authorit "ould surel come as a sur!rise to man gate&ee!ers< "ho regularl com!lained about ho" transse#uals "ere +stubborn<- highl resistant to !s chothera! < and usuall came to a!!ointments ha(ing alread made u! their minds)33 Another ma;or fla" "ith these theses is that the rest on the assum!tion that !eo!le identif ing and li(ing as members of the se# other than the one the "ere assigned at birth "as a no(el !henomenon< one that did not e#ist !rior to the in(ention of se# reassignment !rocedures) 2o"e(er< numerous historians and anthro!ologists ha(e described the e#istence of trans !eo!le in other eras and cultures)36 In fact< man of the original gate&ee!ers< including 2arr 0en;amin< onl +disco(ered- the e#istence of transse#ualit after trans !eo!le a!!roached them about the !ossibilities of !h sicall transitioning< and man of the earliest transse#uals< such as Christine Horgensen Bthe first transse#ual to gain mainstream attentionC and +Agnes- B"ho is discussed in more detail in cha!ter >C< self-administered hormones !rior to consulting "ith doctors about their desire to !h sicall transition)37 Indeed< the gate&ee!ers didn.t +in(ent- se# reassignment< but "ere dragged into it &ic&ing and screaming) And the fact that the gate&ee!ers almost uni(ersall fa(ored strict restrictions that greatl reduced the number of !eo!le undergoing se# reassignment clearl indicates that the "ere< at best< reluctant ad(ocates) A similar attem!t to remo(e transse#uals from an historical or cross-cultural conte#t can be found in 0ernice @) 2ausman.s 1>>3 boo& Changing %e#) Des!ite the fact that 2ausman is a"are of !eo!le throughout histor "ho ha(e li(ed as members of the other se#< or "ho do so toda "ithout using hormones or surger < she ne(ertheless chooses to narro"l define transse#ualit as the act of changing

one.s se# (ia !h sicall transitioning)39 This allo"s her to !ut for"ard the thesis that +de(elo!ments in medical technolog and !ractice "ere central to the establishment of the necessar conditions for the emergence of the demand for se# change)-3> The amateurish nature of this argument is astoundingF it.s a&in to discounting the e#istence of all nonmotori,ed (ehicles Bbic cles< sailboats< horse-dra"n carriages< etc)C to ma&e the claim that trans!ortation is a modern construction de!endent on the disco(er of fossil fuel and combustion engines) 4f course< there is an ob(ious reason "h 2ausman chose to define transse#ualit so narro"l ' To do other"ise "ould sub(ert her entire thesis) After all< if she "ere to ac&no"ledge that trans !eo!le ha(e e#isted in (aried cultures and throughout histor < her readers might (ie" transse#ualit as !art of a natural rather than cultures!ecific !henomenon and thus understand trans !eo!le.s desire to li(e in their identified se# as being !rimaril dri(en b their o"n intrinsic inclinations rather than b social forces) *rom such a !ers!ecti(e< one "ould be inclined to see se# reassignment as a modern o!tion for trans !eo!le< similar to ho" recent ad(ances in medicine no" enable cisse#ual "omen and men to undergo similar !rocedures< such as hormone re!lacement thera! < breast or !enis enhancement or reconstruction< and infertilit treatments) Instead< b remo(ing transse#ualit from this trans-historical and cross-cultural conte#t< 2ausman misleads her readers into belie(ing that trans !eo!le suddenl a!!eared out of no"here< almost o(ernightEa fabrication that !racticall strong-arms her readershi! into seeing transse#ualit as a culturall s!ecific and sociall deri(ed !henomenon) The intellectual inconsistencies in 2ausman.s thesis become e(en more blatant "hen she ma&es it clear that she acce!ts that same-se# desire has al"a s e#isted Band therefore !recedes social constructionC) This allo"s her to claim that transse#ualit is not analogous to homose#ualit because of its +s!ecial conce!tual and material relation to medical discourse and !ractice)- B5m!hasis hers)C6? This is a rather con(enient argument for 2ausman to ma&e considering that she has alread dismissed the e#istence of those transse#uals "ho do not !h sicall transition) Indeed< 2ausman seems obli(ious to the fact that< "ere she able to "a(e a"a the e#istence of same-se# attraction throughout histor Bas she does "ith transse#ualit C< she could easil ma&e the analogous claim that homose#ualit is ;ust as much a !roduct of modern medicine as transse#ualit ) After all< both "ords< +homose#ualit - and +transse#ualit <"ere coined "ithin the last 13? ears< gained !rominence as conce!ts "ith the rise of se#olog in the t"entieth centur < and emerged as identities and !olitical mo(ements both because of and in res!onse to their !s chological !athologi,ation) And if one "ere hell-bent on !ortra ing homose#ualit as entirel constructed< one could easil reach the same shortsighted conclusion that 2ausman has reached) The argument "ould go' The rise in the number of !eo!le o!enl calling themsel(es homose#uals o(er the !ast half centur is not due to !olitical and cultural changes that ha(e allo"ed them to finall +come out of the closet<- but rather that the medical in(ention of homose#ualit itself generated a +demand- for !eo!le to become homose#ual) 2ausman.s boo& demonstrates the misinformation academics can generate "hen the narro"l define transse#ualit based on !s chiatric or medical !arameters< or attem!t to isolate transse#uals "ho do !h sicall transition from the broader !o!ulation of trans !eo!le "ho identif and li(e as members of the other se# "ithout medical inter(ention) These (er same mista&es are regularl made b anthro!ologists "ho focus on "hat are sometimes called +third<- +multi!le<- or +alternate- gendersE categories designed to describe !eo!le "ho are (ie"ed b their cultures as being not 8uite male and not 8uite female) 0ecause these grou!s a!!ear to e#ist outside the gender binar < and blur distinctions bet"een "hat Westerners "ould call transse#ualit < homose#ualit < and transgenderism< the are sub;ects of interest among academics "ho belie(e that gender is !rimaril sociall constructed) 4ne such anthro!ologist is %erena =anda< "ho has studied Indian hi;ras and authored se(eral boo&s<

including Gender Di(ersit ' Crosscultural Jariations) This $??? boo& is an o(er(ie" of gender (ariation across the "orld< and highlights e#am!les of social categories and gender roles that challenge our Western tendenc to define gender e#clusi(el based on one.s !h sical se#) *or the most !art< =anda remains res!ectful and refrains from !lacing (alue ;udgments on the cultures and gender-(ariant !eo!le she describesEthat is< until she gets to the cha!ter titled +Transse#ualism)- 2ere< she seems to go into diatribe mode< describing transse#uals as a medical +in(ention- "ho are sha!ed b Western doctors. and !s chologists. stereot !ed (ie" of gender)61 =anda goes on to ma&e the broader !oint that transse#uals< +far from being an e#am!le of gender di(ersit < both reflected and reinforced the dominant 5uro-American se#/gender ideolog in "hich one had to choose to be either a man or a Bstereot !icalC "oman)-6$ *or =anda to ma&e this sort of blan&et generali,ation "hen there are countless e#am!les of transse#uals "ho "ere in(ol(ed in the earl da s of the ga rights and the lesbian-feminist mo(ements< or "ho are at the forefront of toda .s transgender and gender8ueer mo(ements< suggests that either she is com!letel ignorant of the e#istence of an transse#uals "ho do not fit her stereot !e< or she !ur!osefull ignores or discounts them in order to create the false im!ression that all transse#uals are stam!ed from the same medical establishment coo&ie cutter) =anda.s moti(es for !ainting such a rigid and distorted !icture of transse#uals becomes ob(ious in the follo"ing cha!ter< +Transgenderism)- Des!ite the fact that (irtuall all organi,ations and communities that call themsel(es +transgender- generall include transse#uals< =anda has someho" ta&en it u!on herself to redefine +transgender- in o!!osition to +transse#ual)- %he describes transgenderism as being based on the !rinci!le of androg n < e#!laining that Bunli&e transse#ualsC transgender !eo!le do not limit themsel(es to a single gender)6/ It seems rather ob(ious "h she is so determined to den the o(erla! bet"een these t"o grou!s) A running theme throughout the boo& is that transgender !eo!le "ho are defined as being se!arate from female and male necessaril challenge our Western assum!tions that the male/female binar gender s stem is +natural)- Transse#uals com!licate this issue b (irtue of the fact that "e are gender-(ariant et t !icall identif "ithin the binar ) 0 dismissing us as a medical in(ention that +u!holds the status 8uo of the binar se#/gender s stem<- =anda seems to be establishing a gender binar of her o"n< one in "hich +third gender<- androg nous< and (isibl 8ueer !eo!le "ho blur distinctions bet"een female and male are considered radical and natural< "hile those "ho identif as or a!!ear to be clearl female or male are considered conser(ati(e and contri(ed)61 This radical/conser(ati(e gender binar is also for"arded b Will Roscoe< an anthro!ologist "ho has focused much of his research on reconstructing the li(es of "hat he refers to as +berdaches- Ba Western umbrella term for =ati(e American gender-(ariant !eo!leC from the historical record) As a strict social constructionist< Roscoe refuses to belie(e that berdache status is merel +a com!romise bet"een nature and culture or a niche to accommodate Nnatural. (ariation)-63 2e also denounces the (ie" held b man anthro!ologists that some berdaches +crossed- genders Bfrom male to female or female to maleC because the could then be +inter!reted as u!holding a heterose#ist gender s stem)-66 0ecause Roscoe is determined to demonstrate that =ati(e American berdaches re!resent +third genders<- he !la s u! the "a s in "hich these grou!s sho"ed signs of being se!arate from and/or a mi# of female and male< "hile !la ing do"n e(idence that some berdaches ma ha(e actuall seen themsel(es as< or "anted to be< the other gender) While this is not difficult to do for certain berdaches Bas these roles (aried significantl bet"een =ati(e American nationsC< Roscoe stic&s to his +third gender- h !othesis e(en "hen anal ,ing the historical record of the Moha(e al ha BMT* s!ectrumC and h"ame B*TM s!ectrumC berdaches Bre(ie"ed in his 1>>1 essa +2o" to 0ecome a 0erdache-C)

Des!ite the fact that the al ha +insisted on being referred to b female names and "ith female gender references<- used +the Moha(e "ord for clitoris to refer to their !enises<- recei(ed female facial tattoos< and too& !art in rituals "here the simulated !regnanc < Roscoe still argues that the should be considered +third gender- because the "ere gi(en a uni8ue name Bi)e)< al haC to distinguish them from other "omen)67 4ther e(idence that Roscoe uses to undermine the Moha(e berdaches. self-identified gender is that the "ere not al"a s full acce!ted in that gender b other Moha(es' 2e references accounts of indi(idual Moha(es commenting that al ha "ere less "omanl than other "omen and cites rare occasions "hen some Moha(es used !ronouns that referenced the berdaches. birth Brather than identifiedC se#)69 Thus< to ma&e his !oint that Moha(e berdaches re!resent +third genders<- Roscoe resorts to gi(ing more credence to the ;udgments of non-gender-(ariant Moha(e than to the "a the al ha and h"ame sa" themsel(es) Perha!s this shouldn.t be a sur!rise< as Roscoe himself !ur!osel uses ina!!ro!riate !ronouns and fa(ors birth se# o(er identified se# "hen "riting about berdaches) The dichotom that =anda and Roscoe attem!t to ma&e bet"een +third genders- and trans !eo!le "ho +cross- from one gender to the other seems rather dubious) After all< some !eo!le "ho are members of non-Western +third gender- traditions do identif full as the other se# and/or choose to !h sicall transition "hen gi(en the o!!ortunit )6> *urthermore< as a Western transse#ual< I ma identif s8uarel "ithin the male/female gender binar if I "ant to< but once other !eo!le disco(er m transse#ual status< the usuall start sli!!ing u! on !ronouns and referring to me as a MT*< bo -girl< s/he< she-he< or a she-male) In other "ords< !eo!le tr to third-gender me) 0oth Roscoe and =anda seem to ha(e so much in(ested in !romoting the theoretical significance of +third genders- that the .re obli(ious to the "a s in "hich these categoriesErather than shattering the gender binar Ema actuall contribute to its stabili,ation b mar&ing and segregating those !eo!le "ho ha(e e#ce!tional gender inclinations from gender-normati(e "omen and men) If ou "ant to con(ince me that a culture trul has multi!le genders that are dissociated from binar se#< sho" me one "here male- and femalebodied !eo!le are both included in e(er gender categor ) %o long as +third genders- are com!osed onl of male-bodied !eo!le "ith feminine 8ualities and female-bodied !eo!le "ith masculine 8ualities< it is hard for me to see such designations as an thing other than o!!ositional se#ist attem!ts b societ to marginali,e gender-(ariant !eo!le) :nfortunatel < the mista&en notion that some genders are inherentl more +radical- or +sub(ersi(ethan others< "hich is seen throughout much of the anthro!ological literature on +third genders<- has also flourished throughout the social sciences< in "omen.s and gender studies de!artments< and the humanities in general) And in the social constructionists. radical/conser(ati(e gender binar < no grou! is more regularl discredited and maligned than transse#ualsE"e are often !ortra ed as gender sellouts< and our attem!ts to li(e as and/or !h sicall transition to our identified se# are often misread as being dri(en not b our o"n intrinsic inclinations< but b a desire to +fit in- or assimilate into gender normalc ) %uch misconce!tions are e(ident in the follo"ing series of 8uotes' Transse#ualism is a res!onse to the rigid< sociall !rescribed gender dichotom of heterose#ual men and "omen)

E*ran& @e"ins B1>>3C7?

The idea is that societal !ressure ))) leads the transse#ual to surmount the !roblem b changing the bod

to fit the norm of dichotomous gender)

EDa(id 5) Grimm B1>97C71

Transse#ual !atients ha(e an e#cessi(el narro" image of "hat constitutes +se#-a!!ro!riatebeha(iour)))) Were the notions of masculinit and femininit less rigid< se# change o!erations should be unnecessar )

EMargrit 5ichler B1>9?C7$

%e#-change surger is !ro foundl conser(ati(e in that it reinforces shar!l contrasting gender roles b sha!ing indi(iduals to fit them)

EGermaine Greer B1>>>C7/

While transse#uals ma be de(iants in terms of cultural norms about ho" one arri(es at being a man or a "oman< the are< for the most !art< highl conformist about "hat to do once ou get there)

EHudith %ha!iro B1>>1C71

Ironicall < transse#uals "ish to be "omen but end u! a!!ro#imating men.s se#ual conser(atism ))) most can still be t !ified as the :ncle Toms of the se#ual liberation mo(ement< in shar! contrast "ith other se#ual minorities)

EThomas Gando B1>71C73

The im!lication that transse#uals transition in order to hide their e#ce!tional gender e#!ression and/or se#ual orientation is onl made !ossible b the social constructionist !ractice of dumbing do"n gender to e#clude subconscious se#) This e#clusion is notable< since (irtuall all transse#uals describe e#!eriencing a !rofound< ine#!licable< intrinsic self-&no"ing regarding their o"n gender) 0ecause such accounts of transse#ual subconscious se#/gender identit are nearl ubi8uitous< one can onl conclude that either the abo(e critics ha(e made their conclusions "ithout bothering to read or listen to "hat transse#uals ha(e said about their o"n li(es and e#!eriences< or the ha(e chosen to ignore or discount such accounts< !resumabl out of an un"illingness to consider the !ossibilit that trans !eo!le ha(e an understanding about gender that cisse#ual academics do not) =ot onl do these +transse#ual-asassimilationist- accusations blatantl dismiss transse#ual !ers!ecti(es< but the are also unabashedl cisse#ist in other "a s) The erase the e#istence of the man transse#uals "ho are unrelenting feminists and 8ueer acti(ists< and hold those transse#uals "ho do identif as heterose#ual feminine "omen and masculine men more accountable for gender-based o!!ression than the o(er"helming ma;orit of cisse#ual !eo!le "ho identif the same "a ) Another dehumani,ing tactic used b these academic critics is the assum!tion that the are ca!able of full understanding and s!ea&ing authoritati(el about transse#ualit des!ite the fact that the are not transse#ual themsel(esF in fact< rarel do the get to &no" an transse#uals !ersonall ) When %ha!iro< =anda< Grimm< and 5ichler s!ea& dis!aragingl about transse#uals< their arguments rel almost entirel on other !eo!le.s research) 2ausman boasts about attending one transgender conference< then liberall Band e#tensi(el C 8uotes from transse#ual autobiogra!hies "ithout an consideration gi(en to the role that non-trans boo& !ublishers and audiences !la in deciding "hich transse#ual stories get told and "hich do not) Those sociologists "ho do base their criti8ues on inter(ie"s "ith transse#uals seem to ha(e no 8ualms about dra"ing firm conclusions des!ite the man ca(eats inherent in their research' The generall rel on !atheticall small sam!le si,es from the same geogra!hic location< and their sam!le !o!ulations consist of trans !eo!le from similar Bmiddle-classC economic dis!ositions "ho are all in the earliest stages of transition) This latter !oint is !articularl salient< as the !ers!ecti(es of transse#uals "ho are in the !rocess of acti(el managing their !h sical transitions Band other !eo!le.s reactions to those changesC tend to differ greatl from those "ho ha(e alread been li(ing in their identified se# for a number of ears) *urther< man sociologists ma&e the common mista&e of deri(ing their sam!le

!o!ulation from !atients at gender identit clinics BGICsC) While such clinics ma seem a boon for sociologistsEas the !ro(ide a rare !lace "here one can find a relati(el large number of transse#uals Ethe are also li&el to !ro(ide the most biased research !o!ulation)76 GICs are notorious for enforcing !articularl strict o!!ositional and traditional se#ist norms for their trans !atients) Thus< research !o!ulations deri(ed entirel from GICs ha(e alread been selected for those transse#uals "ho are most able or "illing to conform to cisse#ual e#!ectations regarding gender) *urther< because GICs regularl carr out research on transse#uals< sociologists "ho conduct inter(ie"s in association "ith GICs are li&el to be (ie"ed b the transse#ual as !art of the gate&ee!er establishment) As a result< the sociologists "ill li&el recei(e !at and !redictable ans"ers to their inter(ie" 8uestions) 0ecause transse#uals often ha(e to submit themsel(es to the rigorous interrogation of gate&ee!ers< and constantl ha(e to e#!lain and ;ustif their e#istence to a reluctant cisse#ual !ublic< man are "ear and sus!icious of an cisse#ualE"hether gate&ee!er or academicE"ho "ishes to turn trans !eo!le into research sub;ects) This reluctance is e(ident in the (ast difference bet"een the conclusions of su!erficial sociological inter(ie"s and those "here the inter(ie"ers "or&ed to gain the transse#ual.s trust< such as in the "or& of Anne 0olin and Ji(iane G) =amaste) 0olin.s stud is !articularl telling because she starts out "ith a small and biased sam!le !o!ulation similar to that "hich man sociologists rel on' The bul& of her data came from t"el(e members of the same transgender su!!ort grou!< all of "hom "ere in the earl stages of transitioning)77 2o"e(er< because she got to &no" these trans "omen o(er se(eral ears and e(entuall gained their trust< she got to see a (er different !ers!ecti(e of the trans female e#!erience' +Contrar to the stereot !e of transse#uals as h !erfeminine< re(eling in traditional notions of "omanhood to a greater e#tent than genetic "omen< the transse#uals in this !o!ulation "ere not admirers of stereot !ical "omanhood) The "ere &eenl a"are of the feminist mo(ement< "anted careers as "ell as someone to share their li(es "ith< and re!resented st les of dressing as di(erse as the female !o!ulation emulated)-79 If more academics "ould actuall get to &no" transse#uals as !eo!le Brather than as mere research sub;ectsC< the "ould find that the assum!tion that "e transition in order to +fit in- to the gender binar has (irtuall no rele(ance in most transse#uals. li(es) *or man of us< the decision to transition comes after ears of successfull +!assing- as +normal- members of our assigned se#Efor us< transitioning entails the com!lete antithesis of tr ing to fit in) Those of us "ho are attracted to members of our identified se# transition des!ite the fact that "e "ill no longer be considered heterose#ual) The (ariation in our gender e#!ression ensures that some of us "ill be considered some"hat masculine "omen or feminine men after our transitions) And all transse#uals run the ris& of being unable to !h sicall +!ass- Bin the short term or the long termC in our identified se# u!on transitioning) Perha!s the most condescending as!ect of the +transse#ual-as-assimilationist- argument is that it !resumes that transse#uals are acce!ted b societ more than cisse#uals "ho are 8ueer in other "a s Bi)e)< because of their gender e#!ression or se#ual orientationC) This is most certainl not the case)7> As someone "ho has s!ent a chun& of her life as a relati(el +out- male crossdresser< and later as an androg nous bigendered bo < I ha(e found that !eo!le< on a(erage< "ere e#traordinaril more tolerant ofEand comfortable "ithEm gender status bac& then than the are no" "hen I tell them I.m a transse#ual) And if ou as& other transse#ualsEe(en those "ho "ere out and !roud 8ueers !rior to transitionE"h the didn.t choose to transition earlier in their li(es< most "ill tell ou that the feared the social ramifications that come "ith transitioning' being diso"ned b famil and communit < losing a ;ob< being considered undesirable in the e es of others< ha(ing one.s identified gender constantl 8uestioned b others) =ot onl is se# reassignment ;ust about the most stigmati,ed medical !rocedure that e#ists in our societ < but transse#uals themsel(es are rarel acce!ted culturall and legall as

legitimate men or "omen) It is safe to sa that lesbians and ga men are far more acce!ted and res!ected b the straight mainstream than transse#uals are) Thus< the idea that a trans !erson "ould transition in order to +conform to heterose#ist gender norms- is nothing more than an illogical and disres!ectful farce) It seems to me that the entire debate in academia o(er "hether transse#uals are radical or conser(ati(e "ith regards to gender is founded on cisse#ual !ri(ilege) 0ecause these scholars ha(e not had to li(e "ith the realit of gender dissonance< the are afforded the lu#ur of intellectuali,ing a"a subconscious se#< thus allo"ing them to !ro;ect their o"n interests or biases onto trans !eo!le) =ot sur!risingl < the researchers. academic bac&grounds seem to be the !rimar determinant as to "hat e#!lanations for transse#ualit the "ill !osit) 0eing that 2arr 0en;amin B"ho "as trained as an endocrinologistC belie(ed that transse#ualit "as caused b fetal hormone le(els< and Richard Green< Robert %toller< and Hohn Mone Ball trained in !s cholog C loo&ed to relationshi!s "ith !arents and/or e(ents that occurred during one.s formati(e ears as its !rimar cause< it is not sur!rising that social scientists generall argue that transse#ualit is the result of societal gender norms< lesbian and ga scholars claim it is the result of heterose#ism< feminists blame it on !atriarch < and !oststructuralists sim!l deconstruct it into none#istence)

Mo(ing 0e ond Cisse#ist Models of Transse#ualit

The last fift ears of se#ological and sociological discourses regarding transse#ualit ha(e been nothing more than a charade< "here the o!inions of those "ho ha(e academic and clinical credentials al"a s trum! those of transse#uals themsel(esF "here trans !eo!le are treated as nothing more than blan& slates for cisse#ual gender researchers to inscribe their !et theories u!on) And "hile researchers in the humanities often frame their "or& as being in o!!osition to that of the gate&ee!ers< it seems to me that the similarities bet"een both grou!s far out"eigh the differences) 0oth clinicians and academics are obsessed "ith meticulousl documenting and subcategori,ing the transgender !o!ulationF both dis!la the effemimanic com!ulsion of focusing !rimaril on MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!leF and both (ie" transse#uals as anomalies that re8uire e#!lanation and ;ustification rather than (ie"ing us as a !art of human di(ersit that ;ust sim!l e#ists) The needs< desires< and !ers!ecti(es of transse#uals ha(e become lost in a shameful tug-of-"ar bet"een those "ho "ish to sho" that stereot !ical gender differences arise naturall from biological !redis!osition and those "ho "ish to demonstrate that those same gender differences are entirel sociall constructed) As a transse#ual< m li(ed e#!eriences are at odds "ith both strict gender essentialist and social constructionist accounts of gender) And "hile the idea that gender is a combination of man thingsEsome biological and others sociologicalEdoes not ma&e for a catch sound bite or a se# +hoo&- for one.s boo& or thesis< it a!!ears to me to be indis!utable) And ma be once most se#ologists and sociologists finall come to acce!t this fact< the "ill sto! e#!loiting and dissecting the li(es of transgender !eo!le and others "ho ha(e e#ce!tional gender inclinations and se# characteristics)

If there is an thing to be learned from se#ological and sociological accounts of transse#ualit < it is that cisse#ismEi)e)< the tendenc to hold transse#ual genders to a different standard than cisse#ual onesE runs ram!ant not onl among the general !ublic< but also throughout the medical and !s chiatric establishments and in the i(or to"ers of academia) If sociologists trul "anted to better understand transse#ualit < rather than focus e#clusi(el on the beha(iors and etiolog of transse#uals< the "ould stud the irrational animosit < fear< and disres!ect that man cisse#uals e#!ress to"ard trans !eo!le Band others "ith e#ce!tional gender and se#ual traitsC) If se#ologists "ere trul interested in transse#uals. mental and !h sical "ell-being< the "ould not tr to micromanage our transitions< but rather focus their energies on correcting the huge dis!arit that e#ists bet"een cisse#ual and transse#ual access to gender-related healthcare) It is the gate&ee!ers. failure to ade8uatel ad(ocate on behalf of their trans !atients that has allo"ed :)%) insurance com!anies B"hich regularl co(er cisse#ual hormone re!lacement thera! < genital and breast reconstruction< and !rocedures to enhance or enable cisse#ual fertilit and se#ualit C to get a"a "ith den ing co(erage for similar treatments for transse#uals) And the !o!ular stereot !e that transse#uals are +cra, -Ethat our identified genders are merel the !roduct of o(eracti(e imaginations and are not to be ta&en seriousl Eis also the result of the same medicall and !s chiatricall sanctioned double standard' "hile cisse#uals are free to choose from hundreds of different t !es of surgical bod modifications "ithout being !athologi,ed or re8uiring an one else.s !ermission< !rocedures re8uired for transse#uals to lead full and health li(es are singled out for gate&ee!er a!!ro(al and an accom!an ing diagnosis of gender identit disorder) Des!ite the recent ci(il rights !rogress that has accom!anied the rise of transgender acti(ism in the 1>>?s< the gate&ee!er model of transse#ualit still dominates in the :nited %tates) While 20IGDA has slightl liberali,ed its %tandards of Care in recent ears< it still re8uires transse#uals to gain !s chiatric a!!ro(al in order to gain access to hormones< obtain surger < and change their legal se#) This s stem is inherentl cisse#ist< as it re8uires trans !eo!le to accommodate and a!!ease the gender !resum!tions of indi(idual thera!ists B"ho !otentiall harbor traditional se#ist< o!!ositional se#ist< and/or cisse#ist biasesC in order to ha(e our identified genders recogni,ed) It.s time "e re!lace the e#isting gate&ee!er model "ith one that.s centered on the needs of trans !eo!le themsel(es) This begins "ith the !ublic ac&no"ledgment that all !eo!le ha(e the right to self-identif Be(en if that identit falls outside of the male/ female binar C< and that one.s self-identified gender is necessaril more legitimate than the one that is rather nai(el assigned to them b others) *urther< the !rocess of sociall and legall changing one.s se# should be entirel uncou!led from medicine and !s chiatr ' =o s!ecific medical !rocedure should be re8uired for one to ha(e one.s identified se# recogni,ed< nor should an medical or !s chiatric !rofessional ha(e the authorit to !re(ent someone from li(ing in their identified se#) Those trans !eo!le "ho feel that the need to hormonall or !h sicall transition in order to ease their gender dissonance should be allo"ed that o!tion if the "ish Bin the same "a that cisse#uals ultimatel choose for themsel(es "hether or not to undergo hormone re!lacement thera! < genital or breast reconstruction< fertilit and se#ualit -related !rocedures< etc)C) The idea that trans !eo!le should decide for themsel(es "hether or not to !h sicall transitionE"hat some ha(e disdainfull referred to as +se# change on demand-Ehas been o!!osed b the gate&ee!er establishment from the beginning) The most common argument is that the s stem as it stands acts as a safeguard to !re(ent !eo!le "ho are not transse#ual Be)g)< cisse#uals "ho are merel embarrassed or confused about their at !ical se#ualit or "ho e#hibit +delusional- or +antisocial- beha(iorC from undergoing !otentiall irre(ersible medical !rocedures)9? 4nce again< such !ractices re(eal the cisse#ist biases of the gate&ee!ers' Trans !eo!le are denied immediate treatment of their gender dissonance in order to !rotect the "ell-being of a rather small minorit of cisse#uals) 4ne can onl imagine ho" furious and frustrated most cisse#uals "ould feel if the had to undergo !s chothera! for three to si# months Bso that a !s chiatrist could rule out the !ossibilit that the "ere transse#ualC

before obtaining !ermission to undergo hormone re!lacement thera! or gender-related surgeries the re8uired) The gate&ee!ers. fear of +se# change on demand- rings !articularl hollo" in a "orld "here most trans !eo!le cannot e(en afford to ta&e the medicall and !s chiatricall sanctioned route to transition) Ps chothera! is !rohibiti(el e#!ensi(e for those "ho do not ha(e ade8uate insuranceF man trans !eo!le rel on underground mar&ets and o(erseas !harmacies to obtain affordable hormones "ithout a !rescri!tion) Man undergo se# reassignment surgeries in countries li&e Thailand< "here it is much less e#!ensi(e and "here there are fe"er restrictions than in the :nited %tates) Clearl < gate&ee!er micromanagement of transitioning has onl ser(ed to force a significant !ercentage of trans !eo!le B"ho either cannot afford to follo" the 20IGDA standards of care or fail to con(ince their thera!ists that the are +true- transse#ualsC out of the s stem) Those gate&ee!ers "ho belie(e that the alone should ha(e the authorit to determine "ho should and should not be allo"ed to transition ignore the ob(ious fact that gender dissonance has al"a s been a +self-diagnosed- condition' There are no (isible signs or tests for itF onl the trans !erson can feel and describe it) 4nce "e ma&e the arduous decision to transitionEletting go of other !eo!le.s !erce!tions of us in fa(or of being true to oursel(esEthere is reall nothing an one can do to sto! us) *or these reasons< medical and mental health !rofessionals should turn their attention a"a from regulating se# reassignment and to"ard facilitating the safe access to the means of transitioning) Than&full < some ha(e alread begun "or&ing to"ard this goal< designing !rograms that !ro(ide trans !eo!le "ith affordable access to information< hormones< and the a!!ro!riate medical tests to ensure a safe transition)91 4thers in the field of !s chiatr ha(e similarl ad(ocated that mental health !rofessionals mo(e a"a from the gate&ee!er model and to"ard one focused on hel!ing the transse#ual manage the emotional stress and obstacles the are faced "ith "hen transitioning)9$ While all of these changes re!resent a !romising start< true e8ualit for transse#uals and transgender !eo!le "ill remain elusi(e as long as gender (ariance remains !athologi,ed b the American Ps chiatric Association< "hich !ublishes the D%M) 2uman beings sho" a large range of gender and se#ual di(ersit < so there is no legitimate reason for an form of cross-gender beha(ior or identit to be categori,ed as a mental disorder) That said< I also ta&e issue "ith those "ho argue for com!letel demedicali,ing transse#ualit < or "ho ad(ocate remo(ing GID from the D%M "ithout first ensuring that there are !ro(isions in !lace to allo" !eo!le "ho choose to transition affordable access to transse#ual-related medical !rocedures) %ome ha(e suggested creating a medical diagnosis for transse#ualit to re!lace the current !s chiatric diagnosis of GIDF this ma&es sense< being that most transse#uals feel that our !roblem lies not "ith our minds< but "ith our bodies) 9/ 4nce these medical !ro(isions are in !lace< the im!ortance of !s chiatricall de!athologi,ing transgenderism cannot be underestimated) After all< it is the !o!ular misconce!tion that gender (ariance constitutes a mental illnessEthat transse#ual and transgender !eo!le are the ones "ho ha(e the !roblemEthat enables cisse#ual and cisgender !re;udice against us)

Dismantling Cisse#ual Pri(ilege

:=TI@ =4W< DI%C4:R%5% 4= transse#ualit ha(e in(ariabl relied on language and conce!ts in(ented b clinicians< researchers< and academics "ho ha(e made transse#uals the ob;ects of their in8uir ) In such a frame"or&< transse#ual bodies< identities< !ers!ecti(es< and e#!eriences are continuousl re8uired to be e#!lained and ine(itabl remain o!en to inter!retation) Corres!onding cisse#ual attributes are sim!l ta&en for grantedEthe are assumed to be +natural- and +normal- and therefore esca!e reci!rocal criti8ue) This !laces transse#uals at a constant disad(antage< since "e ha(e generall been forced to rel on limiting cisse#ual-centric terminolog to ma&e sense of our o"n li(es) In recent ears< the rise of transgender acti(ism has !ro(ided a ne" !aradigm for understanding the e#!eriences of the gender-(ariant !o!ulation Bof "hich transse#uals are a subsetC) According to this model< gender-(ariant !eo!le are o!!ressed b a s stem that forces e(er one to identif and be easil recogni,able as either a "oman or a man) This !ers!ecti(e has led transgender acti(ists to !rimaril focus their attention on o!!osing binar gender normsE !articularl those that !lace limitations on one.s gender e#!ression and a!!earanceEand to celebrate and create cultural s!ace for those "ho def < transcend< or fail to identif "ithin the male/female binar ) While transgender acti(ism has undoubtedl benefited the transse#ual communit in man "a s< it has also made in(isible man of our distinct issues and e#!eriences) To a large e#tent< this is because transgender rhetoric fa(ors the !ers!ecti(es of those "ho identif outside the male/female binar B"hereas most transse#uals t !icall identif "ithin itC and those "hose gender e#!ression and a!!earance does not conform to the binar B"hereas transse#uals t !icall cite the discre!anc bet"een their subconscious se# and !h sical se# as the ma;or obstacle in their li(esC) While I belie(e that creating s!ace for !eo!le "ho e#ist outside of the male/female binar remains a cause "orth fighting for< those of us "ho are transse#ual must begin to simultaneousl de(elo! our o"n language and conce!ts that accuratel articulate our uni8ue e#!eriences and !ers!ecti(es and to fill in the man ga!s that e#ist in both gate&ee!er and transgender acti(ist language) I contend that this "or& should begin "ith a thorough criti8ue of cisse#ual !ri(ilege Ethat is< the double standard that !romotes the idea that transse#ual genders are distinct from< and less legitimate than< cisse#ual genders) 0efore describing ho" cisse#ual !ri(ilege is !racticed and ;ustified< "e must address t"o underac&no"ledged et crucial as!ects of social gender that enable cisse#ual !ri(ilege to !roliferate< et remain in(isible' gendering and cisse#ual assum!tion)

Gendering

Most of us "ant to belie(e that the act of distinguishing bet"een "omen and men is a !assi(e tas&< that all !eo!le naturall fall into one of t"o mutuall e#clusi(e categoriesEmale and femaleEand that "e obser(e these natural states in an unobtrusi(e< ob;ecti(e manner) 2o"e(er< this is not the case)

Distinguishing bet"een "omen and men is an acti(e !rocess< and "e do it com!ulsi(el ) If ou ha(e an doubt about this< sim!l obser(e ho" 8uic&l ou determine other !eo!le.s genders' It ha!!ens instantaneousl ) =ot onl that< but "e tend to ma&e the call one "a or another no matter ho" far a"a a !erson is or ho" little e(idence "e ha(e to go b ) While "e ma li&e to thin& of oursel(es as being !assi(e obser(ers< in realit "e are constantl and acti(el !ro;ecting our ideas and assum!tions about maleness and femaleness onto e(er !erson "e meet) And all of us do it< "hether "e are cisse#ual or transse#ual< straight as an arro"< or as 8ueer as a three-dollar bill) I call this !rocess of distinguishing bet"een females and males gendering< to highlight the fact that "e acti(el and com!ulsi(el assign genders to all !eo!le based on usuall ;ust a fe" (isual and audio cues) Recogni,ing the ubi8uitous nature of this !henomenon calls into 8uestion most definitions of +gender- itself) We can argue all "e "ant about "hat defines a "oman or a manE"hether it.s genes< chromosomes< brain structure< genitals< sociali,ation< or the legal se# on a birth certificate or dri(er.s licenseEbut the truth is< these factors t !icall !la no role "hatsoe(er in ho" "e gender !eo!le in e(er da circumstances) T !icall < "e rel !rimaril on secondar se# characteristics Bbod sha!e and si,e< s&in com!le#ion< facial and bod hair< (oice< breasts< etc)C< and to a lesser e#tent< gender e#!ression and gender roles Bthe !erson.s dress< mannerisms< etc)C) I "ill refer to the gender "e are assigned b other !eo!le as our !ercei(ed se# Bor !ercei(ed genderC) A ma;or reason the act of gendering remains in(isible to most !eo!le is that< in the (ast ma;orit of cases< our assessment of a !erson.s gender tends to be in agreement "ith that !erson.s gender identit and the gender assignments made b other !eo!le) BIf the genders "e assigned to indi(iduals regularl differed from the assignments made b other !eo!le< the guess"or& inherent in gendering "ould become far more ob(ious to us)C 2o"e(er< as a transse#ual< I ha(e been in numerous situations B!articularl during m transitionC "here t"o or more !eo!le simultaneousl came to different conclusions regarding m !ercei(ed genderEthat is< one !erson assumed that I "as female< "hile another assumed that I "as male) %uch instances demonstrate the s!eculati(e nature of gendering) I ha(e also found that !eo!le.s e#!eriences and !reconce!tions around gender dramaticall affect the "a the gender other !eo!le) *or e#am!le< bac& "hen I identified as a male crossdresser< I found that I could +!ass- as a "oman rather easil in suburban areas< but in cities B"here !eo!le "ere !resumabl more a"are of the e#istence of gender-(ariant !eo!leC I "ould often be +read- as a crossdressed male) Most cisse#uals remain obli(ious to the sub;ecti(e nature of gendering< !rimaril because the themsel(es ha(e not regularl had the e#!erience of being misgenderedEi)e)< mista&enl assigned a gender that does not match one.s identified gender) :nfortunatel < this lac& of e#!erience usuall leads cisse#uals to mista&enl belie(e that the !rocess of gendering is a matter of !ure obser(ation< rather than the act of s!eculation it is)

Cisse#ual Assum!tion

The second !rocess that enables cisse#ual !ri(ilege is cisse#ual assum!tion) This occurs "hen a cisse#ual ma&es the common< albeit mista&en< assum!tion that the "a the e#!erience their !h sical and subconscious se#es Bi)e)< the fact that the do not feel uncomfortable "ith the se# the "ere born

into< nor do the thin& of themsel(es as or "ish the could become the other se#C a!!lies to e(er one else in the "orld) In other "ords< the cisse#ual indiscriminatel !ro;ects their cisse#ualit onto all other !eo!le< thus transforming cisse#ualit into a human attribute that is ta&en for granted) There is an ob(ious analog to heterose#ual assum!tion here' Most cisse#uals assume that e(er one the meet is also cisse#ual< ;ust as most heterose#uals assume that e(er one the meet is also heterose#ual Bunless< of course< the are !ro(ided "ith e(idence to the contrar C) While cisse#ual assum!tion remains in(isible to most cisse#uals< those of us "ho are transse#ual are e#cruciatingl a"are of it) Prior to our transitions< "e find that the cisse#ual ma;orit sim!l assumes that "e full identif as members of our assigned se#< thus ma&ing it difficult for us to manage our gender difference and to be o!en about the "a "e see oursel(es) And after our transitions< man of us find that the cisse#ual ma;orit sim!l assumes that "e ha(e al"a s been members of our identified se#< thus ma&ing it im!ossible for us to be o!en about our trans status "ithout constantl ha(ing to come out to others) Thus< "hile most cisse#uals are una"are that cisse#ual assum!tion e(en e#ists< those of us "ho are transse#ual recogni,e it as an acti(e !rocess that erases trans !eo!le and their e#!eriences)

Cisse#ual Gender 5ntitlement

*or most cisse#uals< the fact that the feel comfortable inhabiting their o"n !h sical se#< and that other !eo!le confirm this sense of naturalness b a!!ro!riatel gendering them< allo"s them to de(elo! a sense of entitlement regarding their o"n gender' The feel entitled to call themsel(es a "oman or a man) This is not necessaril a bad thing) 2o"e(er< because man of these same cisse#uals also assume that the are infallible in their abilit to assign genders to other !eo!le< the can de(elo! an o(eracti(e sense of cisse#ual gender entitlement) This goes be ond a sense of self-o"nershi! regarding their o"n gender< and broaches territor in "hich the consider themsel(es to be the ultimate arbiters of "hich !eo!le are allo"ed to call themsel(es "omen or men) 4nce again< most cisse#uals are una"are of their gender entitlement< because B1C the !rocesses that enable it Bi)e)< gendering and cisse#ual assum!tionC are in(isible to them< and B$C so long as the are cisse#ual and relati(el gender-normati(e< the ha(e li&el not been incon(enienced b the gender entitlement of others) 0ecause gender-entitled cisse#uals assume that the ha(e the abilit and authorit to accuratel determine "ho is a "oman and "ho is a man< the in effect grant a !ri(ilegeEcisse#ual !ri(ilegeEto those !eo!le "hom the a!!ro!riatel gender) To illustrate this !oint< imagine that I.m a!!roached b someone "ho a!!ears male to me Bi)e)< I gender them maleC) If the "ere to introduce themsel(es as +Mr) Hones<- I "ould !robabl e#tend them cisse#ual !ri(ilegeEthat is< I "ould res!ect their male identit and e#tend to them all of the !ri(ileges associated "ith their identified se#) I might call them +sir<- grant them !ermission into a male-onl s!ace< find it a!!ro!riate "hen the tell me the .re married to a "oman< etc) 2o"e(er< if I "ere gender-entitled< there might be some instances in "hich I.d refuse to e#tend them the !ri(ileges associated "ith their identified se#) *or instance< if the !erson introduced themsel(es as +Ms) Hones<but I chose to (ie" the gender I.d initiall !ercei(ed them as Bi)e)< maleC to be more authentic or legitimate than their female identit < then I "ould be den ing them cisse#ual !ri(ilege) %imilarl < if I "ere to learn that +Mr) Hones- "as transse#ual and had been born female< and if that &no"ledge led me

to re-gender him as female rather than male< I "ould again be den ing him Bin this caseC cisse#ual !ri(ilege) An e#cellent e#am!le of ho" gender entitlement !roduces cisse#ual !ri(ilege< and ho" that !ri(ilege can be used to undermine transse#ual genders< can be found in the follo"ing Germaine Greer 8uote'=o one e(er as&ed "omen if the recogni,ed se#-change males as belonging to their se# or considered "hether being obliged to acce!t MT* transse#uals as "omen "as at all damaging to their identit or self-esteem)1

The immediate sense that one gets after reading this 8uote Bbesides nauseaC is Greer.s se(ere sense of gender entitlement) Des!ite the fact that she &no"s that transse#ual "omen identif as female< Greer refers to us instead as +se#-change males<- demonstrating that she feels entitled to gender us in "hate(er "a she feels is a!!ro!riate) %imilarl < because of her cisse#ual assum!tion Bi)e)< her belief that cisse#ualit is +natural- and goes "ithout sa ingC< she doesn.t bother defining e#actl "hat she means "hen she uses the "ord +"omen-F in her mind< it.s a gi(en that she is referring onl to cisse#ual "omen) Greer grants these "omen cisse#ual !ri(ilege "hen she suggests that the Balong "ith herC are e8uall entitled to be consulted about "hether transse#ual "omen should belong to their se# or not) It is !articularl telling that Greer uses the "ord +as&ed- in this conte#t) After all< nobod in our societ e(er as&s for !ermission to belong to one gender or anotherF rather< "e ;ust are "ho "e are and other !eo!le ma&e assum!tions about our gender accordingl ) Thus< "hen Greer uses the "ords +as&ed- and +obliged<- she is not tal&ing about "hether trans "omen should be allo"ed to be female< but "hether or not our femaleness should be res!ected and legitimi,ed to the same e#tent as cisse#ual "omen.s femaleness) 0 a!!l ing different standards of legitimac to !eo!le.s identified and li(ed genders based on "hether the are cisse#ual or transse#ual< Greer is !roducing and e#ercising cisse#ual !ri(ilege)

The M th of Cisse#ual 0irth Pri(ilege

%ince cisse#uals are generall una"are that their gender entitlement arises from the acts of gendering and cisse#ual assum!tion< the often find themsel(es ha(ing to ;ustif their belief that their gender is more legitimate or +real- than that of a transse#ual) The most common m th used to ;ustif this cisse#ual !ri(ilege is the idea that cisse#uals inherit the right to call themsel(es female or male b (irtue of being born into that !articular se#) In other "ords< cisse#uals (ie" their gender entitlement as a birthright) This is often a deceitful act< as man Bif not mostC cisse#uals in our societ tend to loo& dis!aragingl u!on societies and cultures that still rel on class or caste s stemsE"here one.s occu!ation< social status< economic dis!osition< !olitical !o"er< etc)< is !redetermined based on an accident of birth) %o "hile most Western cisse#uals fro"n u!on birth !ri(ilege as a means to determine these other forms of social class< the h !ocriticall embrace it "hen it comes to gender)

4nce a cisse#ual assumes that their gender entitlement is a birth !ri(ilege< then it becomes eas for them to dismiss the legitimac of transse#uals. identified and li(ed se#) After all< in their e es< transse#uals are acti(el tr ing to claim for themsel(es a gender that the are not entitled to Bha(ing not been born into itC) 2o"e(er< as a transse#ual< I find se(eral ob(ious fla"s "ith this +birth !ri(ilegeargument) *irst of all< the se# "e are assigned at birth !la s almost no role "hatsoe(er in da -to-da human interactions) =one of us need to carr our birth certificate around "ith us to !ro(e "hat se# "e "ere born into) And since I ha(e been li(ing as a "oman< I ha(e ne(er had a single !erson as& me "hether I "as born a girl) Indeed< cisse#ual assum!tion essentiall renders m birth se# irrele(ant< as others "ill automaticall assume that I "as born female Bbased solel on the fact that the ha(e gendered me femaleC) Gender-entitled cisse#uals ma tr to claim that I am acti(el setting out to +steal- cisse#ual !ri(ilege b transitioning to< and li(ing as< female< but the truth is that I don.t ha(e to) In fact< I ha(e found that cisse#uals dole out cisse#ual !ri(ilege to com!lete and total strangers rather indiscriminatel ) 5(er time I "al& into a store and someone as&s< +2o" can I hel! ou< ma.amO- the are e#tending me cisse#ual !ri(ilege) 5(er time I "al& into a "omen.s restroom and nobod flinches or 8uestions m !resence< the are e#tending me cisse#ual !ri(ilege) 2o"e(er< because I am a transse#ual< the cisse#ual !ri(ilege that I e#!erience is not e8ual to that of a cisse#ual because it can be brought into 8uestion at an time) It is !erha!s best described as conditional cisse#ual !ri(ilege< because it can be ta&en a"a from me Band often isC as soon as I mention< or someone disco(ers< that I am transse#ual) Cisse#uals ma "ant to belie(e that their genders are more authentic than mine< but that belief is dishonest and ignorant) The truth is< cisse#ual "omen feel entitled to call themsel(es "omen because B1C the identif that "a < B$C the li(e their li(es as "omen< and B/C other !eo!le relate to them as "omen) All of these mar&ers a!!l to m transse#ual "omanhood) In the realm of social interactions< the onl difference bet"een m transse#ual gender and their cisse#ual genders is that m femaleness is generall mischaracteri,ed as second-rate< as illegitimate< as an imitation of theirs) And the ma;or difference bet"een m life histor as a "oman and theirs is that I ha(e had to fight for m right to be recogni,ed as female< "hile the ha(e had the !ri(ilege of sim!l ta&ing it for granted)

Trans-*acsimilation and :ngendering

0ecause cisse#uals ha(e a (ested interest in !reser(ing their o"n sense of cisse#ual gender entitlement and !ri(ilege< the often engage in a constant and concerted effort to artificiali,e transse#ual genders) A common strateg used to accom!lish this goal is transfacsimilation E(ie"ing or !ortra ing transse#ual genders as facsimiles of cisse#ual genders) This strateg not onl mischaracteri,es transse#ual genders as +fa&e<- but insinuates that cisse#ual genders are the !rimar < +real- (ersion that the transse#ual merel co!ies) The tactic of trans-facsimilation is e(ident in the regularit "ith "hich cisse#uals use "ords such as +emulate<- +imitate<- +mimic<- and +im!ersonate- "hen describing transse#ual gender identities and

e#!ression) It can also be seen in the "a cisse#ual media !roducers tend to de!ict real or fictional transse#ual characters in the act of affecting or !racticing gender roles associated "ith their identified se#) These de!ictions of transse#ualit as mere affectation undermine the (er real gender inclinations and e#!eriences that lead transse#uals to li(e as members of their identified se# in the first !lace) *urther< the ignore the "a s in "hich all !eo!leE"hether transse#ual or cisse#ualEobser(e and imitate others "ith regard to gender) *or cisse#uals< such imitation mostl occurs during childhood and adolescence< "hen the ma emulate certain gendered beha(iors e#hibited b a !arent or an older sibling of the same se#) *or transse#uals< this !rocess often occurs later in life< at the !eriod ;ust before or during one.s transition) In both cases< imitation is !rimaril a form of gender e#!erimentation< "ith beha(iors that the !erson feels comfortable "ith being retained o(er time< "hile those traits that feel a"&"ard or incongruous "ith their sense of self e(entuall falling b the "a side) 4nce "e recogni,e this< then it becomes a!!arent that trans-facsimilation is a blatant double standard that ensures that acts of cisse#ual gender imitation "ill t !icall be o(erloo&ed Bthus naturali,ing their gendersC< "hile acts of transse#ual gender imitation "ill be o(erem!hasi,ed Bthus artificiali,ing our gendersC) Another "a in "hich transse#ual genders are often dismissed as +fa&es- is b a!!l ing different standards of gendering to transse#uals and cisse#uals) This !ractice is "ell-illustrated b the follo"ing !assage from Patric& Califia.s boo& %e# Changes' Recentl < I had a (er educational e#!erience) I found out that one of m long-term "omen ac8uaintances is transgendered) ))) Gi(en ho" much "or& I.(e done to educate m self about transse#ualit < I didn.t thin& it "ould ma&e that much of a difference) 0ut I found m self loo&ing at her in a "hole different "a ) %uddenl her hands loo&ed too big< there "as something odd about her nose< and didn.t she ha(e an Adam.s a!!leO Wasn.t her (oice &ind of dee! for a "omanO And "asn.t she a"full boss < ;ust li&e a manO And m God< she had a lot of hair on her forearm)$

Califia goes on to sa that this incident made him a"are of the double standard that e#ists in the "a transse#uals are often (ie"ed) *or e#am!le< "hen "e !resume a !erson to be cisse#ual< "e generall acce!t their o(erall !ercei(ed gender as natural and authentic< "hile disregarding an minor discre!ancies in their gender a!!earance) 2o"e(er< u!on disco(ering or sus!ecting that a !erson is transse#ual< "e often acti(el Band rather com!ulsi(el C search for e(idence of their assigned se# in their !ersonalit < e#!ressions< and !h sical bodies) I ha(e e#!erienced this firsthand during the countless occasions "hen I ha(e come out to !eo!le as transse#ual) :!on learning of m trans status< most !eo!le get this distincti(e +loo&- in their e es< as if the are suddenl seeing me differentl E searching for clues of the bo that I used to be and !ro;ecting different meanings onto m bod ) I call this !rocess ungendering< as it is an attem!t to undo a trans !erson.s gender b !ri(ileging incongruities and discre!ancies in their gendered a!!earance that "ould normall be o(erloo&ed or dismissed if the "ere !resumed to be cisse#ual) The onl !ur!ose that ungendering ser(es is to !ri(ilege cisse#ual genders< "hile delegitimi,ing the genders of transse#uals and other gender-(ariant !eo!le)

Mo(ing 0e ond +0io 0o s- and +Genetic Girls-

The first ste! "e must ta&e to"ard dismantling cisse#ual !ri(ilege is to !urge those "ords and conce!ts from our (ocabularies that foster the idea that cisse#ual genders are inherentl more authentic than those of transse#uals) A good !lace to start is "ith the common tendenc to refer to cisse#uals as +genetic- or +biological- males and females) Des!ite its fre8uent occurrence< the use of the "ord +genetic- seems !articularl strange to me< since "e are unable to readil see other !eo!le.s se# chromosomes) In fact< since so fe" !eo!le e(er ha(e their chromosomes e#amined< one could argue that the (ast ma;orit of !eo!le ha(e a genetic se# that has et to be determined) In the rare cases "here !eo!le do ha(e their chromosomes chec&ed out Bsuch as se# testing at the 4l m!ics or in infertilit clinicsC< a !erson.s genetic se# not matching their assigned se# occurs far more often than most !eo!le "ould e(er fathom)/ The use of the "ord +biological- Band its abbre(iation +bio-C is ;ust as im!ractical as the "ord +genetic)- Whene(er I hear someone refer to cisse#uals as being +biological- "omen and men I usuall inter;ect that< des!ite the fact that I am a transse#ual< I am not inorganic or nonbiological in an "a ) If I !ress !eo!le to further define "hat the mean b +biological<- the .ll often sa that the "ord refers to !eo!le "ho ha(e a full functioning re!roducti(e s stem for their se#) Well< if that.s the case< then "hat about !eo!le "ho are infertile or "ho ha(e their re!roducti(e organs remo(ed as the result of some medical conditionO Are those !eo!le not +biological- men and "omenO Peo!le often insist that +biological- refers to someone.s genitals< but I "ould as& them ho" man !eo!le.s genitals the ha(e e(er seen u! close) TenO T"ent O A hundredO And in the (ast ma;orit of instances "here "e meet somebod "ho is full dressed Band therefore their genitals are hiddenC< ho" do "e &no" "hether to refer to them as +she- or +he-O The truth is< "hen "e see other !eo!le and classif them as either female or male< the onl biological cues "e t !icall ha(e to go on are secondar se# characteristics< "hich are themsel(es the !roducts of se# hormones) That being the case< as someone "ho has had estrogen in her s stem for fi(e ears no"< shouldn.t I be considered a +biological- "omanO When ou brea& it do"n li&e this< it becomes ob(ious that the "ords +biological- and +genetic- are merel stand-ins for the "ord that !eo!le reall "ant to use' +natural)- Most cisse#uals "ant to belie(e that their maleness or femaleness is +natural- in the same "a that most heterose#uals "ant to belie(e that their se#ual orientation is +natural)- In fact< if ou loo& at the entire s!ectrum of social and class issues< ou "ill see a trend of !eo!le tr ing to +naturali,e- their !ri(ileges in some "a E"hether it be "ealth !eo!le "ho tr to ;ustif the huge ga! bet"een rich and !oor b a!!ro!riating Dar"in.s theor of natural selection< or "hite !eo!le "ho ma&e claims that the are smarter or more successful than !eo!le of color because of their biolog or their genes) When it comes to gender< +natural- is the ultimate trum! card because it ta&es the rele(ant issuesE!ri(ilege and !re;udiceEoff the table and frames the (er real and legitimate !ers!ecti(es of se#ual minorities as +unnatural- or +artificial<- and therefore un"orth of an serious consideration) This is "h I !refer the term cisse#ual) It denotes the onl rele(ant difference bet"een that !o!ulation and those of us "ho are transse#ual' Cisse#uals ha(e onl e(er e#!erienced their subconscious and !h sical se#es as being aligned)

Third-Gendering and Third-%e#ing

Cisse#ual !eo!le "ho are in the earliest stages of acce!ting transse#ualit Band "ho ha(e not full come to terms "ith their cisse#ual !ri(ilegeC "ill often come to see trans !eo!le as inhabiting our o"n uni8ue gender categor that is se!arate from +"oman- and +man)- I call this act third-gendering Bor third-se#ingC) While some attem!ts at third-gendering trans !eo!le are clearl meant to be derogator or sensationalistic Bsuch as +she-male- or +heshe-C< other less offensi(e ones occur regularl in discussions about transse#uals Bsuch as +s/he- or +MT*-C) While +MT*- ma be useful as an ad;ecti(e< as it describes the direction of m transition< using it as a nounEi)e)< literall referring to me as a +male-to-female-Ecom!letel negates the fact that I identif and li(e as a "oman) Personall < I belie(e that !o!ular use of +MT*- or +*TM- o(er +trans "oman- or +trans man- B"hich are more res!ectful< easier to sa < and less easil confused "ith one anotherC reflects either a conscious or unconscious desire on the !art of man cisse#uals to distinguish transse#ual "omen and men from their cisse#ual counter!arts) When discussing the act of third-gendering< it is crucial to ma&e a distinction bet"een !eo!le "ho identif themsel(es as belonging to a third gender and those "ho acti(el third-gender other !eo!le) As "ith an gender identit < "hen !eo!le see themsel(es as belonging to a third gender< that is their "a of ma&ing sense of themsel(es and their !lace in the "orld< and it should be res!ected) As someone "ho has identified as bigender and gender8ueer in the !ast< I belie(e that it.s im!ortant for us to recogni,e and res!ect other !eo!le.s gender identities< "hate(er the are) 0ut it.s for this (er same reason that I ob;ect to !eo!le "ho acti(el third-gender !eo!le against their "ill or "ithout their consent) I belie(e that this !ro!ensit for third-gendering others is sim!l a b -!roduct of the assum!ti(e and nonconsensual !rocess of gendering) In other "ords< "e are so com!elled to gender !eo!le as "omen and men that "hen "e come across someone "ho is not easil categori,ed that "a Busuall because of e#ce!tional gender inclinationsC< "e tend to isolate and distinguish them from the other t"o genders) There is a long histor of the terms +third gender- and +third se#- being a!!lied to homose#uals< interse# !eo!le< and transgender !eo!le b those "ho considered themsel(es to ha(e +normal- genders) This strongl suggests that the tendenc to third-gender !eo!le stems from both gender entitlement and o!!ositional se#ism)

Passing-Centrism

Another e#am!le "here language !resu!!oses that transse#ual and cisse#ual genders are of inherentl different "orth is the use of the "ord +!ass)- While the "ord +!ass- ser(es a !ur!ose< in that it describes the (er real !ri(ilege e#!erienced b those transse#uals "ho recei(e conditional cisse#ual !ri(ilege "hen li(ing as their identified se#< it is a highl !roblematic term in that it im!lies that the trans !erson is getting a"a "ith something) :!on close e#amination< it becomes 8uite ob(ious that the

conce!t of +!assing- is stee!ed in cisse#ual !ri(ilege< as it.s onl e(er a!!lied to trans !eo!le) *or instance< if a store cler& "ere to sa < +Than& ou< sir<- to a cisse#ual "oman< nobod "ould sa that she +!assed- as a man or failed to +!ass- as a "omanF instead< "e "ould sa she is a "oman and "as mista&en for a man) *urther< "e ne(er use the "ord +!assing- to describe cisse#ual men "ho lift "eights e(er da in order to achie(e a more masculine a!!earance< or cisse#ual "omen "ho !ut on ma&eu!< s&irts< and heels to achie(e a more feminine a!!earance) Ket< because I.m a transse#ual "oman< if I roll out of bed< thro" on a T-shirt and ;eans< and "al& do"n the street and am generall recogni,ed b others as female Bdes!ite m lac& of concern for m a!!earanceC< I can still be dismissed as +!assing- as a "oman) The cru# of the !roblem is that the "ords +!ass- and +!assing- are acti(e (erbs) %o "hen "e sa that a transse#ual is +!assing<- it gi(es the false im!ression that the are the onl acti(e !artici!ant in this scenario Bi)e)< the transse#ual is "or&ing hard to achie(e a certain gendered a!!earance and e(er one else is !assi(el being du!ed or not du!ed b the transse#ual.s +!erformance-C) 2o"e(er< I "ould argue that the re(erse is true' The !ublic is the !rimar acti(e !artici!ant b (irtue of their incessant need to gender e(er !erson the see as either female or male) The transse#ual can react to this situation in one of t"o "a s' The can either tr to li(e u! to !ublic e#!ectations about maleness and femaleness in an attem!t to fit in and a(oid stigmati,ation< or the can disregard !ublic e#!ectations and sim!l be themsel(es) 2o"e(er< if the choose the latter< the !ublic "ill still ;udge them based on "hether the a!!ear female or male and< of course< others ma still accuse them of +!assing<- e(en though the ha(e not acti(el done an thing) Thus< the acti(e role !la ed b those "ho com!ulsi(el distinguish bet"een "omen and men Band "ho discriminate bet"een transse#uals and cisse#ualsC is made in(isible b the conce!t of +!assing)It should be mentioned that this (ie" of +!assing- is further su!!orted b the use of the "ord "ith regards to other social class issues) *or instance< a ga man can +!ass- for straight< or a fairs&inned !erson of color can +!ass- for "hite) %ometimes !eo!le "or& hard to +!ass<- and other times the don.t tr at all) 5ither "a < the one thing that remains consistent is that the "ord +!ass- is used to shift the blame a"a from the ma;orit grou!.s !re;udice and to"ard the minorit !erson.s !resumed moti(es and actions B"hich e#!lains "h !eo!le "ho +!ass- are often accused of +dece!tion- or +infiltration- if the are e(er found outC) It has been m e#!erience that most cisse#uals are absolutel obsessed about "hether transse#uals +!ass- or not) *rom clinical and academic accounts to TJ< mo(ies< and maga,ine articles< cisse#uals s!end an e#orbitant amount of energ indulging their fascination regarding "hat transse#uals +do-E the medical !rocedures< ho" "e modif our beha(iors< etc)Ein order to +!ass- as our identified se#) This !assing-centrism allo"s cisse#uals to ignore their o"n cisse#ual !ri(ilege< and also ser(es to !ri(ilege the transse#ual.s assigned se# o(er their identified and li(ed se#< thereb reinforcing the idea that transse#ual genders are illegitimate) Ironicall < it has been common for cisse#uals to claim that transse#uals are the ones obsessed "ith +!assing)- %uch accusations dismiss the countless transse#uals "ho are not concerned "ith ho" the are !ercei(ed b others and also ma&e in(isible the fact that both !arties ha(e dis!arate (ested interests "hen it comes to transse#ual +!assing)- %!ecificall < "hile cisse#uals ha(e no legitimate reason to be concerned o(er "hether an gi(en transse#ual +!asses- Bother than as a means to e#ercise cisse#ual !ri(ilege o(er themC< transse#uals understand that being ta&en seriousl in our identified se# has e#traordinar ramifications on our 8ualit of life) @i(ing in this e#traordinaril cisse#ist Band o!!ositionall se#istC "orld< transse#uals recogni,e cisse#ual !ri(ilege for "hat it is' a !ri(ilege) 0eing acce!ted as members of our identified se# ma&es it infinitel easier for us to gain em!lo ment and

housing< to be ta&en seriousl in our !ersonal< social< and !olitical endea(ors< and to be able to "al& do"n the street "ithout being harassed or assaulted) Cisse#uals Bnot transse#ualsC are the ones "ho create< foster< and enforce +!assing- b their tendenc to treat transse#uals in dramaticall different "a s based solel on the su!erficial criteria of our a!!earance) If a transse#ual does not +!ass<- cisse#uals often use it as an e#cuse to den that !erson the common decenc of ha(ing their self-identified gender ac&no"ledged or res!ected) %ometimes cisse#uals e(en use these situations as if the "ere an in(itation to o!enl humiliate or abuse transse#uals) And those of us "ho do +!ass- are undoubtedl treated better b cisse#uals< although not necessaril "ith res!ect) As a transse#ual "ho +!asses<- I find it 8uite common for cisse#uals< u!on disco(ering m trans status< to !raise me using the same condescending tone of (oice that !eo!le use "hen !raising ga !eo!le "ho don.t +flaunt- their homose#ualit Bi)e)< "ho act straightC< or racial minorities "ho use +!ro!er 5nglish- Bi)e)< "ho act "hiteC) In other "ords< these are bac&handed com!liments designed to reinforce cisse#ual su!eriorit ) The most common of these comments< +Kou loo& ;ust li&e a real "oman<- "ould clearl be ta&en as an insult if it "ere said to a cisse#ual "oman) Another common comment is< +I ne(er "ould ha(e guessed that ou.re a transse#ual<- "hich essentiall !raises me for loo&ing cisse#ual-li&e< once again insinuating that cisse#uals are inherentl better than transse#uals) 0ecause the term +!assing- creates a double standard bet"een cisse#ual and transse#ual genders and enables cisse#ual gender entitlement< "e should instead ado!t language that rightfull recogni,es this !henomenon as a b -!roduct of gendering and cisse#ual assum!tion) Therefore< I suggest using the term misgendered "hen a cisse#ual or transse#ual !erson is assigned a gender that does not match the gender the consider themsel(es to be< and the term a!!ro!riatel gendered "hen others assign them a gender that matches the "a the self-identif ) And< as mentioned !re(iousl < the term conditional cisse#ual !ri(ilege ought to be ado!ted to describe "hat has historicall been referred to as +!assing!ri(ilege)

Ta&ing 4ne.s Gender for Granted

An additional !roblem "ith the "ord +!ass- is that it is t !icall onl used in reference to a transse#ual.s identified se# rather than their assigned se#) This gi(es the im!ression that transse#uals onl begin managing other !eo!le.s !erce!tions after "e transition) Consider that !eo!le "ill tal& about the fact that I no" +!ass- as a "oman< but nobod e(er as&s about ho" difficult it must ha(e been for me to +!ass- as a man before) Personall < I found it infinitel more difficult and stressful to manage m !ercei(ed gender bac& "hen !eo!le !resumed I "as male than I do no" as female) 2o"e(er< once "e start thin&ing in terms of "hether a transse#ual is being misgendered or a!!ro!riatel gendered in accordance "ith their understanding of themsel(es Bas o!!osed to "hether the are +!assing- or not in the e es of othersC< then "e start to gain a more accurate and realistic a!!reciation for the transse#ual e#!erience) In fact< ou could sa that most transse#uals ha(e the e#!erience of being misgendered throughout their childhoods and sometimes "ell into their adulthoods) The e#tent to "hich this constant misgendering during our formati(e ears sha!es our

relationshi! "ith gender Band our o"n self-!erce!tionC cannot be underestimated) 2a(ing onl e(er had a trans e#!erience< it too& me a long time to reali,e ho" differentl I e#!erience and !rocess gender com!ared to the "a most cisse#uals do) *or e#am!le< a fe" months after I had begun li(ing full-time as a "oman< a male friend of mine as&ed me if I had e(er accidentall gone into a men.s restroom b mista&e) At first< the 8uestion struc& me as bi,arre) When I ga(e him a !er!le#ed loo&< he tried to clarif himself) 2e said that he doesn.t e(er thin& about "hat restroom he is entering< ne(er reall notices the little +man- s mbol on the door< but he al"a s ends u! in the right !lace an "a ) %o he "as "ondering "hether I had accidentall gone into the men.s room b habit since m transition) I laughed and told him that there had ne(er been a single instance in m life "hen I had "al&ed into a !ublic restroomE"omen.s or men.sEb habitF m entire life I ha(e been e#cruciatingl a"are of an gendered s!ace that I enter) Gro"ing u! transEha(ing to manage both the !s chological dissonance bet"een m !h sical and subconscious se# as "ell as the constant barrage of being misgendered b othersE"as a harro"ing e#!erience and one that caused me to dissociate m self from m o"n bod and emotions) And "hile !h sicall transitioning and li(ing in m identified se# has allo"ed me to finall o(ercome m gender dissonance< I still struggle "ith an intense h !ersensiti(it to gender Band more s!ecificall to genderingC) 2a(ing ne(er had an o!!ortunit to learn to e#!erience m gender as being un8uestionable or second-nature Bas m friend hadC< I still sometimes feel an a"&"ard ;olt "hene(er !eo!le refer to me as +she- Be(en though that !ronoun is !referable to meC) When I loo& at !hotos or (ideos of m self< I still can.t hel! but see the +bo - in m face or hear it in the sound of m (oice< e(en though I ha(en.t had an one call me +sir- in o(er fi(e ears) I feel assaulted and get e#traordinaril u!set "hene(er I.m "atching TJ or a mo(ie and I.m blindsided b a ;o&e or ignorant comment that dismisses trans !eo!le.s identified se# or refers to them in their assigned se#) And although I e#!erience gender concordance these da s< I still constantl d"ell on gender< "hich< "hile hel!ful "hen "riting a boo& on the sub;ect< can often be unhealth and e#hausting) M gender h !ersensiti(it reminds me of "hat a friend once told me about her relationshi! "ith mone ) %he gre" u! in a famil "here mone "as scarce< and "here fights regularl stemmed from the financial strain the "ere under) This irre(ocabl altered the "a m friend relates to mone ) While most of us "ho ha(e had a middle-class u!bringing see mone as sim!l a means to get the things that "e "ant or need< for m friend it also carries an added emotional element) 5(en though she is no" on more solid ground financiall < she still feels undeser(ing "hen she recei(es mone and guilt e(er time she s!ends it) It still !reoccu!ies her and fills her "ith an#iet because she doesn.t feel li&e she can e(er ta&e it for grantedEshe understands that it can be ta&en a"a from her at an time) M friend.s relationshi! "ith mone reminds me of m o"n continuing insecurit regarding gender) 5(en though I ha(e finall reached a !oint "here I feel comfortable li(ing in m o"n bod < I often feel undeser(ing and guilt about it) And "hile e(er one else around me seems to feel entitled to their gender to the !oint "here the ta&e it for granted< I al"a s feel li&e mine can be ta&en a"a from me at an minute) And in a sense< it can Band often isC "hene(er somebod attem!ts to "ield cisse#ual !ri(ilege o(er me)

Distinguishing 0et"een Trans!hobia and Cisse#ual Pri(ilege

The fact that transse#uals ha(e sur(i(ed a childhood of constantl being misgendered creates ma;or differences in the "a s that "e and other 8ueers react to !ublic e#!ressions of gender an#iet ) *or e#am!le< a cisse#ual butch d &e friend of mine shared "ith me an e#!erience she had of being accused of being a +man- in a "omen.s restroom B!resumabl because of her masculine st le of dress and mannerismsC) The "oman "ho made the accusation confronted her in a gender-entitled "a b sa ing< +Kou don.t belong here)- M friend< "ho "as ob(iousl disturbed b the incident< res!onded b !ointing to her o"n breasts and sa ing< +I am a "oman and I do belong here<- "hich had the effect of ma&ing the accuser embarrassed and a!ologetic) While m friend does not identif as transgender< one could describe this incident as an e#am!le of trans!hobia Bshe "as targeted because her a!!earance +transgressed- gender normsC) And "hen the accuser a!ologi,ed< she in effect Bbelatedl C e#tended cisse#ual !ri(ilege to m friend) That is to sa < the accuser recogni,ed m friend as a legitimate Balbeit gender-non-conformingC "oman and< as such< ac&no"ledged m friend.s right to share that "omenonl s!ace "ith her) I tell this stor because it is so radicall different from the "a some of m trans "omen friends e#!erience similar situations) When a transse#ual "oman is accused of being a +man- in the "omen.s room< it.s against a bac&dro! of the transse#ual ha(ing been misgendered as male all of her life) Thus< rather than feeling li&e she has been unfairl targeted because her beha(iors +transgress- gender norms Bas man cisse#ual 8ueers feelC< she "ill instead feel targeted because of her transse#ual statusEin other "ords< she "ill assume that the accuser is e#ercising cisse#ual !ri(ilege o(er her) And the transse#ual "oman is often correct in assuming this) After all< the accuser became a!ologetic "hen m butch d &e friend told her< +I am a "oman- Bin other "ords< she "as belatedl +read- as a cisse#ual "omanC< but "hen m trans "omen friends sa +I am a "oman<- the are often still accused of being +men- Bin other "ords< the are +read- as transse#ual "omen and thus denied cisse#ual !ri(ilegeC) Recogni,ing the difference bet"een trans!hobia B"hich targets those "hose gender e#!ression and a!!earance differ from the normC and cisse#ual !ri(ilege B"hich targets those "hose assigned and identified se#es differC is im!ortant< es!eciall "hen one tries to ma&e sense of contem!orar 8ueer/trans !olitics) *or e#am!le< some 8ueer "omen.s e(ents and establishments ha(e !olicies that s!ecificall e#clude trans "omen from attending) Pro!onents of such !olicies often claim that the are not trans!hobic< because the do allo" some transgender-identified !eo!le to attend Bas long as the "ere +born female-C) Thus< rather than calling trans-"oman-e#clusion !olicies +trans!hobic<- it is more accurate to sa that the are cisse#ist< as the refuse to acce!t transse#ual "omen.s female identities as being as legitimate as those of cisse#ual "omen) B%uch !olicies ma also be called transmisog nistic< as the fa(or *TM s!ectrum trans !eo!le o(er MT* s!ectrum fol&s)C *urthermore< those +female-born- cisse#uals Bregardless of "hether the are transgender-identifiedC "ho choose to attend such e(ents can be said to be e#ercising their cisse#ual !ri(ilege Bi)e)< the are ta&ing ad(antage of all of the !ri(ileges associated "ith their female birth se#C) Indeed< it is disa!!ointing that most cisse#ual transgender and 8ueer fol&sE!articularl those "ho h !ocriticall accuse transse#uals of tr ing to attain +!assing !ri(ilege- b transitioning to our identified se#Eha(e gi(en little to no thought about the countless "a s the fre8uentl indulge in their o"n cisse#ual !ri(ilege) 4nce "e understand cisse#ual !ri(ilege< it becomes e(ident that man acts of discrimination that ha(e !re(iousl been lum!ed under the term +trans!hobia- are !robabl better described in terms of cisse#ism) =e#t< I "ill reconsider a number of such discriminator acts< focusing on the "a s that the

are more s!ecificall designed to undermine the legitimac of trans !eo!le.s identified genders rather than targeting trans !eo!le for brea&ing o!!ositional gender norms)

Trans-5#clusion

Trans-e#clusion is !erha!s the most straightfor"ard act of !re;udice against transse#uals) %im!l stated< trans-e#clusion occurs "hen cisse#uals e#clude transse#uals from an s!aces< organi,ations< or e(ents designated for the trans !erson.s identified gender) Trans-e#clusion ma also include other instances "here the trans !erson.s identified gender is dismissed Bfor e#am!le< "hen someone insists on calling me a +man<- or !ur!osel uses ina!!ro!riate !ronouns "hen addressing meC) Considering ho" big of a social fau# !as it is in our culture to misgender someone< and ho" a!ologetic !eo!le generall become u!on finding out that the ha(e made that mista&e< it is difficult to (ie" transe#clusionEi)e)< the deliberate misgendering of transse#ualsEas an thing other than an arrogant attem!t to belittle and humiliate trans !eo!le)

Trans-4b;ectification

The ob;ectification of transse#ual bodies is (er much intert"ined "ith the cisse#ual obsession "ith +!assing)- While our !h sical transitions t !icall occur o(er a !eriod of a fe" earsEa mere fraction of our li(esEthe almost com!letel dominate cisse#ual discourses regarding transse#ualit ) The reason for this is clear' *ocusing almost e#clusi(el on our !h sical transformations &ee!s transse#uals fore(er anchored in our assigned se#< thus turning our identified se# into a goal that "e are al"a s a!!roaching but ne(er trul achie(e) This not onl undermines our (er real e#!eriences li(ing as members of our identified se# !ost-transition< but !ur!osel sideste!s the crucial issue of cisse#ual !re;udice against transse#uals Ba&in to ho" some heterose#uals focus their interest on "hat ga s< lesbians< and bise#uals do in the bedroomEi)e)< ho" "e ha(e se#Ein order to a(oid contem!lating "hether their o"n beha(iors and attitudes contribute to same-se# discriminationC) Another common form of trans-ob;ectification occurs "hen cisse#uals become hung u! on< disturbed b < or obsessed o(er su!!osed discre!ancies that e#ist bet"een a transse#ual.s !h sical se# and identified gender) Most t !icall < such attention is focused on a trans !erson.s genitals) 0ecause ob;ectification reduces the transse#ual to the status of a +thing<- it enables cisse#uals to condemn< demoni,e< fetishi,e< ridicule< critici,e< and e#!loit us "ithout guilt or remorse)

Trans-M stification

Another strateg that goes hand in hand "ith !assing-centrism and trans-ob;ectification is transm stification' to allo" oneself to become so caught u! in the taboo nature of +se# changes- that one loses sight of the fact that transse#ualit is (er real< tangible< and often mundane for those of us "ho e#!erience it firsthand) 4ne can see trans-m stification readil in media de!ictions of transse#uals< "here our assigned se# is often transformed into a hidden secret or !lot t"ist and our li(ed se# is distorted into an elaborate illusion) In real life< "hen I tell !eo!le that I am a transse#ual< it is common for them to da"dle o(er me< re!eating ho" the can.t belie(e that I used to be male< as if I had ;ust im!ressed them "ith a magic tric&) The truth is< there is nothing fascinating about transse#ualit ) It is sim!l realit for man of us) I come out to !eo!le all the time and there is ne(er an sus!enseful music !la ing in the bac&ground "hen I do) And m femaleness is not some com!le# !roduction that re8uires smo&e and mirrors for me to !ull offF belie(e it or not< I li(e m life b ;ust being m self and doing "hat feels most comfortable to me) Trans-m stification is merel another attem!t b cisse#uals to !la u! the +artificialit - of transse#ualit < thus creating the false im!ression that our assigned genders are +natural- and our identified and li(ed genders are not)

Trans-Interrogation

Passing-centrism< trans-ob;ectification< and trans-m stification delegitimi,e transse#ual identities b focusing on the +ho"- of transse#ualit F trans-interrogation focuses on the +"h )- Wh do transse#uals e#istO Wh are "e moti(ated to change our se#O Is it due to geneticsO 2ormonesO :!bringingO @i(ing in a !lastic surger -obsessed cultureO 4r ma be it.s ;ust a good old-fashioned mental disorderO %uch 8uestions re!resent the intellectuali,ation of ob;ectif ing transse#uals) 0 reducing us to the status of ob;ects of in8uir < cisse#uals free themsel(es of the incon(enience of ha(ing to consider us li(ing< breathing beings "ho co!e not onl "ith our o"n intrinsic inclinations< but "ith e#trinsic cisse#ist and o!!ositionall se#ist gender discrimination) While I "as "or&ing on cha!ter 7< +Pathological %cience<- immersing m self in se#ological and sociological accounts that attem!t to e#!lain "h transse#uals e#ist< it occurred to me that< rather than sim!l remo(ing the gender identit disorder diagnosis from the D%M< "e should !erha!s consider re!lacing it "ith transse#ual etiolog disorder< to describe the unhealth obsession man cisse#uals ha(e "ith e#!laining the origins of transse#ualit ) :nli&e those cisse#ual researchers "ho find it fascinating and thought-!ro(o&ing to !onder and !ontificate on m e#istence< for me the 8uestion of "h I am transse#ual has al"a s been a source of shame and self-loathing) *rom m !reteen ears through oung adulthood< I "as consumed "ith the 8uestion because< 8uite fran&l < I didn.t "ant to be

transse#ual) @i&e most !eo!le< I assumed that it "as better to be cisse#ual) 5(entuall < I reali,ed that d"elling on +"h - "as a !ointless endea(orEthe fact is that I am transse#ual and I e#ist< and there is no legitimate reason "h I should feel inferior to a cisse#ual because of that) 4nce I acce!ted m o"n transse#ualit < then it became ob(ious to me that the 8uestion +Wh do transse#uals e#istO- is not a matter of !ure curiosit < but rather an act of nonacce!tance< as it in(ariabl occurs in the absence of as&ing the reci!rocal 8uestion' +Wh do cisse#uals e#istO- The unceasing search to unco(er the cause of transse#ualit is designed to &ee! transse#ual gender identities in a !er!etuall 8uestionable state< thereb ensuring that cisse#ual gender identities continue to be un8uestionable)

Trans-5rasure

The onl thing more troubling than !eo!le "ho relentlessl "onder "h transse#uals e#ist are !eo!le "ho arrogantl assume that the &no" the ans"er to that 8uestion) :nfortunatel < rather than sim!l acce!ting transse#ual accountsE"hich almost in(ariabl describe some sort of intrinsic self&no"ledge or subconscious se#Eman cisse#uals instead choose to !ro;ect their o"n assum!tions about gender onto us) 4ften< such attem!ts center on nai(e cisse#ual notions about "hat a transse#ual might sociall gain from changing their li(ed se#' !ri(ilege< normalc < se#ual fulfillment< and so on) The idea that "e transition first and foremost for oursel(es< to be comfortable in our o"n bodies< is often ne(er seriousl considered) This is because transse#uals are generall (ie"ed b cisse#uals as nonentities' the !rocesses of trans-ob;ectification< trans-m stification< and trans-interrogation ensure that "e are seen not as human beings< but as ob;ects and as s!ectacles that e#ist for the benefit or amusement of others) The ease "ith "hich transse#ual (oices are dismissed or ignored b the !ublic is due to the !henomenon of trans-erasure) While all minorit (oices are silenced to (ar ing e#tentsEusuall b being denied access to media and economic and !olitical !o"erEthere are se(eral as!ects of trans-erasure that ma&e it !articularl e#tensi(e) *irst< as "ith all se#ual minorities< o!!ositional se#ism ensures that onl a small !ercentage of trans !eo!le e(er come out as transse#ual) %econd< those "ho come out often do so concurrentl "ith their decision to !h sicall transition< a !rocess that has been historicall regulated Band se(erel limitedC b cisse#ual gate&ee!ers) 4ften< those "ho "ere granted !ermission to transition "ere selected based on the gate&ee!ers. assessment that the "ould be gender-normati(e in their identified se# and "ould remain silent about their trans status !ost-transition) This has hel!ed ensure that most transse#uals effecti(el disa!!ear "ithin the cisse#ual !o!ulation both !re- and !ost-transition) 0ut !erha!s nothing facilitates trans-erasure more than e(er da gendering and cisse#ual assum!tion) When I come out to !eo!le< the often tell me that I am the first transse#ual the ha(e e(er met) This suggests that most cisse#uals ne(er seriousl consider the !ossibilit that a certain !ercentage of the cisse#ual-a!!earing !eo!le the see e(er da might actuall be transse#ual) International statistics indicate that the !ercentage of +!ost-o!erati(e- transse#uals range from 1 to / !ercent of the !o!ulation) While there are no rigorous statistics for the number of transse#uals in the :)%)< estimates

based on the number of se# reassignment surgeries !erformed suggest that at least one in fi(e hundred !eo!le in this countr are transse#ual Band se(eral times more than that are transgenderC)1 In a "orld "here !eo!le are (ie"ed as being either female or male< and "here all !eo!le are assumed to be cisgendered and cisse#ual< those of us "ho are transgendered and transse#ual are effecti(el erased from !ublic a"areness) This allo"s media !roducers to de!ict us ho"e(er the "ant< for academics to !osit "hate(er theories the "ish about us< and for cisse#ual doctors< !s chologists< and other self-a!!ointed +e#!erts- to s!ea& as !ro#ies on our behalf)

Changing Gender Perce!tion< =ot Performance

A thorough understanding of gendering< gender entitlement< and cisse#ual !ri(ilege challenges both the mainstream assum!tion that cisse#ual genders are more +natural- and legitimate than transse#ual genders< and the recent focus among gender theorists and acti(ists on ho" all !eo!le +do- or +!erformtheir genders)3 These !erformance-centric models of gender can (ar 8uite a bit< but the generall stress the idea that each of us acti(el creates gender differences b +doing- or +!erforming- gender in !articular "a s) According to this (ie"< femaleness is not a natural state< but one that "e re!roduce "hen "e call oursel(es "omenE"hen "e act< dress< s!ea& in "hat are considered feminine "a sE and similarl for maleness) %ome of the more e#treme (ariations of this theor lea(e little room for intrinsic gender inclinations< leaning to"ard the notion that our gender and se#ual identities are merel unconscious re!etitions of the sociali,ation and gender norms that ha(e been foisted u!on us) 0ecause man theorists and acti(ists (ie" gendered !erformance as the means b "hich gender !ri(ileges< e#!ectations< and restrictions are !ro!agated in our culture< the ha(e argued that the most effecti(e "a to counteract o!!ositional and traditional se#ism is to refuse all gender and se#ual identities< or to sub(ert those categories b +doing- gender in noncon(entional "a s Be)g)< drag< androg n < and so onC) Man gender theorists and acti(ists ha(e embraced !erformance-centric models< !raising these models. !otential to free us from o!!ositional gender norms and to challenge the idea that straight genders are more legitimate than 8ueer ones) 0ut I see se(eral !roblems "ith such theories) *or one thing< such models dis!la se(eral of the fla"s that regularl !lague gender theories< "hich I described in detail at the end of cha!ter 6< +Intrinsic Inclinations)- *urther< I belie(e that the central tenet of !erformancecentric models of genderEthat social gender arises and is !ro!agated b the "a indi(iduals +do- or +!erform- genderEis !roblematic) Man of us "ho ha(e !h sicall transitioned from one se# to the other understand that our !ercei(ed gender is t !icall not a !roduct of our +!erformance- Bi)e)< gender e#!ression/gender rolesC< but rather our !h sical a!!earance Bin !articular< our secondar se# characteristicsC) This ma&es sense if ou thin& about it) After all< if ou loo& li&e a su!ermodel< ou can act as butch as ou "ant to< but other !eo!le "ill ine(itabl gender ou as female) And if ou loo& li&e a linebac&er< ou can act as femme as ou "ant< but others "ill still gender ou as male) While the "a "e +do- gender ma influence "hether !eo!le !ercei(e us as 8ueer or straight< and ma ti! the scales for those "hose a!!earance is some"hat gender-ambiguous to begin "ith< the (ast ma;orit of us are gendered !rimaril based on our !h sical bodies rather than our beha(iors)

Personall < I used to ha(e a !erformance-centric (ie" of gender "hen I "as li(ing as a male< "hen I used to crossdress and +!ass- as a "oman in !ublic) The amount of time and effort I had to !ut into altering m a!!earance and beha(iors to accom!lish that feat made it feel li&e a !erformance in man "a s) 0ut "hen I e(entuall did transition< I chose not to !ut on a !erformanceEI sim!l acted< dressed< and s!o&e the "a I al"a s had< the "a that felt most comfortable to me) After being on female hormones for a fe" months< I found that !eo!le began to consistentl gender me as female des!ite the fact that I "as +doing- m gender the same "a I al"a s had) What I found most stri&ing "as ho" other !eo!le inter!reted m same actions and mannerisms differentl based on "hether the !ercei(ed me to be female or male) *or e#am!le< "hen ordering drin&s at bars< I found that if I loo&ed around the room "hile "aiting for m drin& Bas I al"a s unconsciousl had !rior to transitioningC< men started hitting on me because the assumed I "as signaling m a(ailabilit B"hen I "as !ercei(ed as male< the same action "as li&el to be inter!reted sim!l as me sco!ing out the roomC) And in su!ermar&et chec&out lines< "hen the child in the cart ahead of me started smiling and tal&ing to me< I found that I could interact "ith them "ithout their mother becoming sus!icious or fearful B"hich is "hat often ha!!ened in similar situations "hen I "as !ercei(ed as maleC) During the first ear of m transition< I e#!erienced hundreds of little moments li&e that< "here other !eo!le inter!reted m "ords and actions differentl based solel on the change in m !ercei(ed se#) And it "as not merel m beha(iors that "ere inter!reted differentl < it "as m bod as "ell' the "a !eo!le a!!roached me< s!o&e to me< the assum!tions the made about me< the lac& of deference and res!ect I often recei(ed< the "a others often se#uali,ed m bod ) All of these changes occurred "ithout m ha(ing to sa or do a thing) I "ould argue that social gender is not !roduced and !ro!agated because of the "a "e as indi(iduals +!erform- or +do- our gendersF it lies in the !erce!tions and inter!retations of others) I can modif m o"n gender all I "ant< but it "on.t change the fact that other !eo!le "ill continue to com!ulsi(el assign a gender to me and to (ie" me through the distorted lenses of cisse#ual and heterose#ual assum!tion) While no gendered e#!ression can sub(ert the gender s stem as "e &no" it< "e are ne(ertheless still ca!able of instituting change in that s stem) 2o"e(er< such change "ill not come b managing the "a "e +do- our o"n gender< but b dismantling our o"n gender entitlement) If "e trul "ant to bring an end to all gender-based o!!ression< then "e must begin b ta&ing res!onsibilit for our o"n !erce!tions and !resum!tions) The most radical thing that an of us can do is to sto! !ro;ecting our beliefs about gender onto other !eo!le.s beha(iors and bodies)

>

:ngendering in Art and Academia

Peo!le use boo&s on gender to in(isibili,e transse#uals)

EGate 0ornstein1

%ometimes I thin& the ;ust don.t "ant to hear the real stories) I get c nical and thin&< "ho "ants the e(er da details of someone.s life "hen ou can use !eo!le "ith interse# to fulfill erotic fantasies< narrati(e re8uirements< and research !rogramsO

EThea 2illman$

I= PR5JI4:% C2APT5R%< I discussed ho" most de!ictions of transse#uals are designed to reinforce the idea that female and male are distinct< mutuall e#clusi(e< +o!!osite- se#es) The same can also be said for de!ictions of other gender-(ariant !eo!le Bi)e)< those "ho de(iate in some "a from societal e#!ectations of femaleness and malenessC) In this cha!ter< I describe a more recent< reci!rocal !henomenonE"hich I call ungenderingE"here gender-(ariant !eo!le are used as a de(ice to bring con(entional notions about maleness and femaleness into 8uestion) In theor < an !erson can be ungendered Bsim!l b d"elling on the as!ects of their gendered a!!earance< e#!ressions< and identit that differ from the normC< but this !ractice seems to most often focus on transse#ual and interse# !eo!le) While these t"o grou!s face (er different social and medical issues because of their gender difference< the both tend to be targeted for ungendering because their !h sical bodies are in some "a at odds "ith their identified and li(ed genders) 2ere< I discuss the !ractice of ungendering as it occurs in cisse#ual "or&s of fiction Be)g)< mo(ies and no(elsC and in academia) In both cases< ungendering is an e#!loiti(e !rocess< in(ol(ing both the a!!ro!riation of gender-(ariant bodies and e#!eriences "hile erasing interse# and transse#ual (oices and !ers!ecti(es)

Ca!itali,ing on Transse#ualit and Interse#ualit

A classic e#am!le of ungendering can be found in the 5mm A"ard-nominated 204 mo(ie =ormal<

"hich de!icts a trans "oman named Ro "ho comes out to her famil as trans) The mo(ie focuses on ho" Ro .s re(elation and her ensuing transition affects her relationshi! "ith her "ife and children in their small mid"estern to"n) In an inter(ie" about the film that a!!eared on 204)com< "riter and director Hane Anderson said that< des!ite the fact that the sub;ect of transse#ualit dominates much of the film< she did not en(ision =ormal as a stor chronicling the +ad(entures of a transgender !erson<but rather as a stud of one marriedcou!le.s lo(e for one another)/ %o if the mo(ie is not about transse#ualit !er se< then "h did this non-trans filmma&er go to the trouble of including a transse#ual characterO Anderson e#!lained that she used transse#ualit !rimaril as a de(ice to challenge the cou!le.s relationshi!) In fact< she dra"s a com!arison bet"een the "a she em!lo s transse#ualit and the "a other "riters ha(e used e#tra-marital affairs in the !ast) While Anderson seems to belie(e that stories that center on e#tra-marital affairs ha(e become !assQ Bboth because the !remise has been o(erused b "riters and because man !eo!le continue to lo(e the !erson "ho has cheated on themC< she (ie"s transse#ualit as +ultimate betra al- that can occur "ithin a marriage)1 %o< in other "ords< one of the characters< Ro < is ungendered in order to thro" a mon&e "rench into the cou!le.s marriage) And transse#ualit is no longer a marginali,ed identit or a grueling issue that real human beings struggle "ithF it is merel a literar de(iceEa +meta!hor- for the +ultimate catastro!he- that can stri&e a relationshi!) Kou "ould thin& that AndersonEas a "oman and a lesbianE"ould be a"are of the troubling "a se#ual minorities are !ortra ed Band their (oices silencedC b the media< and that she "ould< at the (er least< ma&e a modest attem!t to ensure that her character "as res!ectful of the transse#ual e#!erience) :nfortunatel < this is not the case) When the inter(ie"er as&ed her if she dre" on an sources "hen researching the mo(ie< Anderson unabashedl ans"ered that she relied solel on her +imagination<that she made it u! all herself)3 :nencumbered b an need to ha(e her character reflect realit < Anderson "as free to turn Ro into a transse#ual caricature) %he e#!lained in the inter(ie" that she !ur!osel set out to ma&e sure that the audience "ould not ta&e Ro seriousl as a "oman)6 Perha!s this is "h Anderson ma&es no attem!t to ha(e an of the other characters come to relate to Ro as female or use female !ronouns "hen addressing her) Ro herself doesn.t seem to !rotest this fact or assert her female identit at an !ointF in fact< she is inordinatel mee& and docile for someone "ho is in the !rocess of coming out as transse#ual) In a !re-mo(ie inter(ie"< Tom Wil&inson< "ho !la ed Ro in the made-for-cable mo(ie< said< +I "anted to retain the &ind of innocence about the "hole thing that that gu had) 2e doesn.t &no" 8uite "hat he.s getting into)- B5m!hasis mine)C7 Thus< li&e his director< Wil&inson sho"s no res!ect for his transse#ual character.s gender identit ) As a result< Ro comes off as e#cruciatingl mous and confused< !resumabl because it ne(er occurred to either Wil&inson or Anderson that a man "ho "anted to be female could be an other "a ) *or someone "ho claims to ha(e little interest in ma&ing a film about the +ad(entures of a transgender !erson<- Anderson sure does fanc her film u! in all of the accoutrements of the transse#ual transitioning !rocess' The dialogue includes discussions about electrol sis< a !la -b -!la descri!tion of ho" a (agina is created during MT* se# reassignment surger < and e(en tal& about "hat breast si,e Ro can e#!ect after she goes on hormones) At one !oint in the mo(ie< close-u!s of Ro .s hormone !rescri!tionsEPremarin and %!ironolactoneE!recede an earl morning famil brea&fast scene in "hich Ro < her "ife< and her daughter B"ho has recentl had her first !eriodC all start arguing "ith each other in an a!!arent hormone-induced fren, ) B:!on "atching that scene< I "asn.t 8uite sure if I

should be more offended as a "oman or as a transse#ual)C In the end< the most damaging as!ect of =ormal is that it gi(es the im!ression of being a serious film about transse#ualit "ithout e(er incor!orating the !ers!ecti(es of real-life transse#uals) There are countless other mo(ies that< on the surface< seem to be more demeaning or insulting to"ard transse#uals< but I find =ormal to be more damaging than most) At least the Ace Jenturas and %outh Par&s of the "orld don.t e(en bother to !retend that the &no" "hat the .re tal&ing about "hen the create transse#ual characters) Anderson< on the other hand< did ;ust enough home"or& about transse#ualit to ma&e her film dangerous) %he !oached and !ilfered the transse#ual e#!erience "ithout an sense of res!ect or res!onsibilit for the (er !eo!le she e#!loited in the !rocess) Another "riter "ho &no"s ;ust enough to be dangerous is Heffre 5ugenides) 2is Pulit,er Pri,e"inning no(el Middlese# centers on an interse# !erson named Cal< "ho is raised female until he disco(ers his condition during !ubert ) The boo& follo"s Cal as he de(elo!s male !h sical attributes and e(entuall a male identit ) %o "h did 5ugenides set out to "rite a boo& about an interse# !ersonO In an inter(ie"< he e#!lained that he sim!l +used a herma!hrodite- Ba "ord most interse# !eo!le find stigmati,ingC as a meta!hor for the confusing changes in identit and se#ualit that all !eo!le face during adolescence)9 %o< this time< a main character is ungendered to ma&e a larger !oint about !ubert and metamor!hosis) 5ugenides sa s he "as initiall ins!ired to "rite Middlese# after reading 2erculine 0arbin< a real-life account of an interse# !erson "ho li(ed during the nineteenth centur < !ublished b *rench !hiloso!her Michel *oucault in 1>79) 5ugenides "as fascinated b the boo&< but he found that< +as an e#!ression of "hat it is li&e to be a herma!hrodite< from the inside< 2erculine 0arbin.s memoir is 8uite disa!!ointing) %he ;ust tends to go into this moaning< tal&ing about ho" misfortunate she is and ))) it.s sad)-> Rather than be incon(enienced b the o(er"helming de!ression and isolation that often t !ifies the li(es of gender-(ariant !eo!le< 5ugenides set out to in(ent his o"n ne"-and-im!ro(ed interse# stor ' +I "anted to "rite about a real !erson "ith a real condition) I did a lot of research on the details< but in terms of figuring out "hat herma!hrodites !s chologicall "ent through< I did that from m imagination) That.s ho" I "or&< I tr to identif m narrator and m characters as much as I can instead of going out< obser(ing other interse# !eo!le and focusLingM on the details) 2o!efull I ma&e the right assum!tions and choices about all these characters< so that someone L"hoM is interested in interse# reads the boo&)-1? Middlese# is choc&-full of descri!tions of at !ical chromosome combinations< genital configurations< and other highl detailed medical references to interse# conditions< et it remains remar&abl untainted b actual interse# !ers!ecti(es or (oices)11 The boo& reads li&e an interse# ad(enture stor < "ith colorful scenes of Cal.s (isit "ith an eccentric< Hohn Mone -es8ue doctor "ho "ishes to !erform nonconsensual genital surger on him< or his befriending other interse# !eo!le Bas "ell as transse#ualsC "hen he fulfills the standard gender-(ariant-!erson clichQ of "or&ing as a !erformer at a se# club) *or a character "ho is su!!osedl fourteen ears old at the time of these e(ents< Cal.s narration remains remar&abl light< humorous< and generall abo(e the fra at all times< as though it had been "hite"ashed of all of the shame< self-loathing< and self-consciousness that !lagues gender-(ariant adolescents as their bodies< identities< and beha(iors are !laced under societ .s microsco!e) The "a that 5ugenides d"ells in all of the !h sical as!ects of interse#ualit "hile !la ing do"n the emotional trauma and stigma that generall accom!anies it gi(es the boo& an e#traordinaril ob;ectif ing and (o euristic feel to someone "ho is actuall familiar "ith the sub;ect) 5ugenides and Anderson both claim to use interse#ualit and transse#ualit merel as meta!hors< but

this is clearl disingenuous) While Middlese# ma be an e!ic no(el that follo"s a Gree& American famil through se(eral generations< "hat consistentl grabbed !eo!le.s attention in boo& re(ie"s and inter(ie"s "as its interse# !rotagonist) And "hile =ormal ma be a film about marriage< it "as clearl mar&eted as a film about transse#ualit ) The success of Middlese# and =ormal "as clearl due in large !art to the fact that the offered mainstream audiences a glim!se into "hat are largel considered the m sterious and e#otic li(es of gender-(ariant !eo!le) 5ugenides and Anderson ca!itali,ed on the taboo nature of interse#ualit and transse#ualit "ithout ac&no"ledging the fact that the stigma associated "ith these conditions forces real !eo!le to the margins of societ ) These "riters too& t"o of the most maligned and misunderstood se#ual minorities in e#istence< hollo"ed them out< and !oured in their o"n non-interse#< cisse#ual biases< inclinations< and im!ressions) In a "orld "here transse#ual and interse# "or&s of art ne(er get the chance to be seen on 204< or are not considered mainstream enough to be nominated for 5mm s and Pulit,ers< the facade !resented in =ormal and Middlese# !rofoundl sha!es and solidifies a nai(e audience.s o!inions about transse#uals and interse# !eo!le) 0 re!lacing gender-(ariant (oices "ith their o"n< both 5ugenides and Anderson ensure that real transse#ual or interse# (oices are not heard)

To ing "ith Gender-Ambiguous Characters

Another form of ungendering in media in(ol(es se#uall amor!hous characters) Perha!s the most famous e#am!le of this is Hulia %"eene .s character +Pat<- "ho gained !o!ularit on the TJ sho" %aturda =ight @i(e) %&its in(ol(ing Pat essentiall consisted of one recurring gag' 4ther characters< disturbed b Pat.s indeterminate gender< "ould as& her/him 8uestions designed to re(eal "hether he/she "as a "oman or a man) Pat al"a s re!lied in a gender-ambiguous fashion that th"arted their efforts) While most of the ;o&es "ere made at the e#!ense of the other characters< "ho e#!ressed ridiculous amounts of concern and frustration o(er their inabilit to gauge Pat.s se#< the mainstream a!!eal of the s&its "as most li&el due to the fact that the drooling< "hin < cree! Pat "as !rett much a ;o&e him/herself) Another similar use of an ungendered character can be found in Diane DiMassa.s comic stri! 2othead Paisan< 2omicidal @esbian Terrorist) With its d &e !rotagonist "ho confronts e#!ressions of se#ism and homo!hobia "ith a lethal combination of (iolence and humor< 2othead became a !o!ular (ehicle in the .>?s for e#!ressing the frustration and anger man 8ueer "omen felt) At one !oint in the series< 2othead meets her e(entual lo(e interest< Da!hne) When the are first dating< Da!hne mentions< +I.m ;ust lo" on friendsD Mine too& off .cause the couldn.t handle it)- After 2othead as&s "h < Da!hne e#!lains< +I.m in the middle of a large-scale transition) @oo& at me) ))) Do ou seeO -1$ The fact that this +large-scale transition- is a !h sical one< and that Da!hne follo"s "ith< +I.m telling ou no" so ou can do "hat ou gotta do) If ou.re gonna fl a"a I.d rather ;ust get it o(er "ith<- DiMassa is clearl leading the audience to belie(e that Da!hne is transse#ual) This is further e(ident in a later e!isode "hen 2othead imagines as&ing< +%o Da!hne< "hat.s the stor O Kou gotta dic& or !uss or "hatO-1/ While the fact that Da!hne has a feminine name< longish hair< breasts< and identifies as a d &e suggests that she is a trans "oman< DiMassa ne(er clearl s!ells it out< o!ting instead to tease the audience b relegating Da!hne to a !ermanentl ungendered state)

In $??1< Da!hne.s ungendered status slammed u! against the !olitical realit of actual trans !eo!le "hen a musical based on 2othead Paisan "as to be !erformed at the Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al) 0ecause man !eo!le "ere led to belie(e that Da!hne "as transgenderEand more s!ecificall < a trans "omanEDiMassa recei(ed !ressure to denounce the festi(al.s trans-"omane#clusion !olic ) In res!onse< DiMassa !ublished an o!en letter on her "ebsite in Hul $??1 stating that she su!!orted the trans-"oman-e#clusion !olic ) In an inter(ie" "ith 0itch maga,ine around the same time< she said< +Da!hne has become sort of a transgender hero character) 0ut I ne(er used that "ord) I ne(er said "hich "a she "as going) I ne(er said if she "as MT* or *TM)-11 It seems that DiMassa "ants to ha(e it both "a s here) %he "ants to to "ith the idea of transse#ualit "ithout ta&ing res!onsibilit for the fact that real trans !eo!le ha(e identities that are regularl dismissed b other !eo!le) DiMassa feels entitled to use her gender-(ariant characters as mere !lot de(ices to !ro(o&e other characters and audiences in much the same "a that heterose#ist TJ sitcom "riters create "al&-on lesbian characters "ho e#ist onl to challenge the male !rotagonist.s masculinit ) Perha!s the most surreal !art of the entire incident "as DiMassa.s defensi(e reaction to the anger of the trans female communit < at one !oint 8ui!!ing< +It.s ;ust fuc&ing t !ical that a manborn "oman can.t get the conce!t of not being allo"ed some"here)-13 A!!arentl < DiMassa belie(es that the anger lesbian "omen feel about being marginali,ed b the straight< male-dominated mainstream is legitimate< but that the similar anger trans "omen feel about being dismissed< stereot !ed< and e#!loited b the lesbian communit merel re!resents selfishness on our !arts) I am sure that "riters li&e DiMassa< 5ugenides< and Anderson "ould defend their "or&s b claiming the ha(e artistic license to create characters and stories as the !lease) To be honest< I "ould ha(e no !roblem if their stories contained characters that magicall transitioned from one se# to the other) 0ut instead< the chose to base their gender transformations in realit Ea realit "here transse#ual and interse# !eo!le are marginali,ed< "here our (oices are seldom heard) It is as if these "riters feel some &ind of sense of o"nershi! about e#!eriences that interse# and transse#ual fol&sEand the aloneE struggle "ith) Transitioning from one se# to another is not sim!l an interesting anecdoteF it is a grueling< tumultuous e#!erience that turns a !erson.s life u!side do"n< that often causes !eo!le to lose their famil < friends< and ;obs) And the disco(er that a famil member is interse# is not sim!l some cle(er !lot t"ist) It is most often a traumatic situation< resulting in the !erson being endlessl !o&ed and !rodded b doctors< an e#!erience that shrouds indi(iduals and their families in shame and secrec ) *or "riters "ho ha(e ne(er had to deal "ith being transse#ual or interse# to la claim to those e#!eriences< to use them for their o"n !ur!oses< and to !rofit from them< is nothing short of e#!loitation)

*ables of the Deconstruction

Arguabl < no"here ha(e !eo!le felt more entitled to !ossess and e#!loit interse# and transse#ual e#!eriences and identities than in academia) The ungendering of gender-(ariant !eo!le has been an ongoing !ractice among sociologists< !oststructuralist theorists< and feminists "ho "ish to demonstrate

that our notions of gender are sociall constructed) 4ne of the earliest e#am!les of this a!!roach is sociologist 2arold Garfin&el.s 1>67 boo& %tudies in 5thnomethodolog < "hich attem!ted to elucidate ho" members of societ +!roduce stable< accountable !ractical acti(ities< i)e)< social structures of e(er da acti(ities)-16 While Garfin&el could ha(e e#amined ho" the a(erage !erson ma&es sense of their o"n gendered e#!eriences< he instead focused on someone "ho didn.t ha(e the !ri(ilege of ta&ing their o"n gender for granted) That !erson "as Agnes< a trans "oman "ho Bunbe&no"nst to Garfin&elC had ta&en female hormones for a number of ears and !osed as interse# in the ho!e of obtaining se# reassignment surger Bduring the 1>3?s in the :)%)< such surgeries "ere regularl carried out on interse# indi(iduals< but not transse#ualsC)17 Garfin&el de(oted se(ent !ages to describing Agnes.s attem!ts to reconcile her female identit and feminine beha(ior "ith the fact that she had male genitals) The account is e#traordinaril ob;ectif ing< and not onl "ith regard to Garfin&el.s descri!tions of Agnes.s bod Bsuch as< +2er measurements "ere /9-$3-/9- and +she "as dressed in a tight s"eater "hich mar&ed off her thin shoulders< am!le breasts< and narro" "aist-C)19 2e s!ends !age after !age relishing the details of ho" she managed to +!ass- as a "oman< highlighting her an#iet around the discre!anc bet"een her anatom and gender identit < and !ointing out "hat he belie(ed "ere inconsistencies in her !ersonal histor and her claims that she al"a s felt li&e a girl) The entitled "a he !ic&s a!art Agnes.s life< gra!hicall chronicling her fears< secrets< embarrassments< and insecurities< sho"s no regard for her as a !erson or for the immense difficult she must ha(e faced in sim!l tr ing to sur(i(e and ma&e sense of her life as a gender-(ariant !erson li(ing in the 1>3?s) Another earl e#am!le of ungendering can be found in the !re(iousl mentioned 2erculine 0arbin) *oucault ma&es it clear in his introduction to the boo& that his interest in !ublishing this nineteenthcentur account of an interse# !erson stemmed solel from the fact that it challenges the modern Western notion that all !eo!le ha(e a +true se#)- BAt one !oint< he e(en boasts that +the narrati(e baffles e(er !ossible attem!t to ma&e an identification)-1>C It is clear that *oucault had little interest in the des!eration and disorientation 2erculine felt as she/he gra!!led "ith the masculine changes in her/his bod and se#ualit < as "ell as other !eo!le.s reactions to those changes B"hich a!!arentl led to 2erculine.s suicideC) In reference to 2erculine.s !ersonal traged < *oucault states that he +"ould be tem!ted to call the stor banal- if it "ere not for the fact that it !ro(ided an e#am!le of ho" societ acti(el im!oses a +true se#- onto !eo!le)$? *oucault further dehumani,es 2erculine b !ublishing her/his memoir alongside a dossier that includes medical and legal records< including gra!hic details of 2erculine.s bod and interse# condition< as "ell as a sensationalistic fictional account from that time !eriod based on 2erculine.s stor )$1 The needless inclusion of this e#tra material onl adds to the reader.s sense that 2erculine is nothing more than a s!ecimen for us to freel e#amine) The fact that both *oucault and Garfin&el claimed to be ma&ing larger !oints about gender and societ B*oucault' that societ im!oses a +true se#- on all of its membersF Garfin&el' that "e all acti(el manage and !roduce our gendered sense of selfC ma&es their sub;ect choice seem rather dubious) Wouldn.t their cases ha(e been stronger if the .d focused instead on sub;ects "ho "ere not gender(ariantE"ho "ere not such ob(ious e#ce!tions to the ruleO I "ould argue that 2erculine and Agnes "ere chosen as sub;ects not because their conditions offered an uni8ue insight into social gender< but because their gender-(ariant status facilitated their de!iction as s!ecimens) After all< one onl has to loo& at ho" a!ologetic !eo!le become "hen the accidentall misgender another !erson< or ho" insulting it is generall considered to be to suggest that someone.s femaleness or maleness is sus!ect in an "a < to understand that ungendering is an inherentl demeaning !rocess) If *oucault and Garfin&el had instead chosen to !ic& a!art the gender identities of oung !eo!le "ho "ere not gender-(ariant< the !rocess of ungendering "ould ha(e undoubtedl Band a!!ro!riatel C seemed intrusi(e and disres!ectful) 0ut because societ t !icall (ie"s transse#ual and interse# !eo!le as illegitimate and unnaturalEe(en inhumanEAgnes and 2erculine could be de!icted as mere ob;ects of in8uir "ithout

an chance of the audience identif ing "ith them or s m!athi,ing "ith them) While *oucault and Garfin&el ma ha(e seen their sub;ects as nothing more than interesting case studies< I found both of these "riters. accountsEs!ecificall < the "a these gender-(ariant oung !eo!le "ere dehumani,ed and used as !a"ns to for"ard academic theories of genderEto be horribl e#!loiti(e) 2a(ing e#!erienced firsthand "hat it.s li&e to feel a disconnect bet"een m o"n !h sical se# and gender identit < ha(ing dee!l internali,ed the shame that.s associated "ith ha(ing a bod that defies !ublic e#!ectations of "hat is natural and normal< and ha(ing e#!erienced the !rofound sense of isolation that comes "ith being a oung gender-(ariant !erson< I found the length < gra!hic de!ictions that *oucault and Garfin&el !ro(ide shamelessl (o euristic) These accounts are a&in to offering an e#!licit !la -b -!la descri!tion of a ra!e scene for the sole !ur!ose of ma&ing some rather generic !oint about human se#ualit ) :nfortunatel < the ungendering of transse#ual and interse# !eo!le does not end "ith *oucault and Garfin&el) Garfin&el.s "or& has influenced a sle" of sociologists< including %u,anne Gessler and Wend McGenna Bmentioned in cha!ter 7< +Pathological %cience-C< "hose much-celebrated boo& Gender' An 5thnomethodological A!!roach includes a cha!ter called +Gender Construction in 5(er da @ife' Transse#ualism<- "here transse#ual gender identities and transitioning strategies are dissected to demonstrate ho" all !eo!le +do- gender)$$ And *oucault.s "ritingsE"hich< ironicall < focused on ho" institutions !roduce and regulate se#ual identitiesEha(e formed the foundation of 8ueer theor < a field that has !racticall institutionali,ed the !ractice of ungendering gender-(ariant !ersons in an attem!t to demonstrate ho" our culture.s notions of binar se#/gender are sociall constructed) 4ne !articularl illustrati(e e#am!le of ho" dehumani,ing academic ungendering can be is found in 0ernice 2ausman.s boo& Changing %e# Bdiscussed !re(iousl in cha!ter 7C) In the !reface< 2ausman describes the difficult she had finding a to!ic related to identit and feminist theor for her dissertation' +=o matter ho" much I a!!lied m self to the tas&< most of m thoughts on the issue seemed unins!ired< boring< e(en ob(ious)-$/ 0ut then< luc& for her< she disco(ered transse#ualit D +I inad(ertentl found te#ts that dealt "ith transse#ualism) =o" that "as reall fascinating) *or about si# months I read an thing and e(er thing I could find about crossdressing and se# change) I attended a national conference for trans(estites and transse#uals)))) The !ossibilities for understanding the construction of Ngender. through an anal sis of transse#ualism seemed enormous and there "asn.t a lot of critical material out there)- B5m!hasis hers)C$1 4f course< 2ausman chose to use the +*oucauldiana!!roach of e#amining +official discourses- B!rimaril gate&ee!er research and transse#ual autobiogra!hiesC< "hich allo"ed her to su!erficiall criti8ue transse#ualit from a distance< "ithout the incon(enience of ha(ing to address the harsh realities and obstacles that actual transse#uals face) =ot all academics "ho stud gender hold gender-(ariant !eo!le in such lo" regard) 2o"e(er< the (er goal of 8ueer theor Edenaturali,ing and deconstructing the binar se#/gender s stemEine(itabl tem!ts man scholars to a!!ro!riate the bodies and e#!eriences of those !eo!le "ho are most marginali,ed b that (er s stem) This tendenc is thoroughl e#amined in Ji(iane =amaste.s boo& In(isible @i(es Bcited in cha!ter 7C< "hich chronicles the erasure of transse#ual and transgender !eo!le b !ublic institutions< including academia) =amaste criti8ues the "ritings of se(eral !rominent 8ueer theorists and sho"s ho" their "or& reduces trans !eo!le to +rhetorical tro!es and discursi(e le(ers)-$3 In !articular< she argues that trans (oices are made in(isible b these academics. tendenc to focus narro"l on cultural te#ts B"hich are almost al"a s of cisse#ual originC< and the fact that the often conflate and confuse drag< crossdressing< and transse#ualit < thereb minimi,ing the (er different !ers!ecti(es and e#!eriences that distinguish these transgender !eo!le from one another) =amaste

argues that such 8ueer theorists +ha(e defined the terms of the debate on transgendered !eo!le "ithin American cultural studies of the 1>>?s' terms "herein trans(estites and transse#uals function as rhetorical figures "ithin cultural te#tsF terms "herein the (oices< struggles< and ;o s of real transgendered !eo!le in the e(er da social "orld are noticeabl absent)-$6 A similar argument is made b Ha Prosser in his boo& %econd %&ins' The 0od =arrati(es of Transse#ualit )$7 In !articular< Prosser focuses on ho" man 8ueer theorists a!!ro!riate transse#uals. gender difference to denaturali,e binar gender< et simultaneousl dismiss transse#uals. !ersonal accounts Bof strongl identif ing as the other se#C and !h sical e#!eriences Binhabiting their o"n !h sicall se#ed bodiesC) 2is criti8ue touches on a certain le(el of unac&no"ledged intellectual dishonest regarding academic ungendering) Cisse#ual academics eagerl cite as!ects of gender(ariant li(es that su!!ort their claims that gender is !rimaril constructed< "hile ignoring those as!ects that undermine their cases) *or e#am!le< man academics ha(e focused on the transse#ual transition !rocess to argue that gender does not arise +naturall <- but that it is learned< !racticed< and !erformed) 2o"e(er< these same academics tend to o(erloo& Bor dismiss outrightC the fact that most transse#uals e#!erience a lifelong self-&no"ing that the should be the other se#) This self-&no"ing e#ists des!ite the o(er"helming social !ressure for a !erson to identif and beha(e as a member of their assigned se#< "hich strongl suggests that there are indeed natural and intrinsic gender inclinations that can !recede and/or su!ersede social conditioning and gender norms) I also find it disingenuous that academics in gender studies and sociolog tend to concentrate rather e#clusi(el on those gender-(ariant indi(iduals "ho are most easil ungendered' transse#uals "ho ha(e ;ust embar&ed on the transitioning !rocess< interse# !eo!le "ho are in the !rocess of being +treated- b medical institutions< and those transgender !eo!le "ho acti(el engage in drag< gender bending< and/or "ho identif outside the male/female binar ) While these grou!s should be gi(en a (oice< "hat regularl goes unre!orted are the (ie"s of transse#uals "ho are ten or t"ent ears !osttransition< interse# !eo!le "ho ha(e li(ed fairl gender-normati(e< heterose#ual li(es< and transgender !eo!le "ho at one !oint embraced being +in bet"een- or +outside of- the categories of female or male as !art of their coming out e#!erience< but "ho later came to identif "ithin the male/female binar ) These !o!ulations of gender-(ariant !eo!le tend to ha(e com!letel different e#!eriences and o!inions around gender) 0ut their stories are ne(er told< most li&el because the are at odds "ith the !ositions and theories !ut for"ard b most academic gender researchers) While some transse#ual and interse# !eo!le do identif outside of the gender binar < most of us ha(e e#!erienced a !rofound understanding of oursel(es as being female or male) *or us< the greatest struggle in our li(es is reconciling the a!!arent discre!ancies that e#ist bet"een that internal selfunderstanding and our !h sical bodies) The fact that our anatomies do not !erfectl coincide "ith the gender "e e#!erience oursel(es to be results in us regularl ha(ing our identities dismissed and our bodies ob;ectified and ridiculed) %o "hen non-interse#< cisse#ual academics use gender-(ariant bodies and e#!eriences to unra(el the gender binar < the are essentiall undermining our efforts to ha(e our self-identifications ta&en seriousl ) The truth is that gender deconstructs itself rather easil "ithout ha(ing to resort to the e#!loitation of those "ho that (er s stem most marginali,es) And because transse#ual and interse# !eo!le ha(e (irtuall no (oice in academic and !olitical discourses on gender< our !ers!ecti(es are easil o(ershado"ed< e(en subsumed< b those "ho ha(e the academic credentials to !osition themsel(es as +authorities- on the sub;ect) When academics a!!ro!riate transse#ual and interse# e#!eriences for their essa s and theories< and "hen the cli! out s!ecific as!ects of our li(es and !aste them together out of conte#t to ma&e their o"n creations< the are sim!l contributing to our erasure) If cisse#ual academics trul belie(e that

transse#ual and interse# !eo!le can add ne" !ers!ecti(es to e#isting dialogues about gender< then the should sto! reinter!reting our e#!eriences and instead su!!ort transse#ual and interse# intellectual endea(ors and "or&s of art) Instead of e#!loiting our e#!eriences to further their o"n careers< the should insist that their uni(ersities ma&e a !oint of hiring transse#ual and interse# facult < and that their !ublishers !ut out boo&s b gender-(ariant "riters) And the should finall ac&no"ledge the fact that the ha(e no legitimate claim to use transse#ual and interse# identities< struggles< and histories for their o"n !ur!oses) I am sure that some readers "ill ob;ect to this call for artists and academics to sto! a!!ro!riating interse# and transse#ual identities and e#!eriences) 0ut at this !oint in time< "hen almost no interse# and transse#ual (oices reach the !ublic< and the fe" "ho do are those that non-interse#< cisse#ual indi(iduals deem "orth < those "ho do attem!t to s!ea& as our !ro#ies< "ho claim to understand our bodies< our issues< or our identities< necessaril !ush us further into the margins) Perha!s in the future< "hen most !eo!le are familiar "ith the "or& of interse# and transse#ual artists and academics< and "hen the bod of "or& that "e ha(e !roduced is so large that no one non-interse# or cisse#ual !erson can dro"n out our (oices< other artists and intellectuals "ill be able to discuss our e#istence and our e#!eriences in a res!ectful< none#!loiti(e "a ) 0ut until that time comes< non-interse#< cisse#ual artists and academics should !ut their !ens do"n< o!en u! their minds< and sim!l listen to "hat "e ha(e to sa about our o"n li(es)

PART $

Trans Women< *emininit < and *eminism

1?

5#!eriential Gender

T25R5 I% P5R2AP% =4 05TT5R P@AC5 to begin a discussion about being a trans "oman than "ith the 8uote that has become !racticall s non mous "ith that e#!erience in the !ublic.s mind' that "e feel li&e +"omen tra!!ed inside men.s bodies)- This sa ing has become so !o!ular and "ides!read that it.s safe to sa these da s that it.s far more often !arodied b cisse#uals than used b transse#uals to describe their o"n e#!eriences) In fact< the regularit "ith "hich cisse#uals use this sa ing to moc& trans "omen has al"a s struc& me as rather odd< since it "as so clearl coined not to enca!sulate all of the intricacies and nuances of the trans female e#!erience< but rather as a "a of dumbing do"n our

e#!eriences into a sound bite that cisse#uals might be better able to com!rehend) :nfortunatel < the !o!ularit of the +"oman tra!!ed inside a man.s bod - clichQ has become a lightning rod for cisse#uals "ho are disturbed b transse#ualit ) %ome cisse#ual "omen< for instance< ha(e accused trans "omen of being arrogant or !resum!tuous in claiming that "e +feel li&e "omen"hen< !rior to our transitions< "e had onl e(er e#!erienced li(ing in the "orld as men) 4ften such criticism is follo"ed "ith catt remar&s such as +2o" ;ust li&e a man to sa such a thing-Ethe im!lication being that our attem!ts to claim the identit of +"oman- are merel Band rather ironicall C a b -!roduct of male entitlement) %!ea&ing for m self< I can honestl sa that I ne(er +felt li&e a "oman- before m transition) 5(en as a !reteen struggling "ith the ine#!licable and !ersistent desire to be female< I understood ho" !roblematic that !o!ular clichQ "as) After all< ho" can an one &no" "hat it.s li&e to +feel li&e a "oman- or +feel li&e a man- "hen "e can ne(er reall &no" ho" an bod else feels on the insideO Most !eo!le "hose !h sical and subconscious se#es coincide generall fall rather seamlessl into "omanhood or manhoodF as a result< the ta&e for granted the identit of "oman or man) M gender identit al"a s felt more li&e a !u,,le that I had to !ut together m self< one in "hich man of the !ieces "ere missing< "here I had no clue as to "hat the final !icture "as su!!osed to be) And the t"ent ears bet"een m conscious recognition that I "anted to be female and m e(entual decision to transition "as a time "hen I !ainsta&ingl ruled out the !ossibilities that m female inclinations "ere merel a manifestation of m se#ualit or a desire to e#!ress femininit ) And after man ears of e#!loring and e#!erimenting "ith femininit < masculinit < and androg n < "ith crossdressing and role!la ing< and "ith heterose#ualit and bise#ualit < I reali,ed that for me< being trans had little to do "ith se#ual desire or social genderF it "as !rimaril about the !h sical e#!erience of being in m o"n bod ) Peo!le often assume that transse#uals ha(e some &ind of ideali,ed and unrealistic image of "hat it.s li&e to be the other se#< and that transitioning is our attem!t to achie(e that fantas ) =othing could be further from the truth for me) When I decided to transition< I had no idea "hat it "ould actuall be li&e to li(e as a "oman< nor did I ha(e an !reconcei(ed notions about "hat t !e of "oman I might actuall become) 2ell< at the time< I didn.t e(en dare call m self a "oman) That "ord< li&e the "ord +man<seemed to ha(e "a too much baggage associated "ith it) At the time< I !referred the "ord +girl<"hich seemed more !la ful and o!en to inter!retation) 4r I might sa that I identified as female< since the "ord is more commonl associated "ith one.s anatom than "ith an s!ecific gender roles or regulations) 0ut I com!letel a(oided the "ord +"oman- because it seemed to be too "eighed do"n "ith other !eo!le.s e#!ectationsEe#!ectations that I "asn.t sure I "as interested in< or ca!able of< meeting) M initial a(oidance of the label +"oman- "as fostered e(en further b m decision to transition in +bo mode<- a strateg that man trans "omen feel is the safest and most effecti(e) 5ssentiall < this meant that I under"ent electrol sis and hormone re!lacement thera! "hile continuing to li(e m life as a +man-' "earing the same ;eans< snea&ers< T-shirts< flannel shirts< and s"eat-;ac&ets I al"a s "ore and acting !rett much the same as I al"a s had) The idea is that ou sim!l go about our life until ou reach the !oint "here most !eo!le begin to assume that ou are female des!ite our BtomCbo ish gender !resentationF some trans "omen refer to this as the !oint "hen the lose the abilit to +!ass- as a man) At the start of m transition< I had the same assum!tions that most !eo!le ha(e about gender' I belie(ed that there "ere ob(ious< concrete differences bet"een "omen and men) Thus< I figured that I "ould ha(e to s!end a good deal of time during m transition being +in bet"een- gendersEtoo !h sicall

ambiguous for !eo!le to classif as either female or male) 0ut that didn.t reall ha!!en) To m sur!rise< !eo!le almost al"a s made the call one "a or another< e(en though their conclusion as to m gender often differed from !erson to !erson) *or instance< it "as common for me to go into a store and ha(e an em!lo ee sa < +Can I hel! ou< sirO- Then a fe" minutes later< as I "as lea(ing< a different em!lo ee might sa < +2a(e a good da < ma.am)After about a month or t"o of ne(er &no"ing "hether an gi(en !erson "as gendering me as female or male< I e#!erienced a dramatic change) It felt li&e the "orld suddenl shifted around me) Almost o(ernight< I sensed that e(er thing "as (er different) At first< I sus!ected that this feeling "as coming from "ithin me< !erha!s a !s chological or emotional change related to m being on female hormones) 0ut then I reali,ed that it "asn.t me< but rather the rest of the "orld< that "as acting differentl ) In !ublic< strangers began standing much closer to me) Women seemed to let their guard do"n around me) Men< for no a!!arent reason< "ould smile at me) 5(er bod s!o&e to me differentl < interacted "ith me in different "a s) I reali,ed that I had !assed through some sort of threshold and suddenl e(er bod sa" me as female) The "eirdest !art about this e#!erience "as that I "as !rett much the e#act same !erson that I had been !rior to that) I "as acting and dressing the same) And o(er the four months I.d been on hormones< I had barel changed !h sicall ) I still had some stubble gro"ing out of m face Balthough not nearl as much as beforeC) M breasts "ere sore and tingling and definitel beginning to gro"< but the "ere hardl noticeable) The onl (isible changes "ere the softening of m com!le#ion and a little e#tra facial fat around m chee&s< and et I com!letel lost m abilit to +!ass- as a man 8uite suddenl ) Granted< m transition "ent a lot 8uic&er than it does for man trans "omen< since I started out as a small< long-haired bo "ho "as occasionall +ma.am-ed e(en before ta&ing hormones) =e(ertheless< the s!eed and e#tent of m transition< and the fact that it occurred "ithout m ha(ing to change m beha(ior or mannerisms< challenged e(er thing I used to belie(e to be true about gender) M initial reaction to this e#!erience "as to e(en further embrace m +gender8ueerness-Em sense of otherness) The ta&en-for-granted assum!tion that female and male "ere fi#ed and reliable states suddenl a!!eared to me to be the !roduct of a mass hallucination< held together onl b the fact that so fe" !eo!le actuall had the firsthand e#!erience of transitioningEof seeing ho" such small differences in one.s !h sical gender can result in such a large difference in the "a one is !ercei(ed and treated b others) %uddenl < I no longer felt li&e I "as ;ourne ing from one gender to the other) I felt more li&e I "as floating in a little dingh that had been recentl released from the doc& I had been anchored to m "hole lifeF and no" I "as being tossed about on an ocean of other !eo!le.s !erce!tions of me) And "hile I "as definitel searching for a !lace "here I could feel at home in m o"n bod < I "as no longer 8uite sure "hat that !lace might loo& li&e or "hat I might call it "hen I finall arri(ed) *rom con(ersations I.(e had "ith a number of transse#ual friends "ho transitioned before me< I "ould sa that m attitude at the timeEm 8uestioning of Band refusal to identif "ithinC the male/female binar E"as a fairl common res!onse to being in the throes of !h sical and social transition) Transitioning is such an u!ending< mind-blo"ing e#!erience that it seems to me to be almost a necessit for one to let go of one.s !reconcei(ed notions of maleness and femaleness in order to tra(erse those states of being) 0eing !ercei(ed as female "hile ha(ing an entirel male histor and a mostl male bod Bas I did at the timeC made me feel not li&e an im!oster Bas some might imagineC< but more li&e an alien) I "as ;ust being m self< but other !eo!le "ere relating and reacting to me in "a s that "ere foreign to me) I felt less li&e a "oman or a man than I did a stranger in a strange land) As "ith man of m transse#ual friends< I found that this sense of otherness steadil subsided "ith

time) And o(er the course of a ear or t"o< I e(entuall did come to identif as a "oman) Part of this e(olution in m self-!erce!tion "as dri(en b ho" different I felt in m bod after !h sicall transitioning) This is one of the most difficult as!ects of transitioning to describe< as there are so fe" "ords in our language to articulate +bod feelings- of an sort) I.m sure that this lac& in language is related to our cultural tendenc to dismiss or discount the "a that our bodies feel to us) Indeed< man of us tend to thin& of oursel(es as brains or souls crammed inside of a shellEa shell that is our bod ) We delude oursel(es into belie(ing that the shell itself is not im!ortant< not connected to our consciousness< that it.s merel a (essel that contains us< or a (ehicle that "e mo(e about "ith our minds) 0ut the truth is< our bodies are inse!arable from our minds) This becomes e(ident "hene(er hunger< thirst< or !h sical !ain gro"s to the !oint "here "e can thin& of nothing else< or "hen mental grief or stress manifests itself in !h sical aches and e#haustion) All of us "ho ha(e e#!erienced the !h sical difference bet"een feeling health and feeling ill< or !erha!s most !rofoundl < bet"een !reand !ost!ubert < ha(e a dee! understanding B"hether "e ac&no"ledge it or notC that our bod feelings ma&e a (ital and substantial contribution to our senses of self) Kou could sa that m decision to transition "as !rimaril dri(en b m choosing to trust m bod feelingsEin this case< m subconscious se#Eo(er m conscious understanding of gender) %o !erha!s it.s no sur!rise that the most immediate change in m bod feelings that I e#!erienced u!on starting hormone thera! "as an easing of m gender dissonanceEthe chronic gender sadness that I had carried around "ith me for as long as I could remember) I am not sure "hether this "as a direct effect of ha(ing female hormones in m s stem or a more !s chological effect of &no"ing that m bod "as finall mo(ing in the right direction) 5ither "a < the relief I felt "as be ond measureF for the first time in m life< I slo"l began to feel comfortable being in m o"n s&in) *emale hormones ha(e also !roduced numerous other bod feelings that ha(e greatl resha!ed m sense of self) There ha(e been !rofound changes in the "a that I e#!erience sensations and emotions< and in m tastes< urges< and res!onses to stimuli) And the !h sical changes to m bod < "hich unfolded o(er a greater s!an of time< ha(e also influenced the "a I e#!erience the "orld) Granted< "hen strangers first began gendering me as female Bbac& "hen I "as still identif ing as gender8ueerC< unclothed I !robabl loo&ed li&e a slightl femini,ed male) 0ut after fi(e ears of being on female hormones< there is (irtuall nothing about m bod that loo&s or feels male B"ith the ob(ious e#ce!tion of m genitals< as I ha(e not had bottom surger C) In those inter(ening ears< m s&in has become much softer< m center of gra(it has totall shifted< m metabolism has changed< clothing fits m bod differentl < hea( ob;ects seem to ha(e become much hea(ier< and room tem!erature seems to ha(e dro!!ed about t"o or three degrees) The changes in the sha!e of m bod and in m muscle/fat distribution ha(e significantl altered the "a I "al&< run< dance< hold m bod < and mo(e in general) %im!l !ut< m bod no longer feels male to meF rather< it feels female) 4f course< bod feelings are not the onl facet of m being that has contributed to m identit as a "oman) As I alluded to earlier< the changes in m social genderEho" other !eo!le relate to and interact "ith meE"ere at least as dramatic as Bif not more so thanC the !h sical changes to m bod ) While being treated as a "oman felt foreign to me at first< o(er time it sim!l became m e(er da life) M identit as a "oman gre" out of !ositi(e e#!eriences< such as feeling comfortable "ith m o"n female bod ) Ket it also arose out of negati(e ones< such as the regularit "ith "hich other !eo!le !laced unsolicited attention u!on m bod < "hether it "as the catcalls and se#ual innuendos strangers "ould sometimes hurl at me or the occasional comments !eo!le started to ma&e insinuating that I could stand to lose a little "eight Be(en though I "eighed the same as I did before m transition< and nobod sa" m "eight as a !roblem bac& thenC) M identit as a "oman gre" out of m frustration o(er being called a +bitch- an time I stood u! for m self< or ha(ing others ma&e remar&s about m hormone

le(els an time I became legitimatel u!set or angr about something) M identit as a "oman gre" out of m e#!eriences at !arties and other social occasions "hen I "ould come across a grou! of men tal&ing and laughing< and "itness them suddenl fall silent "hen I a!!roached) M identit e(ol(ed out of a million tin social e#changes "here others made it (er clear to me that m status in the "orldE m class< if ou "illE"as that of a "oman and not a man) =ot sur!risingl < no as!ect of m social transition has been more difficult for me to ad;ust to than the "a I am treated b some Bbut certainl not allC men) Granted< this "as not entirel une#!ected) 0efore m transition< I had often as&ed m female friends about their e#!eriences li(ing as "omen in a malecentered "orld) 4n an intellectual le(el< I &ne" that I "ould sometimes be dismissed or harassed once I started li(ing as female< but I underestimated ;ust ho" frustrating and hurtful each one of those instances "ould be) Words cannot e#!ress ho" condescending and infuriating it feels to ha(e men s!ea& do"n to me< tal& o(er me< and sometimes e(en !racticall !ut on bab -tal& (oices "hen addressing me) 4r ho" intimidating it feels to ha(e strangers ma&e le"d comments about ha(ing their "a "ith me as I.m "al&ing alone at night do"n dar& cit streets) And "hile I had numerous run-ins and arguments "ith strange men bac& "hen I "as male-bodied< I.d ne(er before e#!erienced the enraged (enom in their (oices and fur in their faces that I sometimes do no"Ean e#treme "rath that some men seem to reser(e s!ecificall for "omen "ho the belie(e threaten their fragile male egos) It became more and more difficult for me to see the !oint in identif ing outside of the male/female binar "hen I "as so regularl being targeted for discrimination and harassment because I "as a "oman< "hen I so fre8uentl had to stand u! for m self as a "oman in order to ma&e sure that other !eo!le did not get a"a "ith it) After a cou!le of ears li(ing in the "orld as female< I e(entuall came to embrace the identit of +"oman)- Thin&ing of m self as a "oman sim!l began to ma&e senseF it resonated "ith m li(ed e#!eriences) 0efore m transition< I "as hesitant about calling m self a "oman< mostl because I had no desire to li(e u! to the societal e#!ectations and ideals that others often !ro;ect onto that identit ) I used to fear that embracing that identit "ould be tantamount to cramming m self into some !redetermined bo#< restricting m !ossibilities and !otential) 0ut I no" reali,e that no matter ho" I act or "hat I do or sa < I remain a "omanEboth in the e es of the "orld and< more im!ortantl < in the "a that I e#!erience m self) While I used to (ie" the "ord +"oman- as limiting< I no" find it both em!o"ering and limitless) Together< all of the changes I.(e e#!erienced since m transitionEin m bod feelings< in m interactions "ith other !eo!le< and in m gro"ing life histor as a "omanEha(e led to me becoming a some"hat different !erson than I "as before) Granted< m !ersonalit < habits< o!inions< sense of humor< etc)< are mostl still the same< but m life itself has ta&en on a different sha!e) While I can thin& bac& to before m transition and imagine ho" I loo&ed and acted< I find that m memories of ho" it felt to be in m bod Eto be !h sicall maleEare becoming increasingl (ague "ith time) It.s not dissimilar to ho" I feel "hen I thin& bac& to high schoolErecalling all of the things that I thought< said< and did< et feeling almost as if I "ere reminiscing about another !erson) I no" loo& bac& on m ears as an adult male< remembering ho" I acted and interacted "ith others< but ha(ing some difficult relating to the !erson I "as bac& then) M life has (er much been resha!ed b the e#!eriences of being and feeling !h sicall female and ha(ing other !eo!le react to me as such) Peo!le often s8uabble o(er "hat defines a !erson as a "oman or a manE"hether it should be based on their chromosomes< assigned se#< genitals< or other factorsEbut such reductionist (ie"s den our indis!utabl holistic gendered realities) *or all of us< gender is first and foremost an indi(idual e#!erience< an amalgamation of our o"n uni8ue combinations of gender inclinations< social

interactions< bod feelings< and li(ed e#!eriences) While our e#!eriential gender is often sha!ed or influenced b our !ercei(ed gender Bthe gender others assume us to beC< one does not necessaril follo" from the other) *or e#am!le< I had li(ed and "as treated as a man for man ears< et I al"a s felt rather ambi(alent about belonging to that class) %ometimes "hen m female friends "ould go off on a tirade about men in general< I "ould ;oin in "ith them< not because I hated men or en;o ed ma&ing generali,ations about !eo!le< but as a "a of e#!ressing the fact that I did not feel li&e a man) That identit ne(er made sense to me gi(en m constant struggles "ith gender dissonance< the !ersistent bod feelings I e#!erienced that informed me that there "as something not 8uite right "ith m being !h sicall male< and m !ersonal histor of consciousl e#!loring and e#!ressing m femaleness and femininit both in m imagination and in !ublic) I gra(itated to"ard gender8ueer identities for most of the ears that I "as male-bodiedEat different !oints< (ie"ing m self as a bo "ho "anted to be a girl< a crossdresser< and bigenderedE because the resonated "ith the m riad of gendered e#!eriences that I had had u! to that !oint) The ca!tured the fact that< at the time< I reall did feel li&e I "as straddling both maleness and femaleness in some "a ) Gender8ueer identities no longer resonate "ith m e#!eriential gender in the same "a ) This is not to sa that I no" denounce them altogether< as I &no" firsthand ;ust ho" re"arding and em!o"ering it can be to see ourself as being outside< in bet"een< or transcending both femaleness and maleness) It.s ;ust that at this !oint in m life< I don.t feel gender8ueer an more) 5#!eriencing the "orld Band m o"n bod C as female ma&es the "ord +"oman- feel li&e a far better fit for me no") :nfortunatel < I ha(e met a fe" gender8ueeridentified !eo!le "ho ha(e e#!ressed sus!icion or ha(e been dismissi(e of the idea that someone could +transition- from gender8ueer to una!ologeticall "oman or man) %uch assertions are clearl the !roduct of gender entitlement< of these indi(iduals !ro;ecting their o"n !ers!ecti(es and beliefs onto other !eo!le.s gendered bodies< identities< and e#!eriences) 2o"e(er< the ma;orit of the transgender !eo!le I &no" understand that our e#!eriential gender is !otentiall fluid and often changes o(er time as "e accumulate ne" e#!eriences) I ha(e found that transse#uals in !articular are often acutel a"are of this fact< ha(ing e#!erienced the dramatic changes in our bod feelings< anatomies< !ersonal relationshi!s< and histories that t !icall accom!an social and !h sical transitioning) Personall < I find that the conce!t of e#!eriential gender not onl hel!s me ma&e sense of m o"n transition< but it gi(es me an a!!reciation of the inherent limits in m abilit to understand or s!ea& on behalf of other !eo!le.s genders) While I ma ha(e e#!erienced a "ider (ariet of as!ects of social and hormonal gender than most !eo!le< these e#!eriences are still far out"eighed b the (ast multitude of gendered feelings and e#!eriences that I ha(e not e#!erienced) Therefore< it "ould be both ignorant and arrogant for me to !ro;ect m limited e#!erience onto other !eo!le.s gendered li(es and bodies) This is !recisel "hat frustrates me about those cisse#uals "ho are most bothered "hen trans "omen sa that "e feel li&e "omen) The assume that "e are someho" tr ing to claim to &no" ho" other "omen feel< "hen in realit all "e are sa ing is that the identit of "oman most resonates "ith our o"n e#!eriential gender) And b insisting that "e trans "omen cannot !ossibl &no" "hat it.s li&e to +feel li&e a "oman<- the .re the ones being !resum!tuous< both b arrogantl assuming that other "omen e#!erience femaleness the "a the do and b im!l ing that the &no" enough about ho" trans "omen feel on the inside to claim that "e do not legitimatel e#!erience oursel(es as "omen) Their claims that the someho" understand +"omanhood- better than trans "omen do b (irtue of ha(ing been born and sociali,ed female is ;ust as nai(e and arrogant as m claiming to understand +"omanhood- better because< unli&e most "omen< I ha(e had a male e#!erience to com!are it to) An

claim that one has su!erior &no"ledge about "omanhood is fraught "ith gender entitlement and erases the infinite different "a s for !eo!le to e#!erience their o"n femaleness) There are countless e#!eriences that can sha!e a "oman.s gendered e#!eriences' being sociali,ed as a girl Bor notC< e#!eriencing menstruation and meno!ause Bor notC< becoming !regnant and gi(ing birth Bor notC< becoming a mother Bor notC< ha(ing a career outside of the home Bor notC< ha(ing a husband Bor a "ife or neitherC< and so on) Women.s li(es are also greatl sha!ed b additional factors such as race< age< abilit < se#ual orientation< economic class< and so on) While each of these indi(idual e#!eriences are shared b man "omenEand each is rightfull considered a +"omen.s issue-Eit "ould be foolish for an one to claim that an one of these "as a !rere8uisite for calling oneself a "oman) %o long as "e refuse to acce!t that +"oman- is a holistic conce!t< one that includes all !eo!le "ho e#!erience themsel(es as "omen< our conce!t of "omanhood "ill remain a mere reflection of our o"n !ersonal e#!eriences and biases rather than something based in the trul di(erse "orld that surrounds us)

11

Deconstructi(e %urger

05CA:%5 I.M A= 4:T TRA=% W4MA=< there is one 8uestion that follo"s me around "here(er I go) In8uiring minds "ant to &no"' 2a(e I +gone all the "a -O Kou &no"< ha(e I had +the surger -O And to me< it feels li&e a no-"in in8uisition) If I tell the truthE+=o< not et-Ethen I get to deal "ith e(er bod else.s emotional baggage< because nothing ma&es !eo!le more !aranoid than a real-life female "ith a !hallus) %traight men sha&e in their boots at the !ossibilit that the might +accidentall become attracted to me) And those "ho !atrol the gates of "omen-onl s!aces are often dead set on discriminating against me< dri(en b the ridiculous belief that m girl little estrogeni,ed !enis is someho" still !ulsating "ith h !ermasculine energ ) 4n the other hand< ha(ing the o!eration has its o"n stigma attached to it) =o medical methodolog induces as much fear and an#iet as %R%Ese# reassignment surger ) A friend told me that he once sa" %R% on the (ideo *aces of Death< sand"iched bet"een real-life shar& attac&s and murder attem!ts) %ome !eo!le go so far as to call %R% a form of self-mutilation< con(enientl ignoring the fact that more common !rocedures< such as nose ;obs and li!osuction< similarl in(ol(e the remo(al of a small amount of nonessential tissue) Most !eo!le are sur!rised "hen I tell them that the surgeons don.t reall cut the !enis off) The ;ust turn it inside out and mo(e the ner(e endings around to ma&e a functional and realisticloo&ing clitoris and (agina) At that !oint< I am in(ariabl as&ed if I "ant %R% so that I can ha(e se# "ith a man) And ou should see the blan& stares that I get "hen I re!l < +=o< but I.m reall loo&ing for"ard to ha(ing m "ife fuc& me "ith a stra!-on dildo)-

%ee< "e li(e in a !hallus-obsessed culture< "here "e.re all brought u! to belie(e that e(er thing ha(ing to do "ith gender and se#ualit someho" re(ol(es around the !enis) That.s "h so man clueless straight gu s come on to d &es "ith !ic&u! lines li&e< +4nce ou.(e had the real thing< bab < ou "on.t e(er go bac&)- %ome men actuall bu into that !hallocentric cra!D And it.s also "h most !eo!le can.t e(en tal& about transse#ual "omen or %R% "ithout centering the discussion on the !enis) 0ut m desire to ha(e %R% has (irtuall nothing to do "ith m !enis) This is about m "anting to ha(e a clitoris and (agina) 0ut "e don.t e(en ha(e the language to describe this desire) It.s the ultimate *reudian sli!' We naturall assume that all oung girls suffer from !enis en( < but "e can.t imagine that an bo could !ossibl ha(e its !olar o!!osite) It.s all in the "ords "e use) When someone is bold or bra(e< "e sa the ha(e +balls<- "hile "ords li&e +!uss - and +cunt- are onl e(er s!o&en as insults) And "hile e(er one seems to understand ho" the !enis "or&s< "e treat female genitalia li&e the .re a m sterious blac& bo#) Most oung "omen aren.t e(en taught the names of all their o"n bod !artsF some are una"are that the clitoris e(en e#istsF and as for the (agina< "ell< aren.t "e all taught to see that as sim!l the hole "here the !enis is su!!osed to goO %o it.s no "onder that most !eo!le assume that I must be mentall ill< because in this culture< "anting to be a "oman is something most !eo!le find literall unimaginable) And "hen I do ha(e %R%< m surgicall deconstructed genitals "ill no doubt be seen b some to be an abomination or a blas!hem ) 0ecause m cunt "ill be the ultimate 8uestion mar&< as&ing< 2o" !o"erful can the !enis reall be if a sane and smart !erson li&e me decides she can do "ithout itO And if the "orld su!!osedl re(ol(es around the !enis< then m %R% "ill &noc& it off its a#is) And !hallic s mbols e(er "here "ill come crashing do"n li&e nothing more than a house of cards) After all< a cigar is al"a s ;ust a cigar) And I am sim!l me) And I am fed u! "ith other !eo!le !ro;ecting their !enis obsessions onto m bod ) As far as I.m concerned< if the can.t fathom "h I might "ant to trade in m !enis for a clitoris and (agina< then the .re the ones "ho ha(e the gender disorder)

1$

0ending 4(er 0ac&"ards' Traditional %e#ism and Trans-Woman-5#clusion Policies

Pre;udice usuall can.t sur(i(e close contact "ith the !eo!le "ho are su!!osed to be so des!icable< "hich is "h the !ro!agandists for hate al"a s !reach se!aration)

EPatric& Califia1

4J5R T25 @A%T %5J5RA@ K5AR%< a ma;or focus of m trans acti(ism and "riting has been the issue of trans-"oman-inclusion in lesbian and "omen-onl s!aces) I first heard of the issue bac& in 1>>>< around the time that I "as beginning to call m self transgenderedEabout t"o ears before I began m !h sical transition) At the time< I "as (oraciousl reading e(er thing I could get m hands on related to trans e#!eriences and issues) As I read< I &e!t stumbling u!on !ast instances of anti-trans"oman discrimination from "ithin the lesbian and feminist communities) These included derogator anti-trans-"oman remar&s b influential feminist thin&ers such as Mar Dal < Germaine Greer< Andrea D"or&in< Robin Morgan< and of course Hanice Ra mond B"ho< in addition to "riting the anti-trans screed The Transse#ual 5m!ire< tried to con(ince the =ational Center for 2ealth Care Technolog to den transse#uals the right to hormones and surger CF stories about transse#ual +"itch hunts<- in "hich committed lesbian-feminists li&e %and %tone and 0eth 5lliott "ere !ublicl outed< debased< and e#iled from the lesbian communit solel for being transse#ualF and of course< trans"oman-e#clusion !olicies< such as the Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al.s eu!hemisticall named +"om n-born"om n-onl - !olic < "hich "as retroacti(el instated in the earl 1>>?s after an incident in "hich a "oman named =anc 0ur&holder "as e#!elled from the festi(al "hen it "as disco(ered that she "as trans)$ While I found it disa!!ointing that !eo!le "ho identified as lesbians and as feminists "ould come do"n so harshl on another se#ual minorit < I cannot sa that I "as reall sur!rised) After all< !racticall e(er facet of our societ seemed to hate or fear trans !eo!le bac& then< and these incidents seemed more li&e a s m!tom of societ -"ide trans!hobia rather than something uni8ue or s!ecific to the lesbian communit ) And as I "as gi(ing thought to becoming in(ol(ed in trans acti(ism m self< there seemed to be !lent of other< more !ractical and rele(ant issues for me to ta&e on) 0ut in the ears that follo"ed< I e#!erienced a number of changes in m life that "ould considerabl resha!e m (ie"s on this matter) *or one thing< there "as m !h sical transition and the countless social changes I e#!erienced as a result of being !ercei(ed as female) 0ut for me< being trans didn.t merel in(ol(e learning ho" to na(igate m "a through the "orld as a "oman) I ha(e the !ri(ilege of being a!!ro!riatel gendered as female< so in m da -to-da life< "hen I am forced to come out to someone< nine times out of ten it is not as a transse#ual< but as a lesbian) It ha!!ens e(er time somebod as&s me if I am seeing someone and I re!l < +Actuall < I ha(e a "ife)- It ha!!ens e(er time Dani and I dare to hold hands or &iss in !ublic) It ha!!ens "hen Dani is not around< but someone assumes that I am a d &e an "a because of the "a that I dress< s!ea&< or carr m self) After m transition< I began to "rite not onl about being transgendered< but about m e#!eriences li(ing in the "orld as a "oman and a d &e after ears of being !ercei(ed as a straight man) =ot sur!risingl < most of "hat I "rote had a definite feminist bent) It seemed im!ossible for me< as a trans "oman< to discuss m ;ourne from male to female "ithout !lacing it in the conte#t of the differing (alues our societ !laces on maleness and femaleness< on masculinit and femininit ) :nfortunatel < man !eo!le tend to artificiall se!arate feminism from transgender acti(ism< as if the are distinct issues that are in no "a related) 2o"e(er< I ha(e found that much of the anti-trans discrimination that trans "omen come across is clearl rooted in traditional se#ism) This can be seen in ho" the media Po"ers That 0e s stematicall sensationali,e< se#uali,e< and ridicule trans "omen "hile allo"ing trans men to remain largel in(isible) It.s "h the trann se# and !orn industries catering to straight-identified men do not fetishi,e fol&s on the *TM s!ectrum for their II chromosomes or their sociali,ation as girls) =o< the ob;ectif trans "omen< because our bodies and

our !ersons are female) I ha(e found that man female-assigned gender8ueers and *TM s!ectrum trans !eo!le go on and on about the gender binar s stem< as if trans !eo!le are onl e(er discriminated against for brea&ing gender norms) That might be ho" it seems "hen the gender transgression in 8uestion is an e#!ression of masculinit ) 0ut as someone on the MT* s!ectrum< I am not dismissed for merel failing to li(e u! to binar gender norms< but for e#!ressing m o"n femaleness and femininit ) And !ersonall < I don.t feel li&e I.m the (ictim of +trans!hobia- as much as I am the (ictim of transmisog n ) This ideaEthat much of "hat is commonl called trans!hobia is merel traditional se#ism in disguise Emo(ed to the forefront of m mind as I began to be in(ited to do s!o&en "ord !erformances at (arious 8ueer "omen.s e(ents around the %an *rancisco 0a Area) While I "as "elcomed (er "arml b most of the "omen "ho attended these e(ents< I "ould sometimes come across certain "omen "ho "ould act dismissi(el to"ard me< "ho seemed bothered b me being there< "ho acted as if the "ere granting me a s!ecial fa(or b tolerating m !resence< "ho "ould ma&e offhand and ina!!ro!riate comments about m trans status as if to remind me that I "as not a real "oman li&e the "ere) This sense of o"nershi! and entitlement about being a "oman or being lesbian seemed h !ocritical to me) After all< as soon as "e "ould "al& out the door< all of us "ould face similar discrimination for being "omen and for being d &es) 0ut "hat "as most frustrating about the "a that man of these "omen dismissed me "as the fact that the seemed to ha(e no !roblems at all "ith female-bodied fol&s e#!ressing masculinit and "ith trans !eo!le on the *TM s!ectrum attending their e(ents) In other "ords< the didn.t ha(e much of a !roblem "ith transgender !eo!le !er se< ;ust so long as the "ere male- or masculine-identified rather than female- or feminine-identified) This !ri(ileging of trans men o(er trans "omen is not merel a bias held b certain indi(iduals< but rather one that is often institutionali,ed "ithin 8ueer "omen.s culture and organi,ations) These da s< it is not uncommon to see the "ord +trans- used to "elcome trans men Bbut not trans "omenC on e(er thing from lesbian e(ents to se# sur(e s and !la !arties) And e(en at the Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al< "omen are no longer defined based on their legal se#< a!!earance< or selfidentification< but on "hether or not the "ere born and raised a girl) And "hile some !erformers "ho identif as transgender and ans"er to male !ronouns are in(ited to ta&e the festi(al stage each ear< someone li&e m selfE"ho identifies 1?? !ercent as femaleEisn.t e(en allo"ed to stand in the audience)/ As "ith most forms of !re;udice< trans-"oman-s!ecific discrimination "ithin the 8ueer "omen.s communit seems to !roliferate e(en more in the absence of trans "omen than in our !resenceF this is no sur!rise< as bigots are t !icall too co"ardl to dare ha(e their (ie"s o!enl discussed or debated "ith the (er !eo!le the des!ise) While anti-trans-"oman sentiments are generall e#!ressed outside of m (ie"< I still hear about them all the time from m trans male and 8ueer female friends< "ho often tell me about self-identified d &es in their communit "ho o!enl discuss lusting after trann bois and trans men one minute< then in the ne#t< deride trans "omen for being +cree! - and +effeminate)The !o!ular s!in gi(en to this !referential treatment of trans men o(er trans "omen states that trans men ha(e been raised female and therefore should ha(e a !lace in "omen.s and lesbian communities< "hereas trans "omen ha(e e#!erienced male !ri(ilege and remain !h sicall male on some le(el< and therefore should be e#cluded) 2o"e(er< this argument ma&es little sense "hen e#amined more closel ) After all< ho" can someone "ho identifies as female and currentl li(es as a "oman ha(e less in common "ith "omen than a male-identified !erson "ho has male !h sical attributes and currentl benefits from male !ri(ilegeO The !remise that trans "omen should be singled out because "e +used to be men- is highl sus!ect) Rather< I belie(e that this !reference for trans men o(er trans "omen sim!l

reflects the societ -"ide inclination to (ie" masculinit as being strong and natural< and femininit as being "ea& and artificial) In other "ords< it is a !roduct of traditional se#ism) M a!!reciation for the "a s in "hich traditional se#ism sha!es !o!ular assum!tions about trans "omen started to reall ta&e sha!e during $??/ and $??1< as I became in(ol(ed in Cam! Trans< an organi,ation that "or&s to end the e#clusion of trans "omen from "omen-onl s!aces< most notabl the Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al) In m "or& on this issue< I learned firsthand ho" the occasional anti-trans-"oman sentiment I "ould come across in the relati(el trans-friendl 0a Area "as ;ust the ti! of the iceberg) %ome of the "omen "ho tra(el from all o(er the countr to attend Michigan thin& nothing of "earing their sus!icion or hatred of trans "omen on their slee(es< and the "ill often ma&e e#traordinaril ignorant and insensiti(e comments about trans "omen in their attem!ts to ;ustif our e#clusion) I am sure these "omen belie(e that the are !rotecting the (alues of lesbian and "omen.s s!ace b o!!osing our inclusion at all costs< but in realit the s!ecific !oints the ma&e generall undermine feminist goals and beliefs rather than su!!ort them) After all< at its core< feminism is based on the con(iction that "omen are far more than the se# of the bodies that "e are born into< and our identities and abilities are ca!able of transcending the restricti(e nature of the gender sociali,ation "e endure during our childhoods) I ha(e et to meet the !erson "ho can e#!lain to me ho" refusing trans "omen the right to !artici!ate in "omen.s s!aces and e(ents is consistent "ith this most central tenet of feminism) Indeed< some of the most common arguments used to den trans "omen the right to !artici!ate in "omen-onl s!aces also ha!!en to be the most antifeminist) *or e#am!le< man argue that trans "omen should be barred from "omen.s s!aces because "e su!!osedl still ha(e +male energ )- 0ut b suggesting that trans "omen !ossess some m stical +male energ - as a result of ha(ing been born and raised male< these "omen are essentiall ma&ing the case that men ha(e abilities and a!titudes that "omen are not ca!able of) Another !o!ular e#cuse for our e#clusion is the fact that some trans "omen ha(e male genitals Bas man of us either cannot afford or choose not to ha(e se# reassignment surger C) This +!enisargument not onl ob;ectifies trans "omen b reducing us to our genitals< but !ro!agates the male m th that men.s !o"er and domination someho" arise from the !hallus) The truth is< our !enises are made of flesh and blood< nothing more) And the (er idea that the femaleness of m mind< !ersonalit < li(ed e#!eriences< and the rest of m bod can someho" be trum!ed b the mere !resence of a !enis can onl be described as !hallocentric) It.s distressing that such !hallocentric arguments< along "ith related arguments that har! on the idea that trans "omen +!h sicall resemble- or +loo& li&e- men in other "a s< are so regularl made b lesbian-feminists< considering that the are based in the societ -"ide !ri(ileging of male attributes o(er female ones) In "hat is no" considered classic research< sociologists %u,anne Gessler and Wend McGenna sho"ed that in our culture< "hen !eo!le Bboth "omen and menC gender others< "e tend to "eigh male (isual cues as far more significant than female ones< and almost in(ariabl consider the !enis as being the single most im!ortant gender cue of all Bi)e)< its !resence trum!s all other gender cuesF the !resence of a (agina does not elicit a similar effectC)1 In their "ords< +There seem to be no cues that are definitel female< "hile there are man that are definitel male) To be male is to Nha(e. something and to be female is to Nnot ha(e. it)-3 Gessler and McGenna (ie" this !ri(ileging of male cues as resulting from male-centrism Bsimilar to ho" !eo!le often fa(or using the !ronoun +he- "hen s!ea&ing genericall C) Ta&ing this into account< it becomes rather ob(ious that "hen cisse#ual "omen den trans "omen the right to !artici!ate in "omen-onl s!aces because of their o"n tendenc to !ri(ilege an +mannish- or +masculine- traits "e ma ha(e o(er our man female attributes< the are

fostering and !romoting male-centrism) 4f course< trans-"oman-e#clusion cannot be ;ustified solel on the basis that some of us loo& or act +mannish- or +masculine-Eother"ise< butch "omen "ould ha(e to be e#cluded as "ell) Indeed< in recent ears< as feminism itself has shifted a"a from gender essentialist theories and to"ard more social constructionist ones< the basis for trans-"oman-e#clusion is more fre8uentl our male sociali,ation rather than our male biolog ) This a!!roach also !ro(ides con(enient intellectual co(er for those "ho "ish to include *TM s!ectrum fol&s B"ho "ere sociali,ed femaleC in "omen.s s!aces) 0ut once again< such an a!!roach runs counter to the !rece!ts of feminism) After all< feminists regularl insist that "omen are ca!able of doing an thing men can des!ite ha(ing been raised as girls and encouraged to ta&e a subordinate !osition to men) Thus< "omen can Band often doC transcend their female sociali,ation) It remains unclear "h these same feminists "ould !arado#icall insist that trans "omen are unable to similarl transcend our male sociali,ation) The fact that sociali,ation is a s!ecious argument became ob(ious to me during an e#change I had "ith a trans-"oman-e#clusionist "ho insisted that m being raised male "as the sole reason in her mind for me to be dis8ualified from entering "omen-onl s!aces) %o I as&ed her if she "as o!en to allo"ing trans "omen "ho are anatomicall male but "ho ha(e been sociali,ed femaleEsomething that.s not all that uncommon for MT* children these da s)6 %he admitted to ha(ing concerns about their attending) Then< I as&ed ho" she "ould feel about a !erson "ho "as born female et raised male against her "ill< and "ho< after a lifetime of !retending to be male in order to sur(i(e< finall reclaimed her female identit u!on reaching adulthood) After being confronted "ith this scenario< the "oman conceded that she "ould be inclined to let this !erson enter "omen-onl s!ace< thus demonstrating that her argument about male sociali,ation "as reall an argument about biolog after all) In fact< after being !ressed a bit further< she admitted that the scenario of a oung girl "ho "as forced against her "ill into bo hood made her reali,e ho" traumatic and dehumani,ing male sociali,ation could be for someone "ho "as female-identified) This< of course< is e#actl ho" man trans "omen e#!erience their o"n childhoods) Another !o!ular reason used to ;ustif trans-"oman-e#clusion is cisse#ual "omen.s fears that "e "ill someho" ma&e "omen-onl s!aces unsafe) *or e#am!le< it.s common for trans-"oman-e#clusionists to e#!ress concerns o(er the !ossibilit that "e might assault other "omenEan accusation that is entirel unfounded< as there is no credible e(idence to suggest that trans "omen are an more (iolent or abusi(e than "omen as a "hole) 5(en in %an *rancisco Bthe :)%) cit most li&el to ha(e the highest !ercentage of trans "omen !er ca!itaC< there has ne(er been a single !olice re!ort of a trans "oman harassing another "oman in a bathroom)7 4thers argue that trans "omen could !otentiall trigger those "ho ha(e sur(i(ed !h sical or se#ual (iolence at the hands of menEa suggestion that is offensi(e not onl because it is rooted in the male-centric tendenc to (ie" trans "omen as +menB"hich is the result of !ri(ileging male attributes o(er female onesC< but because it denies the fact that man trans "omen are !h sicall (iolated and se#uall assaulted for being "omen< too) 0ut "hat I find most dumbfounding about lesbian-feminist arguments that trans "omen might someho" threaten cisse#ual "omen.s safet is ho" eeril similar the are to the arguments some heterose#ual "omen ha(e made in the !ast in their attem!ts to e#clude lesbians from "omen.s s!aces and organi,ations)9 This is "h it.s so disa!!ointing for me to see members of m o"n d &e communit !racticall bending o(er bac&"ards< embracing h !ocris < in a last-ditch effort to !re(ent trans "omen from entering lesbian and "omen-onl s!aces) Women "ho are a!!alled b the militar .s +don.t as&< don.t tell- !olic regarding homose#ualit seem to find no fault "ith Michigan for enforcing a similar !olic regarding gender) Women "ho ha(e struggled against !atriarchal ideals of "hat ma&es a +real- "oman

thin& nothing of turning around and using the "ord +real- against trans "omen) Women "ho "ould be outraged if an all-male !anel "ere to discuss "omen.s or lesbian issues in =e"s"ee& or Time maga,ine see nothing "rong "ith the fact that< in the last fe" ears< se(eral of the largest lesbian and feminist maga,ines ha(e run articles and roundtable discussions on the issue of Michigan and trans"oman-inclusion "ithout in(iting an trans "omen to !artici!ate)> It.s sad to see "omen so des!erate to !re(ent trans "omen from attending Michigan that the "ill actuall tr to ma&e the ridiculous case that this +"om n.s- festi(al "as ne(er actuall meant to be an e(ent for "omen< but rather for those "ho "ere born and raised as girls) I am sure that a lot of the same !eo!le "ho su!!ort Michigan.s trans-"oman-e#clusion !olic < or "ho sit on the fence on this issue< "ould ha(e a (er different o!inion if it "ere their o"n inclusion that "as being debated) Can ou imagine ho" angr these (er same "omen "ould be if the largest annual "omen-onl e(ent in the "orld "as run b straight "omen "ho decided to e#clude 8ueer "omen from attendingO Can ou imagine ho" insulted the "ould feel if the "ere told that the "ere not allo"ed to enter "omen-onl s!ace because the "ere not +real- "omen< or that their attraction to "omen might threaten the safet of other "omenO Can ou imagine ho" condescending the "ould find it if straight "omen tal&ed to them about being 8ueer-!ositi(e one minute< then turned around and !urchased a R1?? tic&et to a +8ueerfree- "omen.s e(ent the ne#tO As much as I am bothered b the long histor of trans "omen being e#!elled from the lesbian communit during the .7?s< .9?s< and earl .>?s< I am "illing to chal& that u! to the fact that the transgender mo(ement hadn.t full come into its o"n et< and there "ere fe" !eo!le "ho "ere able to articulate a clear message for transgender rights and inclusion at the time) 0ut no"< in $??7< there is no legitimate e#cuse for trans-"oman-e#clusion in lesbian and "omen-onl s!aces) Most @G0 grou!s ha(e long since added Ts to the ends of their acron ms) And "hile there "as a time "hen transinclusion debates onl too& !lace on the outs&irts of the 8ueer communit < the no" ta&e !lace in "or&!laces and courthouses all across the :nited %tates) In the last t"ent ears< nine states BMinnesota< Rhode Island< =e" Me#ico< California< Maine< Illinois< 2a"aii< Washington< and =e" Herse C and scores of cities and counties across the countr ha(e e#tended their nondiscrimination la"s to e#!licitl include transgender !eo!le)1? It.s do"nright embarrassing that so man fol&s "ithin the 8ueer "omen.s communit < "ho generall !ride themsel(es on their !rogressi(e !olitics< ha(e managed to fall behind Peoria< Illinois< and 5l Paso< Te#as< in recogni,ing and res!ecting trans !eo!le.s gender identities) 0ut trans-"oman-e#clusion in lesbian and "omen-onl s!aces is not merel a trans rights issueEif it "ere< I "ould consider it to be im!ortant< but I !robabl "ould not ha(e de(oted so much of m time and energ to it) The main reason "h trans-"oman-e#clusion e(o&es such !assion and frustration in me is !recisel because it is both anti-trans and antifeminist) And as a feminist< it gra(el disturbs me that other self-described feminists are so "illing to o(erloo& or !ur!osefull ignore ho" inherentl se#ist trans-"oman-e#clusion !olicies and !olitics are' The fa(or trans men o(er trans "omen< the ram!antl ob;ectif trans female bodies< and the !ri(ilege trans "omen.s a!!earances< sociali,ation< and the se# others assigned to us at birth o(er our !ersons< our minds< and our identities) And "hat saddens me e(en more than the irrational trans-misog nistic fear and hatred dis!la ed b the (ocal minorit "ho most adamantl o!!ose our inclusion is the a!ath of the silent ma;orit of 8ueer "omen and feminists "ho enable that !re;udice' those "ho continue to attend "omen.s e(ents that e#clude trans "omenF those "ho e#cuse or choose not to confront antifeminist/anti-trans"oman comments and actions made b members of their o"n communit F those "ho tacitl gi(e credence to antifeminist/anti-trans"oman rhetoric b referring to the issue of trans-"oman-e#clusion as a

+contro(ers - or a +debate)- I "ould submit to them that there has ne(er been a legitimate debate regarding this issue< as the o(er"helming ma;orit of dialogues and discourses on this sub;ect ha(e ta&en !lace among cisse#ual "omen in the absence of an trans "omen) Perha!s the most nai(e and condescending refrain a!ologists for the trans-"oman-e#clusionists ma&e is that these a!ologists are "or&ing hard to change these "omen-onl organi,ations and s!aces from "ithin) This is a seriousl fla"ed notion) If ou loo& bac& at histor < there has not been a single instance "here !eo!le ha(e o(ercome a dee!l entrenched !re;udice "ithout first being forced to interact "ith the !eo!le the detest) Mere "ords cannot dis!el bigoted stereot !es and fearsF onl !ersonal e#!eriences can) The 8ueer rights mo(ement "ould not ha(e made the !rogress that it has if acti(ists merel relied on 8ueer-!ositi(e straight !eo!le to lobb on our behalf< to s!ea& as our !ro#ies) %ocial !rogress "as onl made through both the frontline "or& of outs!o&en acti(ists shouting< +We.re here< "e.re 8ueer< get used to itD- and that of committed straight allies "ho absolutel refused to tolerate anti-8ueer remar&s and discrimination from members of their o"n communities) %imilarl < I entreat all feminists and all 8ueer "omen to recogni,e that the di(isi(e issue of trans-"oman-e#clusion "ill continue to be "ith us as long as "e fail to directl confront and re!udiate antifeminist/anti-trans"oman !olicies and rhetoric "here(er the e#ist)

1/

%elf-Dece!tion

I= $??$< T55=AG5R GW5= ARA:H4 "as brutall murdered b four men "ho bludgeoned her to death because she "as born male< because she "as a transgender "oman) 0ut this is not another !iece about the horrors of hate crimes or another des!erate rant about (iolence< ignorance< or !re;udice) =o< this !iece is about the m th of dece!tion) A ear and a half after her death< three of G"en.s murderers stood on trial together) The e(idence demonstrated that the had !lotted her murder a "ee& in ad(ance) And normall < !remeditation ensures a first-degree murder sentence< but not in this case) The trial ended "ith a hung ;ur < a (ictor for the defense la" ers< "ho insisted that the murder "as merel manslaughter because the defendants "ere someho" (ictims of G"en.s +se#ual deceit)- T"o of the &illers had been intimate "ith her< and their la" ers argued that "hen the later disco(ered that she had male genitals< the "ere dri(en to commit a +crime of !assion)-1 Dece!tion) It.s the noose that the narcissistic dra!e around the nec&s of transgender "omen) @esbianfeminist Hanice Ra mond used the "ord +dece!tion- o(er and o(er again in The Transse#ual 5m!ire as a "a to dismiss transse#ual "omen.s femaleness< so that she could call them men and accuse them of transitioning in order to +!enetrate ))) "omen.s s!ace- and +ra!e "omen.s bodies)-$ And scientists "ho stud animal mating beha(ior often use the "ord +dece!tion- to e#!lain "h the males of man s!ecies engage in courtshi! rituals "ith feminine malesEcreatures the researchers dismiss as +female

mimics- to den an !ossibilit that the masculine males "illingl choose to !artner "ith feminine males)/ 0ehind e(er accusation of dece!tion lies an unchallenged assum!tionEin this case< that no male in his right mind could e(er be attracted to someone "ho "as feminine< et !h sicall male) This !remise underlies Ha @eno.s infamous 8uestion to 2ugh Grant' +What "ere ou thin&ingO-1 It.s "h Grant and fello" celebrit 5ddie Mur!h are still able to star in films for Disne "hile the trann !rostitutes the sought out are reduced to cinematic no(elties' tasteless ;o&es in teen comedies< bad @ou Reed anecdotes in art films !roduced b And Warhol "annabes< or as e#am!les of urban deca in !olice dramas set on sordid and seed cit streets) Transgender "omen are !ortra ed as decei(ers so that rabid heterose#uals can turn a blind e e to the transse#ual !orn ads that litter the bac& of men.s maga,ines li&e 2ustler and Penthouse< so that mainstream mo(iegoers can "atch The Cr ing Game and act sur!rised to find out that the "oman "ho !erforms in the drag bar ha!!ens to ha(e a !enis) +Dece!tion- is the scarlet letter that trannies are made to "ear so that e(er bod else can claim innocence) This is "h the !olice< la" ers< and !ress "ho "or&ed on the G"en Arau;o case ignored the multi!le sources "ho insisted that G"en.s &illers &ne" she "as transgender to begin "ith)3 It.s "h nobod e(er 8uestioned ho" ne#t-to-im!ossible it "ould be for t"o of G"en.s &illers to ha(e had anal se# "ith her "ithout e(er coming across her genitals) =obod "as "illing to e(en consider the !ossibilit that G"en.s murderers &no"ingl had se# "ith her) Wh challenge our culture.s m o!ic (ie" of male se#ualit "hen it.s so eas to blame it all on one decei(ing trann O And "h 8uestion the !s chotic !aranoia "ith "hich man men defend their masculinit "hen it.s so con(enient to trash one oung trans !erson.s gender identit O The truth is that the m th of transse#ual dece!tion is merel a ruse< a smo&e screen designed to hide societal com!licit in this traged ) Most !eo!le "ant to belie(e that G"en.s murder "as an isolated incident< an egregious act committed b a handful of oung men "ho "ere !ro(o&ed into doing the unthin&able) That "a the need not confront the fact that half of the hung ;ur "as more "illing to identif "ith male homo!hobic h steria than "ith an innocent transgender teenager) The need not e#amine ho" the ne"s co(erage and commentar < articles< editorials< and anal ses in(ariabl chose to (ie" this crime through the murderers. e es< or through a grie(ing mother.s tears< for fear of "hat might ha!!en if the dared to imagine themsel(es as G"en< a oung trann the so des!eratel "anted to belie(e "as nothing li&e them) 5(er one chose to ti!toe around the sub;ect because the "ere too afraid to !ut themsel(es in G"en Arau;o.s shoes< if onl for a moment< to as& "hat the "orld loo&ed li&e from her (ie"' To imagine ho" frustrated ou might be if ou "ere unable to e#!lore our o"n se#ualit "ithout ha(ing other !eo!le turn our bod into a lightning rod for their o"n insecurities) To imagine ho" un;ust it "ould feel to be dismissed as a fraud des!ite being the onl nineteen- ear-old in our &no"n uni(erse "ith the guts to trul be ourself) To imagine ho" frail masculinit "ould seem to ou if ou had seen a !ac& of oung men in their t"enties e#ude !ure fear o(er one feminine transgender teen) To imagine ho" flat-out foolish those bo s must ha(e seemed as the confronted ou "ith the 8uestion< +Are ou a "oman or a manO- And to !icture the blan& stares on their faces "hen ou re!lied< +Isn.t it ob(iousOTo imagine ho" hollo" accusations of dece!tion "ould sound to ou if ou understood that the real 8uestion that needed to be as&ed "as +Who.s decei(ing "homOAs I said< this !iece is not about hate crimes< (iolence< ignorance< or !re;udice) It.s about self-

dece!tion) It.s about the assum!tions that !eo!le li&e me li(e "ith on a dail basis) 0ecause li&e G"en< I "as born male) I am a transgender "oman) And if "e "ere to meet and if I didn.t immediatel share that information "ith ou< "ould that be an act of dece!tionO Could ou accuse me of telling a lie if ou "ere to see "hat ou "anted to see "ith our o"n e es and I decided to sim!l &ee! 8uietO And if I "ere to !resume things about ou that "ere not true< could I accuse ou of misleading me tooO 4r "ould such careless accusations of dece!tion merel be e#!ressions of callous !ride< a stubborn refusal to ac&no"ledge our o"n mista&en assum!tionsO The untold stor behind G"en.s much-!ublici,ed death is that she is onl the ti! of the iceberg) G"en.s murder too& !lace in the %an *rancisco 0a Area< "here there are thousands of !eo!le "ho identif as transgender) Gee! that in mind e(er time ou "al& do"n the street or flirt "ith a stranger) A certain !ercentage of the !eo!le ou meet either a!!ear to be a se# different from the one the "ere assigned at birth or identif as a gender different from the one ou assume the are) And if this ma&es ou feel uneas < it is onl because ou are choosing not to li(e in realit ) It is time to mo(e be ond !seudoliberal sound bites about ho" "e all need to acce!t !eo!le "ho differ from us) Mere tolerance is insufficient) If "e are to learn an lesson from G"en Arau;o.s death< it.s that "e each need to ta&e !ersonal res!onsibilit for our o"n !resum!tions) We should sto! bu ing into the m th of dece!tion< because the truth is that e(er da < each of us is guilt of committing countless acts of assum!tion)

11

Trans-%e#uali,ation

I =5J5R *:@@K APPR5CIAT5D "hat it meant to be se#uali,ed "hen I "as male-bodied) 0ac& then< I "ould sometimes o(erhear men shouting le"d comments at "omen< or deliberatel turning their heads to ogle "omen as the "al&ed b ) At the time< I assumed that the men "ho committed such acts "ere sim!l e#!ressing a form of se#ual interest< albeit in a rude and adolescent manner) While other men ma ha(e e#!erienced a similar attraction to the "oman in 8uestion< I thought< most "ere a!!arentl res!ectful enough not to (ocali,e such thoughts !ublicl ) In this sense< catcalls reminded me of those bad teen se# comediesEundoubtedl crude and obno#ious< but relati(el harmless) In retros!ect< I no" reali,e that this inter!retation "as largel enabled b the fact that I had not been on the recei(ing end of such acts before) M !ers!ecti(e changed radicall almost immediatel after I began hormone thera! ) In fact< one of the first indications I had that others "ere beginning to gender me as female "as the occasional se#ual innuendo that I recei(ed from strange men as I "al&ed do"n cit streets) M !re(ious assum!tionE that such comments "ere e#!ressions of se#ual desireEsuddenl seemed unli&el to me) At the time Bonl t"o months into m transitionC< I barel e(en loo&ed li&e a "oman and had no figure "hatsoe(er) =or did the comments ha(e an thing to do "ith m being dressed in a !articularl feminine or

re(ealing fashion< as I "as still dressing in bo -mode< "earing flannel shirts o(er T-shirts o(er s!orts bras to hide the fact that I "as de(elo!ing breasts) In addition< man of these comments "ere unarguabl mean-s!irited and insulting< and no attem!t "as made to disguise them as flirting) I "as clearl being o(ertl se#uali,ed b these strangers< and not because I "as deemed attracti(e< but sim!l because I a!!eared to be a "oman) And the !ur!ose of such blatantl (ulgar remar&s "as not to e#!ress attraction or !otentiall garner m interest< but rather to e#ert a modicum of control o(er me' to ma&e me feel uncomfortable< intimidated< angr < or fearful< to force me to loo& a"a or to cross the street to a(oid their harassment) These da s< I recogni,e the huge difference bet"een se#ual desire and se#uali,ation) %e#ual desirabilit is something that "e all ho!e to ha(e to some e#tent) When other !eo!le e#!ress their se#ual desire for us< it can be e#tremel em!o"ering< so long as such e#!ressions are reser(ed for the a!!ro!riate time and !laceEi)e)< from the right !erson and "hen "e ha(e signaled our o!enness or "illingness to reci!rocate) %e#uali,ation< on the other hand< has the o!!osite effect' Rather than em!o"ering the !erson< it.s used to le(erage !o"er o(er them) This can be seen all the time in the media< "here "omen often a!!ear not as full formed human beings "ith their o"n thoughts< feelings< and o!inions< but as !urel se#ual ob;ects used to sell cars< beer< and other commodities) %ome might nai(el argue that these "omen ha(e !o"erEs!ecificall < the !o"er to lure menEbut it.s a !o"er that onl ser(es heterose#ual male interests) After all< ho" much !o"er is there in being a carrot on a stic& dangled in front of someoneO %uch de!ictions e#ist in shar! contrast to media e#!ressions of se#ualit that center on real-life "omen.s se#ual desires and !ers!ecti(es< such as The Jagina Monologues or a Margaret Cho sho") The fact that se#uali,ation is an attem!t to dehumani,e and disem!o"er "omen is e(en more e(ident in remar&s "e get on the street< "hich in(ariabl occur "hen "omen are !resumed (ulnerable B"hen "e are alone or outnumberedC and often go unchallenged solel because the men "ho ma&e such comments are !h sicall stronger than the "omen the harass) Perha!s it.s onl one in fift or one in a hundred men "ho stoo! to the le(el of catcalls Bor "orseC< but o(er time the ta&e their toll and achie(e their intended effect' The ma&e us feel li&e "e are targets) Indeed< the se#uali,ation that occurs in both media imager and !ublic harassment reinforces a !o"er d namic bet"een the se#es in "hich men are in(ariabl (ie"ed as !redators and "omen as !re ) This !redator/!re mind-set ma&es it (irtuall im!ossible for us to imagine that a "oman has the !otential to be a se#ual aggressor Be(ident in the common disbelief about< and inabilit to articulate< instances of "oman-on-"oman se#ual (iolence or female fetishismC or that a man can be a se#ual ob;ect Bas seen b the tendenc for !eo!le to (ie" oung bo s "ho are seduced b adult "omen as being +luc& <- as o!!osed to being (ictims of statutor ra!eC)1 In fact< the onl instances in "hich adult men seem to ha(e the !otential to become se#ual ob;ects is "hen the are se#uali,ed or coerced into se#ual acts b male aggressors) :nderstanding this !redator/!re dichotom is crucial for us to ma&e sense of the "a transse#ual "omen are se#uali,ed in our societ ) 5(en though man !eo!le insist that trans "omen remain male des!ite our transitions< "e are hardl e(er se#uali,ed as +men)- %ure< there ha(e been a handful of mo(ies that de!ict fictional MT* transse#uals (iolentl !re ing on "omen< but such characters are almost al"a s !ortra ed as +de(iant- or +deranged- males rather than as actual trans "omen) *or e#am!le< the characters in the mo(ies Dressed to Gill B1>9?C and The %ilence of the @ambs B1>>1C neither li(e as nor !h sicall transition to female< and their su!!osed transse#ualit is treated sim!l as a !s chosis that dri(es them to commit (iolence) In the (ast ma;orit of cases< ho"e(er< the se#uali,ation of trans "omen casts us in the role of se#ual ob;ect rather than se#ual aggressor) *or e#am!le< the trann se# and !orn industries< "hich !rimaril cater to straight-identified men< o(er"helmingl feature trans "omen as their se#ual ob;ects) In contrast< trans men are not ob;ectified

b straight-identified men to nearl the same e#tentF trans male !orn B"hat little of it there isC attracts a !redominantl ga male and 8ueer female audience)$ In m o"n e#!erience< I ha(e found that the "a I.m se#uali,ed as a trans "oman is similar to ho" I.m se#uali,ed "hen I.m !resumed to be a cisse#ual "oman Bi)e)< I.m se#uall ob;ectified rather than seen as an aggressorC) In(ariabl < though< the former is more in(asi(e and debasing) *or e#am!le< "hen I am assumed to be cisse#ual< the se#uali,ing comments I recei(e almost al"a s come from random strangers in !ublic) 2o"e(er< if I meet a man in a more social situation Be)g)< at a !art or a barC< he rarel stoo!s to blatantl crass< se#uali,ing comments< e(en "hen he is flirting "ith me) 2o"e(er< in social settings "here I am &no"n to be transse#ual Be)g)< at e(ents "here I !erform s!o&en "ord !oetr C< men do often blatantl se#uali,e me' I ha(e had men immediatel engage me in con(ersations about ho" much the en;o +she-male- !orn< flat-out tell me +I.m turned on b Ngirls li&e ou<.- and e#!licitl describe the se# acts the ha(e had "ith other trans "omen in the !ast) And numerous times I ha(e recei(ed unsolicited emails< !resumabl from men "ho found m "ebsite during a search using the &e "ord +transse#ual<- in "hich the describe their se#ual fantasies about trans "omen in gor detail< or as& me gra!hic 8uestions about m bod and se#ual acti(ities) These emails are al"a s centered on m transse#ual femalenessF I do not recei(e similar emails from !eo!le "ho !resume that I am a cisse#ual female) %ome might suggest that the reason "h I e#!erience more hardcore se#uali,ation as a trans "oman has to do "ith the fact that transse#uals are rather rare< thus leading others to (ie" us as e#otic) While rareness ma contribute to this !henomenon< I don.t belie(e that it.s a sufficient e#!lanation) After all< there are !lent of t !es of "omen "ho are relati(el rare< but the are not all se#uali,ed in the same manner that trans "omen are) Perha!s a better e#!lanation lies in the res!onses I recei(e "hen I ma&e it clear to these men that I am troubled b the e#!licit nature of their comments) While it.s a gi(en that an +res!ectable- "oman "ould be offended if a strange man immediatel began sharing his se#ual thoughts and fantasies "ith her Bin fact< man catcallers seem to en;o !ro(o&ing these (er feelings of insult or embarrassment in the "omen the harassC< I find that the men "ho se#uali,e me as a trans "oman are often dumbfounded and angered b m un"illingness to engage them on a se#uall e#!licit le(el) I ha(e e(en had a man accuse me of misleading him< as if the onl legitimate reason for me to be out as a transse#ual "as to signal m se#ual a(ailabilit or to solicit se#ual attention from men) This assum!tionEthat I am someho" +as&ing for it-Eis eeril similar to the attitudes some men ha(e to"ard "omen "ho the belie(e are dressed or beha(ing in a se#uall !ro(ocati(e fashion) 4nce again< this sort of thin&ing stems directl from the !redator/!re !o"er d namic< "here a "oman can ne(er trul be seen as a se#ual aggressor< onl a se#ual ob;ect) Thus< "omen "ho do ta&e se#ual initiati(e are not considered to be !re ing on men !er se< but rather o!ening themsel(es u! to or in(iting male se#ual aggression) 4f course< "hat constitutes +in(iting- male se#uali,ation is t !icall defined b male !resum!tions) *or e#am!le< "omen "ho are ra!ed b men are often mischaracteri,ed as instigating their o"n se#ual (iolation b (irtue of the clothing the "ore< their !ast se#ual histories< or their "illingness to meet !ri(atel "ith a man) In fact< an action carried out b a "oman that can be misconstrued as enabling others to (ie" her as a se#ual ob;ect is !resumed to in(ite male se#ual ad(ances) In this conte#t< I "ould argue that trans "omen are h !erse#uali,ed in our culture because "e are (ie"ed as enabling our o"n se#ual ob;ectification Bb (irtue of the fact that "e !h sicall transition from male to femaleC in much the same "a that a "oman "ho "ears a lo"-cut dress is !resumed to facilitate her o"n ob;ectification) The idea that trans "omen deliberatel transform oursel(es into "omen to in(ite male se#uali,ation and se#ual ad(ances is !erha!s the most !o!ular assum!tion made about trans "omen) According to

this m th< trans "omen do not +!re - on men so much as "e +lure- them< b turning oursel(es into se#ual ob;ects that no red-blooded man can resist) *raming the matter this "a not onl relie(es men of an res!onsibilit for their o"n se#ual actions< but also !re(ents them from being cast in the role of se#ual ob;ect or !re Ean inherentl subordinate !osition) *urther< this tactic insinuates that trans "omen.s !h sical transitions are centered on the desires of men< in much the same "a that !eo!le !resume that "omen "ho "ear highl feminine or re(ealing outfits do so not for themsel(es< but in order to attract male attention) This !oint is crucial' If trans "omen "ere seen as changing our se# !rimaril because "e "anted to be female Bas is generall the caseC< then MT* transitioning "ould become both a self-em!o"ering act and one that !otentiall em!o"ers femaleness itself) 2o"e(er< the assum!tion that "e change our se# in order to attract men essentiall se#uali,es our moti(es for transitioning< a mo(e that disem!o"ers trans "omen and femaleness "hile reinforcing the idea that heterose#ual male desire is central) This se#uali,ation of trans "omen.s moti(es not onl belittles our o"n female identities< but also im!lies that "omen as a "hole ha(e no (alue be ond their abilit to be se#uali,ed b men) This tendenc to focus on heterose#ual male desire also dominates mainstream discourse on the MT* transitioning !rocess itself) *or instance< in the media< it seems that the most commonl described effect of MT* hormone thera! is that it causes trans "omen to de(elo! breasts or +cur(es)- While this is certainl true< trans "omen themsel(es do not al"a s see this s!ecific change as the most im!ortant result of hormone thera! ) Most of us tend to cite the more !s chological and emotional effects of estrogen< or the fact that it facilitates our being !ercei(ed b others as female in a more general "a < as being the !rimar !ositi(e outcome of hormone thera! ) %imilarl < most !eo!le assume that trans "omen undergo bottom surger not because "e "ant to ha(e a clitoris and (agina< or that "e "ish to align our !h sical bodies "ith our o"n subconscious self-image< but instead because "e "ish to be !enetrated b a man) 4f course< man trans "omen Bli&e their cisse#ual counter!artsC are attracted to men and "ish to ha(e se# "ith them< but it.s demeaning to suggest that an "oman.s !h sical femaleness B"hether trans or cisC e#ists onl to e#!erience male !enetration) 4f course< attem!ts to focus on male desire "hen considering MT* transse#ualit are undermined b the fact that man trans "omen are either lesbian or bise#ual) This inconsistenc is often do"n!la ed in the media< "hich tends to either ma&e trans "omen "ho ha(e female !artners in(isible or ase#uali,e them) *or e#am!le< the media ma de!ict their relationshi!s as entirel !latonic< or holdo(ers from a marriage that has ceased being heterose#ual) Indeed< as a d &e-identified trans "oman< the most common 8uestion I.m as&ed "hen I do trans outreach !resentations is< +Wh did ou change our se# if ou are attracted to "omenO- 5ssentiall < "hat these !eo!le are as&ing me is "h on earth "ould I choose to be a "oman if not to attract and a!!ease the desires of heterose#ual menO %imilar 8uestions surround the e#istence of trans "omen "ho choose not to undergo bottom surger or "ho are not interested in culti(ating a highl feminine image) In all of these cases< !ublic confusion stems from the im!licit assum!tion that "e transition in order to become the ob;ects of heterose#ual male desire) If !eo!le "ere to assume instead that "e transition !rimaril for oursel(es Bas is indeed the caseC< then it "ould become eas to understand "h some trans "omen might not "ant to !ut on ma&eu!< dresses< and heels e(er da < or "h the "ould choose not to undergo an e#!ensi(e form of genital surger that could !otentiall result in a loss of sensation or other medical com!lications) The !o!ular assum!tion that trans "omen deliberatel transform oursel(es into se#ual ob;ects also e#!lains "h "e are so fre8uentl de!icted in the media as se# "or&ers)/ The fact that trans female se# "or&ers ha(e reached the status of +stoc& characters- is of !articular interest< as such de!ictions are at com!lete odds "ith other cisse#ual !resum!tions about transse#ualit ) Media re!resentations of trans !eo!le that do not in(ol(e se# "or& t !icall go out of their "a to stress the fact that transse#ualit is

an e#traordinaril rare !henomenon< and to !romote the idea that transse#uals are se#uall undesirable) %o it is unclear "h < being as rare and undesirable as "e su!!osedl are< "e seem to ma&e u! such a significant !ercentage of se# "or&ers on TJ and in the mo(ies) This inconsistenc im!licitl suggests that trans "omen must someho" s!ecificall see& out ;obs as se# "or&ers< !resumabl because "e so des!eratel "ish to be se#uall ob;ectified b men) In fact< man trans "omen are se# "or&ers< but generall not because the "ish to be se#ual ob;ects) @i&e their cisse#ual counter!arts< man trans "omen turn to such "or& because fe" other (iable economic o!tions are a(ailable to them) *or e#am!le< in %an *rancisco< !erha!s the most trans-friendl cit in the nation< a!!ro#imatel 73 !ercent of transgender !eo!le cannot find full-time "or&< 37 !ercent ha(e e#!erienced em!lo ment discrimination on the ;ob< and >6 !ercent li(e belo" the cit .s median income)1 In other "ords< an realistic !ortra al of transgender se# "or&ers "ould necessaril ha(e to address the issue of !o(ert that comes at the hands of anti-trans !re;udice) This< of course< rarel ha!!ens on TJ or in mo(ies< "here de!ictions of trans female se# "or&ers are almost al"a s brief and su!erfluous) Thus< media stereot !es of trans female se# "or&ers not onl !romote the misconce!tion that trans "omen transition so the can be se#uali,ed< but the also den the cisse#ual !re;udice that dri(es man actual trans "omen into se# "or& in the first !lace) While there has been e#tensi(e feminist anal sis e#amining the "a s in "hich "omen are se#uali,ed in the media< such "or& has t !icall ignored media de!ictions of trans "omen) In fact< some feminists e(en seem to acce!t at face (alue media stereot !es of trans "omen as h !erfeminine and "ishing to be se#uali,edEa rather illogical !osition gi(en their o"n criti8ues of ho" images of "omen and other se#ual minorities are t !icall distorted and mischaracteri,ed b a !redominantl straight-male-centric media) 2o"e(er< it.s a mista&e for cisse#ual "omen to (ie" de!ictions of trans "omen as ha(ing little to do "ith themsel(es< as the are so ob(iousl meant to dismiss both transse#ualit and femaleness) After all< in a "orld "here "omen are regularl reduced to ob;ects of male desire< it.s no accident that trans "omenEthe onl !eo!le in our societ "ho acti(el choose to become "omen and "ho acti(el fight for their right to be recogni,ed as femaleEare almost uni(ersall de!icted in a !urel se#uali,ed manner) :nfortunatel < the narro" conte#t of the !redator/!re !o"er d namic has sha!ed not onl media and !o! culture de!ictions of trans "omen< but !s chiatric de!ictions as "ell) The long-standing assum!tion that onl men can be se#ual aggressors Barising from !hallocentric models of libido formation that ha(e been for"arded b man influential !s choanal stsC has led !s chiatrists to define a long list of +!ara!hilias- and +!er(ersions- that regularl +afflict- men< but "hich are described as +rare- or +none#istent- in "omen) In realit < man of these !ractices do occur in "omen and ha(e been described b researchers in other fields< but ha(e been o(erloo&ed or hand-"a(ed a"a in !s chiatr because the are !resumed to re8uire a +male agent- Bi)e)< a legitimate se#ual aggressorC) 3 %imilarl < in !s chiatric discourses regarding transse#ualit Ein "hich trans "omen are labeled and conce!tuali,ed as +male transse#uals- and trans men as +female transse#uals-Ethe tendenc has been to !la do"n *TM s!ectrum gender and se#ual di(ersit < "hile focusing hea(il on MT* s!ectrum transgenderism< due in !art to the latter grou!.s !resumed +male agenc )-6 2o"e(er< it is not sim!l that MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le are studied more because the are Bor used to beC male) 0ecause !s chiatrists "ho bu into the !redator/!re dichotom tend to (ie" e#!ressions of femininit as ser(ing the sole !ur!ose of attracting and a!!easing male se#ual desire< and (ie" the desire to be female as s non mous "ith the desire to be se#uall ob;ectified< the ha(e consistentl tried to frame MT* transgenderism as being dri(en !rimaril or e#clusi(el b se#ual im!ulses) This !s chiatric se#uali,ation of MT* transgenderism is most e(ident in the historic tendenc to di((

u! all MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le into t"o classes' trans(estites and transse#uals) While the trans(estite/transse#ual dichotom fails to account for the broad s!ectrum of MT* transgenderism< it has !redominated because it mirrors the !redator/!re dichotom that man !s chiatrists im!licitl bu into) :ntil (er recentl < to be considered a MT* transse#ual< one had to e#!ress a desire to be female< be se#uall attracted to men< be feminine in gender e#!ression< "ish to ha(e a (agina rather than a !enis< and a!!ear un8uestionabl female !ost-transition) In other "ords< !s chiatrists re8uired transse#ual "omen to be "illing and able to become desirable se#ual ob;ects in the e es of heterose#ual men) *or man decades< those MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le "ho failed to meet an one of these criteria Bi)e)< "ho "ere un"illing to meet all of the !rere8uisites of a se#ual ob;ectC "ere denied their re8uests to !h sicall transition and "ere often !resumed to be +merel - trans(estites) :nli&e MT* transse#uals< "ho "ere t !icall !ercei(ed as se#ual ob;ects< trans(estites "ere (ie"ed as men< and thus se#ual aggressors) Their desire to dress as "omen "as (ie"ed not as a self-em!o"ering or e(en neutral act of gender e#!ression< but rather as a fetish for "earing feminine clothing) This se#uali,ation of feminine gender e#!ression has been codified in the !s chiatric diagnosis trans(estic fetishism< "hich is so (aguel "ritten as to suggest that all heterose#ual men "ho crossdress are dri(en b this +se#ual !ara!hilia)-7 The bi,arre assum!tions built into the trans(estic fetishism diagnosisE es!eciall its s!ecific e#clusion of nonheterose#ual men "ho crossdressEsuggest that it has been created for the sole !ur!ose of reinforcing the !redator/!re dichotom ) In a sense< Trans(estic *etishism misconstrues feminine gender e#!ression in heterose#ual males as a some"hat +normalBalbeit misdirectedC e#am!le of male se#ual aggressors "ho se#uall ob;ectif femininit ) 2omose#ual males are !resumabl e#em!t because "omen are not their se#ual ob;ect choice Bas that "ould undermine the labeling of their crossdressing as a fetishC and/or their e#!ressions of femininit are !resumed to !rimaril facilitate their o"n se#ual ob;ectification b other men) 4(er the ears< the MT* transse#ual/trans(estite dichotom has increasingl been called into 8uestion< as it has become a!!arent that man Bbut certainl not allC self-identified male crossdressers e(entuall come to see themsel(es as transse#uals and choose to !h sicall transition to female)9 This occurs des!ite the fact that the often remain !rimaril attracted to "omen and/or that their gender e#!ression ma not be (ie"ed b others as sufficientl feminine) =o"< if "e "ere to attem!t to account for this !henomenon in the sim!lest "a and "ith the least number of assum!tions< "e might suggest that some crossdressers Bli&e their transse#ual female counter!artsC also ha(e a female subconscious se#) 2o"e(er< in a "orld "here "omen are regularl assumed to be +naturall - feminine and attracted to men< MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le "ho do not meet those e#!ectations ma ha(e a more difficult time considering the !ossibilit that becoming female and li(ing as a "oman is a realistic o!tion for them) %o the ma initiall gra(itate to"ard a crossdresser identit because it seems to be the onl (iable alternati(e for them) This "as most certainl true in m case) *or me< it "as onl after I full e#!lored crossdressing Be(entuall finding it to be insufficient to ease m gender dissonanceC< and had the o!!ortunit to meet se(eral trans "omen "ho did not fit the classic transse#ual archet !e< that I reali,ed that it "as actuall !ossible for me to !h sicall transition and li(e as a some"hat nonconforming "oman "ith regard to gender and se#ualit ) While a subconscious se# that is inde!endent of se#ual orientation and gender e#!ression Bas I ha(e !re(iousl described in cha!ter 6< +Intrinsic Inclinations-C ma be the sim!lest and soundest model to e#!lain "h some male crossdressers e(entuall come to see themsel(es as trans "omen< it has not sat "ell "ith certain !s chiatrists) This is !resumabl because the e#istence of nonheterose#ual and nonfeminine trans "omen entirel undermines the !redator/!re logic that these researchers ta&e as a gi(en) In the late 1>9?s< in an a!!arent attem!t to reconcile this issue< !s chologist Ra 0lanchard !ut for"ard a different Band more confoundingC model to e#!lain MT* transgenderism)> 2is theor creates

a ne" dichotom bet"een "hat he calls autog ne!hilic and homose#ual transse#uals< "hich reca!itulates the !redator/!re dichotom ) While 0lanchard.s contro(ersial theor is built u!on a number of incorrect and unfounded assum!tions< and there are man methodological fla"s in the data he offers to su!!ort it< it has garnered some acce!tance in the !s chiatric literature and gained mainstream attention "ith the !ublication of !s chologist H) Michael 0aile .s boo& The Man Who Would 0e Aueen)1? According to 0lanchard.s model< +homose#ual- transse#uals are trans "omen "ho are feminine and e#clusi(el attracted to men Bthe confusing nomenclature arises from 0lanchard.s and other !s chiatrists. !ractice of (ie"ing trans "omen as +males-C) The fulfill the re8uirements for the role of se#ual ob;ect b (irtue of their "illingness to accommodate heterose#ual male desire' +2omose#ual gender d s!horics are directl aroused b the ob;ecti(e features of the male !h si8ue< es!eciall the sight and feel of male genitalia)-11 The im!lication here Bstated e(en more e#!licitl in 0aile .s boo&C is that +homose#ual- transse#uals are feminine ga men "ho transition to female because that.s the onl "a the can attract heterose#ual men)1$ 0lanchard goes on to claim that all +nonhomose#ual- MT* transse#uals suffer from autog ne!hilia< a !ara!hilia that 0lanchard in(ented to su!!ort his contention that +all gender-d s!horic males LsicM "ho are not se#uall aroused b men ))) are instead se#uall aroused b the thought or image of themsel(es as "omen)-1/ Thus< autog ne!hilics fulfill the re8uirements for being se#ual aggressors' The are assumed to be +males- "ho se#uall ob;ectif femaleness and femininit ) *rom 0lanchard.s !ers!ecti(e< the onl !roblem is that their +normal- heterose#ual se# dri(e is misdirected to"ard themsel(es Bi)e)< the are attracted to the images of themsel(es as "omen< rather than< or in addition to< images of other "omenC) Autog ne!hilia< li&e trans(estic fetishism before it< e#em!ts those "ho are deemed +homose#ual<- as the "ould necessaril undermine the !redator/!re dichotom u!on "hich these theories are built) %o instead of assuming that there is a unified basis for transse#ualit Bi)e)< a subconscious se# that is at odds "ith one.s !h sical se#C< 0lanchard !ro!oses t"o se!arate causes of MT* transse#ualit in order to accommodate his se#uali,ation of MT* gender identit and e#!ression)11 0lanchard has argued that his model is sim!ler than other !s chiatric theories of MT* transgenderism because it subsumes male crossdressers and +nonhomose#ual- trans "omen into one categor ' +Trans(estites< on this (ie"< "ould be understood as autog ne!hiles "hose onl Eor most !rominent Es m!tom is se#ual arousal in association "ith crossdressing and "ho ha(e not Bor not etC become gender d s!horic)-13 This is !roblematic< ho"e(er< as some crossdressers and trans "omen sa the ha(e ne(er e#!erienced se#ual arousal in the manner 0lanchard describes) Perha!s e(en more common in the MT* communit are !eo!le "ho describe being se#uall aroused b their o"n cross-gender e#!ression during their earl stages of gender e#!erimentation< but "ho o(er time e#!erience a reduction or a com!lete loss of arousal in res!onse to such feminine self-e#!ressions)16 This is !articularl true for man trans "omen< for "hom !re(ious se#ual fantasies related to "earing "omen.s clothes or ha(ing a female bod ma become rather banal or !ointless after one has !h sicall transitioned to female and li(ed as a "oman da in and da out) This fact is a serious blo" to 0lanchard.s model< as it suggests that se#ual arousal is not "hat dri(es these trans "omen to change their se#< and that the tem!orar se#ual !hase the e#!erienced "hen the "ere crossdressing "as more related to their o(ercoming the highl se#uali,ing cultural s mbolism commonl associated "ith femaleness and femininit ) 0lanchard tries to get around this ca(eat b claiming that autog ne!hilia is not onl a !ara!hilia< but a se#ual orientation< and that trans "omen "ho no longer e#!erience se#ual arousal in res!onse to images of themsel(es as "omen ha(e formed a sort of +!air-bond- "ith their female sel(es)17 BPerha!s he sees this as analogous to ho" long-term married cou!les ma sta

together des!ite a reduction in their se#ual interest in one another)C 0lanchard.s categori,ation of autog ne!hilia as a se#ual orientation re(eals a startling nai(etQ regarding his understanding of human se#ualit ) In focusing e#clusi(el on +se#ual ob;ect choice<- he neglects to consider the role that our o"n bodies !la both in our se#ual fantasies and in our realities) 4ur se#ual e#!eriences< "hether masturbator or "ith !artners< t !icall in(ol(e (arious combinations of se#ual attraction and desire for others< as "ell as se#ual sensations and res!onses to mental< (isual< tactile< and other stimuli that arise from our o"n !h sicall se#ed bodies) %ince cisse#uals are able to ta&e their o"n !h sicall se#ed bodies for granted< the often focus e#clusi(el on that as!ect of se#ualit "hich the cannot ta&e for grantedEnamel < their !otential se#ual !artners) In contrast< !reand non-transition trans !eo!le are unable to ta&e their o"n !h sical se# for granted< and thus their se#ual fantasies often re(ol(e around !h sicall becoming or being their !referred se#) 5(er trans !erson I.(e s!o&e "ith about thisE"hether MT* or *TM s!ectrum< homose#ual< bise#ual< or heterose#ualEhas said that their se#ual fantasies almost al"a s in(ol(e Bon some le(elC their being in the a!!ro!riatel se#ed bod ) When one ta&es this necessar difference in trans and cis !ers!ecti(es into consideration< it becomes ob(ious that 0lanchard.s +autog ne!hiles<- "ho ha(e fantasies that center on thoughts of their o"n !h sical femaleness rather than on the +!h si8ue of the !artner<- are not significantl different from cisse#ual "omen "ho sometimes ha(e fantasies of being fondled or !enetrated b faceless men< or cisse#ual men "ho imagine recei(ing blo" ;obs from faceless "omen) In fact< gi(en the !rominence of the !enis in straight male !orn< men.s loc&er room con(ersations< and !ublic restroom stall artistr < one could easil ma&e the case that male heterose#ualit is dri(en to a large e#tent b auto!hallo!hiliaE being aroused b the image or thought of oneself as ha(ing a !enis) 4f course< it is unli&el that 0lanchard "ould e(en consider this !ossibilit < both because it !laces trans !eo!le and cisse#uals on e8ual footing and because it im!lies that a man can se#uall ob;ectif his o"n male bod < an act that is fundamentall incom!atible "ith !redator/!re logic) In fact< the restricti(e nature of the !redator/!re dichotom ensures that onl MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le can e(er be accused of se#uall ob;ectif ing their o"n !referred gender) Cisse#ual "omen ma be aroused b "earing se# feminine articles of clothing and *TM s!ectrum trans fol&s ma be turned on b the thought of ha(ing a !enis< but because these grou!s are considered female Bin the e es of man !s chiatrists< at an rateC< the are not deemed to be legitimate se#ual aggressors) And "hile cisse#ual men are regularl characteri,ed as se#ual aggressors< an se#uall charged feelings the ma ha(e related to their o"n maleness or masculinit "ill be ignored because of our societal reluctance to consider men as se#ual ob;ects) Man !eo!le< both "ithin and outside the field of !s chiatr < seem so com!ulsi(el dri(en to se#uali,e MT* gender identities and e#!ressions that the fail to as& a far more rele(ant and !ressing 8uestion' 2o" does the ubi8uitous and assumed !redator/!re dichotom sha!e the "a MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le come to (ie" themsel(esO Gi(en the immense amount of research Bmuch of it carried out b !s chologistsC into ho" re!resentations of "omen in the media and !o!ular culture strongl influence girls. and "omen.s se#ualities< beha(iors< and bod images< it is remar&able that fe" Bif an C in the field ha(e attem!ted to a!!l such "or& to the MT* communit ) After all< des!ite being sociali,ed male< those of us on the MT* s!ectrum ha(e been e#!osed to man of the same e#!licitl se#uali,ing cultural messages about "omanhood and femininit as those sociali,ed female< and "e are ;ust as susce!tible of constructing our o"n se#ualities and self-images around those (er same cultural ideals) I "ould argue that MT* s!ectrum trans se#ualities ma&e far more sense once "e recogni,e them as being on the recei(ing end of cultural messages that se#uali,e femaleness and femininit < rather than being the !er!etrators of such se#uali,ation themsel(es) Those "ho fit the so-called +true- transse#ual

archet !e Bi)e)< 0lanchard.s +homose#ual- grou!C t !icall identif as female from an earl age and transition relati(el earl in life) 0ecause the identif as female for much of their li(es< the are li&el to absorb much of the same cultural encouragement that non-trans heterose#ual girls do< such as becoming focused on being con(entionall attracti(e and attracting bo s) 4n the other hand< MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le "ho become a"are of their cross-gender desires after the ha(e alread consciousl acce!ted the fact that the are +bo s- Bi)e)< 0lanchard.s +autog ne!hilics-C tend to ha(e greater difficult reconciling their female or feminine inclinations "ith societal messages that insist that men and "omen are +o!!osite- se#es< and that girls are inferior to bo s) Rather than feeling entitled to call themsel(es female or to act out"ardl feminine< the often de(elo! intense feelings of shame and self-loathing regarding their cross-gender inclinations) To co!e< the ma de(elo! se#ual thoughts and fantasies that associate their desire to be female/feminine "ith subordination< humiliation< and se#ual ob;ectification) If an thing< these fantasies share more in common "ith the e#hibitionistic< submissi(e< and ra!e fantasies e#!erienced b man "omen rather than the se#uall aggressi(e and ob;ectif ing fantasies commonl associated "ith men) 0ecause the relentless se#uali,ation of MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le has become one of the most common tactics used to delegitimi,e our gender identities and e#!ressions< man in our communit ha(e tried to disa(o" their se#ual !redilections) I belie(e that this a!!roach is inade8uate because it fosters a continuing shame regarding our se# and fantas li(es< and because it lea(es a (oid "hich is too easil filled b the ideas of so-called e#!erts Bli&e 0lanchard and 0aile C "ho are all too eager to !ut their o"n cisse#ist< o!!ositionall se#ist< and traditionall se#ist s!ins on our se#ual thoughts and beha(iors) Personall < I !refer to be o!en about m se#ual histor "hile also !lacing it in the a!!ro!riate !olitical conte#t) After all< if societ is going to insist that all MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le are +!er(erts- and +se#ual de(iants<- then the should be made to ans"er for the fact that it is their misog nistic< !redator/!re -obsessed< o!!ositionall se#ist gender !re;udices and !ractices that ma&e it ine(itable that "e "ill be ;udged this "a in the first !lace)

13

%ubmissi(e %trea&

W25= I WA% A C2I@D< I "as se#uall assaulted< but not b an !articular !erson) It "as m culture that had his "a "ith me) And "hen he "as through< he car(ed his name in m side so that I.d al"a s ha(e something to remember him b ) It.s the scar that mar&s the s!ot "here m self-esteem "as ri!!ed right out of me) And no" all that.s left is a submissi(e strea& that.s as "ide and as dee! as the Grand Can on) And ma be I "as born transgenderEm brain !re!rogrammed to see m self as female des!ite the male bod I "as gi(en at birthEbut li&e e(er child< I turned to the rest of the "orld to figure out "ho I "as and "hat I "as "orth) And li&e a good little bo < I !ic&ed u! on all of the not-so-subliminal messages that surrounded me) TJ sho"s "here *ather &no"s best and a "oman.s !lace is in the homeF

fair tales "here hel!less girls a"ait their handsome !rincesF cartoon su!ermen "ho al"a s sa(e the damsel in distressF !lus school ard taunts li&e +siss - and +fair - and +!uss - all taught me to see +feminine- as a s non m for +"ea&ness)- And nobod needed to tell me that I should hate m self for "anting to be "hat "as so ob(iousl the lesser se#) When I hit !ubert < m ne"l found attraction to "omen s!illed into m dreams of becoming a girl) *or me< se#ualit became a strange combination of ;ealous < self-loathing< and lust) 0ecause "hen ou isolate an im!ressionable transgender teen and bombard her "ith billboard ads baring bi&ini-clad "omen and bo s. loc&er room trash tal& about this girl.s tits and that girl.s ass< then she "ill learn to turn her gender identit into a fetish) %o "ithout e(er ha(ing seen !ul! fiction or hardcore !orn< m thirteen- ear-old brain started concocting scenarios straight out of %M handboo&s) Most of m fantasies began "ith m abduction' I.d turn to !utt in the hands of some t"isted man "ho "ould turn me into a "oman as !art of his e(il !lan) It.s called forced femini,ation< and it.s not reall about se#) It is about turning the humiliation ou feel into !leasure< transforming the loss of male !ri(ilege into the best fuc& e(er) While I ne(er reall belie(ed the clichQ about "omen being good for onl one thing< I found that that sentiment &e!t cree!ing into m fantasies) In m late teens< I "ould imagine m self being sold into se# sla(er and ha(ing strange men ta&e ad(antage of me) It "asn.t so much that I "as attracted to men< but that mo(ies and maga,ines made it seem that being feminine meant allo"ing ourself to be dominated b men) In m mind< I.(e been !inned do"n b bodies so large that the d"arfed me< felt the ghost !ains that accom!anied the un"anted gro!ing of bod !arts that did not et belong to me< e#!erienced the hel!lessness of ha(ing some faceless ;ohn stic& his coc& into the cunt that I hated m self for "ishing that I had) And "ith each ma&e-belie(e thrust< I felt simultaneous ecstas and shame) M ra!e fantasies "ere bastard Catholic sacraments< as I absol(ed m self of guilt b combining m desire to be female "ith self-inflicted !enance and !unishment) In m t"enties< I disco(ered role-!la ing relationshi!s' !lacing !ersonal ads in the +"ild side- sections of "ee&l !a!ers< conducting !hone inter(ie"s "ith !otential to!s "ho got off on the idea of dominating a small and +!assable- crossdresser) *or them< I "ore s&im! outfits and four-inch heels< not because I thought it made me more of a "oman< but because I s!ent so much of m life guarded and ma&ing m self in(isible that it "as a thrill to be so e#hibitionistic and (ulnerable) I !retended to be their secretaries or call girls< roles that had as much to do "ith class as the did "ith gender and se#) We "ere creating fantas "orlds out of real-life meanings and s mbols< turning oursel(es into caricatures of a culture that denies its o"n infatuation "ith hierarchies and !ec&ing orders) %ometimes the line bet"een fantas and realit "ould blur< li&e the time I had a to! "ho refused to sto! for safe "ords)1 When I finall th"arted his ad(ances< he guilt-tri!!ed me "ith fuc&ed-u! lines about ho" I had led him on and ho" it "as all m fault for being such a tease) When I got home< I sat in the sho"er for almost an hour< but I still felt dirt and diseased) And I didn.t dare tell a soul because< on a subconscious le(el< I couldn.t sha&e the feeling that I had deser(ed "hat ha!!ened to me) At some !oint< all of us "ho identif as female ha(e to come face-to-face "ith our o"n internali,ed misog n ) And "hen !eo!le as& me "hat has been the hardest !art of being a transse#ual< e#!ecting me to sa that it "as coming out to m famil or the gro"ing !ains of going through a second !ubert < I tell them that the hardest !art< b far< has been unlearning lessons that "ere etched into m !s che before I e(er set foot in &indergarten) The hardest !art has been learning ho" to ta&e m self seriousl "hen the entire "orld is constantl telling me that femininit is al"a s inferior to masculinit )

These da s< I am an outs!o&en feminist and transgender acti(ist) And most da s< I dress li&e a tombo in stri!ed shirts< ;eans< and Chuc& Ta lors) To most !eo!le< I !robabl seem !rett selfconfident< but that.s onl because the can.t see m submissi(e strea&) It.s li&e a scar I &ee! hidden u! m slee(e< a scar that still sometimes o!ens u! and bleeds) @i&e a shar& bite< it literall tore me a!art "hen it "as first ha!!ening to me) 0ut these da s< m submissi(e strea& is ;ust another reminder of ho" I sur(i(ed)

16

@o(e Rant

IT %TART5D A% A C4=J5R%ATI4= "ith a friend) 4&a < it "as more of a rant) I "as going off about that stu!id< crass< recurring scene that I ha(e seen in at least thirt -nine different mainstream mo(ies b no") Kou &no"< the one "here the gu falls for a girl "ho turns out not to be +all girlgenital-"ise) And the audience al"a s obedientl identifies "ith the gu < em!athicall laughing at his embarrassment or groaning along "ith his disgust) And nobod e(er thin&s t"ice about the trann E "ho she is or ho" she feels about the incidentEbecause she is ;ust a !ro!< li&e the banana !eel that onl e#ists for the silent film star to sli! u!on) And I ended m diatribe b lambasting all of those arrogant and ignorant !eo!le "ho onl e(er see trans "omen in terms of ho" "e might affect their o"n se#ual orientation) M straight-male-identified friend< "ho had been listening !atientl to m entire tirade< as&ed me' +Well< tell me< ho" "ould ou feel if ou became interested in a "oman< but then disco(ered that she "as a transse#ualO=o"< m friend &no"s that I am ha!!il married and monogamous< so it "as a gi(en that this "as largel a h !othetical 8uestion) =e(ertheless< he seemed sur!rised "hen I re!lied that I "ould not be bothered one bit) And it.s not that I "ould merel +tolerate- a relationshi! "ith a trans "oman) 4n the contrar < I "ould consider it an honor) Truth be told< o(er the last three ears< about half of the "omen "ho ha(e !i8ued m interest< "ho I "ould consider a!!roaching if I "ere acti(el dating< ;ust so ha!!ened to be trans "omen) =o"< as soon as I mentioned this< m friend said< +4h< I had no idea that ou had a Ntrann fetish).- %o I sarcasticall than&ed him for insinuating that the onl reason "h a !erson might find someone li&e m self attracti(e is if the suffered from a sort of +se#ual !er(ersion)- After re!rimanding him< I "ent on to sa that there are a number of !ersonalit traits that I find attracti(e in "omen' !assion< creati(it < sense of humor< and self-confidence) And it has been m e#!erience that trans "omen tend to ha(e these 8ualities in full force) While some male +admirers- of trans "omen tend to fetishi,e us for our femininit or our imagined se#ual submissi(eness< I find trans "omen hot because "e are an thing but docile or demure) In order to sur(i(e as a trans "oman< ou must be< b definition< im!er(ious< unflinching< and tenacious) In a culture in "hich femaleness and femininit are on the recei(ing end of

a seemingl endless smear cam!aign< there is no act more bra(eEes!eciall for someone assigned a male se# a birthEthan embracing one.s femme self) And unli&e those male trann -chasers "ho sa that the li&e +T-girls- because "e are su!!osedl +the best of both "orlds<- I am attracted to trans "omen because "e are all "omanD M femaleness is so intense that it has o(er!o"ered the trillions of lameass K chromosomes that shee!ishl hide inside the cells of m bod ) And m femininit is so relentless that it has sur(i(ed o(er thirt ears of male sociali,ation and t"ent ears of testosterone !oisoning) %ome &in& -identified thrill-see&ers ma en(ision trans "omen as androg ne fuc& fantasies< but that.s onl because the are too self-absorbed to a!!reciate ho" com!letel fuc&ing female "e are) At this !oint in the con(ersation< m friend tried to !la "hat he !robabl thought "as his trum! card) 2e as&ed me< +Well< "hat if ou found out that the trans "oman ou "ere attracted to still had a !enisOI laughed and re!lied that I am attracted to !eo!le< not to disembodied bod !arts) And I "ould be a selfish< ignorant< and unsatisf ing lo(er if I belie(ed that m !artner.s genitals e#isted !rimaril for m !leasure rather than her o"n) All that ou e(er need to &no" about genitals is that the are made u! of flesh< blood< and millions of tin < restless ner(e endingsEan thing else that ou read into them is mere hallucination< a !roduct of our o"n o(eracti(e imagination) To !ara!hrase that famous sa ing< the o!!osite of attraction is not re!ulsion< it.s indifference) Therefore< an !erson "ho "ould frea& out o(er their female lo(er.s seemingl inconsistent genitals is !robabl a little more interested in !enises than the .d e(er care to admit) BAnd b the "a < this also a!!lies to those +"om n-born-"om n-identified lesbians "ho seem to emulate stereot !ical straight male attitudes "hen it comes to this !articular issue)C M friend< still seemingl !er!le#ed< as&ed me< +%o if it.s not about genitals< "hat is it about trans "omen.s bodies that ou find most attracti(eOI !aused for a second to consider the 8uestion) Then I re!lied that it is almost al"a s their e es) When I loo& into them< I see both endless strength and inconsolable sadness) I see someone "ho has o(ercome humiliation and abuses that "ould flatten the a(erage !erson) I see a "oman "ho "as made to feel shame for her desires and et had the courage to !ursue them an "a ) I see a "oman "ho "as forced against her "ill into bo hood< "ho held on to a dream that e(er bod in her life des!eratel tried to beat out of her< "ho refused to listen to the endless stream of !eo!le "ho told her that "ho she "as and "hat she "anted "as im!ossible) When I loo& into trans "omen.s e es< I see a !rofound a!!reciation for ho" fuc&ing em!o"ering it can be to be female< an a!!reciation that seems lost on man cisse#ual "omen "ho sadl ta&e their female identities and anatomies for granted< or "ho !er!etuall see& to cast themsel(es as (ictims rather than instigators) In trans "omen.s e es< I see a "isdom that can onl come from ha(ing to fight for our right to be recogni,ed as female< a ra" strength that onl comes from unabashedl asserting our right to be feminine in an inhos!itable "orld) In a trans "oman.s e es< I see someone "ho understands that< in a culture that.s seemingl fueled on male homo!hobic h steria< choosing to be female and o!enl e#!ressing one.s femininit is not a sign of fri(olousness< "ea&ness< or !assi(it < it is a fuc&ing badge of courage) 5(er bod lo(es to sa that drag 8ueens are +fabulous<- but nobod seems to get the fact that trans "omen are fuc&ing badassD It "as at that !oint in the con(ersation that I reali,ed that !erha!s I find trans "omen attracti(e because

I see a little bit of m self in them) In their e es< I see a !art of m self that nobod else e(er seems to see< the !art that those "ho ha(en.t had a trans female e#!erience ne(er seem to understand) And !erha!s it.s narcissistic to be attracted to someone "ho reminds me a bit of m self) 0ut after s!ending most of m life feeling ashamed of "ho I "as and "hat I desired< I.d li&e to thin& that ma be m attraction to trans "omen is a sign that I am finall beginning to learn to lo(e m self)

17

Crossdressing' Dem stif ing *emininit and Rethin&ing +Male Pri(ilege-

T25 W4RD +CR4%%DR5%%I=G<- in its most generic sense< refers to "earing clothing associated "ith the other se#) 0oth female- and male-bodied !eo!le crossdress< and the ma choose to do so for a (ariet of reasons' as !art of a drag or theatrical !erformance< in a se#ual conte#t< to ha(e others !ercei(e them as the other se#< and/or as an e#!ression of a dee!l felt cross-gender identit ) While crossdressing Bthe (erbC is a general !henomenon< the "ord +crossdresser- Band its !s chiatric s non m +trans(estite-C is often used s!ecificall to refer to certain MT* s!ectrum !eo!le "ho channel their feminine e#!ression into occasional Band t !icall !ri(ateC s!urts during "hich the immerse themsel(es in +"omen.s- clothing and gender roles< sometimes e(en ta&ing on an alter ego entirel se!arate from their male li(es) In contrast< !re- and non-transitioning *TM s!ectrum fol&s more t !icall li(e o!enl and continuousl as butch or masculine "omen Brather than as feminine "omen "ho occasionall dress full as menC) MT* s!ectrum crossdressers B"ho "ill be referred to sim!l as +crossdressers- for rest of this essa C are relentlessl mischaracteri,ed and disres!ected b the !ublic at large< as "ell as in s!ecific fields such as !s chiatr and gender studies< "here their !ractices are coldl dissected and criti8ued b those "ho are not crossdressers themsel(es) This lac& of !ersonal e#!erience allo"s these clinicians and academics to nai(el and con(enientl assign moti(es to crossdressers) %ome of the more common of these assum!tions are that crossdressing is a form of a!!ro!riating or ob;ectif ing "omanhoodF that it is an e#!ression of latent homose#ualit < e#hibitionism< autog ne!hilia< or some other form of +se#uall de(iant- beha(iorF or that some males ta&e refuge in femininit because the are unable or un"illing to li(e u! to masculine ideals) As someone "ho identified as a crossdresser for t"el(e ears< and "ho has shared man intimate con(ersations "ith other crossdressers during that time< I offer this essa as a Bho!efull C more enlightened and thoughtful !ers!ecti(e on the MT* crossdressing e#!erience) The e#!lanations I offer here stem directl from m !ersonal e#!eriences as a crossdresserEone "ho has since gone on to identif and li(e as a "omanEso it is li&el that "hat I ha(e to sa "ill not resonate "ith all crossdressers< !articularl those "ho ha!!il embrace that identit throughout their li(es "ithout transitioning) M !ur!ose here is not to insinuate that all crossdressers are transse#uals-in-"aiting< nor is it to !ro;ect m indi(idual e#!erience onto other !eo!le.s (er different gendered e#!eriences) This should sim!l be seen as m !ersonal ta&e on this (er com!le# and misunderstood identit )

5ffemimania and *eminine 5#!ression

If ou as& crossdressers their o!inions about "h this is a !redominantl +male- !henomenon< most "ill mention the gross dis!arit bet"een "hat is considered acce!table and unacce!table cross-gender e#!ression bet"een the se#es) While a hundred ears ago< much of societ considered it de(iant for "omen to "ear !ants or other traditionall +male- articles of clothing< toda "omen can "ear such items "ithout an one ma&ing a fuss) In fact< a female-bodied !erson !rett much has to be dressed in full male-s!ecific attire to e(en be considered crossdressed< "hereas a male-bodied !erson ma be considered a crossdresser if the "ear a single female-s!ecific article of clothing Bsuch as a dress or a s&irtC) Thus< the liberali,ation of dressing norms that "omen ha(e e#!erienced o(er the last centur has not been reci!rocated to nearl the same e#tent for men) While all crossdressers are cogni,ant of this double standard< some mista&enl (ie" it as a form of +re(erse- se#ismEi)e)< that men are s!ecificall denied a +right- regarding attire that "omen ta&e for granted) I "ould argue instead that this double standard stems directl from traditional se#ism) After all< these da s it.s not so much a legal barrier that !re(ents most crossdressers from incor!orating +"omen.s- clothes into their dail "ardrobes as it is a class barrier) 0ecause femininit is seen as inferior to masculinit < an man "ho a!!ears +effeminate- or femini,ed in an "a "ill drasticall lose status and res!ect in our societ < much more so than those "omen "ho act bo ish or butch) 0ut it.s not ;ust that males "ho act feminine lose the ad(antages of male !ri(ilegeF rather< the come under far more !ublic scrutin and disdain) This is because< in a male-centered "orld< "omen "ho e#!ress masculinit ma be seen as brea&ing o!!ositional se#ist norms< but the are not a !ercei(ed challenge to traditional se#ism Bi)e)< their +"anting to be li&e men- is consistent "ith the idea that maleness is more (alued than femalenessC) In contrast< males "ho e#!ress femininit challenge both o!!ositional and traditional se#ist norms Bi)e)< someone "ho is "illing to gi(e u! maleness/masculinit for femaleness/femininit directl threatens the notion of male su!eriorit as "ell as the idea that "omen and men should be +o!!osites-C) In m o"n e#!eriences< I ha(e found that this obsession and an#iet o(er male e#!ressions of femininit B"hich I called effemimania in cha!ter 7< +Pathological %cience-C e#tends far be ond criti8uing men "ho "ear +"omen.s- clothing) In the ears ;ust before m transition< "hen I "as li(ing as a male "ho "as o!en and comfortable "ith m o"n feminine inclinations< I regularl e#!erienced gender an#iet from other !eo!le o(er the most tri(ial things) 4n more than one occasion< I "as 8uestioned about the fact that I had a bright red umbrella B+Is it our girlfriend.sO- or +Are ou ;ust borro"ing itO-C) I "as also interrogated regarding m tendenc to color-coordinate m T-shirts and snea&ers B+Is it ;ust a coincidence or do ou ma&e them match on !ur!oseO- or +Wh "ould ou do thatO-C) Another time< a friend as&ed me to hold her !urse for a minute and then ostraci,ed me for stra!!ing it onto m shoulder B+I as&ed ou to hold it< not to "ear itD-C) And I "as regularl sub;ected to strange loo&s and comments for using "ords li&e +cute<- +adorable<- or +!rett - in a nonsarcastic "a ) I ha(e hundreds of anecdotes li&e theseEof !eo!le commenting< criti8uing< and e#!ressing concern o(er e(en the slightest manifestations of m femininit < gi(en that I "as male-bodied)

:nfortunatel < I ha(e found that man "omen fail to a!!reciate effemimania as a (er real and !er(asi(e form of traditional se#ism< one that o!!ressi(el restricts and undermines feminine gender e#!ression in male-bodied !eo!le) During a 8uestion and ans"er session at a gender-themed e(ent I !artici!ated in< a trans "oman brought u! the intense ridicule a man can face for the sim!le act of "earing a !in& tie) The audience< "ho "as made u! !redominantl of !eo!le "ho "ere sociali,ed female< laughed at this remar& in "hat seemed to me to be a highl uns m!athetic "a < as though the belie(ed that the h !othetical man in 8uestion suffered from some irrational form of male !aranoia) This sort of thin&ing not onl ma&es in(isible the role that "omen often !la in em!lo ing and !ro!agating effemimania Bin fact< all of the effemimanic remar&s I described in the !re(ious !aragra!h "ere made b "omenC< but entirel dismisses the se(erit of this form of se#ism) In m fi(e ears of li(ing as a "omanEone "ho (er rarel "ears ma&eu!< "ho regularl dresses li&e a tombo < "ho often goes long !eriods of time "ithout sha(ing her legs or arm!its< "ho sometimes curses li&e a sailor< "ho is sometimes (er !h sicall acti(e< and "ho is unafraid to ta&e on su!!osedl masculine tas&s such as using tools< lifting hea( bo#es< etc)EI ha(e not e#!erienced a single gender-an#ious comment or criti8ue regarding m masculine gender e#!ression that has e(en come close to the le(el of intensit or condescension that I regularl recei(ed for m feminine e#!ressions bac& "hen I "as !ercei(ed as male) 5ffemimania is not merel a !henomenon that affects adults< but rather one that begins earl in childhoodF this is highlighted b a recent stud carried out b 5mil Gane< "ho e#amined !arental res!onses to gender nonconformit in their !reschool children)1 Gane found that the !arents she studied often encouraged gender nonconformit in their female children and fe" offered negati(e res!onses "hen the engaged in stereot !icall masculine acti(ities) 4n the other hand< "hile the !arents sometimes reacted !ositi(el "hen their male children engaged in certain stereot !icall feminine acti(itiesEs!ecificall those related to domestic s&ills< nurturing< and em!ath Eother acti(ities related to "hat Gane called +icons of femininit <- such as "earing !in& or girl-s!ecific clothing< "anting to "ear nail !olish< and e#!ressing interest in dance< ballet< or 0arbie dolls< "ere generall greeted "ith negati(e reactions b both fathers and mothers< and in !arents of (ar ing race< economic class< and se#ual orientation) Man of the conse8uences of this societ -"ide effemimania are chronicled in %te!hen H) Ducat.s boo& The Wim! *actor' Gender Ga!s< 2ol Wars< and the Politics of An#ious Masculinit ) Ducat describes the "a s in "hich male de(elo!ment and thought !rocesses are sha!ed b effemimania and cites studies that sho" that feminine bo s are (ie"ed far more negati(el < and brought in for !s chothera! far more often< than masculine girls)$ As Ducat e#!lains< +I don.t thin& that it underestimates the damage done to girls and "omen under the regime of !atriarchal gender norms to sa that males suffer certain constraints and conflicts from "hich females< "ith a fe" notable e#ce!tions< are largel e#em!t) %!ecificall < bo s from earl on learn that cross-gender beha(ior is a taboo often enforced "ith !redictable ferocit b famil < !eers< and the larger societ ) *or e#am!le< unli&e girls< bo s "ho do !la "ith to s of the other se# often tr to hide it from others)-/ This (er much resonates "ith m o"n e#!eriences as a oung bo ) %ome of m earliest childhood memories Baround the ages of fi(e and si#C are of censoring of m o"n thoughts< beha(iors< and desires because I "as "orried that the "ould lead me to be !ercei(ed b others as feminine) I (i(idl remember an#iousl describing an thing ha(ing to do "ith girls as being + uc& - or +dumb<- not because of an actual strong negati(e feelings that I had< but because I "as a"are that I "as e#!ected to ha(e such an attitude to"ard an thing feminine) In first grade< "hen a female friend in(ited me to her birthda !art < I hid the in(itation because I "as embarrassed to ha(e been in(ited to a girl.s !art )

This feeling< that a bo must hide female or feminine gender inclinations< hel!s e#!lain "h man MT* s!ectrum children and teenagers channel those inclinations into (er s!ecific and !ri(ate occasions< unli&e their *TM s!ectrum counter!arts< "ho t !icall e#!ress their masculine interests and mannerisms in an o!en and regular "a ) In other "ords< effemimania dri(es man MT* s!ectrum children and teens to de(elo! strict di(isions bet"een +bo -mode- Bi)e)< !ublicC and +girl-mode- Bi)e)< !ri(ateC) %uch distinctions often !ersist "ell into adulthood and are t !icall considered to be a hallmar& of the crossdresser identit ) 2o"e(er< it "ould be an o(ersim!lification to claim that crossdressing is sim!l a form of hiding one.s feminine side or remaining closeted) After all< man crossdressers continue to maintain their s!lit male/female !ersonas long after the come out !ublicl as crossdressers) To full understand the bo -mode/girl-mode dichotom and the fascination surrounding "omen.s clothing that t !ifies the MT* crossdressing e#!erience< "e must first ta&e into account ho" the marginali,ation of "omen in our societ affects those "ho are raised male)

5nforced Ignorance and the M stification of *emininit

When "e tal& about marginali,ation< "e refer to the "a that +those !ercei(ed as lac&ing desirable traits or de(iating from the grou! norms tend to be e#cluded b "ider societ )-1 4ne of the most lucid descri!tions of marginali,ation that I.(e read comes from bell hoo&s.s boo& *eminist Theor ' *rom Margin to Center< in "hich she focuses on ho" most !rominent feminists of the 1>6?s and 1>7?s tended to ignore the (ie"!oints and concerns of economicall and raciall marginali,ed "omen such as herself) This "as because< being !redominantl "hite and middle-class< these feminists e#isted in the center "ith regard to race and class< so the had little a"areness or understanding of li(es and !ers!ecti(es on the margins) 2o"e(er< the re(erse is not true' Peo!le at the margins must understand life at the center in order to sur(i(e) As hoo&s e#!lains' +@i(ing as "e didEon the edgeE"e de(elo!ed a !articular "a of seeing realit ) We loo&ed both from the outside in and from the inside out) We focused our attention on the center as "ell as on the margin) We understood both)-3 While hoo&s is referring here to her e#!eriences gro"ing u! as a !erson of color in "hite America< her obser(ations about margins and centers can readil be a!!lied to other class issues) *or e#am!le< those "ho are marginali,ed for being lesbian tend to ha(e a thorough understanding of the assum!tions and e#!eriences of the heterose#ual centerEafter all< the gro" u! in a !redominantl heterose#ual "orld and constantl ha(e to na(igate other !eo!le.s heterose#ual assum!tions) In contrast< most heterose#uals understand (er little about lesbians and lesbian culture< as such &no"ledge has been s stematicall shut out of dominant societ ) %imilarl < "hile I understand cisse#ual culture Bas I "as raised as< and generall assumed to be< cisse#ualC< most cisse#uals tend to ha(e an e#traordinaril limited understanding of transse#ualit ) It is im!ortant to note that the lac& of understanding that those at the center ha(e of those at the margin is not solel due to their lac& of e#!osure Bsuch as the fact that the .(e ne(er been to a lesbian bar or to a transse#ual su!!ort grou!C) Rather< ignorance about marginali,ed !eo!le is often enforced from "ithin the center) *or e#am!le< if a straight "oman decided to go to a lesbian bar B"here she might

ha(e the o!!ortunit to learn more about lesbian !eo!le and !ers!ecti(esC< she ris&s ha(ing her straight friends and famil members assume that she is lesbian) In other "ords< she ris&s being marginali,ed herself) %imilarl < if a straight man "ere to bu a boo& on transse#ualit Bsa < for e#am!le< this boo&C< others might sus!ect that he is a closeted transse#ual or a trann -chaser) The constant threat of being ostraci,ed< "hich is directed to"ard !eo!le "ho sho" e(en the slightest interest in marginali,ed cultures and !ers!ecti(es< creates "ithin the center an enforced ignorance regarding those at the margins) It is safe to sa that< des!ite the fact that "e ma&e u! more than half of the !o!ulation< "omen are marginali,ed in our male-centered societ ) This can be seen not onl in "omen.s underre!resentation in !olitical< economic< and media !ositions of !o"er< but in the "a that (irtuall an thing associated "ith femaleness or femininit is t !icall relegated to a se!arate categor ) In the media< stories !roduced b men< and that feature male !rotagonists< are seen as uni(ersal< "hile those created b "omen and featuring female !rotagonists are often relegated to their o"n genre B"omen.s literature< chic& flic&s< etc)C) When tal&ing about s!orts< it.s a gi(en that one is referring to male leagues unless the s!ort name is !receded b the "ord +"omen.s)- :ntil (er recentl < most medical research that e#amined general health concerns had been conducted on men< and still toda "omen.s s!ecific health issues are t !icall remo(ed from general medicine and !laced in their o"n categor < such as ob-g n or "omen.s re!roducti(e health) 0ecause our societ centers on maleness< most men are able to get b in life "ithout e(er understanding or a!!reciating "omen.s e#!eriences or !ers!ecti(es) In contrast< "omen need to be able to a!!reciate both female and male !ers!ecti(es in order to successfull na(igate societ ) In fact< in man "a s< "omen in our culture are e(en encouraged to understand as!ects of maleness better in order to fulfill the role the are often e#!ected to !la as famil caregi(er for male !artners and children) 4ne e#am!le of this is ho" "omen.s maga,ines feature articles "ith titles li&e +The %e# 2e Cra(es<- "hich offer ad(ice about "hat men su!!osedl "ant< "hile most maga,ines geared to"ard men are entirel de(oid of an information designed to shed light on "omen.s !ers!ecti(es or desires) 0ecause of enforced ignorance< those "ho are sociali,ed male t !icall end u! m stif ing femaleness Emeaning that the de(elo! a sensationali,ed and taboo curiosit about "omanhood that is similar to that "hich man heterose#uals de(elo! to"ard homose#ualit < or that cisse#uals de(elo! to"ard transse#ualit ) Girls and "omen suddenl become !er!le#ing creatures "ho males are entirel unable to identif "ith or relate to) While one might be tem!ted to sa that the re(erse is also true Bafter all< both se#es com!lain about not being able to understand the other se#C< it has been m e#!erience that most "omen are able and "illing to !ut themsel(es in men.s shoes tem!oraril ) *or e#am!le< I ha(e been struc& b ho" "omen often "ince "hen seeing images of men "ho are &ic&ed in the groin or u!on hearing stories of men "ho sustain in;uries to their genitals< des!ite not e(er ha(ing had male genitals themsel(es) In contrast< I ha(e ne(er once seen a man ha(e a similar reaction u!on hearing about reci!rocal accounts of "omen Bli&e stories about female genital mutilationC) %imilarl < "hile most "omen seem to understand ho" men +get off- (ia their !enises< men seem curiousl unable to imagine "hat it might be li&e to be on the recei(ing end of female se#ual stimulation) This is e(ident in comments I.(e heard men ma&e' that if the had breasts or female genitals the "ould fondle themsel(es all the time< as though the onl !leasure the could relate to "as the sensation of touching female bod !arts from the outside) The m stification of "omen focuses not onl on female bodies< but on feminine gender e#!ression as "ell) It.s common for men to describe feminine "omen as being +enchanting- and +m sterious<- and as ha(ing the abilit to +cast a s!ell- o(er them) In other "ords< the relegate femininit to the realm of

the su!ernaturalEb definition< not natural and im!ossible to understand) Perha!s no as!ect of femininit is more m stified than "omen.s clothing< "hich often em!hasi,es "omen.s se#ualit < and "hich is designed in color< te#ture< and st le to be (astl different from +men.s- clothing Bright do"n to the shirt and !ants buttons< "hich are con(enientl on the +o!!osite- sideC) While enforced ignorance and the subse8uent m stification of femaleness/femininit is a !er(asi(e !henomenon< it clearl affects different indi(iduals to different e#tents) %te!hen Ducat ma&es a strong case that those bo s "ho are most fiercel taught to disa(o" femininit "ithin themsel(es are the ones "ho tend to ha(e the most out"ardl misog nistic attitudes o(erall)6 This ma&es sense "hen one considers the fact that enforced ignorance and m stification act to dehumani,e those "ho are female and feminine< thus enabling certain men to se#uall ob;ectif < harass< and outright abuse members of those grou!s "ithout e#!eriencing an feelings of em!ath or remorse) 4n the other hand< those bo s "ho are gi(en the freedom to e#!ress their full range of gendered e#!ression< and/ or "ho are encouraged to listen< res!ect< and relate to the "omen in their li(es< ma a(oid the intense enforced ignorance that other males face) Additionall < li&e an form of childhood sociali,ation< enforced ignorance ma be o(ercome later in life as one gains a greater understanding of "omen or as one gro"s more comfortable "ith feminine e#!ression both "ithin oneself and in others)

Crossdresser De(elo!ment

=o" that "e understand enforced ignorance and the m stification of femaleness/femininit in those "ho are sociali,ed as male< "e can as& "hat s!ecific effect this has on crossdresser de(elo!ment) The first thing that needs to be said is that those "ho embrace the crossdresser identit are li&el to be a heterogeneous grou!< encom!assing a s!ectrum of indi(iduals "ho ha(e a feminine gender e#!ression and/or a female subconscious se#< and "ho e#!erience those inclinations at (ar ing intensities) This "ould e#!lain "h some crossdressers ne(er transition< "hile others e(entuall do< and "h some (ie" crossdressing as a "a to e#!ress a feminine side of their !ersonalities< "hile others see it as an o!!ortunit to e#!erience themsel(es as female as much as a male-bodied !erson !ossibl can) The idea that crossdressing is often dri(en b intrinsic inclinations Brather than sim!l being a !hase< hobb < or &in& that indi(iduals stumble u!onC is su!!orted b the fact that (irtuall all self-identified crossdressers re!ort that their desire to dress and act feminine/female !ersists throughout their li(es) The fact that males are sociali,ed to (ie" femaleness and femininit as enigmatic and taboo hel!s e#!lain the (er different manifestations of gender e#!ression of MT* and *TM s!ectrum !eo!le) It also offers an e#!lanation as to "h some MT* s!ectrum fol&s learn to channel their femininit /femaleness into crossdressing< "hile others o!enl e#!ress their femininit /femaleness from a (er earl age) As mentioned in !re(ious cha!ters< most !s chiatric e#!lanations for this dichotom in the MT* s!ectrum !o!ulation ha(e centered on !resumed differences in se#ual orientation and arousal) 2o"e(er< recogni,ing ho" effemimania< enforced ignorance< and m stification "or& together to sha!e MT* s!ectrum transgender identities offers a nonse#ual e#!lanation for this !henomenon< one based on gender constanc ) While children t !icall learn to distinguish bet"een females and males< and to describe themsel(es as either a girl or a bo around the age of t"o or three< the do not de(elo!

gender constanc Ethe understanding that one.s se# is fi#ed and does not change o(er time and in different situationsEuntil the .re bet"een the ages of four and se(en)7 Interestingl < most trans "omen "ho fall under the categor of +!rimar - transse#uals re!ort &no"ing that the "ere or "anted to be female as earl as three or four ears old Bthat is< before gender constanc set inC) In contrast< most +secondar - MT* transse#uals and crossdressers re!ort disco(ering their cross-gender inclinations at a later age< often during !ubert Bafter the had de(elo!ed gender constanc C) Ta&ing this into consideration< I "ould argue that children assigned a male se# "ho recogni,e their o"n female or feminine inclinations !rior to gender constanc are more li&el to see them as legitimate as!ects of their !erson) 0ecause the feel entitled to< and comfortable "ith< e#!ressing and e#!loring their female/feminine inclinations< those identities ne(er become m stified) This "ould e#!lain "h +!rimar - MT* transse#uals generall e#!ress a desire to be female and feminine throughout childhood< and generall transition earl in life Bduring their teens or t"entiesC) 4n the other hand< those male children "ho become a"are of their female or feminine inclinations after de(elo!ing gender constanc ha(e to someho" ma&e sense of those feelings in the "a&e of ha(ing alread m stified femaleness and femininit ) Thus< the ma gra(itate to"ard crossdressing as a "a to com!artmentali,e their female/feminine inclinations< both in res!onse to effemimania and because the are unable Binitiall < at leastC to (ie" their o"n female/feminine tendencies as legitimate and coming from "ithin themsel(es) In this conte#t< crossdressing can be a "a of e#!loring and !otentiall reclaiming gender e#!ressions and identities that one has !re(iousl disa(o"ed< that one does not feel entitled to) It is a !ractice that< o(er time< dem stifies femaleness and femininit for those "ho ha(e been sociali,ed to belie(e that these 8ualities are unnatural and un&no"able to them)

Dem stif ing *emininit and :nlearning Masculinit

The idea that crossdressing can be a continual !rocess of dem stification (er much resonates "ith m !ersonal e#!eriences) I consciousl recogni,ed m o"n desire to be female "hen I "as ele(en) As much as I "anted to be female< I "as taught to belie(e that this "as not a realistic !ossibilit for me) *or this reason< I began to channel m female inclinations into fantasies or role-!la ing< in "hich I.d imagine I.d turned into a girl someho") The fact that these fantasies al"a s began "ith me being a bo Brather than sim!l imagining m self as a girl from the startC is indicati(e of ho" illegitimate I felt m o"n desires to be female "ere) I "as con(inced that I could ne(er attain actual femalenessF in m mind< the best that I could ho!e for "as merel !retending to be female or being +turned into- a girl) After a ear or t"o of imagining m self becoming a girl Bt !icall a rather tombo ish one "ho "ent off on ad(entures and suchC< I started e#!erimenting "ith con(entional femininit ) This "as due both to me "anting to e#!lore m o"n feminine inclinations and to the fact that Bli&e most !eo!leC I "as taught to belie(e that femininit "as an intrinsic !art of being female) M gro"ing fascination "ith femininit "as also (er much intert"ined "ith m gro"ing attraction to "omen) As a teenager "ho "as dealing "ith se#ual attraction for the first time< I found it hard not to conflate m desire to be female "ith m se#ual attraction for "omen) And in this res!ect< feminine accoutrementsE"hether

clothing< cosmetics< or other accessoriesEbecame highl s mbolic of both) In cha!ter 11< +Trans-%e#uali,ation<- I e#!lained that trans !eo!le "ho ha(e not transitioned< and "ho therefore are unable to ta&e their o"n !h sical se# for granted< often e#!erience se#ual arousal in association "ith their o"n cross-gendered thoughts and e#!ressions) While this is true for (irtuall all trans !eo!le< there are a cou!le of factors s!ecific to crossdressers that intensif this !henomenon) *irst< testosterone< "hich significantl boosts one.s se# dri(e across the board< undoubtedl !la s some role in am!lif ing cross-gendered se#ual arousal for those "ho are hormonall male) %econd< "e li(e in a culture in "hich "omen are fre8uentl (ie"ed as se#ual ob;ects< and much of "omen.s clothing em!hasi,es and e#aggerates "omen.s se#ualit ) *or crossdressers< there is no "a of getting around the cultural eroticism that surrounds +"omen.s- clothing) Man crossdressers< !articularl earl in their crossdressing< become !articularl interested in the most highl se#ual articles of feminine clothing !recisel because of the s mbolism associated "ith them) :nfortunatel < I ha(e heard "omen critici,e< e(en ridicule< this tendenc among crossdressers< sometimes e(en suggesting that a crossdresser "ho co(ers their o"n bod in h !erfeminine or h !erse#ual articles of clothing someho" se#uali,es "omanhood as a "hole) %uch criticism seems to !ur!osefull ignore the fact that man teenage girls similarl tend to dress in se#uall !ro(ocati(e or re(ealing "a s "hen the hit !ubert and begin to e#!lore the cultural meanings associated "ith adult female se#ualit ) 0oth teenage girls and crossdressers are e#!osed to man of the same cultural messages about femininit and female se#ualit Balbeit from rather different (antage !ointsC and thus both are dra"n to e#!eriment "ith h !erfeminine and h !erse#ual clothing as a "a of literall +tr ing on- the s mbolic meanings associated "ith adult female se#ualit ) And most crossdressers< li&e most cisse#ual "omen< e(entuall mo(e be ond their +teenage girl !hase- Bas some crossdressers refer to itC and come to recogni,e se#uall !ro(ocati(e clothing as but one of the man o!tions a(ailable to them< but not necessaril one that the "ish to indulge in e(er da ) I &no" that it.s common for outsiders to focus on the more se#ual as!ects of MT* crossdressing B;ust as the focus on the more se#ual as!ects of femaleness in generalC) 2o"e(er< I !ersonall found that< if an thing< the social< emotional< and !s chological effects of being crossdressed "ere far more !rofound than the se#ual ones) The truth is that gendered clothing is e#traordinaril s mbolic of the se# of the bod that !resumabl lies underneathF this is "h "earing the clothing associated "ith the other se# is an almost in(ariant feature of cross-gender e#!ression and identit across cultures and throughout histor ) Prior to m transition< dressing u! in +"omen.s- clothing "as the closest I e(er got to actuall being a "oman< to ha(ing m bod be aligned "ith ho" I imagined it) *or me< the fact that +"omen.s- clothing "as s mbolic of being female far out"eighed an se#ualit -related s mbolism it ma ha(e had) As "ith man MT* s!ectrum fol&s< m crossdressing !assed through a series of stages) 5ach "as a dem stification !rocess that I began b e#!erimenting "ith some as!ect of femaleness/femininit that seemed un&no"able and fascinating to me) 4(er time< m e#!loration and e#!erimentation of that as!ect of femaleness/femininit led to it becoming dem stifiedF "hat had !re(iousl seemed out of m reach e(entuall became something that I "as ca!able of< that "as "ithin m realm of !ossibilit ) The main moti(ating force behind m e#!loration of crossdressing "as to ma&e sense of m e(er-!resent desire to be female) While this ma distinguish me from other crossdressers Be)g)< those "ho are moti(ated b feminine rather than female inclinationsC< I belie(e that the stages I !assed through B"hich are described belo"C are shared b man crossdressers) The first stage of crossdressing I !assed through "as the +clothing !hase)- It began "ith tr ing on indi(idual articles of clothing one at a time Bthis "as after a se(eral- ear !eriod "here I made due "ith

blan&ets< curtains< shoelaces< and such "hile +!retending- to be a girlC) %ometimes I "ould !ut on a !air of heels< stoc&ings< or a dress< or dabble "ith cosmetics or sha(e m legs) 5ach "as its o"n minitransformation< "here a !art of m bod "ould begin to resemble that of a "oman in certain "a s) After a "hile< I began to !ut it all together< to dress com!letel as a "oman from head to toe) I loo&ed rather ridiculous "hen I first began to do this< but o(er the course of man ears< I slo"l figured out "hat "or&ed for me and "hat did not) 5(entuall < I reached the !oint "here I could fairl consistentl a!!ear female to m self "hen I loo&ed in mirror) This +mirror moment- "as al"a s the highlight of an crossdressing session for me< as I found it strangel comforting to be able to see m female reflection staring bac& at me) As the name suggests< m clothing !hase "as !rimaril about becoming familiar "ith< and e(entuall dem stif ing< +"omen.s- clothing) I e(entuall e(en sto!!ed thin&ing about them as +"omen.sclothesF after all< the "ere all m clothes< as I "as the one "ho !urchased and "ore them) %imilarl < I also sto!!ed thin&ing of m self as being +crossdressed<- and instead began referring to m self as sim!l being +dressed)- To"ard the end of this stage< I "as no longer (er e#cited b the idea of "earing +"omen.s- clothes ;ust for the sa&e of it) 2o"e(er< "hile the had lost their m stified !ro!erties< I still understood them as ha(ing the transformati(e !ro!ert of facilitating m a!!earance as female) It is this latter role that +"omen.s- clothing !la ed in the ne#t stage of m crossdressing< "hen I began to (enture out in !ublic) The +!ublic !hase- began "ith m earliest attem!ts to go out into the "orld as a "oman) M (er first e#!erience in(ol(ed "al&ing around a sho!!ing mall for about fifteen minutes< follo"ed b !urchasing a mil&sha&e at a fast-food dri(e-through "indo") The fact that nobod seemed to gi(e me a second glance< and that the cashier said< +Than& ou< ma.am<- as she handed me m change< com!letel ble" me a"a ) @i&e the mirror moments< these e#!eriences of ha(ing m femaleness ac&no"ledged in some small "a "ere !rofound and mo(ing) 4(er time< I continued to go out dressed in !ublic more and more< t !icall doing rather mundane things such as going to museums or sho!!ing) I al"a s made sure that there "ere lots of !eo!le around and that I could easil +get a"a - in the e(ent that something bad ha!!ened) Admittedl < the earl sense of e#citement associated "ith being dressed as female in !ublic "as enhanced b the inherent sense of danger that unfortunatel !lagues an !ublic crossdressing e#!erience) The fear< of course< "as not merel that I "ould be noticed or +read- as a crossdresser B"hich ha!!ened on countless occasions during the man ears that I !ublicl crossdressedC< but that I might be targeted for (iolence if I "as e(er +found out- b the "rong !erson) It "as during m !ublic !hase that I first began going to crossdresser su!!ort and social grou! meetings Bthis "as in Gansas in 1>>1< before the "ord +transgender- came into (ogueC) The "ere m first o!!ortunit to s!ea& o!enl about m crossdressing and to meet others "ho shared that e#!erience) It also !ro(ided me "ith the chance to learn some of the techni8ues that other crossdressers used to ma&e their female a!!earance more con(incing) I "as fortunate enough to ha(e an ama,ing crossdresser named Deborah ta&e me under her "ing) Among other things< she sho"ed me ho" to use cosmetics to effecti(el co(er m beard shado"< an in(aluable s&ill for an crossdresser "ho "ishes to be gendered b others as female) It.s common for !eo!le to dismiss crossdressers for "hat is !ercei(ed to be their e#aggerated use of ma&eu!) 2o"e(er< the truth of the matter is that crossdressers Bunli&e cisse#ual "omenC t !icall ha(e beard shado"s< "hich are !erha!s the dominant (isual cue "e rel on "hen gendering !eo!le as male) While I "ould ha(e !referred to ha(e the !ri(ilege of forgoing ma&eu! if I "ished< m beard shado" made it (irtuall im!ossible for me to be regularl gendered as female "ithout it) Com!laints about ho" crossdressers o(eruse cosmetics are often related to more general criti8ues that

claim that crossdressers e#aggerate stereot !icall feminine dress and beha(iors< thus turning themsel(es into caricatures of "omen) 4ften< these sentiments are rooted in the o!!ositional se#ist assum!tion that cisse#ual "omen are entitled to e#!ress and e#!lore femininit "hile those assigned male are not) 5(en those criti8ues that are not do"nright o!!ositional se#ist are still cisse#ual-"omancentric< in that the (ie" MT* crossdressing solel in terms of ho" it !ortra s cisse#ual "omen< rather than (ie"ing it from an MT* s!ectrum !ers!ecti(e) 0ac& "hen I crossdressed< I (er much en;o ed dressing and acting in a highl feminine manner< but not because I thought that "omen reall "ere or should be that "a ) If I indulged in an e#aggerated form of femininit < it "as onl because I ne(er reall had the chance to e#!lore that side of m self gro"ing u! as a bo ) I s!ent (irtuall e(er da of m life "earing T-shirts< ;eans< snea&ers< and no ma&eu!) %o for me< crossdressing re!resented a rare o!!ortunit to full indulge m femininit ) The other factor at the time that moti(ated me to tr to achie(e stereot !ical femininit "as that I "anted others to gender me as female) 0ac& "hen I "as crossdressingE"hen I "as still !h sicall maleEthat ne(er "ould ha(e been !ossible had I gone out sans ma&eu! or "earing unise# clothing) To a large e#tent< I !ur!osel chose the clothing and cosmetics I "ore "hen I crossdressed based on their abilit to hide or !la do"n m male !h si8ue and facial features) In fact< the !ublic stage of m crossdressing "as reall the one time in m life "hen I did go out of m "a to emulate ho" some "omen loo&ed< "al&ed< tal&ed< mo(ed< and so on) I found that this increased the li&elihood that I "ould be gendered female< "hich "as m o(erall goal< and "hich also ensured m safet ) 4ne 8uestion that man 8ueer-identified friends as&ed me bac& "hen I "as crossdressing "as "h it "as so im!ortant for me to +!ass- as a "oman) Their concern seemed to stem from the common use of the term +!ass- in lesbian and ga communities as a s non m for +hide- Bi)e)< a ga male "ho +!assesfor straight is t !icall assumed to be hiding or !la ing do"n his 8ueernessC) This use of the "ord +!ass- is com!letel different from its use in the transgender communit < "here it t !icall refers to "hether one is a!!ro!riatel gendered as the se# one identifies or !resents oneself as) *rom m !ers!ecti(e as a crossdresser< "hat ga !eo!le call +!assing- Bi)e)< hidingC "as "hat I did e(er da "hen I li(ed as male) In contrast< "hen I dressed and +!assed- Bin the transgender senseC as a "oman< it "as a rare moment of being +out- for me< of ha(ing others see and ac&no"ledge a !art of me that I normall &e!t hidden) 5(entuall < ha(ing other !eo!le gender me as female became dem stified) While I still en;o ed it Bas I did "ith the mirror momentsC< it "as no longer enough in and of itself to ease the gender dissonance that I felt) It "as at this !oint that I mo(ed into the +interacti(e stage<- "hen I began to go out "ith other !eo!le "hile I "as crossdressed) While I had come out to a number of friends as a crossdresser during m !ublic stage< I no" began culti(ating relationshi!s "ith !eo!le "ho !rimaril or solel &ne" me "hen I "as in girl-mode) More often than not< these "ere !eo!le "ho I met (ia !ersonal ads and "ho "ere a"are that I "as a crossdresser from the start) 4(er an e#tremel intense t"o- ear !eriod of m life< I sort of li(ed a dual life< "here I "as in bo -mode most of the time< but about one or t"o times !er "ee& I "ould go out and interact "ith others Boften on datesC as a "oman) %ome of the !eo!le I sa" during this !eriod "ere men "ho might be described as admirers of MT* s!ectrum !eo!le) With them< I !rimaril engaged in role-!la ing relationshi!s in "hich "e "ould create se#uall charged scenarios based on e#aggerations of gender stereot !es) While man !eo!le assume that male +trann -chasers- are closeted homose#uals "ho are turned on b the +gu - Bor the +!enis-C under the dress< all of the men "ho I role-!la ed "ith "ere !rimaril attracted to "omen and< in !articular< to femininit ) In con(ersations I had "ith them< each said that "hat attracted them to MT* s!ectrum !eo!le "as the e#treme femininit that man of us Bincluding m self at the timeC

sometimes dis!la ed) *or me< these role-!la ing e#!eriences "ere im!ortant in hel!ing me dem stif the connection bet"een femininit and se#ualit ) As "ith !re(ious !hases of m crossdressing< acting out m submissi(e feminine fantasies felt e#citing and em!o"ering earl on) 0ut o(er time< once the had become dem stified< I found that the began to lose both their erotic and e#!eriential !otential) What !la ed an e(en greater role in dem stif ing femaleness and femininit for me "ere the relationshi!s I culti(ated "ith "omen around this same time) Most of these "omen "ere bise#ual or bicurious< and our relationshi!s in(ol(ed me being in girl-mode some or most of the times "e got together) While I "as 8uite feminine "hen I "as "ith them and crossdressed< I did not engage in the e#aggerated femininit that I had during m role-!la ing e#!eriences "ith men) In retros!ect< "hat "as most im!ortant for me about these e#!eriences "ith "omen "as that the allo"ed me to begin to integrate m !ersonalit Bi)e)< the !erson I "as "hen in bo -modeC "ith m femme self) In a sense< this re!resented a merging of bo -mode and girl-mode for me< a sort of mending of the fracture in m !s che that had de(elo!ed in res!onse to the effemimania and enforced ignorance I.d e#!erienced as a child) After about t"o ears of being in the interacti(e !hase< of being in relationshi!s "ith other !eo!le "hile I "as in girl-mode< something une#!ected ha!!ened' I lost interest in crossdressing) This "as e#traordinaril disconcerting to me at first< as being a crossdresser "as such a huge !art of m identit at the time) I remember l ing in bed one morning and thin&ing< I "onder "here I should ta&e m crossdressing ne#tO as if I sim!l needed to find some ne" as!ect of femaleness or femininit to e#!eriment "ith< some ne" crossdressing stage to !ioneer< in order to regain interest in it) 2o"e(er< b this !oint< I had e#!lored femininit and female gender roles as much as !ossible "ithin the conte#t of being a crossdresser) *ortunatel for me< this "as "hen Dani B"ho "as m girlfriend at the timeC introduced me to Gate 0ornstein.s and @eslie *einberg.s "ritings) Their boo&s allo"ed me to start (ie"ing m self as bigendered rather than as a crossdresser) I began to see m e#!ressions of femaleness and femininit not merel as something that e#isted outside of m self that I could emulate or imagine but ne(er trul e#!erience< but rather as an intrinsic and legitimate !art of m !erson< as something that came from "ithin me) Thin&ing of m self as bigendered also hel!ed me ma&e sense of another ne" de(elo!ment in m life' that !eo!le "ere beginning to !ic& u! on m femininit e(en "hen I "as in bo -mode) %trangers began to assume that I "as ga < and on rare occasions e(en gendered me as female) These changes< "hich occurred des!ite the fact that I "as dressing the same and had not consciousl altered m beha(ior< too& me b sur!rise) I e(entuall reali,ed that o(er those man ears of crossdressing I must ha(e unlearned man of the rote masculine mannerisms that I.d ac8uired during m adolescence and earl adulthoodEbeha(iors that had ser(ed as a selfdefense mechanism that allo"ed me to esca!e effemimanic derision) In other "ords< during the ears that I crossdressed< it "asn.t so much that I learned ho" to be female Bas I "as no longer em!lo ing an of the contri(ed and stereot !ed feminine mannerisms I !racticed bac& "hen I "as crossdressingC< but that I had in effect unlearned maleness) If it "ere not for m ears as a crossdresser< I doubt that I "ould ha(e been able to dem stif femaleness and unlearn maleness to the !oint that I could li(e for se(eral ears as a feminine bigendered bo Ean identit that !receded m decision to transition) While I certainl do not belie(e that crossdressing is merel a !hase that e(entuall leads to becoming a transse#ual "oman< I do belie(e that man crossdressers e#!erience similar !hases of dem stif ing femaleness/femininit and unlearning maleness/masculinit o(er the course of their li(es) While crossdressing ma seem highl contri(ed to man outsiders< from an MT* !ers!ecti(e< it is an in(aluable "a to reconcile our female/feminine inclinations "ith our male/masculine bodies and sociali,ation) It !ro(ides a "a to

allo" !arts of oursel(es that "e ha(e been made to feel shame about< that "e ha(e learned to hide or re!ress< to sho" through and become integrated "ith the rest of our !ersonalities)

Rethin&ing +Male Pri(ilege-

I thin& it.s a!!ro!riate to end this cha!ter "ith a discussion of +male !ri(ilege- "ith res!ect to MT* s!ectrum fol&s) I ha(e decided to frame +male !ri(ilege- in 8uotation mar&s here not to suggest that it doesn.t e#ist or to claim that MT* s!ectrum fol&s don.t e#!erience it to some e#tent< but to challenge the "a in "hich it is often !ut for"ard in dialogues and debatesEas though it "ere the +one and onl gender !ri(ilege)9 The conce!t of +male !ri(ilege- emerged out of the incorrect assum!tion that se#ism functions as a unilateral form of o!!ression) According to this model< men unilaterall o!!ress "omen< and thus the rea! all of the benefits< "hile "omen bear all of the hardshi!s) This< ho"e(er< is a gross o(ersim!lification of se#ism for numerous reasons) *irst< the conce!t of unilateral se#ism denies other im!ortant factors< such as racism< classism< ableism< etc)< that contribute to discrimination) After all< it.s difficult to ma&e the case that a rich "hite "oman is more o!!ressed than a !oor blac& man in our culture) %econd< it ignores o!!ositional se#ism< "hich fa(ors those "ith t !ical gender inclinations o(er those "ith e#ce!tional ones< regardless of se#) *or e#am!le< if ou ha!!en to be attracted to men< then our life "ill certainl be easier in man res!ects if ou ha!!en to be female rather than male) And if ou ha!!en to be feminine< ou "ill surel be less marginali,ed for our gender e#!ressions if ou are a "oman rather than a man) While some cisse#ual "omen assume that men ha(e a mono!ol on gender !ri(ilege< this is not the case) Man trans men ha(e "ritten at length about both the male !ri(ileges the gained !ost-transition< as "ell as the numerous "a s their li(es became more difficult< com!le#< or e(en dangerous once the "ere regularl !ercei(ed as male)> Their comments ha(e been echoed b =orah Jincent< a cisse#ual "oman "ho s!ent o(er a ear and a half sociall +!assing- as a man as a !art of an in(estigati(e ;ournalism !ro;ect)1? These !ers!ecti(es< "hich all come from !eo!le "ho "ere born and sociali,ed female< hel! demonstrate ho" o!!ositional se#ism ensures that both maleness and femaleness come "ith their o"n (er different sets of !ri(ileges< restrictions< e#!ectations< and assum!tions) The conce!t of +male !ri(ilege- not onl ignores o!!ositional se#ismF it assumes that "omen are the sole targets of traditional se#ism) While those "ho li(e full-time as "omen surel bear the brunt of traditional se#ism< female- and feminine-inclined male-bodied !eo!le are also clearl targeted b this form of se#ism< as is e(ident in our culture.s ram!ant effemimania) As a trans "oman< I ha(e< on man occasions< had cisse#ual "omen claim that I shouldn.t be gi(en the same rights as them to label m self a +"oman- or to enter "omen-onl s!aces because I ha(e e#!erienced +male !ri(ilege- in the !ast) This claim al"a s stri&es me as odd) After all< unli&e them< I ha(e actuall e#!erienced ha(ing others treat me as both male and female at different !oints in m life) 4ne could easil ma&e the case that transse#uals are uni8uel !ositioned to gi(e firsthand accounts of "hat e#actl +male !ri(ilege- is or isn.t) As I ha(e discussed at (arious !oints throughout this boo&< there are man male !ri(ileges that I recei(ed !rior to m transition' I "as generall ta&en more

seriousl < gi(en more s!ace< and harassed far less) Perha!s there are additional male !ri(ileges that e#ist but "hich "ere regularl denied to me because I "as a rather unmasculine Band at times< do"nright feminineC gu ) In an case< as a female- and feminine-identified !erson< I find that the male !ri(ileges I ha(e lost since transitioning< "hile significant< do not com!are to the !ri(ileges that I ha(e gained from finall ha(ing m subconscious and !h sical se#es aligned and from being able to li(e o!enl as female) It infuriates me "hen cisse#ual "omen use +male !ri(ilege- as an e#cuse to dismiss MT* s!ectrum fol&s< as it belies their reluctance to e#amine their o"n birth !ri(ilege Bha(ing been born into a !h sical se# that matches their subconscious se#C< their sociali,ation !ri(ilege Bbeing sociali,ed into a gender consistent "ith their subconscious se#C< and their cisse#ual !ri(ilege Bha(ing others consider their femaleness legitimate and un8uestionableC) %ome "omen bristle "hen I suggest that the ma ha(e e#!erienced sociali,ation !ri(ilege< as the assume that I am negating the man "a s in "hich childhood sociali,ation can be restricti(e and disem!o"ering for cisse#ual female children and adolescents) M intention in bringing u! the notion of sociali,ation !ri(ilege is not to dismiss the obstacles faced b cisse#ual girls< but to highlight the (er different< et significant< gender disad(antages faced b MT* s!ectrum children) *or e#am!le< "hen I as& m cisse#ual female friends if the "ould ha(e !referred it if their !arents had decided to raise them male rather than female< most of them immediatel ans"er +no)- Posing the 8uestion in this "a allo"s them to recogni,e that the !otential male !ri(ileges the might ha(e gained if raised male "ould not be "orth the !rice of ha(ing to den or re!ress their femaleness and femininit ) Male !ri(ileges< "hile (er real< are little consolation "hen ou feel li&e ou ha(e to hide our femaleness/femininit from our famil and friendsF "hen ou.(e endured being the onl female/feminine-inclined !erson in often-misog nistic male-onl s!aces such as men.s loc&er roomsF "hen ou cannot safel share our femaleness/femininit "ith others< but instead must clandestinel e#!lore it on our o"n in isolationF "hen ou are unable to sim!l be female/feminine "ithout ha(ing others accuse ou of +emulating"omen or of merel being +effeminate)I am not tr ing to ma&e the case here that MT* s!ectrum fol&s are +more o!!ressed- than cisse#ual "omen< as !la ing the moreo!!ressed-than-thou card ser(es no !ur!ose other than narcissism) 0ut I do ho!e to encourage cisse#ual "omen to ta&e a moment to !ut themsel(es in our shoes< to consider ho" !atroni,ing and condescending dismissi(e 8ui!s about +male !ri(ilege- "ould sound to ou if ou had been forced against our "ill into bo hood) As someone "ho s!ent m childhood des!eratel "ishing that I could be a girl rather than bo < and "ho as an adult considers it a !ri(ilege to finall ha(e the o!!ortunit to li(e in the "orld as a "oman rather than a man< I find those attem!ts to undermine trans "omen.s femaleness b decr ing +male !ri(ilege- hollo" and crass) 2a(ing said all that< I "ill be the first to admit that man MT* s!ectrum fol&s seem to be rather obli(ious to the im!act that traditional se#ism has on their li(esEboth "ith res!ect to the male !ri(ileges the gain because of it as "ell as the s!ecial social stigma the recei(e for their feminine transgender e#!ression and/or for choosing to transition to female) Personall < it "as onl after I began li(ing full-time as a "oman< e#!eriencing firsthand all of the inferior and negati(e assum!tions that others !ro;ected onto me because of m femaleness< that I began to ma&e a connection bet"een traditional se#ism and the discrimination that I faced because of the s!ecific direction of m transition and transgender e#!ression) 4nl then did I reali,e ho" inade8uate the transgender mo(ement.s mantra Ethat "e are discriminated against for +transgressing binar gender norms-Eis for those of us on the MT* s!ectrum "ho !rimaril gra!!le "ith effemimania and trans-misog n ) MT* s!ectrum fol&s need feminism in order to ma&e sense out of our li(es and to "or& to"ard ending

our continuing marginali,ation) :nfortunatel < man cisse#ual feminists seem to fear that MT* s!ectrum inclusion "ithin feminism might dilute< distract< or undercut a mo(ement that has historicall centered itself on the struggles and issues of cisse#ual "omen) T !icall < such fears arise from the assum!tion that "e cannot "or& together because "e su!!osedl ha(e different goals< or that "e are unable to relate to one another.s e#!eriences) I belie(e that is a red herring) After all< man lesbian "omen< "ho t !icall do not ha(e to deal "ith the issue of un"anted !regnanc < "or& hard for and are committed to !rotecting the a(ailabilit of birth control and a "oman.s right to choose) %imilarl < a "oman doesn.t necessaril ha(e to be a sur(i(or of se#ual or !h sical assault herself to do crucial "or& in a domestic (iolence shelter or a ra!e crisis center) What trul unites feminists is not a shared histor Bas "e each bring a uni8ue set of life e#!eriences to the tableC< but our shared commitment to fighting against the de(aluation of femaleness and femininit in our societ and the double standards that are !laced onto both se#es) In this res!ect< cisse#ual female and MT* s!ectrum feminists do ha(e a lot in common) It.s not ;ust that MT* s!ectrum fol&s need feminism< but that feminism needs to embrace MT* e#!eriences and !ers!ecti(es) The fact that the lion.s share of the anti-trans sentiment s!ecificall targets those of us on the MT* s!ectrum indicates that "e are mar&ed< not for failing to conform to gender norms !er se but because "e +choose- to be female and/or feminine) *or feminism to ignore the societ -"ide effemimania and trans-misog n "e face is to allo" one of the most !er(asi(e forms of traditional se#ism to go unchec&ed) Indeed< for feminists to continue to dismiss effemimania solel because it targets those "ho are male-bodied is !articularl shortsighted) After all< as !re(iousl mentioned< much of the se#ist beha(ior e#hibited b cisse#ual men arises directl out of their being forced to disa(o" and m stif femininit from an earl age) In this res!ect< MT* s!ectrum fol&s can !ro(ide feminism "ith crucial insight into the "or&ings of effemimania and offer strategies to !otentiall challenge it) Additionall < those of us "ho transition to female can !ro(ide firsthand accounts of the (er different "a s that "omen and men are treated in the "orldEa !ers!ecti(e that is es!eciall rele(ant toda gi(en ho" common it is for !eo!le to nai(el claim that "e as a societ ha(e transcended se#ism and mo(ed into a +!ostfeminist- era) 0ut !erha!s most of all< "hat MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le can offer feminism is a (er different and far more em!o"ering !ers!ecti(e on femininit ) 4(er the ears< man feminists ha(e argued that femininit undermines "omen< or that it.s !ur!osefull designed to subordinate "omen to men) %uch a (ie" no doubt stems from the e#!eriences of those "omen "ho ha(e felt that the e#!ectation of femininit has been forced u!on them against their "ill) 0ut those of us on the MT* s!ectrum "ho ha(e had the reci!rocal e#!erienceEof ine#!licabl being inclined or com!elled to e#!ress femininit that "e "ere taught to a(oid or re!ressEcannot so easil dismiss femininit as an artifice "hose sole !ur!ose is to de(alue and disem!o"er "omen) 0ecause "e come to embrace our o"n femininit for oursel(es rather than to a!!ease others< "e are able to a!!reciate the man "a s in "hich femininit can be freeing and em!o"ering for those "ho gra(itate to"ard it on their o"n) Man of us re;ect all of the inferior meanings and connotations that others !ro;ect onto femininit Ethat it is "ea&< artificial< fri(olous< demure< and !assi(eEbecause for us< there has been no act more bold and daring than embracing our o"n femininit ) In a "orld that is a"ash in antifeminine sentiment< "e understand that embracing and em!o"ering femininit can !otentiall be one of the most transformati(e and re(olutionar acts imaginable)

19

0arrette Manifesto

25K GIR@%< DID K4: 25AR the ne"sO It.s ;ust been scientificall !ro(en that barrettes are dangerousD %o are bracelets and bric-a-brac) It.s a fact) And don.t be fooled b thic&-nec&ed macho men "ho !retend that +girl stuff- is boring or fri(olous< because that.s ;ust an act) 0ecause as soon as ou as& that gu to hold our !urse for a minute< he "ill start to s8uirm< as if our handbag "ere full of "orms< as he holds it as far a"a from his rugged bod as !ossible) 0ecause +girl stuff- is made "ith the gender e8ui(alent of Gr !toniteD That.s right< ;ust "atch fathers in %anrio stores standing li&e !etrified trees< li&e deer caught in 2ello Gitt .s headlights) 4r teenage bo s bu ing their girlfriends flo"ers< acting as disinterested as !ossible as the as& the florist for a do,en +"hate(er-s) That.s "h the al"a s bu roses< that.s "h engagement rings are al"a s diamonds) These things are not romantic< the are ;ust clichQsEthe onl t !es of flo"ers and ;e"elr that most men "ill admit to &no"ing the names of) And god forbid ou "ere to as& our husband to !ic& ou u! a bo# of tam!ons) BAnd men< it.s true< the cashier reall does thin& ou.re bu ing them for oursel(es)C +Girl stuff- is dangerous< and I should &no" because I.m a secret double agent) %ee< I li(ed as a bo for most of m life and I ha(e insider information straight out of men.s loc&er rooms and college dorms) 2ell< I e(en "ent to a bachelor !art once< so I &no" this stuff firsthand) And I ha(e a battle !lan for absolute se#ual e8ualit < but ou ha(e to trust me on this) %ee< feminists ha(e made it o&a for girls to e#!lore "hat used to be an e#clusi(el bo "orld) 0ut true e8ualit "on.t come until bo s learn to embrace girl stuff as "ell) %o here.s the deal' If ou "ant our bo friend to treat ou "ith res!ect< then tell him that ou "on.t slee! "ith him until he starts !utting barrettes in his hair) And I.m not tal&ing about secret bedroom &in& shit) Ma&e him "ear them to "or&D The ne#t time he bu s a !air of shoes< ma&e sure the .re Mar Hanes Band don.t forget the "hite lac an&lets to go "ith themC) 0ecause as soon as he reali,es the !ure bliss of "earing a frill < !in&< !oof !art dress< ma be he.ll finall rela# a bit and loosen u! that u!tight male s"agger) And ma be once he lets his guard do"n< he.ll loo& around and reali,e that the "orld doesn.t re(ol(e around him) Kou ma thin& this is funn < but it.s no ;o&e) +Girl stuff- is dangerous< so let.s use it to our ad(antage) We trul can change the "orldD 0ecause if construction "or&ers "ere man enough to "ear s&irts and heels< the "ouldn.t "histle at "omen "ho "al& b ) And if misog nistic roc&ers and ra!!ers "ere man enough to cr "hile "atching tear;er&ers< the "ouldn.t need to masturbate all o(er the mic) And if !residents and generals "ere man enough to "ear li! gloss and mascara< the "ouldn.t ha(e to !ro(e their !enis si,e b going to "ar all the time) 0ecause male !ride is not reall about !ride) It.s about fear Ethe fear of being seen as feminine) And that.s "h +girl stuff- is so dangerous) And as long as most men remain deathl afraid of it< the .ll continue to ta&e it out on the rest of us)

1>

Putting the *eminine 0ac& into *eminism

I R5M5M05R 0ACG I= C4@@5G5E"hen I "as admittedl rather nai(e "ith regard to gender !oliticsEsomeone as&ed a friend of mine "hether she considered herself a feminist) I "as sur!rised to hear her ans"er +=o)- After all< she certainl seemed li&e a feminist to me) %he "as inde!endent< intelligent< career-minded< !ro-"omen.s re!roducti(e rights) %he regularl stood u! for herself and "as &eenl a"are of the dis!arit bet"een ho" certain !rofessors treated her and ho" the treated her male counter!arts) When she "as as&ed "h she didn.t identif as a feminist< her re!l "as< +I li&e being a girl)- %he "ent on to e#!lain that she en;o ed< and e(en felt em!o"ered b < being feminine) And in her e#!erience< those "ho o!enl embraced the label +feminist- often dis!la ed a condescending attitude to"ard her femininit ) Granted< this ideaEthat feminism and femininit are in o!!osition to one anotherEhas often been fostered b those "ho "ish to undermine feminism) *or se(eral decades no"< feminism.s o!!onents ha(e attem!ted to dissuade "omen from the mo(ement b re!eating t"o Bseemingl contradictor C sound bites' that feminists are +man-haters- Bread' +homose#ual-C "hile simultaneousl +"anting to be men- Bread' +masculine-C) While one cannot underestimate the negati(e effect that this antifeminist !ro!aganda has had in turning feminine and heterose#ual "omen a"a from feminism< "e "ould be doing oursel(es a great disser(ice if "e didn.t also ac&no"ledge the fact that man feminists themsel(es ha(e for"arded the idea that femininit is artificial and incom!atible "ith feminism)1 This antifemininit tendenc ma re!resent the feminist mo(ement.s single greatest tactical error) It.s high time "e rectif this mista&e b !ur!osefull !utting the feminine bac& into feminism)

4rigins of *emininit

0efore "e can engage in an in-de!th discussion about femininit < "e must first accuratel define the "ord) In its broadest sense< femininit refers to the beha(iors< mannerisms< interests< and "a s of !resenting oneself that are t !icall associated "ith those "ho are female) Thus< the first thing "e must ac&no"ledge is that femininit is a collection of heterogeneous traits) This is an im!ortant !oint to ma&e< as femininit is often assumed to be a monolithic entit Ei)e)< a +!ac&age deal- of gender e#!ressions< traits< and 8ualities that are ine(itabl bundled together) The fact that indi(idual feminine traits are se!arable is e(ident in the fact that some "omen are (erball effusi(e and emoti(e B8ualities that are commonl considered feminineC< but not !articularl feminine in their manner of dress) Reci!rocall < some "omen "ho dress (er femininel are not (er effusi(e or emoti(e) %till other

"omen e#hibit both or neither of these 8ualities) In must also be mentioned that these and other feminine traits are not uni8ue to "omen< as indi(idual men can Band often doC e#hibit them) The fact that feminine traits are not female-s!ecific< and that the are se!arable from one another< is far too often brushed aside "hen !eo!le tr to ans"er the 8uestion that unfortunatel dri(es most discussions about femininit ' namel < "hat !roduces feminine e#!ressions in !eo!leO Those "ho "ish to naturali,e femininit "ill often describe feminine traits as though the "ere bundled in a single biological !rogram that is initiated onl in genetic females) %uch claims gloss o(er the man !eo!le "ho ha(e e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions Bi)e)< feminine traits in males and masculine traits in femalesC in order to full subsume femininit "ithin femaleness) 4n the other hand< those "ho "ish to artificiali,e femininit often characteri,e it as though it "ere a unified social !rogram designed to sha!e "omen.s !ersonalities and se#ualities (ia a combination of social norms< constructs< and conditioning) The assum!tion that femininit is one entit ma&es it easier for those "ho fa(or such social e#!lanations to +!ro(e- that femininit is artificial) After all< one needs onl to ma&e the case that certain s!ecific as!ects of femininit are clearl +man-made- and (ar from culture to culture in order to e#tra!olate that all as!ects of femininit are social in origin) %imilarl < b sho"ing that certain as!ects of femininit are sociall im!osed on girls and "omen< one can claim that femininit as a "hole is unnatural< or it "ould not ha(e to be enforced at all) What should be clear b no" is that the !resum!tion that femininit is a singular !rogram tends to foster an o(erl sim!listic< all-or-none dichotom bet"een biological and social e#!lanations for gender differences) 4nce "e let go of the conce!t of monolithic femininit Eand "ith it< the either/or ideolog that !lagues nature-(ersus-nurture debates about genderEit becomes rather a!!arent that indi(idual feminine traits arise from different combinations of biolog and sociali,ation) *or instance< during m transition< "hen I first began to be !ercei(ed as female on a regular basis< I "as sur!rised b ho" often male strangers told me to smileE+Cheer u!< things can.t be all that bad<- the .d sa ) =eedless to sa < I found these remar&s condescending< as nobod dared to tell me that I should smile for them bac& "hen I "as !ercei(ed as male) 2o"e(er< des!ite m determination not to conform to the suggestions of !atroni,ing strangers< I ne(ertheless found that< o(er time< I sto!!ed hearing such comments) 4b(iousl < something had changed) Ma be on an unconscious le(el< I learned to smile more "ithout reali,ing it) 4r ma be it had to do "ith another defense mechanism that I.(e learned since li(ing as a "oman' ma&ing e e contact "ith strangers less often than I did "hen I "as male< "hich significantl reduced occurrences of strange men harassing me) These beha(iors< "hich are often considered feminine because "omen !rimaril e#hibit them< seem to originate as an unconscious res!onse to negotiating one.s "a through the "orld as a "oman) In other "ords< the a!!ear to be !rimaril or e#clusi(el social in origin) 4ther as!ects of femininit that are clearl social in origin include "hat I call +feminine fashions-E i)e)< 8ualities that ha(e onl recentl become associated "ith< or s mbolic of< femininit ) *or e#am!le< these da s it.s common for !eo!le to (ie" being thin as a feminine trait) While femininit and thinness ha(e become almost s non mous in contem!orar Western culture< "omen "ho "ere more fullfigured "ere considered the feminine ideal in !ast eras) %imilarl < toda most of us gro" u! belie(ing that !in& is undoubtedl the most feminine of colors) In the earl 1>??s< ho"e(er< it "as more common for !eo!le to associate !in& "ith bo s and blue "ith girls)$ While some feminine traits are !redominantl social in origin< others a!!ear to be greatl influenced b biolog ) 4ne feminine biological trait is being in tune "ith one.s emotions) Jirtuall all transse#uals transitioning in the MT* direction re!ort an increased intensit in the "a that the e#!erience emotions once the begin ta&ing estrogenF those in the *TM direction re!ort the re(erse effect u!on ta&ing testosterone) Thus< emotional intensit definitel has a biological basis< as it is greatl

influenced b adult hormone le(els) 4f course< feminine traits that arise from our adult hormonal ma&eu! are relati(el eas to categori,e as biological< as one can e#!erience the corres!onding changes firsthand (ia hormone thera! ) In contrast< other feminine traits that ha(e biological in!utsEsuch as those that ma be hard"ired into our brains from birthEare more difficult to discern) T"o !ossible e#am!les of this include feminine aesthetic !references and "a s of e#!ressing oneself) 5(idence that these tendencies ma be hard"ired comes from the fact that the t !icall a!!ear (er earl in childhood and often in contradiction to one.s sociali,ation Bboth for children "hose !arents attem!t to raise them in a unise# or gender-neutral fashion< and for bo s "hose families acti(el and aggressi(el steer them a"a from feminine e#!ressionC) This indicates that some as!ects of feminine (erbal and aesthetic e#!ression !recede and/or su!ersede gender sociali,ation) *urther< the fact that some feminine male children "ill often continue to e#!ress these e#ce!tional traits "ell into adulthood des!ite a lifetime of social conditioning to the contrar sho"s that these traits cannot be ade8uatel e#!lained b social mechanisms) While feminine (erbal and aesthetic e#!ression can surel be influenced or e#aggerated b social forces< I "ould argue that these traits are also dri(en b intrinsic and dee!-seated inclinations that are li&el to be the result of biolog ) Gi(en the "a that gender essentialists ha(e distorted biolog to ;ustif se#ist beha(iors and norms< I can understand "h some feminists "ould be hesitant to admit that biolog has an role in !roducing or contributing to beha(ioral gender differences) 2o"e(er< the idea that gender differences arise solel from sociali,ation and social norms is highl !roblematic< in that it assumes that our minds are blan& slates "ith absolutel no intrinsic or instinctual gendered or se#ual tendencies) This har&ens bac& to (ie"s for"arded b e#treme beha(iorists li&e 0) *) %&inner< "ho argued that human beings are merel !roducts of their social conditioning) %uch (ie"s ha(e since been thoroughl refuted b other "or& in the fields of !s cholog and biolog ) %uch beha(iorist models are unable to e#!lain ho" an gender s stem comes into being in the first !lace< and ho" Bonce it is establishedC an one can come to transcend or challenge it) As "ith those models that assume that gender arises directl and e#!edientl from se# chromosomes or hormones< beha(iorist models of gender fail to accuratel account for the (ast gender and se#ual di(ersit in the "orld) While I belie(e that certain as!ects of femininit ha(e biological in!uts< it "ould be foolish for an !erson to !resume that the can full tease a!art the social from the biological' to assume that the can &no" !recisel "hat biological !ath"a s lie at the root of feminine and masculine beha(iors< or to claim to &no" "h or ho" the e(ol(ed) Gi(en the o(er"helming number of social (ariables in(ol(ed< an researcher "ho claims to a!!roach human gender e#!ression from a !urel biological !ers!ecti(e !ractices s!eculation rather than science) *urthermore< I re;ect the so!homoric biological models of gender that are often !ro!osed in !o! !s cholog and !o! science< "hich often nai(el !ortra genes< hormones< and neurons as though the "ere s"itches that are sim!l turned +on- in one gender and +off- in the other) In realit < these as!ects of biolog are com!le#l regulated and greatl influenced b an indi(idual.s uni8ue genetic and en(ironmental bac&ground) This is !articularl true of the brain< "here neural structure< connections< and acti(it are constantl being altered and modified in res!onse to ne" e#!eriences) 0iolog ine(itabl !roduces a broad s!ectrum of !otential combinations of beha(ioral tendencies in !eo!le< ma&ing that s!ectrum com!atible "ith the (ast natural di(ersit "e see in human gender e#!ression)

%e#ist Inter!retations of *emininit

Throughout the rest of this cha!ter< "hen I refer to +femininit - or +feminine traits<- it should be understood that I.m tal&ing about a heterogeneous< non-female-s!ecific collection of traits that each ha(e a uni8ue biological and/or social origin) In fact< the onl 8ualit that all feminine traits share is that the all tend to be associated "ith "omen Balbeit not e#clusi(e to themC) This !oint becomes highl rele(ant once "e begin to consider ho" !eo!le inter!ret feminine traits) Indeed< the ongoing and hotl contested debates o(er "hether femininit and masculinit are biological or social in origin ha(e< in m (ie"< ser(ed !rimaril as a distraction from a far more !ertinent issueEnamel < "hat meanings< s mbolism< and connotations do "e assign to different gender e#!ressionsO While I disagree "ith the notion that gender e#!ression itself is entirel social in origin< I do belie(e that the "a "e !ercei(e and assign (alues to feminine and masculine beha(iors is !rimaril < if not e#clusi(el < a social affair) In our male-centered culture< t"o forces most often sha!e our inter!retations of femininit Bas "ell as masculinit C' o!!ositional and traditional se#ism) 4!!ositional se#ism functions to legitimi,e feminine e#!ressions in "omen and to delegitimi,e feminine e#!ressions in men Band (ice (ersa for masculinit C) %o "hile all !eo!le are ca!able of e#!ressing feminine traits< o!!ositional se#ism ensures that such e#!ressions "ill a!!ear natural "hen !roduced b "omen and unnatural "hen !roduced b men) In addition to creating the !erce!tion that female femininit is +real- and +right- "hile male femininit is +fa&e- and +"rong<- o!!ositional se#ism ma also influence the +doing- of gender e#!ression) 5#ce!tional gender e#!ressions are regularl dismissed< e(en stigmati,ed< in our culture< "hich ma lead some !eo!le to hide or curb their o"n gender-(ariant beha(ior< further e#aggerating the assumed< a!!arent differences bet"een the t"o se#es) In these "a s< o!!ositional se#ism creates the assum!tion that feminine traitsE"hich occur in members of both se#esEare ine#orabl lin&ed to female biolog < and therefore< to one another) Traditional se#ism functions to ma&e femaleness and femininit a!!ear subordinate to maleness and masculinit ) This is accom!lished in a number of "a s) *or e#am!le< female and feminine attributes are regularl assigned negati(e connotations and meanings in our societ ) An e#am!le of this is the "a that being in touch "ith and e#!ressing one.s emotions is regularl derided in our societ ) While this trait has (irtuall nothing to do "ith one.s abilit to reason or to thin& logicall < in the !ublic mind< being +emotional- has become s non mous "ith being +irrational)- Another e#am!le is that certain !ursuits and interests that are considered feminine< such as gossi!ing or decorating< are often characteri,ed as +fri(olous<- "hile masculine !reoccu!ationsEe(en those that ser(e solel recreational functions< such as s!ortsEgenerall esca!e such tri(iali,ation) In addition to !lacing inferior meanings on feminine traits< traditional se#ism also creates the im!ression that certain as!ects of femininit e#ist for the !leasure or benefit of men) Ta&e< for e#am!le< the concern for< or desire to hel!< others) While those "ho ha(e this 8ualit of em!ath or altruism often e#!ress it to"ard all t !es of beings Bi)e)< children and adults< strangers and friends< animals and humansC< it.s often recast in "omen as a maternal< +nurturing- 8ualit that is meant to be directed !rimaril to"ard one.s famil ) Thus< this thoroughl human trait has been t"isted into the e#!ectation that it.s "omen.s +natural- dut to ta&e care of their male !artners and children< and to carr out the bul& of famil and domestic chores)

Another e#am!le of this !henomenon is the "a that feminine self-!resentation is often framed as though it solel e#ists to entice or attract men) This assum!tion denies an !ossibilit that those "ho are feminine might "ish to adorn themsel(es for their o"n benefit or !leasure) After all< feminine self!resentation tends to highl correlate "ith a more general desire to surround oneself "ith beautiful or aestheticall !leasing ob;ects and materialsE"hether in decorating one.s home or adorning one.s bod ) The idea that this trait e#ists !rimaril to !i8ue men.s interest seems unli&el to me< as most straight men I &no" seem rather disinterested in the "a their homes are decorated< and often are com!letel obli(ious "hen their female !artners don ne" outfits or hairst les) It.s safe to sa that most heterose#ual men are far more interested in "omen.s !h sical bodies than the are in the clothing and accessories that co(er them) The idea that feminine self-!resentation e#ists !rimaril to attract heterose#ual men is further undermined b the fact that femme d &es dress in a feminine manner des!ite their disinterest in attracting men) And some ga men also dress (er femininel des!ite the fact that the ga male communit has a histor of idoli,ing and fetishi,ing h !ermasculine images and bodies rather than feminine ones) As someone "ho.s not interested in attracting men< I often en;o dressing femininel F I sim!l feel more ali(e and self-em!o"ered "hen I do) Whene(er !eo!le Bmale or other"iseC assume that "omen "ho dress in a feminine manner do so in order to elicit male attention< it al"a s sounds li&e a slightl toned-do"n (ersion of that arrogant claim that "omen "ho dress !ro(ocati(el are someho" as&ing to be ra!ed) Clearl < it.s the idea that feminine self!resentation e#ists for men.s benefit that is o!!ressi(e to "omen< not the acts of self-!resentation themsel(es) The issue of feminine self-!resentation also brings u! another "a in "hich feminine traits are undermined' The are often cast as being de!endent on masculinit and maleness) This sentiment seems to be !ro;ected onto (irtuall all as!ects of femaleness and femininit ) It can be seen in the "a men are often cast as the +!rotectors- of "omen< either because the are t !icall !h sicall stronger or because "omen are seen as being +emotionall frail)- The stereot !ic and m thic image of the damsel in distress "ho re8uires a masculine man to sa(e her seems to im!art an air of hel!lessness< fragilit < and !assi(it onto (irtuall all as!ects of femininit and female se#ualit ) %uch connotations seem to hea(il inform both the materialit and s mbolism of certain feminine fashions) The also hel! foster a !redator/!re mentalit regarding se#ualit < "here femininit becomes conflated "ith being se#uall rece!ti(e and !assi(e< "hile masculinit is s non mous "ith !enetration and se#ual aggressi(eness) This< of course< denies the realit that "omen are often se#ual initiators and that both !arties are in(ariabl acti(e during the act of se#) Indeed< the fact that hel!lessness< fragilit < and !assi(it are merel meanings !ro;ected onto female bodies and feminine e#!ressions Brather than 8ualities that are +built into- femaleness and femininit C becomes ob(ious "hen "e imagine "hat "ould ha!!en if< instead of centering our beliefs about heterose#ual se# around the idea that the man +!enetrates- the "oman< "e "ere to sa that the "oman.s (agina +consumes- the man.s !enis) This "ould create a (er different set of connotations< as the "oman "ould become the acti(e initiator and the man "ould be the !assi(e and rece!ti(e !art ) 4ne can easil see ho" this could lead to men and masculinit being seen as de!endent on< and e#isting for the benefit of< femaleness and femininit ) %imilarl < if "e thought about the feminine traits of being (erball effusi(e and emoti(e not as signs of insecurit or de!endence< but as bold acts of selfe#!ression< then the masculine ideal of the +strong and silent t !e- might suddenl seem timid and insecure b com!arison) The mista&en belief that femininit is inherentl hel!less< fragile< de!endent< irrational< fri(olous< and so on< gi(es rise to the common!lace assum!tion that those "ho e#!ress femininit are not to be ta&en seriousl and cannot be seen as legitimate authorit figures) While such assum!tions regularl

undermine feminine !eo!le of both se#es< the often ha(e a greater net effect on "omen< because traditional se#ism targets female bodies as "ell as feminine e#!ression< and because traditional and o!!ositional se#ism act together to !ut "omen in a double bind' If a "oman acts feminine< she "ill be delegitimi,ed b traditional se#ism< and if she acts masculine< she "ill be delegitimi,ed b o!!ositional se#ism)

*eminist Inter!retations of *emininit

=o"< I "ill address different "a s in "hich contem!orar feminists ha(e reacted to the se#ist de(aluing of femininit in societ ) *or the !ur!oses of this discussion< I "ill focus on t"o broad trends in feminism< "hich I call unilateral feminism and deconstructi(e feminism) 0 focusing on onl these t"o general trends< it is not m intention to erase the significant differences that distinguished the indi(idual branches of feminism that together ga(e rise to these trends< nor is it to ignore other branches of feminism that fall outside of these trends) Rather< m main !ur!ose for this categori,ation scheme is to illustrate t"o ma;or tendencies in feminist !ers!ecti(es on femininit ) %e(eral of the most influential branches of feminism that arose during the 1>6?s and 1>7?s ma be described as falling under the umbrella of unilateral feminism< in that the (ie"ed se#ism as a straightfor"ard matter of "omen being o!!ressed at the hands of men) 4ne of the canonical "ritings of unilateral feminism is 0ett *riedan.s The *eminine M sti8ue< "hich focuses on the malaise that affected man middle-class "omen during the 1>3?s and 1>6?s as the ga(e u! careers to become house"i(es and to raise families)/ *riedan co-o!ts %igmund *reud.s !hrase +feminine m sti8ue- to describe the !o!ular belief at the time that "omen could onl be ha!! if the full immersed themsel(es in femininit ) *riedan discusses femininit in relation to "hat she calls the +house"ife tra!-Ethe e#!ectation that middle-class "omen should become full-time homema&ers< a role she belie(ed stifled "omen.s emotional and intellectual gro"th) To ma&e her case that femininit is a tra! Brather than something man "omen naturall gra(itate to"ardC< *riedan s!ends much of the boo& discussing the "a s in "hich com!anies< ad(ertisers< the media< !s chiatr < and others acti(el mani!ulate "omen into bu ing into feminine tra!!ings) The *eminine M sti8ue "as a rather narro"l focused boo&< in that it onl dealt "ith issues that affected middle-class American "omen< and "ith those as!ects of femininit that are associated "ith the +house"ife tra!)- 0ut it hel!ed reinforce a notion that "ould a!!ear re!eatedl throughout unilateral feminismEthat femininit Bor at least certain as!ects of itC is an artificial< man-made !lo designed to hold "omen bac& from reaching their full !otential) @oo&ing bac& at unilateral feminist "ritings< one finds that se#ism is often described as arising from a !atriarchal s stem that &e!t "omen o!!ressed (ia t"o interrelated tactics' B1C !lacing belittling meanings and assum!tions onto "omen.s bodies< and B$C coercing "omen into femininit < a !rogram that "as seen as inherentl stifling and "hich fostered Bor "as the !roduct ofC "omen.s subser(ience and sub;ugation to men) Thus< unilateral feminists (ie"ed the o!!ositional se#ism faced b "omen as !art of traditional se#ism) 0ecause masculinit "as (ie"ed !rimaril as a !osition of !ri(ilege< o!!ositional se#ism against male-bodied !eo!le remained obscured) Indeed< the (er idea that a man

might find masculine e#!ectations restricti(e seemed as nonsensical to man unilateral feminists as a rich !erson com!laining about being o!!ressed b their o"n "ealth) The unilateral feminist notion that "omen "ere coerced into femininit "as further facilitated b the gro"ing use of the se#/ gender distinction< "hich differentiated bet"een one.s se# B"hich arose from biolog C and gender B"hich arose from one.s en(ironment< sociali,ation< and !s cholog C)1 This ga(e unilateral feminists the theoretical means to challenge the traditionall se#ist messages !ro;ected onto "omen.s biolog and bodies "hile ignoring or disa(o"ing the negati(e messages associated "ith femininit ) In fact< it.s clear that man influential unilateral feminists belie(ed that 8ualities such as hel!lessness< deference< and !assi(it "ere essentiall +built into- feminine e#!ressions and !ractices)3 In other "ords< these feminists not onl failed to challenge se#ist inter!retations of femininit < but often acce!ted those inter!retations at face (alue) While unilateral feminists almost uni(ersall agreed that some or all as!ects of femininit enabled se#ism< the differed in the !ro!osed solutions for countering it) *or e#am!le< liberal feminists Bsuch as *riedanC "or&ed "ithin the e#isting s stem to tr to gain e8ual access to !re(iousl male-dominated areas B!articularl !rofessional and leadershi! !ositionsC< often !romoting a +"omen can do an thing men can do- !hiloso!h ) Im!licit in this strateg is the assum!tion that certain masculine-associated 8ualities and interests "ere natural and desirable for "omen to stri(e for< "hereas the reci!rocal feminine 8ualities "ere not) Radical feminists argued that "omen.s o!!ression "ould onl end b entirel re;ecting both masculine and feminine gender rolesE"hich "ere seen as being ine#orabl tied to men.s +o!!ressor- and "omen.s +o!!ressed- statusesEand instead ado!ting a more +naturalandrog nous dis!osition) Cultural feminists too& a more essentialist !osition< arguing that men and "omen "ere inherentl different< and had distincti(e innate traitsF for e#am!le< men "ere inherentl destructi(e and o!!ressi(e< "hile "omen "ere creati(e and nurturing) While cultural feminists certainl embraced some feminine traitsEe(en characteri,ing them as su!erior to their masculine counter!arts. traitsEthe "ere careful to !ortra such traits as arising from a "oman.s +natural"omanliness rather than from +artifactual< man-made femininit )-6 The notion that se#ism can onl be o(ercome if "omen "or& to become more masculine< more androg nous< or more +naturall "omanl - all artificiali,e femininit b assuming that one.s gender e#!ression is easil malleable< and can be resha!ed according to one.s !olitics) %uch one-si,e-fits-all a!!roaches falsel !resume that femininit is monolithic< ignoring ho" significant differences in class< culture< and biological !redis!osition gi(e rise to a (ast di(ersit of feminine e#!ressions and !ers!ecti(es)7 0ecause man unilateral feminists refused to acce!t this di(ersit in female gender e#!ression< the often de(elo!ed rather belittling (ie"s of "omen "ho "ere unabashedl feminine< characteri,ing them as ha(ing their minds coloni,ed< being +ego re!ressed<- and not being a +"hole !erson)-9 %ome unilateral feminists called femininit a +sla(e status<- e8uating it "ith masochism< com!aring it "ith %toc&holm s ndrome< and belie(ing that it e#isted onl to +communicate a "oman.s acce!tance of her subordinate status)-> Women "ho engaged in feminine beaut !ractices "ere !erha!s the biggest target of such criticism< as the "ere accused of donning +s mbols of o!!ression<being mani!ulated b +thought control<- alienating themsel(es from their o"n bodies< and ta&ing !art in +self-im!osed !assi(it )-1? 4f course< one of the biggest ca(eats in the unilateral feminist argument that femininit is artificial and onl e#ists to o!!ress "omen is the fact that some !eo!le "ho are assigned and sociali,ed male also e#!ress femininit ) Perha!s sensing that feminine ga men and MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le brought unilateral feminists. antifemininit theses into 8uestion< man unilateral feminists de(elo!ed (ehementl disdainful attitudes to"ard these grou!s) Interestingl Band not coincidentall C< the

unilateral feminists "ho ha(e been most outs!o&en in deriding feminine ga men and trans "omen also tend to ha(e the most o!enl hostile attitudes to"ard femininit in general) *or e#am!le< Mar Dal < "ho referred to feminine "omen as +!ainted birds- and !ortra ed feminist "omen such as herself as being +attac&ed b the mutants of her o"n &ind< the man-made "omen<- "as similarl resentful of transse#ual "omen B"hom she called +*ran&enstein.s Monsters-C and drag 8ueens B"hom she com!ared to "hites !la ing +blac&face-C)11 Germaine Greer< "ho has referred to con(entionall feminine "omen as +feminine !arasites<- has "ritten multi!le trans-misog nistic screeds< one of "hich assails trans "oman Han Morris for her +obsession "ith femininit )-1$ And %heila Heffre s< "ho belie(es that femininit +is the beha(ior re8uired of the subordinate class of "omen in order to sho" their deference to the ruling class of men<- has argued that MT* transse#ualit and ga male femininit arise e#clusi(el from se#ual masochism)1/ Thus< the anti-ga -male< anti-trans-"oman sentiment that !ersists toda among man unilateral feminists has its roots in their traditionall se#ist (ie"s of femininit ) Man of the unilateral feminist !ositions that I.(e discussed so far ha(e been challenged "ith the rise of deconstructi(e feminism in the 1>9?s and 1>>?s) Deconstructi(e feminists< "hile (aried in their bac&grounds and a!!roaches< share the belief that the categor +"oman- is sociall constructed and therefore doesn.t e#ist inde!endent of the societal norms and discourses that bring it into being) Therefore< instead of "or&ing to end se#ism b highlighting the "a s that "omen are +o!!ressed- b men Bas unilateral feminists hadC< deconstructi(e feminists set out to deconstruct our (er notions of +"oman- and +man<- e#!osing the assum!tions and e#!ectations that enable se#ism) The describe +man- and +"oman- as being situated "ithin a binar gender s stem that !ermeates e(er noo& and crann of our societ < infusing itself into our language< traditions< beha(iors< and the (er "a "e thin& about oursel(es and others) This binar gender s stem assumes that men are masculine and aggressi(e and attracted to "omen< "ho are feminine and !assi(e) If one fails to adhere to these assum!tions in an "a Efor instance< if ou are an aggressi(e "oman or a feminine manEthen ou automaticall become unintelligible "ithin this s stem and are therefore marginali,ed) Deconstructi(e feminism differs from unilateral feminism in a number of im!ortant "a s) *irst< unli&e unilateral feminism< "hich focuses almost e#clusi(el on traditional se#ism< deconstructi(e feminism focuses !rimaril on o!!ositional se#ism) In a sense< deconstructi(e feminism subsumes traditional se#ism into o!!ositional se#ism< as it t !icall de!icts the +othering- of +"oman- as an ine(itable b !roduct of that identit being binar -!aired to +man)- 0ecause this relationshi! !ri(ileges o!!ositional se#ism o(er traditional se#ism< deconstructi(e feminists ha(e been influential in both feminist and 8ueer theor ) Deconstructi(e feminists also differ from unilateral feminists in that the do not subscribe to the se#/gender distinction< but instead argue that our notions about +se#- are ;ust as sociall constructed as our notions of +gender)While deconstructi(e feminism differs from unilateral feminism in man "a s< it shares its !redecessor.s tendenc to artificiali,e gender e#!ression) This is often accom!lished (ia gender !erformati(it < a conce!t de(elo!ed b Hudith 0utler to describe the "a in "hich built-in e#!ectations about maleness and femaleness< straightness and 8ueerness< are constantl im!osed on all of us) 0utler uses the term +!erformati(it - to highlight ho" feminine and masculine norms must constantl be cited) %he uses the e#am!le of the child "ho becomes +girled- b others at birth' %he is gi(en a female name< referred to "ith female !ronouns< gi(en girl to s< and "ill< throughout her life< ha(e her +girlness- cited b others in societ )11 0utler argues that this sort of reiteration +!roduces- gender< ma&ing it a!!ear +natural)- 2o"e(er< man other deconstructi(e feminists ha(e inter!reted 0utler.s "ritings to mean that one.s gender is merel a +!erformance)- According to this latter (ie"< if gender itself is merel a +!erformance<- then one can challenge se#ism b sim!l +!erforming- one.s gender

in "a s that call the binar gender s stem into 8uestionF the most often cited e#am!le of this is a drag 8ueen "hose +!erformance- su!!osedl re(eals the "a in "hich femaleness and femininit are merel a +!erformance)-13 While unilateral feminists t !icall (ie" femininit in e#clusi(el negati(e terms< deconstructi(e feminists belie(e that femininit is conte#t-de!endent' It can be +good- B"hen it is used to sub(ert the binar gender s stemC or +bad- B"hen used to naturali,e that s stemC)16 In other "ords< deconstructi(e feminism onl em!o"ers and embraces 8ueer e#!ressions of femininit < "hile straight e#!ressions of femininit are t !icall !ortra ed as reinforcing a se#ist binar gender s stem) Thus< both deconstructi(e and unilateral feminism share the belief that B1C femininit is not a natural form of e#!ression< but rather one that is sociall im!osedF B$C most "omen are +du!ed- into belie(ing that their femininit arises intrinsicall rather than due to e#trinsic forces such as sociali,ation or social constructsF B/C !eo!le "ho are +in the &no"- recogni,e that gender e#!ression is artificial and easil malleable< and thus the can !ur!osefull ado!t a more radical< antise#ist gender e#!ression Be)g)< androg n < drag< etc)CF and B1C because feminine "omen choose not to ado!t these su!!osedl radical< antise#ist gender e#!ressions< the ma be seen as enabling se#ism and thus collaborating in their o"n o!!ression)

The Ramifications of Artificiali,ing *emininit

%o "h has the artificiali,ing of femininit become a !reoccu!ation for man feminists o(er the last se(eral decadesO I belie(e that it has to do "ith the fact that man of the "omen "ho ha(e most strongl gra(itated to"ard feminism are those "ho ha(e found traditional feminine gender roles constraining or unnatural) In man cases< this is due to their o"n inclinations to"ard e#ce!tional forms of gender e#!ression) 0ecause their !ersonal e#!eriences "ith femininit felt uncomfortable and contri(ed in com!arison "ith their e#!eriences "ith androg n < masculinit < or other gender e#!ressions B"hich the found more liberating and em!o"eringC< the mista&enl !ro;ected their o"n e#!erience and !ers!ecti(e onto all other "omen) While not necessaril done maliciousl < this e#tra!olation "as ne(ertheless an act of gender entitlement< one that denied that an di(ersit in gender e#!ression might e#ist among "omen arising out of their (er different class< cultural< or biological bac&grounds and !redis!ositions) 0 arrogantl assuming that no "oman could be legitimatel dra"n to"ard feminine e#!ression< these feminists !ermanentl relegated femininit to the status of +false consciousness)The feminist assum!tion that +femininit is artificial- is narcissistic< as it in(ariabl casts nonfeminine "omen as ha(ing +su!erior &no"ledge- "hile dismissing feminine "omen as either +du!es- B"ho are too ignorant to recogni,e the ha(e been connedC or +fa&es- B"ho !ur!osel engage in +unnaturalbeha(iors in order to u!hold se#ist societal normsC) This tendenc to dismiss feminine "omen is eeril similar to the beha(ior of some lesbian-feminists in the 1>7?s "ho arrogantl claimed that the "ere more righteous feminists than heterose#ual "omen because the latter grou! "as +fuc&ing "ith the o!!ressor)-17 It is an e#traordinaril con(enient tactic to artificiali,e< and e(en demean< an inclination Bsuch as femininit or heterose#ualit C "hen ou !ersonall are not inclined to"ard it) Indeed< this is

e#actl "hat straight bigots do "hen the dismiss 8ueer forms of gender and se#ual e#!ression as +unnatural)- When "e feminists stoo! to the le(el of !olicing gender and start in(enting etiologies to e#!lain "h some "omen ado!t +unnatural- feminine forms of e#!ression< there.s little to distinguish us from the se#ist forces "e claim to be fighting against in the first !lace) While femininit is in man "a s influenced< sha!ed< and enforced b societ < to sa that it is entirel +artificial- or merel a +!erformance- is !atroni,ing to"ard those for "hom femininit sim!l feels right) Indeed< one "ould ha(e to ha(e a rather grim (ie" of the female !o!ulation to belie(e that a ma;orit of us could so easil be +brain"ashed- or +coerced- into enthusiasticall ado!ting an entirel contri(ed or "holl artificial set of gender e#!ressions) In fact< it seems incom!rehensible that so man "omen could so acti(el gra(itate to"ard femininit unless there "as something about it that resonated "ith them on a !rofound le(el) This becomes e(en more ob(ious "hen considering feminine fol&s "ho e#hibit no desire "hatsoe(er to fit into straight societ < such as femme d &es B"ho !roudl e#!ress their femininit des!ite being historicall marginali,ed "ithin the lesbian mo(ement because of itC and +nell 8ueens- B"ho remain fiercel feminine des!ite the ga male obsession "ith !raising butchness and deriding +effeminac -C)19 The idea that +femininit is artificial- is also blatantl misog nistic) While a handful of theorists in the field of gender studies ha(e more recentl begun to focus on ho" masculinit is constructed< the lion.s share of feminist attention< deconstruction< and denigration has been directed s8uarel at femininit ) There is an ob(ious reason for this) Hust as "oman is man.s +other<- so too is femininit masculinit .s +other)- :nder such circumstances< negati(e connotations li&e +artificial<- +contri(ed<- and +fri(olousbecome built into our understanding of femininit Eindeed< this is !recisel "hat allo"s masculinit to al"a s come off as +natural<- +!ractical<- and +uncom!licated)- Those feminists "ho single out "omen.s dress shoes< clothing< and hairst les to artificiali,e necessaril lea(e unchallenged the notion that their masculine counter!arts are +natural- and +!ractical)- This is the same male-centered a!!roach that allo"s the a!!earances and beha(iors of men "ho "ish to charm or im!ress others to seem +authentic- "hile the reci!rocal traits e#!ressed b "omen are dismissed as +feminine "iles)*emininit is !ortra ed as a tric& or ruse so that masculinit in(ariabl seems sincere b com!arison) *or this reason< there are fe" intellectual tas&s easier than artificiali,ing feminine gender e#!ression< because male-centricism !ur!osefull sets u! femininit as masculinit .s +stra" man- or its sca!egoat) As feminists< it.s time for us to ac&no"ledge that this sca!egoating of femininit has become the Achilles. heel of the feminist mo(ement) While !ast feminists ha(e gone to great lengths to em!o"er femaleness and to tear a"a all of the negati(e connotations that ha(e !lagued "omen.s bodies and biolog < the ha(e allo"ed the negati(e connotations associated "ith femininit to !ersist relati(el unabated) =othing illustrates this better than the fact that< "hile most reasonable !eo!le see "omen and men as e8uals< fe" Bif an C dare to claim that femininit is masculinit .s e8ual) Indeed< much of "hat has historicall been called misog n Ea hatred of "omenEhas clearl gone underground< disguising itself as the less re!rehensible derision of femininit ) This ne" (ersion of misog n < "hich focuses more on maligning femininit than femaleness< can be found e(er "here) It can be seen in our !olitical discourse< "here ad(ocates for the en(ironment< gun control< and "elfare are undermined (ia +guilt b association- "ith feminine imager as seen in !hrases such as +tree huggers<- +soft on crime<- and !ro-+de!endenc -E"here male !oliticians "ho e#hibit an thing other than a t"o-dimensional facade of h !ermasculinit are in(ariabl dismissed b !olitical cartoonists "ho de!ict them donning dresses)1> This ne" misog n still (er much undermines "omen< and it accom!lishes this in se(eral "a s) *irst< the ma;orit of feminine !eo!le are "omen< so b default the ma&e u! the largest class of those "ho

are targeted b antifeminine sentiment) %econd< our conce!t of femininit doesn.t merel affect ho" "e +do- our o"n gender e#!ressionEit is also an e#!ectation or assum!tion that "e !ro;ect onto other !eo!le.s bodies and beha(iors) Therefore< "hile an indi(idual "oman ma !ur!osefull esche" femininit in her a!!earance and actions< she cannot esca!e the fact that other !eo!le "ill !ro;ect feminine assum!tions and e#!ectations u!on her sim!l because the associate femininit "ith femaleness) In her boo& Wh %o %lo"O The Ad(ancement of Women< Jirginia Jalian ma&es a strong case that "hat has come to be &no"n as the +glass ceiling-Ethe fact that "omen< regardless of their s&ills and merits< tend not to ad(ance as far in their careers as similarl 8ualified menEis best e#!lained b the fact that all !eo!le !ro;ect feminine assum!tions and e#!ectations onto "omen and masculine ones onto men)$? This< of course< fa(ors men< since masculinit is b default seen as +strong<- +natural<- and +aggressi(e- "hile femininit is seen as +"ea&<- +contri(ed<- and +!assi(e)Therefore< until feminists "or& to em!o"er femininit and !r it a"a from the insi!id< inferior meanings that !lague itE"ea&ness< hel!lessness< fragilit < !assi(it < fri(olit < and artificialit Ethose meanings "ill continue to haunt e(er !erson "ho is female and/or feminine) *eminists. !ast !ri(ileging of femaleness o(er femininit has also enabled misog nistic acts that target men "ho ha(e feminine traits to remain unnoticed and unarticulated) *or e#am!le< "hen a ga man ridicules another ga man for being too +flambo ant- or +effeminate<- he ma be accused of harboring +internali,ed homo!hobia-Ea nonsensical turn of !hrase to describe someone "ho is o!enl ga and has no !roblems "ith masculine ga men) Isn.t this form of antifeminine discrimination better described as misog n O %imilarl < straight "omen "ho regularl !air u! "ith macho gu s "ho treat them !oorl < et "on.t consider dating a +nice gu <- might be described as harboring +internali,ed misog n )- Again< isn.t this better described as a form of e#ternali,ed misog n directed at men "ho dis!la 8ualities that are considered feminineO %ome feminists B!articularl unilateral feministsC "ill no doubt ha(e a negati(e &nee-;er& reaction to m suggestion that "e e#tend our understanding of misog n to encom!ass effemimaniaEour societal obsession "ith criti8uing and belittling feminine traits in males) 2o"e(er< as I ha(e argued in !ast cha!ters< effemimania affects e(er bod < including "omen) 5ffemimania encourages those "ho are sociali,ed male to m stif femininit and to dehumani,e those "ho are considered feminine< and thus forms the foundation of (irtuall all male e#!ressions of misog n ) 5ffemimania also ensures that an male.s manhood or masculinit can be brought into 8uestion at an moment for e(en the slightest !ercei(ed e#!ression of< or association "ith< femininit ) I "ould argue that toda < the biggest bottlenec& in the mo(ement to"ard gender e8uit is not so much "omen.s lac& of access to "hat has been traditionall considered the +masculine realm<- but rather men.s insistence on defining themsel(es in o!!osition to "omen Bi)e)< their un"illingness to (enture into the +feminine realm-C) :ntil no"< the t !ical feminist res!onse to men "ho fear being associated "ith the +feminine realmcan be !ara!hrased as +Get o(er itD- %uch an attitude is ignorant< as it fails to ta&e into account the fact that male femininit is !ercei(ed (er differentl from female femininit ) If femininit in "omen is alread seen as +artificial- and +contri(ed<- then o!!ositional se#ism ensures that femininit in men a!!ears e#!onentiall +artificial- and +contri(ed)- While a handful of feminists ha(e recogni,ed this factEthat male feminine e#!ression tends to e(o&e le(els of contem!t and disgust that far e#ceed that "hich is normall reser(ed for female masculinit or femininit Emost ha(e unfortunatel chosen to ignore or dismiss misog n "hen it targets those "ho are male-bodied)$1 0 doing so< these feminists ha(e become enablers for one of the most !re(alent and malignant forms of traditional se#ism) The greatest barrier !re(enting us from full challenging se#ism is the !er(asi(e antifeminine sentiment that runs "ild in both the straight and 8ueer communities< targeting !eo!le of all genders and

se#ualities) The onl realistic "a to address this issue is to "or& to"ard em!o"ering femininit itself) We must rightl recogni,e that feminine e#!ression is strong< daring< and bra(eEthat it is !o"erfulE and not in an enchanting< enticing< or su!ernatural sort of "a < but in a tangible< !ractical "a that facilitates o!enness< creati(it < and honest e#!ression) We must mo(e be ond seeing femininit as hel!less and de!endent< or merel as masculinit .s side&ic&< and instead ac&no"ledge that feminine e#!ression e#ists of its o"n accord and brings its o"n re"ards to those "ho naturall gra(itate to"ard it) 0 embracing femininit < feminism "ill finall be able to reach out to the (ast ma;orit of feminine "omen "ho ha(e felt alienated b the mo(ement in the !ast) The mo(ement "ould also be able to reach those "ho are not female B"hether male and/or transgenderC "ho regularl face effemimania or trans-misog n < but "ho ha(e not been able to see& refuge or ha(e a (oice in the feminist mo(ements of the !ast) Indeed< a feminist mo(ement that encom!asses both those "ho are female and those "ho are feminine has the !otential to become a ma;orit < one "ith the strength in numbers to finall challenge and o(erturn both traditional and o!!ositional se#ism)

$?

The *uture of Aueer/Trans Acti(ism

T25 MAH4RITK 4* MK 5IP5RI5=C5% as a trans acti(ist and s!o&en "ord artist ha(e ta&en !lace in "hat is increasingl becoming &no"n as the +8ueer/trans- communit ) It is a subgrou! "ithin the greater @G0TIA communit that is com!osed mostl of fol&s in their t"enties and thirties "ho are more li&el to refer to themsel(es as +d &es<- +8ueer<- and/or +trans- than +lesbian- or +ga )- While di(erse in a number of "a s< this sub!o!ulation tends to !redominantl inhabit urban and academic settings< and is s&e"ed to"ard those "ho are "hite and/or from middle-class bac&grounds) In man "a s< the 8ueer/trans communit is best described as a sort of marriage of the transgender mo(ement.s call to +shatter the gender binar - and the lesbian communit .s !ro-se#< !ro-&in& bac&lash to 1>9?s-era Andrea D"or&inism) Its !olitics are generall antiassimilationist< !articularl "ith regard to gender and se#ual e#!ression) This a!!arent limitlessness and lac& of boundaries lead man to belie(e that +8ueer/trans- re!resents the (anguard of toda .s gender and se#ual re(olution) 2o"e(er< o(er the last four ears in "hich I.(e been a !art of this communit < I.(e become increasingl troubled b a trend that< "hile not a!!licable to all 8ueer/trans fol&s< seems to be becoming a dominant belief in this communit < one that threatens to restrict its gender and se#ual di(ersit ) I call this trend sub(ersi(ism) %ub(ersi(ism is the !ractice of e#tolling certain gender and se#ual e#!ressions and identities sim!l because the are uncon(entional or nonconforming) In the !arlance of sub(ersi(ism< these at !ical genders and se#ualities are +good- because the +transgress- or +sub(ert- o!!ressi(e binar gender norms)1 The ;ustification for the !ractice of sub(ersi(ism has e(ol(ed out of a !articular reading Balthough some "ould call it a misreadingC of the "or& of (arious influential 8ueer theorists o(er the last decade and a half) To briefl summari,e this !o!ulari,ed account' All forms of se#ism arise from the binar gender s stem) %ince this binar gender s stem is e(er "hereEin our thoughts< language< traditions< beha(iors< etc)Ethe onl "a "e can o(erturn it is to acti(el undermine the s stem from

"ithin) Thus< in order to challenge se#ism< !eo!le must +!erform- their genders in "a s that bend< brea&< and blur all of the imaginar distinctions that e#ist bet"een male and female< heterose#ual and homose#ual< and so on< !resumabl leading to a s stem"ide binar meltdo"n) According to the !rinci!les of sub(ersi(ism< drag is inherentl +sub(ersi(e<- as it re(eals that our societ .s binar notions of maleness and femaleness are not natural< but rather are acti(el +constructed- and +!erformed- b all of us) Another "a that one can be +transgressi(el gendered- is b identif ing as gender8ueer or genderfluidEi)e)< refusing to identif full as either "oman or man) The notion that certain gender identities and e#!ressions are inherentl +sub(ersi(e- or +transgressi(ecan be seen throughout the 8ueer/trans communit < "here drag and gender-bending are routinel celebrated< "here binar -confounding identities such as +bo -identified-d &e- and +!anse#ual trann fag- ha(e become rather common!lace) 4n the surface< sub(ersi(ism gi(es the a!!earance of accommodating a seemingl infinite arra of genders and se#ualities< but this is not 8uite the case) %ub(ersi(ism does ha(e (er s!ecific boundariesF it has an +other)- 0 glorif ing identities and e#!ressions that a!!ear to sub(ert or blur gender binaries< sub(ersi(ism automaticall creates a reci!rocal categor of !eo!le "hose gender and se#ual identities and e#!ressions are b default inherentl conser(ati(e< e(en +hegemonic<- because the are seen as reinforcing or naturali,ing the binar gender s stem) =ot sur!risingl < this often-uns!o&en categor of bad< conser(ati(e genders is !redominantl made u! of feminine "omen and masculine men "ho are attracted to the +o!!osite- se#) 4ne routinel sees this +dar& side- of sub(ersi(ism rear its head in the 8ueer/trans communit < "here it is not uncommon to hear indi(iduals criti8ue or call into 8uestion other 8ueers or trans fol&s because their gender !resentation< beha(iors< or se#ual !references are not deemed +sub(ersi(e- enough) Indeed< if one fails to sufficientl distinguish oneself from heterose#ual feminine "omen and masculine men< one runs the ris& of being accused of +reinforcing the gender binar <- an indictment that is tantamount to being called a se#ist) 4ne of the most common targets of such criti8ues are transse#uals< and !articularl those "ho are heterose#ual and gender-normati(e !ost-transition) Indeed< because such transse#uals Bin the e es of othersC transition from a seemingl +transgressi(e- 8ueer identit to a +conser(ati(e- straight one< sub(ersi(ists ma e(en claim that the ha(e transitioned in order to !ur!osefull +assimilate- themsel(es into straight culture) While these da s< such accusations are often couched in the rhetoric of current 8ueer theor < the rel on man of the same mista&en assum!tions that !lagued the "or& of cisse#ist feminists li&e Hanice Ra mond and sociologists li&e Thomas Gando decades ago)$ The !ractice of sub(ersi(ism also negati(el im!acts trans !eo!le on the MT* s!ectrum) After all< in our culture< the meanings of +bold<- +rebellious<- and +dangerous-Ead;ecti(es that often come to mind "hen considering sub(ersi(enessEare !racticall built into our understanding of masculinit ) In contrast< femininit con;ures u! anton ms li&e +timid<- +con(entional<- and +safe<- "hich seem entirel incom!atible "ith sub(ersion) Therefore< des!ite the fact that the mainstream !ublic tends to be more concerned and disturbed b MT* s!ectrum trans !eo!le than their *TM s!ectrum counter!arts< sub(ersi(ism creates the im!ression that trans masculinities are inherentl +sub(ersi(eand +transgressi(e<- "hile their trans feminine counter!arts are +lame- and +conser(ati(e- in com!arison) %ub(ersi(ism.s !ri(ileging of trans masculinities o(er trans femininities hel!s to e#!lain "h cisse#ual 8ueer "omen and *TM s!ectrum fol&s tend to dominate the 8ueer/trans communit ' Their e#ce!tional gender e#!ressions and identities are routinel em!o"ered and encouraged in such settings) In contrast< there is generall a dearth of MT* s!ectrum fol&s "ho regularl inhabit 8ueer/trans s!aces)/ To me< the most surreal !art of this "hole transgressing(ersus-reinforcing-gender-norms dialogue in

the 8ueer/trans communit Band in man gender studies classrooms and boo&sC is the unac&no"ledged h !ocris of it all) It is sadl ironic that !eo!le "ho claim to be gender-fuc&ing in the name of +shattering the gender binar <- and "ho critici,e !eo!le "hose identities fail to ade8uatel challenge our societal notions of femaleness and maleness< cannot see that the ha(e ;ust created a ne" gender binar < one in "hich sub(ersi(e genders are +good- and conser(ati(e genders are +bad)- In a sense< this ne" gender binar isn.t e(en all that ne") It is merel the original o!!ositional se#ist binar fli!!ed u!side do"n) %o no"< gender-nonconforming fol&s are on to! and gender-normati(e !eo!le are on the bottomEho" re(olutionar D =o"< I understand the tem!tation for a marginali,ed grou! to turn the hierarch that has o!!ressed them u!side do"n< as it can feel (er em!o"ering to finall be ato! the !ec&ing order< but it.s absurd to claim that such a!!roaches in an "a undermine that binar ) If an thing< the onl ser(e to reinforce it further) %ub(ersi(ism.s binar fli! is (er reminiscent of another binar fli! that "as for"arded b cultural feminists in the mid-1>7?s) While sub(ersi(ism re(erses o!!ositional se#ism< cultural feminism sought to re(erse traditional se#ism b claiming that "omen "ere naturall creati(e and coo!erati(e and therefore su!erior to men< "ho "ere seen as inherentl destructi(e and o!!ressi(e) While it is al"a s difficult to dra" com!arisons bet"een different social/!olitical mo(ements for fear of o(ersim!lif ing them< there are other stri&ing !arallels bet"een sub(ersi(ism and cultural feminism that are "orth bearing out) As historian Alice 5chols describes in her boo& Daring to 0e 0ad' Radical *eminism in America< 1>67-1>73< cultural feminism e(ol(ed from its more out"ardl focused !redecessor< radical feminism)1 While radical feminismE"hich asserted that neither se# "as inherentl su!erior to the otherEacti(el engaged the mainstream !ublic Band men in !articularC to challenge and change their se#ist "a s< cultural feminism "as a more insular mo(ement< focusing on creating "omen-run organi,ations and "omen-onl s!aces rather than organi,ing !ublic demonstrations) And unli&e radical feminism< "hich attem!ted to accommodate a (ariet of different female !ers!ecti(es Bin fact< issues o(er +difference- in class and se#ualit consumed much of the mo(ement.s energ C< cultural feminists for"arded the idea of +sameness- and +oneness-Ethat all "omen "ere !art of a uni(ersal sisterhood< united b their female biolog ) This conce!t of female +oneness- "as !erha!s most res!onsible for cultural feminism.s e#clusionist< e(en se!aratist< tendencies) After all< if one belie(es in a female +oneness- that is distinct from< and su!erior to< maleness< then an one "ho brings that distinction into 8uestion automaticall becomes threatening) Indeed< that.s e#actl "hat ha!!ened throughout much of the 1>7?s and 1>9?s) Those "omen "ho disagreed "ith cultural feminist dogmaEor "ho engaged in certain gender e#!ressions and se#ual !ractices that "ere associated "ith menE"ere derided as !romoting masculine (alues and being +antifeminist<- and "ere accordingl e#cluded from the mo(ement) *urther< as 5chols !oints out< "hile cultural feminists +used the language of sisterhood< the often assumed a !atroni,ing stance to"ard those Nunliberated. "omen "ho "ere still li(ing in NThe Man.s. "orld)-3 This e#clusionar shift from a mo(ement that sought to benefit all "omen Bi)e)< radical feminismC to one that onl sought to benefit a select grou! of "omen "as made !ossible b cultural feminism.s binar fli! and its sense of +oneness)The 8ueer and transgender mo(ements came into their o"n in the earl 1>>?s in res!onse to this sort of e#clusionar +oneness- that "as !romoted b cultural feminists and man mainstream ga rights acti(ists) The "ords +transgender- and +8ueer- came into (ogue during this time as umbrella terms' +Aueer- attem!ted to accommodate lesbians and ga s as "ell as the gro"ing bise#ual and transgender mo(ementsF and +transgender- "as used to !romote a coalition of distinct grou!s Bincluding crossdressers< transse#uals< butch "omen< femme men< drag !erformers< interse# !eo!le< etc)C that !re(iousl belie(ed the had little in common "ith one another) These alliances "ere not based on a

!resumed shared biolog or set of beliefs< but on the fact that these different grou!s faced similar forms of discrimination) In fact< the notion that transgender !eo!le +transgress binar gender norms- came about to create a cause for its (aried constituents to unite behind< not as a litmus test or a criteria for them to meet) At that time< the idea of +shattering the gender binar - "as out"ard-focusedF if "e could !ush our culture to mo(e be ond the idea that female and male are rigid< mutuall e#clusi(e +o!!osite se#es<- that "ould ma&e the li(es of all transgender constituent subgrou!s far easier) Hust as cultural feminism.s binar fli! fostered that mo(ement.s in"ard focus on "omen-onl culture and s!aces< I belie(e that the recent rise of sub(ersi(ism ma be an earl sign that the more out"ardloo&ing< changing-the-"orld-focused transgender and 8ueer mo(ements of the 1>>?s are shifting into a more insular and e#clusionar 8ueer/trans communit < one that fa(ors onl a select grou! of 8ueers and trans fol&s< rather than all !eo!le "ho fall under those umbrella terms) Indeed< unli&e our !redecessors in the grou!s Aueer =ation B"ho held !ublic +&iss-ins- in suburban mallsC and Transse#ual Menace B"ho staged !rotests in small Mid"estern to"ns "here trans !eo!le "ere murderedC< man in the 8ueer/trans communit these da s often seem more content celebrating our fabulous 8ueer sel(es or en;o ing the safet of our o"n organi,ations and e(ents)6 While there is nothing inherentl "rong "ith creating our o"n 8ueer/trans s!aces and culture< "hat troubles me is that "e are clearl sacrificing di(ersit in the !rocess) *or e#am!le< in 8ueer/trans s!aces< one rarel sees MT* crossdressers Bdes!ite the fact that the ma&e u! a large !ortion of the transgender !o!ulationC and there are (er fe" trans "omen) %ome might suggest that these grou!s are choosing not to attend of their o"n accord< but that onl leads to the ne#t 8uestion' Wh are the choosing not to comeO 4ften "hen trans "omen as& me "hen I.m !erforming ne#t< and I tell them that it.s a 8ueer/trans e(ent< the "ill tell me that the .d rather not go because the do not feel comfortable or safe in those s!aces< that the ha(e been dismissed or belittled at such e(ents before) 5(en trans "omen "ho are d &e- or bise#ual-identified often don.t feel "elcome or rele(ant in 8ueer/trans s!aces) And "hene(er a trans "oman or all !oints out as!ects about the 8ueer/ trans communit that contribute to these feelings of irrele(anc and disres!ectEsuch as the "a our communit coddles those "ho su!!ort trans-"oman-e#clusionist e(ents or "ho ma&e trans-misog nistic commentsE"e are described as being +di(isi(e)- This use of the "ord +di(isi(e- is !articularl telling< as it im!lies that +8ueer/trans- re!resents a uniform mo(ement or communit Ea +oneness-Erather than an alliance "here all (oices are res!ected) Perha!s the onl thing more ironic than the fact that the transgender mo(ement.s +shatter the gender binar - slogan is no" being used to enforce a ne" sub(ersi(e/conser(ati(e gender binar is the fact that the 8ueer/trans communit .s gro"ing sense of +oneness- e(ol(ed out of a "ell-meaning attem!t to !re(ent e#clusi(it ) *rom the outset< man earl transgender acti(ists feared that one !articular transgender subgrou! might come to dominate the transgender communit < that the "ould begin to !olice the mo(ement.s borders and enforce their o"n sense of +oneness)- 0ecause the e#clusi(it of cultural feminism and the mainstream +ga rights- mo(ement seemed to center on dis!utes o(er identit E"ho counts as a +"oman- or "ho is legitimatel +ga -Eman acti(ists ad(ocated the idea that the transgender coalition should be borderless< one "here there "as no set criteria for an indi(idual to ;oin) Man also "or&ed to !la do"n or blur the distincti(eness of indi(idual transgender subgrou!s in order to !re(ent an &ind of hierarch from de(elo!ing) The transgender mo(ement< in effect< became an anti-identit mo(ement) In retros!ect< I "ould sa that the assum!tion that distinct identities "ould automaticall lead to e#clusi(it "as entirel mis!laced) After all< an identit is merel a label< a descri!ti(e noun to e#!ress one !articular facet of a !erson.s e#!eriences) And if "e loo& be ond gender and se#ual identit !olitics< "e can find man e#am!les of fle#ible and fluid identities) *or e#am!le< if I "ere to identif m self as a +cat !erson<- nobod "ould be outraged or confused if I said I also lo(ed dogs) *urther<

"hen I tell !eo!le that I.m a +musician<- no one ma&es un"arranted assum!tions about "hat instruments I !la or "hat st les of music I !refer) =on!olitici,ed identities li&e +musician- and +cat !erson- allo" us to see that the recurring !roblems in gender and se#ual identit !olitics arise not from identit !er se< but rather from o!!osite-thin& Be)g)< that a cat !erson cannot be a dog !erson< and (ice (ersaC and from a sense of +oneness- Be)g)< the assum!tion that all musicians are or should be !un& roc& guitarists)C I belie(e that if the transgender mo(ement had sim!l continued to (ie" itself as an alliance of dis!arate grou!s "or&ing to"ard a shared goal Bli&e ma&ing the "orld safer for gender-(ariant fol&sC< it ma ha(e a(oided such e#clusi(it "hile res!ecting the distinct differences and s!ecific concerns of its (arious constituents) Instead< b !romoting the idea that "e must mo(e be ond the su!!osedl outdated conce!t of +identit <- the transgender mo(ement has created its o"n sense of +oneness)Rather than (ie"ing oursel(es as a fragile !olitical coalition of distinct subgrou!s< some acti(ists instead encourage us to see oursel(es as one big homogeneous grou! of indi(iduals "ho blur gender boundaries) Rather than learning to res!ect the (er different !ers!ecti(es and e#!eriences that each transgender subgrou! brings to the table< the transgender communit has instead become a sort of gender free-for-all< "here identities are regularl co-o!ted b others "ithin the communit ) These da s< man transse#uals assume that the ha(e the right to a!!ro!riate the language of< or s!ea& on behalf of< interse# !eo!leF similarl < man cisse#ual gender8ueers feel the ha(e the right to do the same for transse#uals) This needlessl erases each grou!.s uni8ue issues< obstacles< and !ers!ecti(es) This sort of +gender anarch -E"here indi(iduals are free to ado!t or a!!ro!riate an identit as the !leaseEmight seem (er limitless and freeing on the surface< but in !ractice it resembles genderlibertarianism< "here those "ho are most marginali,ed become e(en more (ulnerable to the "hims of those "ho are more established) In this case< it lea(es those of us "ho are cross-gender-identified susce!tible to negation at the hands of the greater cisse#ual 8ueer communit ) Indeed< it has become increasingl common for !eo!le "ho are !rimaril 8ueer because of their se#ual orientation to claim a s!ace for themsel(es "ithin the transgender mo(ement)7 This is !articularl true in the 8ueer "omen.s communit < "hich has become increasingl in(ol(ed in transgender !olitics and discourses due to the recent shar! increase in the number of B1C !re(iousl lesbian-identified !eo!le transitioning to male< B$C d &es "ho no" ta&e on gender8ueer or other *TM s!ectrum identities< and B/C non-trans 8ueer "omen "ho see& a (oice in the transgender communit because the are !artnered to *TM s!ectrum indi(iduals) 0ecause of our histor < the fact that cisse#ual 8ueers no" dominate transgender and 8ueer/trans communities and discourses is highl !roblematic for those of us "ho are transse#ual) During the 1>7?s< transse#uals and other cross-gender-identified 8ueers "ere banished from the +ga rightsmo(ement as it began to focus solel on se#ual orientation) This "as a calculated maneu(er' 0 ;ettisoning cross-gender 8ueers B"ho "ere t !icall seen as the +most de(iant- b a reluctant mainstream !ublicC< se#ualit -8ueers could ma&e the case that the "ere ;ust li&e +normal !eo!lee#ce!t for their se#ual orientation) And from the !ers!ecti(e of a lesbian or ga !erson< this strateg "as highl effecti(e) %e#ualit -8ueers< "hile still marginali,ed to a certain degree< ha(e made tremendous legal gains "ith regard to domestic !artnershi!< including re(ersing +sodom la"s- and gaining !rotection against discrimination) The no" ha(e their o"n social and !olitical organi,ations< cable channels< uni(ersit de!artments< and e(en their o"n 4l m!ics) There are out lesbian and ga !oliticians and celebrities< and !o!ular TJ sho"s that re(ol(e around lesbian and ga characters) Ga themed ;o&es in the media are no" more li&el to ma&e fun of someone for being homo!hobic than for being homose#ual) Perha!s most significant of all< it has become generall acce!ted among most AmericansEe(en among those "ho are stern o!!onents of +ga rights-Ethat there is natural (ariation

in human se#ual orientation) B4r< as the !o!ular sa ing goes' +%ome !eo!le are ;ust born that "a )-C As a direct result of the e#clusion of cross-gender-identified trans !eo!le from the +ga rightsmo(ement< !ublic a"areness and acce!tance of our identities and issues are about t"ent ears behind those of lesbians and ga s< because the transgender mo(ement didn.t gain momentum until the 1>>?s) 0ecause of this e#clusion< our cross-gender identities and !ers!ecti(es are not ac&no"ledged to nearl the same e#tent as lesbian and ga identities and !ers!ecti(es) *or e#am!le< "hen I come out to !eo!le as a transse#ual< I am often barraged "ith highl !ersonal 8uestions about m moti(es< m !h sical bod < and m male !ast) In contrast< I ha(e ne(er once been interrogated b someone u!on coming out to them as a lesbianF that as!ect of m !erson is generall acce!ted at face (alue) In other "ords< I am allo"ed to e#ist "ithout 8uestion as a lesbian in "a s that I am not allo"ed as a transse#ual) In a climate "here same-se# attraction has become a gi(en "hile cross-gender identification has most certainl not< the merging of +se#ualit -8ueers- and +gender-8ueers- Bas seen in the 8ueer/trans communit C essentiall subsumes transse#uals "ithin the more "ell-established cisse#ual 8ueer communit ) The more inclusi(e the "ord +transgender- becomes< the more thoroughl the (oices of transse#uals and other cross-gender/cross-li(ing indi(iduals are dro"ned out b those "ho do not share our !ers!ecti(es and e#!eriences) This +cisse#uali,ation- of transgenderism has ta&en a de(astating toll on the abilit of transse#uals to articulate our o"n !ers!ecti(es and (isions for gender acti(ism) Rather than being listened to and a!!reciated on our o"n terms< "e are instead forced to adhere to lesbian/ga rhetoric and (alues in order to ha(e a (oice "ithin our o"n communit ) 4ne can see this in the "a that lesbian/ga -s!ecific definitions of +!assing- Bas a s non m for +hiding-C are ina!!ro!riatel a!!lied to our decisions to !h sicall transition and li(e in our identified se#< or in the "a that our descri!tions of subconscious se#< gender dissonance< and !h sical transitioning are !atroni,ingl dismissed b cisse#ual 8ueers "ho fa(or social constructionist (ie"s of gender) It is e(ident in the "a that 8ueer theorists< ignorant of their o"n cisse#ual !ri(ilege< nonconsensuall ungender us Bor blur the distinctions bet"een us and other 8ueersC in order to artificiali,e genderF claim that +all gender is drag- "ithout recogni,ing ho" dismissi(e that is to the transse#ual e#!erienceF and ignorantl a!!l the +ga rights- tactic of calling for the all-out demedicali,ation of transgenderism "ithout considering the effects this "ould ha(e on transse#uals. abilit to access and afford hormones and se# reassignment !rocedures) *inall < as Ji(iane =amaste has !ointed out in her boo&s< the +cisse#uali,ation- of the transgender mo(ement ensures that discourses about transse#uals ine(itabl re(ol(e around the cisse#ual 8ueer obsession o(er +identit - B"ho counts as a "oman or man< "ho is legitimatel 8ueerC< rather than e#amining the (er real institutional obstacles and biases "e face for being transse#ual)9 I "orr that the dominance of cisse#ual (oices in the 8ueer/ trans communit < and the e#clusionar !ractice of sub(ersi(ism< are together fostering a sense of 8ueer/trans +oneness- that e#cludes trans "omen such as m self) M fears stem not so much from m o"n concern about being e#cluded< or for the man other subgrou!s not mentioned here "ho also feel increasingl left out of this communit ) Rather< I fear that this in"ard< homogeni,ing trend re!resents a lost o!!ortunit to learn from one another and to change the minds of the !ublic at large) If "e ho!e to correct this insular< e#clusionar trend< then "e must begin to Bonce againC thin& in terms of alliances rather than monolithic communities) Alliance-based acti(ism begins "ith the recognition that "e are all indi(iduals< each "ith a limited histor and e#!eriencing a largel uni8ue set of !ri(ileges< e#!ectations< assum!tions< and restrictions) Thus< none of us ha(e +su!erior &no"ledge- "hen it comes to se#ualit and gender) 0 calling oursel(es an alliance< "e e#!licitl ac&no"ledge that "e are "or&ing to"ard a common goal Bho" about +ma&ing the "orld safe and ;ust for !eo!le of all genders and se#ualities-OC< "hile simultaneousl recogni,ing and res!ecting our man differences) There can be no legitimate

accusations of +di(isi(eness- in an alliance< as differences of o!inion "ould be e#!ected from the start) Thin&ing in terms of alliances can encourage us to mo(e be ond the single goal of creating safe 8ueer/trans s!aces< to recogni,e that< in realit < there is no such thing as a +safe s!ace)- After all< the (er notion of safet is often !redicated on a !resumed and e#clusionar sense of +sameness- and +oneness)- And unli&e sub(ersi(ism< "hich fosters a grim and belittling (ie" of the heterose#ual< gender-normati(e ma;orit < alliance-based gender acti(ism recogni,es that the onl "a "e "ill change societ is b engaging the mainstream !ublic and "or&ing "ith< rather than against< our straight allies) If "e ho!e to build alliances that are res!ectful of all 8ueer and transgender !ers!ecti(es< then "e must sto! tal&ing about the gender binar s stem< as if there is onl one) As a trans "oman< I deal "ith lots of gender binaries' male/female< heterose#ual/homose#ual< cisse#ual/transse#ual< cisgender/transgender< and so on) As someone "ho is marginali,ed in 8ueer/trans s!aces for not being +sub(ersi(e- or +transgressi(e- enough< I find that calls to +shatter the Bmale/femaleC gender binar sound hollo") And "hen cisse#ual 8ueers tr to frame all forms of gender/se#ual discrimination in terms of +heterose#ist gender norms<- the den the fact that< as a transse#ual "oman< I e#!erience "a more cisse#ist and trans-misog nistic animosit and condescension from members of m o"n lesbian communit than I e(er ha(e from m straight friends and ac8uaintances) The truth is that "hene(er "e enter a different s!ace< or s!ea& "ith a different !erson< "e are forced to deal "ith a some"hat different set of binaries and assum!tions) Indeed< m e#!erience li(ing in the %an *rancisco 0a AreaE"here most straight !eo!le I &no" are (er comfortable "ith 8ueerness< et man 8ueer !eo!le I &no" harbor sub(ersi(ist attitudes to"ard straightnessEma&es it clear that there needs to be a more general strateg to challenge all forms of se#ism< not ;ust the t !ical or ob(ious ones) Rather than focusing on +shattering the gender binar <- I belie(e "e should turn our attention instead to challenging all forms of gender entitlement< the !ri(ileging of one.s o"n !erce!tions< inter!retations< and e(aluations of other !eo!le.s genders o(er the "a those !eo!le understand themsel(es) After all< "hene(er "e assign (alues to other !eo!le.s genders and se#ualitiesE"hether "e call them sub(ersi(e or conser(ati(e< cool or uncool< normal or abnormal< natural or unnaturalE"e are automaticall creating or reaffirming some &ind of hierarch ) In other "ords< "hen "e criti8ue an gender as being +good- or +bad<- "e are b definition being se#ist) After all< isn.t "hat dri(es man of us into feminism and 8ueer acti(ism in the first !lace our frustration that other !eo!le often !lace rather arbitrar meanings and (alues onto our se#ed bodies< gender e#!ressions< and se#ualitiesO Is there reall an difference bet"een the school ard bullies "ho teased us for being too feminine or masculine "hen "e "ere little< the arrogant em!lo er "ho assumes that "e aren.t cut out for the ;ob because "e.re female< the ga men "ho claim that "e are holding bac& the ga rights mo(ement because "e are not straight-acting enough< and the !eo!leE"hether lesbian-feminists of the 1>7?s and 1>9?s< or sub(ersi(ists in the $???sE"ho decr us for not being androg nous enough to be +true gender radicals-O %ome might argue that it.s sim!l human nature for us to assign different (alues to different genders and se#ualities) *or e#am!le< if "e tend to !refer the com!an of men o(er "omen< or if "e find androg nous !eo!le more attracti(e than feminine or masculine ones< isn.t that assigning them a different "orthO =ot necessaril ) There is a big difference bet"een rightl recogni,ing these !references in terms of our !ersonal !redilections B+I find androg nous !eo!le attracti(e-C and entitled claims that im!l that there are no other legitimate o!inions B+Masculine and feminine !eo!le are not se# < !eriod-C) %imilarl < there.s a big difference bet"een calling ourself a "oman or a gender8ueer because ou feel that "ord best ca!tures our gendered e#!erience and using that identit to ma&e claims or !resum!tions about other !eo!le.s genders Be)g)< assuming that +men- or +gender-conforming

!eo!le- are our +o!!osites-C) %ome might also argue that there is such a thing as +bad- genderEfor instance< a "oman "ho feels coerced into li(ing u! to stereot !icall feminine ideals) As someone "ho "as closeted for man ears< I can understand "h someone might be tem!ted to describe genders that are enforced b others Be)g)< stereot !ical femininit or masculinit C as being +bad)- The !roblem is that there is no "a for us to &no" "hether an gi(en !erson.s gender identit or e#!ression is sincere or coerced) While "e e#!erience our o"n genders and se#ualities firsthand< and thus are ca!able of se!arating our o"n intrinsic inclinations from the e#trinsic e#!ectations that others !lace on us< "e are unable to do so on behalf of other !eo!le) We can onl e(er ma&e assum!tions and educated guesses about the authenticit of someone else.s se#ualit or genderEand that.s al"a s dangerous) The thing that al"a s im!resses me about human beings is our di(ersit ) 5(en "hen "e are brought u! in similar en(ironments< "e still someho" gra(itate to"ard (er different careers< hobbies< !olitics< manners of s!ea&ing and acting< aesthetic !references< and so forth) Ma be this di(ersit is due to genetic (ariation) 4r ma be< being naturall curious and ada!ti(e creatures< "e in(ariabl tend to scatter all o(er the !lace< e#!loiting e(er niche "e can !ossibl find) 5ither "a < it.s fairl ob(ious that "e also end u! all o(er the ma! "hen it comes to gender and se#ualit ) That being the case< if "e ta&e the sub(ersi(ist route and focus our energies on deriding stereot !icall feminine and masculine genders< "e "ill ine(itabl dis!arage some B!erha!s man C !eo!le for "hom those genders sim!l feel right and natural) *urthermore< b criti8uing those gender e#!ressions in an entitled "a < "e acti(el create ne" gender e#!ectations that others ma feel obliged to meet B"hich is e#actl "hat.s no" starting to ha!!en in the 8ueer/trans communit C) That is "h I suggest that "e turn our energies and attention a"a from the "a that indi(iduals +do- or +!erform- their o"n genders and instead focus on the e#!ectations and assum!tions that those indi(iduals !ro;ect onto e(er bod else) 0 focusing on gender entitlement rather than gender !erformance< "e ma finall ta&e the ne#t ste! to"ard a "orld "here all !eo!le can choose their genders and se#ualities at "ill< rather than feeling coerced b others)

=otes

Trans Woman Manifesto

1 Ji(iane G) =amaste< In(isible @i(es' The 5rasure of Transse#ual and Transgendered Peo!le BChicago' :ni(ersit of Chicago Press< $???C< 113< $13-$16F Ji(iane =amaste< %e# Change< %ocial Change' Reflections on Identit < Institutions< and Im!erialism BToronto' Women.s Press< $??3C< >$->/) $ American Ps chiatric Association< Diagnostic and %tatistical Manual of Mental Disorders< *ourth 5dition< Te#t Re(ision BD%M-IJ-TRC BWashington< D)C)' American Ps chiatric Association< $???C<

371-373) / Hacob Anderson-Minshall< +Michigan or 0ust' Cam! Trans *lourishes for Another Kear<- %an *rancisco 0a Times< August /< $??6< and m o!en letter in res!onse to that article B""");uliaserano)com/frustration)htmlC) *or more on ho" lesbian attitudes to"ard trans "omen tend to be far more negati(e than to"ard trans men< see Michelle Tea< +Transmissions from Cam! Trans<- The 0elie(er< =o(ember $??/F Hulia %erano< +4n the 4utside @oo&ing In<- 4n the 4utside @oo&ing In' A Trans Woman.s Pers!ecti(e on *eminism and the 5#clusion of Trans Women from @esbian and Women-4nl %!aces B4a&land' 2ot Trann Action Press< $??3CF Sachar I) =ataf< +@esbians Tal& Transgender<- The Transgender Reader< %usan %tr &er and %te!hen Whittle< eds) B=e" Kor&' Routledge< $??6C< 1/>-119) 1 *or an o(er(ie" of feminist anti-trans-"oman sentiment< see Pat Califia< %e# Changes' The Politics of Transgenderism B%an *rancisco' Cleis Press< 1>>7C< 96-11>F Hoanne Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed' A 2istor of Transse#ualit in the :nited %tates BCambridge' 2ar(ard :ni(ersit Press< $??$C< $39$6$F Ga 0ro"n< +$?th Centur Transgender 2istor and 5#!erienceB""");enellerose)com/html!ostings/$?thTcentur Ttransgender)htmCF and Deborah Rudacille< The Riddle of Gender' %cience< Acti(ism< and Transgender Rights B=e" Kor&' Pantheon 0oo&s< $??3C< 131-171) *or !ertinent e#am!les of trans-misog nistic feminist "ritings< see Mar Dal < G n/5colog ' The Metaethics of Radical *eminism B0oston' 0eacon Press< 1>>?C< 67-7$F Andrea D"or&in< Woman 2ating B=e" Kor&' 5) P) Dutton< 1>71C< 193-197F Margrit 5ichler< The Double %tandard' A *eminist Criti8ue of *eminist %ocial %cience B@ondon' Croom 2elm< 1>9?C< 7$->?F Germaine Greer< The Mad"oman.s :nderclothes' 5ssa s and 4ccasional Writings B=e" Kor&' Atlantic Monthl Press< 1>97C< 19>-1>1F Germaine Greer< The Whole Woman B=e" Kor&' Alfred A) Gno!f< 1>>>C< 7?-9?F %heila Heffre s< 0eaut and Misog n ' 2armful Cultural Practices in the West B=e" Kor&' Routledge< $??3C< 16-66F Robin Morgan< Going Too *ar B=e" Kor&' Random 2ouse< 1>77C< 17?-199F Hanice G) Ra mond< The Transse#ual 5m!ire' The Ma&ing of the %he-Male B0oston' 0eacon Press< 1>7>CF Gloria %teinem< +If the %hoe Doesn.t *it< Change the *oot<- Ms)< *ebruar 1>77< 76-96)

Coming to Terms "ith Transgenderism and Transse#ualit

1 Interse# %ociet of =orth America "ebsite' """)isna)org/fa8/transgender) $ The term +transgender- "as initiall coined b Jirginia Price to dissociate trans !eo!le such as herself< "ho li(ed full-time as a member of her identified se# "ithout e(er undergoing se# reassignment surger < from transse#uals< "hom she re!ortedl disdainedF see 0ro"n< +$?th Centur

Transgender 2istor and 5#!erience<- and @eslie *einberg< Transgender Warriors' Ma&ing 2istor from Hoan of Arc to Dennis Rodman B0oston' 0eacon Press< 1>>6C< #) *or more on transse#uals "ho find organi,ing under the term +transgender- !roblematic< see =amaste< %e# Change< %ocial Change< 1$-//< 31-37< 96-1$6F Ma# Wolf Jalerio< +N=o" That Kou.re a White Man.' Changing %e# in a Postmodern WorldE0eing< 0ecoming< and 0orders<- This 0ridge We Call 2ome' Radical Jisions for Transformation< Gloria An,aldUa and Analouise Geating< eds) B=e" Kor&' Routledge< $??$C< $/>-$31) / I "as ins!ired to begin using the term +cisse#ual- after reading one of 5mi Go ama.s Interchange entries B""")eminism)org/interchange/$??$/$??$?6?7-"mstl)htmlC) A!!arentl < the related term +cisgender- "as first coined in 1>>3 b a transse#ual man named Carl 0ui;s)

%&irt Chasers' Wh the Media De!icts the Trans Re(olution in @i!stic& and 2eels

1 %te(e Rogers< +@a"suit %ettled< NCr ing Game.-@i&e NThere.s %omething About Miriam. Premieres in :G<- Realit TJWorld)com< *ebruar $/< $??1F Debi 5n&er< +Realit Reaches =e" @o"<- The Age< Ma $?< $??1F 5mil %mith< +Miriam.s %ecret<- The %un 4nline B""")thesun)co)u&C) $ =a,ila *athi< +As Re!ression 5ases< More Iranians Change Their %e#<- =e" Kor& Times< August $< $??1) / %ha"na Jirago< in corres!ondence "ith author< A!ril 1$< $??1) 1 =anc =angeroni and Gordene 4) MacGen,ie< in con(ersation on GenderTal&< !rogram 3/9< =o(ember $6< $??3 B""")gendertal&)com/real/3??/gt3/9)shtmlC) 3 Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< >< 119< $76-$77F Califia< %e# Changes< 61) 6 As 8uoted in Califia< %e# Changes< $/>) 7 Ibid)< 179) It should be noted that Pat Califia and Patric& Califia are the same !ersonF he is a trans man< and I refer to him as Patric& Califia< the name he currentl uses< throughout the te#t) In the notes section< I use "hiche(er name a!!ears on the boo& that I am citing) 9 Ra mond< The Transse#ual 5m!ire< 7>) > Ibid)< >>)

1? Ibid)< 1??) 11 Ibid)< >>) 1$ Ibid)< #i#) 1/ @isa Jogel< +Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al %ets the Record N%traight<.- !ress release issued b @isa Jogel< August $$< $??6) 11 Anderson-Minshall< +Michigan 4r 0ust-F %arah @iss< +Politics of Puss ' 0itch and Animal on a Re(olutionar Gender-0ender<- =o" BTorontoC< Hul $3< $??$)

0efore and After' Class and 0od Transformations

1 American %ociet of Plastic %urgeons< +>)$ Million Cosmetic Plastic %urger Procedures in $??1E :! 3V Gro"th Paces :)%) 5conom Des!ite Realit TJ *ad<- !ress release< March 16< $??3F =anc 2ellmich< +Gastric 0 !ass %urger %eeing 0ig Increase<- :%A Toda < December 1>< $??3) $ %u,anne H) Gessler and Wend McGenna< Gender' An 5thnomethodological A!!roach BChicago' :ni(ersit of Chicago Press< 1>79C< 11$-13/)

0o gasms and Girlgasms' A *ran& Discussion About 2ormones and Gender Differences

1 *or trans male accounts of hormones< see Patric& Califia< %!ea&ing %e# to Po"er' The Politics of Aueer %e# B%an *rancisco' Cleis Press< $??$C< />/-1?1F Hamison Green< 0ecoming a Jisible Man B=ash(ille' Janderbilt :ni(ersit Press< $??1C< >9-1?$< 131-13$F 2enr Rubin< %elf-Made Men' Identit and 5mbodiment Among Transse#ual Men B=ash(ille' Janderbilt :ni(ersit Press< $??/C< 13$-16/F and Ma# Wolf Jalerio< The Testosterone *iles' M 2ormonal and %ocial Transformation from *emale to Male B5mer (ille< CA' %eal Press< $??6C) $ %ummari,ed in Hoan Roughgarden< 5(olution.s Rainbo"' Di(ersit < Gender< and %e#ualit in =ature and Peo!le B0er&ele ' :ni(ersit of California Press< $??1C< $$?-$$1F see also sources cited in the !re(ious note)

0lind %!ots' 4n %ubconscious %e# and Gender 5ntitlement

1 Carina Dennis< +The Most Im!ortant %e#ual 4rgan<- =ature 1$7< no) 6>7/ B$??1C< />?-/>$F Arthur P) Arnold< +%e# Chromosomes and 0rain Gender<- =ature Re(ie"s' =euroscience 3 B$??1C< 1-9F Anne Jitale< +=otes on Gender Role Transition' Rethin&ing the Gender Identit Disorder Terminolog in the Diagnostic and %tatistical Manual of Mental Disorders IJ<- from a !a!er !resented at the $??3 20IGDA Conference< A!ril 7< $??3 Ba full referenced (ersion of the !a!er can be found at """)a(itale)com/hbigdatal&!lus$??3)htmC) $ Hohn Cola!into< As =ature Made 2im' The 0o Who Was Raised as a Girl B=e" Kor&' 2ar!erCollins< $???CF William G) Reiner and Hohn P) Gearhart< +Discordant %e#ual Identit in %ome Genetic Males "ith Cloacal 5#stro!h Assigned to *emale %e# at 0irth<- =e" 5ngland Hournal of Medicine /3?< no) 1 B$??1C< ///-/11) / Hiang-=ing Shou< Michel A) 2ofman< @ouis H) G) Gooren< and Dic& *) %"aab< +A %e# Difference in the 2uman 0rain and Its Relation to Transse#ualit <- =ature /79 B1>>3C< 69-7?F *ran& P) M) Grui;(er< Hiang-=ing Shou< Chris W) Pool< Michel A) 2ofman< @ouis H) G) Gooren< and Dic& *) %"aab< +Maleto-*emale Transse#uals 2a(e *emale =euron =umbers in a @imbic =ucleus<- Hournal of Clinical 5ndocrinolog and Metabolism 93< no) 3 B$??3C< $?/1-$?11)

Intrinsic Inclinations' 5#!laining Gender and %e#ual Di(ersit

1 *or sim!licit .s sa&e< in this cha!ter and throughout much of this boo&< I "ill refer to +gender e#!ression- in singular form) :nfortunatel < some ma misinter!ret this to mean that femininit and masculinit are singular< monolithic !rograms or entitiesEthis is not m intention) I belie(e that gender e#!ression is best thought of as a collection of heterogeneous traits< each ha(ing !otentiall different biological and/or sociological origins) *or a more nuanced discussion on this sub;ect< see cha!ter 1>< +Putting the *eminine 0ac& into *eminism)$ Roughgarden< 5(olution.s Rainbo"< $9?-$99) / 0ruce 0agemihl< 0iological 5#uberance' Animal 2omose#ualit and =atural Di(ersit B=e" Kor&< %t) Martin.s Press< 1>>>CF Roughgarden< 5(olution.s Rainbo") 1 Richard A) @i!!a< Gender< =ature< and =urture< $nd ed) BMah"ah< =e" Herse ' @a"rence 5rlbaum Associates< Inc)< $??3C< 1->) 3 Melanie 0lac&less< Anthon Charu(astra< Amanda Derr c&< Anne *austo-%terling< Garl @au,anne< and 5llen @ee< +2o" %e#uall Dimor!hic Are WeO Re(ie" and % nthesis<- American Hournal of 2uman 0iolog 1$ B$???C< 131-166) 6 *or an o(er(ie" of these different grou!s< see %erena =anda< Gender Di(ersit ' Crosscultural Jariations BPros!ect 2eights' Wa(eland Press< $???C< and references therein) Also< there are man e#am!les of *TM s!ectrum transgender !eo!le in other cultures< although the tend to recei(e less attention than their MT* s!ectrum counter!arts)

Pathological %cience' Debun&ing %e#ological and %ociological Models of Transgenderism

1 Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< $33-$36) The 20IGDA has (er recentl changed its name to the World Professional Association for Transgender 2ealth B""")"!ath)orgC) $ 2arr 0en;amin International Gender D s!horia Association< The 20IGDA %tandards of Care< 1th ed)< 1>>?) / *or discussions on the efficac of modern se# reassignment !rocedures< see A) Michel< M) Ansseau< H) H) @egros< W) Pitchot< and C) Mormont< +The Transse#ual' What About the *utureO- 5uro!ean Ps chiatr 17 B$??$C< /3/-/6$F P) T) Cohen-Gettenis and @) H) G) Gooren< +Transse#ualism' A Re(ie" of 5tiolog < Diagnosis< and Treatment<- Hournal of Ps chosomatic Research 16< no) 1 B1>>>C< /13-///F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 1$1F and Arlene Istar @e(< Transgender 5mergence' Thera!eutic Guidelines for Wor&ing "ith Gender-Jariant Peo!le and Their *amilies B0inghamton' 2a"orth Clinical Practice Press< $??1C< 11) 1 Jern @) 0ullough and 0onnie 0ullough< Cross Dressing' %e# and Gender BPhiladel!hia' :ni(ersit of Penns l(ania Press< 1>>/CF Califia< %e# Changes< 1$?-16$F Gilbert 2erdt< ed)< Third %e#< Third Gender' 0e ond %e#ual Dimor!hism in Culture and 2istor B=e" Kor&' Sone 0oo&s< 1>>1CF *einberg< Transgender WarriorsF @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 33-77F =anda< Gender Di(ersit F Roughgarden< 5(olution.s Rainbo"< /$>-/96) *or an e(en more e#hausti(e collection of sources on this !oint< see note 1 B!ages 193-196C in Dallas Denn < +Transgender Communities of the :nited %tates in the @ate T"entieth Centur <- Transgender Rights< Paisle Currah< Richard M) Huang< %hannon Price Minter< eds) BMinnea!olis' :ni(ersit of Minnesota Press< $??6C< 171-1>1) 3 2arr 0en;amin< introduction to Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< Richard Green and Hohn Mone < eds) B0altimore' Hohns 2o!&ins Press< 1>6>C< 1-1?) 6 Ibid)< 1F 2arr 0en;amin< The Transse#ual Phenomenon B=e" Kor&' Hulian Press Publishers< 1>66C< currentl accessible in electronic format at """)s m!osion)com/i;t/ben;amin) 7 0en;amin< The Transse#ual PhenomenonF Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 1?$) 9 Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< $$?F Richard Green< +Attitudes To"ard Transse#ualism and %e#Reassignment Procedures<- in Green and Mone < Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< $/3-$1$) > Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< $$$-$$6F Green and Mone < Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment) 1? Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< $33-$36F Green< 0ecoming a Jisible Man< 1>1-1>6) 11 Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 11$< $$1-$$$) *or other accounts of gender identit clinics and other gate&ee!ers B!ast and !resentC treating fe" !atients and !ro(iding dela ed and/or inade8uate care< see Claudine Griggs< %/he' Changing %e# and Changing Clothes B4#ford' 0erg< 1>>9C< /1F =amaste< In(isible @i(es< 1>?-$/1F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 136-139F Gordene 4lga MacGen,ie< Transgender =ation B0o"ling Green< 42' 0o"ling Green :ni(ersit Po!ular Press< 1>>1C< 77F Ma#ine 5) Petersen and Robert Dic&e < +%urgical %e# Reassignment' A Com!arati(e %ur(e of International Centers<- Archi(es of %e#ual 0eha(ior $1< no) $ B1>>3C< 1/3-136) 1$ Hust< +4rigins of the Real-@ife Test<- Trans-2ealth)com B""")trans-health)comCF =amaste< In(isible @i(es< 1>9-$?1< $16F @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 13)

1/ Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< $$3F Anne 0olin< In %earch of 5(e' Transse#ual Rites of Passage B%outh 2adle < MA' 0ergin and 2ar(e < 1>99C< 1$1F *ran& @e"ins< Transse#ualism in %ociet ' A %ociolog of Male-to-*emale Transse#uals B%outh Melbourne' Macmillan 5ducation Australia< 1>>3C< 1?/) 11 The D%M BDiagnostic and %tatistical Manual of Mental DisordersC is !ublished b the American Ps chiatric Association and is the "orld.s most "idel used reference for diagnosing mental illnesses) The homose#ualit diagnosis "as remo(ed from the D%M in 1>7/< to be re!laced b +ego-d stonic homose#ualit - in 1>9?) This latter diagnosisE"hich onl a!!lied to those "ho e#!erienced !ersistent distress o(er their o"n homose#ualit E"as remo(ed in 1>96) During the late 1>9?s< it "as still common!lace for gate&ee!ers to re8uire trans !eo!le to be heterose#ual and stereot !icall feminine Bor masculineCEin fact< Anne 0olin< "hose boo& In %earch of 5(e "as !ublished in 1>99< s!ends a great man !ages debun&ing earlier gate&ee!ers. assum!tions about transse#ual orientations Bsee 0olin< In %earch of 5(e< 61-69< 1?6-1$?C) 13 Hon G) Me er and Donna H) Reter< +%e# Reassignment<- Archi(es of General Ps chiatr /6 B1>7>C< 1?1?-1?13F Michael *leming< Carol %teinman< and Gene 0oc&ne&< +Methodological Problems in Assessing %e#-Reassignment %urger ' A Re!l to Me er and Reter<- International Hournal of Transgenderism $< no) $ B1>>9C< B""")s m!osion)comCF @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 1$) 16 =orman Gnorr< %anford Wolf< and 5ugene Me er< +Ps chiatric 5(aluation of Male Transse#uals for %urger <- in Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< $7>F Hohn Randell< +Preo!erati(e and Posto!erati(e %tatus of Male and *emale Transse#uals<- Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< /33/67F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 161) 17 Gnorr et al)< +Ps chiatric 5(aluation<- $71F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 161-16$) 19 Robert Jeit %her"in< +@egal As!ects of Male Transse#ualism<- in Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< 117-1/?F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 166) 1> Ira 0) Paul < +Adult Manifestations of Male Transse#ualism<- in Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< 13F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 1>7< $$3) $? %her"in< +@egal As!ects of Male Transse#ualism<- 1$/) $1 Richard Green< +Ps chiatric Management of %!ecial Problems in Transse#ualism<- in Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< $97) $$ Paul < +Adult Manifestations of Male Transse#ualism<- 13-16) $/ @e(< Transgender 5mergence< >-11< 17F Gatherine G) Wilson< +The Dis!arate Classification of Gender and %e#ual 4rientation in American Ps chiatr <- 1>>9 Annual Meeting of the American Ps chiatric Association< Wor&sho! IW37' Transgender Issues< Toronto< 4ntario< Canada< Hune 1>>9 Bhtt!'//gidreform)org/&"a!a>9)htmlC) $1 @e(< Transgender 5mergence< /9F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< >) $3 Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 11>F @e(< Transgender 5mergence< /1< 11/)

$6 D%M-IJ-TR< 366< 371-373F Gatherine G) Wilson< +The Dis!arate Classification of Gender)$7 Gatherine G) Wilson< GID Reform Ad(ocates "ebsite Bhtt!'//gidreform)org/tf/?$/)htmlC) $9 Ibid Bhtt!'//gidreform)org/gid/?$6)htmlC) $> Ph llis 0ur&e< Gender %hoc&' 5#!loding the M ths of Male and *emale B=e" Kor&' Anchor 0oo&s< 1>>6C< /-1/6) /? Ibid)< /$-//< 6?-63) Along "ith Richard Green< The +%iss 0o % ndrome- and the De(elo!ment of 2omose#ualit B=e" 2a(en' Kale :ni(ersit Press< 1>97C< another classic e#am!le of effemimaniacal research is Robert %toller< Presentations of Gender B=e" 2a(en' Kale :ni(ersit Press< 1>93C) *or other references regarding feminine bo s recei(ing the lion.s share of !s chological/!s chiatric interest and attention< see MacGen,ie< Transgender =ation< $$-$/< >?->/F %te!hen H) Ducat< The Wim! *actor' Gender Ga!s< 2ol Wars< and the Politics of An#ious Masculinit B0oston' 0eacon Press< $??1C< $3$>F and @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 176) /1 %toller< Presentations of Gender< $9-//F @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 1$?-1$1) /$ MacGen,ie< Transgender =ation< >$F 0en;amin< The Transse#ual PhenomenonF Richard Green and 5) 0) Ge(erne< +The Dis!arate Maternal Aunt-:ncle Ratio in Male Transse#uals' An 5#!lanation In(o&ing Genomic Im!rinting<- Hournal of Theoretical 0iolog $?$ B$???C< 33-6/F %(en 0oc&landt< %te(e 2or(ath< 5ric Jilain< and Dean 2) 2amer< +5#treme %&e"ing of I Chromosome Inacti(ation in Mothers of 2omose#ual Men<- 2uman Genetics 119< no) 6 B$??6C< 6>1-6>1) // 5thel %) Person and @ionel 4(ese < +The Transse#ual % ndrome in Males' Primar Transse#ualism<- and +The Transse#ual % ndrome in Males' %econdar Transse#ualism<- in 5thel %) Person< The %e#ual Centur B=e" 2a(en' Kale :ni(ersit Press< 1>>>C< 11?-113) /1 H) Michael 0aile < The Man Who Would 0e Aueen' The %cience of Gender-0ending and Transse#ualism BWashington< D)C)' Hose!h 2enr Press< $??/C) /3 D%M-IJ-TR< 379) /6 +The :!s and Do"ns of H) Michael 0aile <- Transgender Ta!estr < no) 1?1< Winter $??1< 3/ B""")ifge)orgC) /7 0ur&e< Gender %hoc&< 3/) /9 5(e Gosofs& %edg"ic&< +2o" to 0ring Kour Gids :! Ga ' The War on 5ffeminate 0o s<- The Columbia Reader on @esbians P Ga Men in Media< %ociet < and Politics< @arr Gross and Hames D) Woods< eds) B=e" Kor&' Columbia :ni(ersit Press< 1>>>C< $?1-$?6) /> @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 11$) 1? Robert H) %toller< %e# and Gender B=e" Kor&' %cience 2ouse< 1>69C< 1>3-$?3F MacGen,ie< Transgender =ation< 3$-3/< 97-9>F @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 111-11/)

11 Gessler and McGenna< Gender' An 5thnomethodological A!!roach< 119) %ome ha(e also claimed that 2arr 0en;amin onl "or&ed "ith trans "omen "ho he thought "ere attracti(e BRudacille< The Riddle of Gender< 99C) 1$ Randell< +Preo!erati(e and Posto!erati(e %tatus<- /79) 1/ 0aile < The Man Who Would 0e Aueen< 19?) 4ther recent e(idence of trans "omen being se#uali,ed b male gate&ee!ers can be found in =amaste< In(isible @i(es< $?$-$?3) 11 0olin< In %earch of 5(e< 1?7) 13 Ibid)< 1?9) 16 =amaste< In(isible @i(es< 16/-161) 17 Hohn Mone and Cla Primrose< +%e#ual Dimor!hism and Dissociation in the Ps cholog of Male Transse#uals<- in Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< 113-1/1F Hohn Mone and Hohn G) 0rennan< +%e#ual Dimor!hism in the Ps cholog of *emale Transse#uals<- in Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< 1/7-13$) 19 0olin< In %earch of 5(e< 6/< 1?6-1$?) 1> htt!'//en)"i&i!edia)org/"i&i/PathologicalTscience) 3? D"ight 0) 0illings and Thomas :rban< +The %ocio-Medical Construction of Transse#ualism' An Inter!retation and Criti8ue<- %ocial Problems $>< no) / B1>9$C< $66-$9$) 31 Ibid)< $76) 3$ Ra mond< The Transse#ual 5m!ire< #(i< $) 3/ Ibid)< 19?< 19/) 31 Ibid)< #iii-#i(F 0illings and :rban< +The %ocio-Medical Construction<- $66F e(idence to the contrar can be found in Currah< Huang< and Minter< Transgender Rights) 33 Gnorr et al)< +Ps chiatric 5(aluation<- $7/-$71< $7>F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 1/1-1/$< 161) 36 Re(ie"ed in 0ullough and 0ullough< CrossdressingF Califia< %e# Changes< 1$?-16$F 2erdt< Third %e#< Third GenderF *einberg< Transgender WarriorsF @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 33-77F =anda< Gender Di(ersit F and Roughgarden< 5(olution.s Rainbo"< /$>-/96) *or more sources on this !oint< see note 1 B!ages 193-196C in Denn < +Transgender Communities of the :nited %tates<- Transgender Rights) 37 2arr 0en;amin< introduction to Transse#ualism and %e# Reassignment< 1-$F Rudacille< The Riddle of Gender< 71-79F 2arold Garfin&el< %tudies in 5thnomethodolog B5ngle"ood Cliffs< =e" Herse ' Prentice-2all< 1>67C< $93-$99) *or other e#am!les of transse#ualit < se# reassignment< and trans !eo!le !etitioning doctors to hel! them change their se# !rior to the "ides!read !ublic a"areness of se# reassignment Bi)e)< !re-HorgensenC< see *) Abraham< +Genital Reassignment on T"o Male

Trans(estites<- International Hournal of Transgenderism $< no) 1 B1>>9C B""")s m!osion)com/i;t/i;tc?/?$)htmCF 0en;amin< The Transse#ual PhenomenonF Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< 11-3?) Hoanne Me ero"it,< +%e# Research at the 0orders of Gender' Trans(estites< Transse#uals< and Alfred C) Ginse <- 0ulletin of the 2istor of Medicine 73< no) 1 B$??1C< 7$->?F Jern @) 0ullough< +Transse#ualism in 2istor <- Archi(es of %e#ual 0eha(ior 1< no) 3 B1>73C< 361-371F Ha Prosser< %econd %&ins' The 0od =arrati(es of Transse#ualit B=e" Kor&' Columbia :ni(ersit Press< 1>>9C< 1/3-16>F and Rudacille< The Riddle of Gender< 11-19< 3$-36) 39 0ernice @) 2ausman< Changing %e#' Transse#ualism< Technolog < and the Idea of Gender BDurham' Du&e :ni(ersit Press< 1>>3C< $-/< 1>3) 3> Ibid)< /) 6? Ibid) 61 =anda< Gender Di(ersit < >6) 6$ Ibid)< >6->7) 6/ Ibid)< >7->9) 61 Ibid)< >1) 63 Will Roscoe< Changing 4nes' Third and *ourth Genders in =ati(e =orth America B=e" Kor&' %t) Martin.s Press< 1>>9C< 1$>) 66 Ibid) 67 Will Roscoe< +2o" to 0ecome a 0erdache' To"ard a :nified Anal sis of Gender Di(ersit <- in 2erdt< Third %e#< Third Gender< /6?-/6$) 69 Ibid)< /6$< /63) 6> *or e#am!les< see Roughgarden< 5(olution.s Rainbo"< /1/-/16F and Califia< %e# Changes< 11711>) 7? @e"ins< Transse#ualism in %ociet < 111) 71 Da(id 5) Grimm< +To"ard a Theor of Gender' Transse#ualism< Gender< %e#ualit < and Relationshi!s<- American 0eha(ioral %cientist /1< no) 1 B1>97C< 7?) 7$ 5ichler< The Double %tandard< 73) 7/ Greer< The Whole Woman< 71) 71 Hudith %ha!iro< +Transse#ualism' Reflections on the Persistence of Gender and the Mutabilit of %e#<- in 0od Guards' The Cultural Politics of Gender Ambiguit < Hulia 5!stein and Gristina %traub< eds) B=e" Kor&' Routledge< 1>>1C< $3/)

73 Thomas Gando< +Males< *emales< and Transse#uals' A Com!arati(e %tud of %e#ual Conser(atism<- Hournal of 2omose#ualit 1< no) 1 B1>71C< 6/-11) 76 0olin< In %earch of 5(e< 1?7F =amaste< In(isible @i(es< 1>1-$/1) 77 0olin< In %earch of 5(e< 11) 79 Ibid)< 119) 7> *or a general re(ie" of ho" transse#uals are rarel acce!ted sociall and legall in the :nited %tates< see Currah< Huang< and Minter< Transgender RightsEthis boo& also contains G lar W) 0roadus.s account of ho" much "orse he "as treated b co"or&ers as a trans man than "hen he "as !ercei(ed as a butch d &e B!age >1C) 9? Mildred @) 0ro"n and Chloe Ann Rounsle < True %el(es' :nderstanding Transse#ualismE*or *amilies< *riends< Co"or&ers< and 2el!ing Professionals B%an *rancisco' Hosse -0ass Publishers< 1>>6C< 1?3-1?7) 91 *or e#am!le< see Tom Waddell 2ealth Center< +Protocols for 2ormonal Reassignment of Gender<Hul $1< $??1 Bdo"nloadable at """)d!h)sf)ca)us/chn/2lthCtrs/transgender)htmC) 9$ @e(< Transgender 5mergence) 9/ Ibid)< 19?-191F Rudacille< The Riddle of Gender< 19)

Dismantling Cisse#ual Pri(ilege

1 Greer< The Whole Woman< 71) $ Califia< %e# Changes< 116) / During the 1>>6 4l m!ics in Atlanta< eight of /</97 female athletes screened for K chromosomal material tested !ositi(eF the 4l m!ics has since discontinued its genetic se# testing BM ron Genel< +Gender Jerification =o MoreO- Medsca!e Women.s 2ealth 3< no) / L$???M< """)medsca!e)com/(ie"article/1?9>19C) Infertilit clinics ha(e found that u! to 11 !ercent of a,oos!ermic males Bi)e)< males "ho ha(e no s!erm in their semenC ha(e a IIK &ar ot !e B2iroshi

4&ada< 2itoshi *u;io&a< =oboru Tatsumi< Masanori Gan,a&i< Koshihiro 4&uda< Masato *u;isa"a< Minoru 2a,ama< 4samu Matsumoto< Ga,uo Goh;i< %oichi Ara&a"a< and %adao Gamidono< +Glinefelter.s % ndrome in the Male Infertilit Clinic<- 2uman Re!roduction 11< no) 1 L1>>>M< >16>3$C) 1 Tar nn M) Witten< 5sben 5sther Pirelli 0enestad< Ilana 0erger< R) H) M) 5&ins< Randi 5ttner< Gatsu&i 2arima< Da(e Ging< Mi&ael @andQn< =uno =odin< Jolod m r P. ato&ha< and Andre" =) %har!e< +Transgender and Transse#ualit <- The 5nc clo!edia of %e# and Gender' Men and Women in the World.s Cultures< C) R) 5mber and M) 5mber< eds) B=e" Kor&' Glu"er/Plenum< $??/C< $16-$$>F @ nn Con"a < +2o" *re8uentl Does Transse#ualism 4ccurO- @ nnCon"a )com B$??1-$??$F htt!'//ai)eecs)umich)edu/!eo!le/con"a /T%/T%!re(alence)htmlC) 3 The notion of +doing- gender is often attributed to Candace West and Don 2) Simmerman.s article< +Doing Gender<- Gender and %ociet 1< no) $ B1>97C< 1$3-131< and can also be found in Gessler and McGenna< Gender' An 5thnomethodological A!!roach< 133-13>) The idea that gender is +!erformedis t !icall attributed to Hudith 0utler< although she has refuted this inter!retation of her "or&F this is e#!lained in full in cha!ter 1>< +Putting the *eminine 0ac& into *eminism)-

>

:ngendering in Art and Academia

1 Gate 0ornstein< 8uoted in Mattilda< a)&)a) Matt 0ernstein % camore< +%uicide =otes' Gender 4utla" Gate 0ornstein.s 2ello Cruel World 4ffers Alternati(es to 4ffing Kourself<- %an *rancisco 0a Guardian< Ma /?< $??6) $ Thea 2illman< +Middlese# and the @imitations of M th<- I%=A =e"s< %!ring $??/ B""")mindfull )org/Reform/$??//Middlese#-@imitations-M thMar?/)htmC) / Inter(ie" "ith Hane Anderson on 204)com B""")hbo)com/films/normal/inter(ie"s/;aneTanderson)htmlC) 1 Ibid) 3 Ibid) 6 Ibid)

7 Inter(ie" "ith Tom Wil&inson on 204)com B""")hbo)com/films/normal/inter(ie"s/tomT"il&inson)htmlC) 9 Da(e Weich< +Heffre 5ugenides 2as It 0oth Wa s<- boo& re(ie" on Po"ells)com< """)!o"ells)com/authors/eugenides)html) *or an interse# !ers!ecti(e on the "ord +herma!hrodite<see """)isna)org/fa8/herma!hrodite) > *rom an inter(ie" "ith Heffre 5ugenides in /'AM Maga,ine B""")/ammaga,ine)com/litarchi(es/$??//se!/inter(ie"T;effre Teugenides)htmlC) 1? Ibid) 11 Heffre 5ugenides< Middlese# B=e" Kor&' *arrar< %traus and Girou#< $??$C< 1?1-1>6) 1$ Diane DiMassa< The Com!lete 2othead Paisan' 2omicidal @esbian Terrorist B%an *rancisco' Cleis Press< 1>>>C< /1$) 1/ Ibid)< /9?) 11 Geel %a(oie< +@ad Die<- 0itch< no) $3 B$??1C< /3-11) 13 Ibid)< />) 16 Garfin&el< %tudies in 5thnomethodolog < 193) 17 Ibid)< $93-$99) 19 Ibid)< 11>) 1> 2erculine 0arbin< Michel *oucault< ed) B=e" Kor&' Pantheon 0oo&s< 1>9?C< #ii) $? Ibid)< #i) $1 Ibid)< 11>-131< 133-1>>) $$ Gessler and McGenna< Gender' An 5thnomethodological A!!roach< 11$-111) $/ 2ausman< Changing %e#< (ii) $1 Ibid) $3 =amaste< In(isible @i(es< 3$< >-7?) $6 Ibid)< 16) $7 Prosser< %econd %&ins)

1$

0ending 4(er 0ac&"ards' Traditional %e#ism and Trans-Woman-5#clusion Policies

1 Califia< %e# Changes< 113) $ *or an o(er(ie" of feminist anti-trans "oman sentiment< see Califia< %e# Changes< 96-11>F Me ero"it,< 2o" %e# Changed< $39-$6$F 0ro"n< +$?th Centur Transgender 2istor and 5#!erience-F and Rudacille< The Riddle of Gender< 131-171) *or !ertinent e#am!les of transmisog nistic feminist "ritings< see Dal < G n/5colog < 67-7$F D"or&in< Woman 2ating< 193197F 5ichler< The Double %tandard< 7$->?F Greer< The Mad"oman.s :nderclothes< 19>-1>1F Greer< The Whole Woman< 7?-9?F Heffre s< 0eaut and Misog n < 16-66F Morgan< Going Too *ar< 17?-199F Ra mond< The Transse#ual 5m!ireF and %teinem< +If the %hoe Doesn.t *it< Change the *oot)According to Dallas Denn B+Transgender in the :nited %tates' A 0rief Discussion<- %I5C:% Re!ort< 4ct/=o( 1>>>C< in 1>9? Hanice Ra mond !re!ared a !a!er for the =ational Center for 2ealth Care Technolog titled +The %ocial and 5thical As!ects of Transse#ual %urger )- Pertinent information about %and %tone and 0eth 5lliott can be found in the abo(e references) *or more on =anc 0ur&holder and the Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al.s trans-"oman-e#clusion !olic < see Tea< +Transmissions from Cam! Trans<- and 5mi Go ama< A 2andboo& on Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al for Trans Acti(ists and Allies BPortland' Confluere Publications< $??$F """)confluere)com/store/!df-,n/mich-handboo&)!dfC) / *or more information on Michigan.s !olic basing festi(al entr on "hether one "as +born and raised a girl<- see Jogel< +Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al %ets the Record N%traight).- Musicians @ nnee 0reedlo(e and Animal ha(e both !erformed at Michigan on multi!le occasions des!ite identif ing as trans and ans"ering to male !ronouns BAnderson-Minshall< +Michigan or 0ust-F %arah @iss< +Politics of Puss -C) *or more on the lesbian communit .s !ri(ileging of trans men o(er trans "omen< see %erano< +4n the 4utside @oo&ing In-F Tea< +Transmissions from Cam! Trans<- and =ataf< +@esbians Tal& Transgender)1 Gessler and McGenna< Gender' An 5thnomethodological A!!roach< 113-133) 3 Ibid)< 13/) 6 Ilene @elchu&< +When Is It 4G for 0o s to 0e Girls< and Girls to 0e 0o sO- %an *rancisco Chronicle< August $7< $??6F Sa& %, mans&i< +TG %!ecialists< Parents As&' When Is Koung Too KoungO- 0a Area Re!orter< March 16< $??6) 7 Tali Wood"ard< +Trans;obless<- %an *rancisco 0a Guardian< March 13< $??6)

9 During the late 1>6?s and earl 1>7?s< lesbians "ere e#cluded from liberal feminist organi,ations such as =4W< and it "as not uncommon for heterose#ual feminists to characteri,e lesbian-feminists as h !erse#ual< o!!ressi(el male< out to e#!loit other "omen< and reinforcing the se# class s stemEsee Alice 5chols< Daring to 0e 0ad' Radical *eminism in America< 1>67-1>73 BMinnea!olis' :ni(ersit of Minnesota Press< 1>9>C< $1?-$$9) > 5#am!les include Charlotte Croson< +%e#< @ies and *eminism<- 4ff 4ur 0ac&s< Hune $??1F +A *est in Distress- Ba roundtable on the !olitics of the Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al.s entrance !olic "ith Robin *in&elstein< 5mi Go ama< and Gro(er Wehman< moderated b @isa Mi a-Her(isC< 0itch< %ummer $??$< no) 17F 0itch P Animal< +Michigan Wom n.s Music *esti(al<- Jel(et!ar& Maga,ine< no) 6F and +Generations of Gender- Ba con(ersation bet"een 0oo Price and @ nn 0reedlo(eC< Girlfriends< August $??1) 1? According to Transgender@a")org< as of Hanuar $??7< nine states and eight -si# cities and counties in the :nited %tates ha(e e#tended their nondiscrimination la"s to e#!licitl include transgendered !eo!le B""")transgenderla")org/ndla"s/inde#)htmW;urisdictionsC)

1/

%elf-Dece!tion

1 =ational Transgender Ad(ocac Coalition< +Arau;o Murder Trial %cheduled to 0egin A!ril 3<- !ress release< March $??1 Bhtt!'//!ortland)ind media)org/en/$??1/?//$91/?/)shtmlCF Gell %t) Hohn< +Defense in Arau;o Trial Gi(es *inal Argument' %la ing Wasn.t Premeditated< @a" ers %a < *ighting for Manslaughter Jerdict for Clients<- %an *rancisco Chronicle< Hune /< $??1F Michelle @oc&e< +Prosecution %tar Witness Testifies in Transgender Gilling Case<- Associated Press< Hune 7< $??3) In a retrial< t"o of G"en.s &illers "ere charged "ith second-degree murder< and the other t"o too& !lea bargains to (oluntar manslaughter B""")transgenderla"center)org/g"en/inde#)htmlWu!dateC) $ Ra mond< The Transse#ual 5m!ire< 1?1) / Roughgarden< 5(olution.s Rainbo"< >/->>) 1 Ha @eno 8uestioned 2ugh Grant after Grant had allegedl solicited a !rostitute "ho "as rumored to be transgenderedF re!orted in =adine 0ro,an< +Chronicle<- =e" Kor& Times< Hul 11< 1>>3) 3 Patric& Califia< +%e# "ith an Im!erfect %tranger<- Good Jibes Maga,ine< December >< $??$ B""")!assion!ress)comC)

11

Trans-%e#uali,ation

1 @ori 0) Girshic&< Woman-to-Woman %e#ual Jiolence' Does %he Call It Ra!eO B0oston' =ortheastern :ni(ersit Press< $??$CF @orraine Gamman and Mer;a Ma&inen< *emale *etishism B=e" Kor&' =e" Kor& :ni(ersit Press< 1>>3CF Ruth Pa!a,ian< +Women and 0o sE%e#ual Assault or InitiationO The @a" %a s Ra!e< but Americans Are Ambi(alent<- AP0 =e"s)com< March /?< $??? Bhtt!'//members)i8uest)net/Xd&oons/ne"s)htmlC) $ Michael Musto< +@a Dolce Musto<- Jillage Joice< *ebruar 1/< $??6 B""")(illage(oice)com/n clife/?6?7<musto<7$163<13)htmlC) / 0ased on mo(ies that I ha(e !ersonall seen< combined "ith those that I found during a brief Internet search for mo(ies that su!!osedl de!ict trans "omen as !rostitutes or stri!!ers< I ha(e com!iled the follo"ing list of films that re!ortedl include MT* s!ectrum se# "or&ers' 1? Kear 4ld Jirgin< All About M Mother< American 2eart< Angel< Anger Management< 0o s from 0ra,il< 0reath of @ife B%o!la de JidaC< 0ridget Hones' 5dge of Reason< Change M @ife BChange Moi Ma JieC< Co! Target< Cruising< Dude Where.s M CarO< *lesh!ot on 1$nd %treet< Gangs of =e" Kor&< Got Pa!ers< 2ea(en< 2oll "ood Chainsa" 2oo&ers< 2oll "ood 2omicide< @o(e in Concrete BAmor en ConcretoC< Merc < =e(er Again< =ight on 5arth< The =ight %tal&er< The Pharmacist B@e Pharmacien de GardeC< Place Without @imits< A P A< Ris& 0usiness< %aint Hac&< %urrender< The Wa Kou Want Me BCome Mi JuoiC< Wild %ide< Ku! Ku! Man) =ot onl is this list not com!rehensi(e< but it does not include an of the TJ dramas or da time tal& sho"s that de!ict trans female se# "or&ers) 1 Wood"ard< +Trans;obless)3 Gamman and Ma&inen< *emale *etishism< 31-91) 6 *or e#am!les< see Ra 0lanchard< +The Classification and @abeling of =onhomose#ual Gender D s!horias<- Archi(es of %e#ual 0eha(ior 19< no) 1 B1>9>C< /13-//1F and %toller< Presentations of Gender) This tendenc is also re(ie"ed in @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 1//-11/) 7 D%M-IJ-TR< 371-373F Wilson< +The Dis!arate Classification of Gender)9 @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 1//-1/>F 2elen 0o d< M 2usband 0ett ' @o(e< %e#< and @ife "ith a Crossdresser B=e" Kor&' Thunder.s Mouth Press< $??/C< 113-119)

> Ra 0lanchard< +The Conce!t of Autog ne!hilia and the T !olog of Male Gender D s!horia<Hournal of =er(ous and Mental Disease 177< no) 1? B1>9>C< 616-6$/F 0lanchard< +The Classification and @abeling of =onhomose#ual Gender D s!horias)1? 0aile < The Man Who Would 0e AueenF D%M-IJ-TR< 379) *or scientific and !s chological criti8ues of autog ne!hilia< see Hoan Roughgarden< +The 0aile Affair' Ps cholog Per(erted<*ebruar 11< $??1 Bhtt!'//ai)eecs)umich)edu/!eo!le/con"a /T%/Re(ie"s/Ps cholog /CF Gatherine G) Wilson< +Autog ne!hilia' =e" Medical Thin&ing or 4ld %tereot !eO- Transgender *orum Maga,ine< A!ril 16< $???F Madeline 2) W nd,en< +5(er thing Kou =e(er Wanted to Gno" About Autog ne!hilia B0ut Were Afraid Kou 2ad to As&C<- Ps cholog of Gender Identit and Transgenderism< """)gender!s cholog )org/autog ne!hilia B$??1C) 11 0lanchard< +The Conce!t of Autog ne!hilia<- 617) 1$ 0aile < The Man Who Would 0e Aueen< 116) 1/ 0lanchard< +The Conce!t of Autog ne!hilia<- 616) 11 Ibid)< 6$1-6$$) 13 Ibid)< 616-617) 16 0olin< In %earch of 5(e< 73-76F @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 1//-1/>F 0o d< M 2usband 0ett < 1/$-11?) 17 0lanchard< +The Conce!t of Autog ne!hilia-F Ra 0lanchard< +Jarieties of Autog ne!hilia and Their Relationshi! to Gender D s!horia<- Archi(es of %e#ual 0eha(ior $$< no) / B1>>/C< $11-$31) *or more on this< see W nd,en< +5(er thing Kou =e(er Wanted to Gno"<- and Anne A) @a"rence< +%e#ualit and Transse#ualit ' A =e" Introduction to Autog ne!hilia<- Transse#ual Women.s Resources< """)annela"rence)com/ne"introag!)html)

13

%ubmissi(e %trea&

1 In role-!la ing< +safe "ords- are !re(iousl agreed-u!on "ords that ma be uttered b an !la er if the "ish to halt the +scene- for an reason) %afe "ords are !articularl im!ortant in scenarios "here

one !art +dominates- or +to!s- another< as the !ro(ide a means for the bottom to sa +no- if the feel uncomfortable "ith "hat is ha!!ening< thus ensuring that all !la is consensual)

17

Crossdressing' Dem stif ing *emininit and Rethin&ing +Male Pri(ilege-

1 5mil Gane< +N=o Wa M 0o s Are Going to 0e @i&e ThatD. Parents. Res!onses to Children.s Gender =onconformit <- Gender and %ociet $?< no) $ B$??6C< 11>-176) $ Ducat< The Wim! *actor< $1-3>) %ee also 0ur&e< Gender %hoc&< 6?-63< 1$/-1$3) / Ducat< The Wim! *actor< $6-$7) 1 htt!'//en)"i&i!edia)org/"i&i/Marginali,ation) 3 bell hoo&s< !reface to *eminist Theor ' *rom Margin to Center B0oston' %outh 5nd Press< 1>91C) 6 Ducat< The Wim! *actor< $1-3>) 7 Ibid)< /?-/1F +Gender Constanc <- 5notes)com 5nc clo!edia of Children.s 2ealth Bhtt!'//health)enotes)com/childrens-healthenc clo!edia/gender-constanc CF @e(< Transgender 5mergence< 1$1) 9 *or other interesting trans !ers!ecti(es on +male !ri(ilege<- see Jalerio< +N=o" That Kou.re a White Man<.- and Diana Cour(ant< +%!ea&ing of Pri(ilege<- This 0ridge We Call 2ome< $/>-$31 and< 13916/ res!ecti(el ) > Green< 0ecoming a Jisible Man< /3-/7F Rubin< %elf-Made Men< 163-169F Jalerio< +N=o" That Kou.re a White Man<.-F Jalerio< The Testosterone *iles) 1? =orah Jincent< %elf-Made Man' 4ne Woman.s Hourne into Manhood and 0ac& Again B=e" Kor&' Ji&ing< $??6C)

1>

Putting the *eminine 0ac& into *eminism

1 Re(ie"ed in Hoanne 2ollo"s< *eminism< *emininit and Po!ular Culture BManchester' Manchester :ni(ersit Press< $???C< 1-19F @inda M) %cott< *resh @i!stic&' Redressing *ashion and *eminism B=e" Kor&' Palgra(e Macmillan< $??3C< 1-$$) $ Ma;orie Garber< Jested Interests' Cross-Dressing and Cultural An#iet B=e" Kor&' 2ar!erPerenial< 1>>/C< 1) / 0ett *riedan< The *eminine M sti8ue' T"entieth Anni(ersar 5dition B=e" Kor&' W) W) =orton and Com!an < 1>9/C) Pertinent criti8ues of The *eminine M sti8ue can be found in hoo&s< *eminist Theor < 1-13F 2ollo"s< *eminism< *emininit and Po!ular Culture< >-1/F and %cott< *resh @i!stic&< $$/-$3?) 1 The se#/gender distinction is generall attributed to Robert %toller B%e# and GenderC) *or t"o (ar ing feminist criti8ues of the se#/gender distinction< see Hudith 0utler< 0odies That Matter' 4n the Discursi(e @imits of +%e#- B=e" Kor&' Routledge< 1>>/C< and Moira Gatens< Imaginar 0odies' 5thics< Po"er and Cor!orealit B@ondon' Routledge< 1>>6C< /-$?) 3 2ollo"s< *eminism< *emininit and Po!ular Culture< >-19) 6 Ibid)< 13-17F Dal < G n/5colog < $97) I use the term +cultural feminists- according to 5chols< Daring to 0e 0ad) 7 *or discussions on class< culture< and femininit < see 2ollo"s< *eminism< *emininit and Po!ular Culture< and %cott< *resh @i!stic&) 9 2ollo"s< *eminism< *emininit and Po!ular Culture< 1?F Radicalesbians< +The Woman Identified Woman<- Radical *eminism< Anne Goedt< 5llen @e(ine< and Anita Ra!one< eds) B=e" Kor&' Auadrangle/=e" Kor& Times 0oo& Co)< 1>9?C< $13F =) K) Radical *eminists< +Politics of the 5go' A Manifesto for =) K) Radical *eminists<- Radical *eminism< /9$) > Radicalesbians< +The Woman Identified Woman<- $11F Dal < G n/ 5colog < $6-$7F 0ets 0elote< +Masochistic % ndrome< 2 sterical Personalit < and the Illusion of a 2ealth Woman<- *emale Ps cholog ' The 5merging %elf< %ue Co#< ed) B=e" Kor&' %t) Martin.s Press< 1>91C< /$?-///F Dee @) R) Graham< "ith 5dna I) Ra"lings and Roberta G) Rigsb < @o(ing to %ur(i(e' %e#ual Terror< Men.s Jiolence< and Women.s @i(es B=e" Kor&' =e" Kor& :ni(ersit Press< 1>>1C< #i() 1? %cott< *resh @i!stic&< 3F 2ollo"s< *eminism< *emininit and Po!ular Culture< 1/F Jic&i Co!!oc&< Deena 2a don< and Ingrid Richter< The Illusions of NPost-*eminism.' =e" Women< 4ld M ths

B@ondon' Ta lor and *rancis< 1>>3C< $1F Alice 5mbree< +Media Images I' Madison A(enue 0rain"ashingEThe *acts<- %isterhood Is Po"erful' An Antholog of Writings from the Women.s @iberation Mo(ement< Robin Morgan< ed) B=e" Kor&' Random 2ouse< 1>7?C< 1>1) 11 Dal < G n/5colog < 67-7$< //1-//3) 1$ 2ollo"s< *eminism< *emininit and Po!ular Culture< 11F Greer< The Mad"oman.s :nderclothes< 19>-1>1F Greer< The Whole Woman< 7?-9?) 1/ Heffre s< 0eaut and Misog n < $1< 3?-3/) 11 Hudith 0utler< Gender Trouble' *eminism and the %ub(ersion of Identit B=e" Kor&' Routledge< 1>>>C) The s!ecific e#am!le of a !erson being +girled- is from 0utler< 0odies That Matter< 7-9) 13 *or an e#am!le of gender as +!erformance<- see Hudith 2alberstam< +*$M' The Ma&ing of *emale Masculinit <- The @esbian Postmodern< @aura Doan< ed) B=e" Kor&' Columbia :ni(ersit Press< 1>>1C< $1?-$$9) The e#am!le of the drag 8ueen "as first !ut for"ard b 0utler BGender Trouble< 171176C< but she has on multi!le occasions refuted the !o!ular< literal inter!retation of this !assage to mean that gender is a !erformance Bsee Gender Trouble< ##ii-##i(F 0odies that Matter< 1$3-1$6F +Gender as Performance' An Inter(ie" "ith Hudith 0utler<- Radical Philoso!h 67< %ummer 1>>1< /$/>F and %ara %alih< Hudith 0utler L@ondon' Routledge< $??$M< 6$-71C) 16 Re(ie"ed in Prosser< %econd %&ins< 1-6?) 17 5chols< Daring to 0e 0ad< $/$) 19 *or more on the "a that feminine lesbians and ga men ha(e historicall been marginali,ed b their res!ecti(e communities< see Hoan =estle< +The *emme Auestion<- The Persistent Desire' A 0utch *emme Reader< Hoan =estle< ed) B0oston' Al son Publications< 1>>$C< 1/9-116F @aura 2arris and 5li,abeth Croc&er< eds)< *emme' *eminists< @esbians< and 0ad Girls B=e" Kor&' Routledge< 1>>7CF Tim 0ergling< %iss !hobia' Ga Men and 5ffeminate 0eha(ior B0inghamton' 2arrington Par& Press< $??1C) 1> Ducat< The Wim! *actor) $? Jirginia Jalian< Wh %o %lo"O The Ad(ancement of Women BCambridge' MIT Press< 1>>7C) $1 Ibid)< 111-11$) %ee also earlier references in 0ur&e< Gender %hoc&F Ducat< The Wim! *actorF and MacGen,ie< Transgender =ation)

$?

The *uture of Aueer/Trans Acti(ism

1 I do not ha(e an !roblems "ith describing a gender as +transgressi(e- !er seEI recogni,e ho" the notion that transgender !eo!le +transgress gender norms- has tremendousl aided acti(ists in articulating the discrimination that man of us face due to o!!ositional se#ism) =either do I ha(e an issues "ith an s!ecific gender identit or e#!ression in and of itself) Things become !roblematic< ho"e(er< "hen "e mo(e be ond sim!l claiming that +transgressi(e- genders are ;ust as legitimate as an other gender< and into the realm of arguing that +transgressi(e- genders are better than +nontransgressi(e- genders) In other "ords< it is the (alue ;udgements often !laced on +transgressi(egender identities and e#!ressions Brather than those s!ecific identities and e#!ressionsC that I criti8ue "ith this !iece) I should also mention that< throughout this boo&< I ha(e !laced the "ord +transgressi(ein 8uotes) M reason for doing so is similar to the argument I ha(e made regarding the "ord +!ass)- 0 tal&ing about "hether trans !eo!le +!ass- or +transgress gender norms<- "e !lace undue focus on "hat a trans !erson +does- "hile ignoring the gendering and ;udgments of others) I "ould argue that a trans !erson doesn.t +transgress- gender norms !er se< but rather a gender-entitled !ublic ;udges them as being either +transgressi(e- or +nontransgressi(e)$ 2and-"ringing b cisse#uals o(er "hether transse#uals either +reinforce- or +challenge- gender norms has dominated academic discourses on transse#ualit for o(er thirt ears no") 5#am!les include 0utler< 0odies That Matter< 1$1-11?F Greer< The Whole Woman< 71F Heffre s< 0eaut and Misog n < 63-66F Gando< +Males< *emales< and Transse#uals<- Gessler and McGenna< Gender' An 5thnomethodological A!!roach< 11$-111F Hudith @orber< Parado#es of Gender B=e" 2a(en' Kale :ni(ersit Press< 1>>1C< 19-$$F =anda< Gender Di(ersit < >1->9F @e"ins< Transse#ualism in %ociet < 13/-16?F and Ra mond< The Transse#ual 5m!ire) The issue is so !er(asi(e that sociologist 2enr Rubin has !ro!osed +a ban on the 8uestion of "hether transse#ualism and transse#uals are une8ui(ocall sub(ersi(e or hegemonic<- because he belie(es that this +sort of scholarshi! fetishi,es transse#uals)- BRubin< %elf-Made Men< 16/-161C *or transse#ual criti8ues of this m o!ic and cisse#ist !ractice< see Carol Riddell< +Di(ided %isterhood' A Critical Re(ie" of Hanice Ra mond.s The Transse#ual 5m!ire<- in The Transgender %tudies Reader< %usan %tr &er and %te!hen Whittle< eds) B=e" Kor&' Routledge< $??6C< 111-139F =amaste< In(isible @i(es< >-7?F =amaste< %e# Change< %ocial Change< 6-11F Prosser< %econd %&ins< 1-6?F and Jalerio< +N=o" That Kou.re a White Man)./ %erano< +4n the 4utside @oo&ing In-F Tea< +Transmissions from Cam! Trans)1 5chols< Daring to 0e 0ad) 3 Ibid)< $91) 6 Aueer =ation and Transse#ual Menace "ere acti(ist organi,ations that regularl staged !ublic demonstrations during the earl 1>>?s to !rotest in;ustices and to increase 8ueer and trans (isibilit < res!ecti(el ) 7 Currah< Huang< and Minter< Transgender Rights< 131F 2arris and Croc&er< *emme< $1>-$$?F =amaste< In(isible @i(es< 6?-63F =amaste< %e# Change< %ocial Change< 31-37< 9>->?F Jalerio< +N=o" That Kou.re a White Man).-

9 =amaste< %e# Change< %ocial Change< 17-$6< 6?-91)

Credits

5#cer!ts from %e# Changes' The Politics of Transgenderism b Patric& Califia re!rinted b !ermission of Cleis Press) 5#cer!ts from 0ram (an Moorhem.s inter(ie" "ith Heffre 5ugenides a!!ear courtes of /AM maga,ine< """)/ammaga,ine)com) 5#cer!ts from Ra 0lanchard< +The Conce!t of Autog ne!hilia and the T !olog of Male Gender D s!horia<- The Hournal of =er(ous and Mental Disease B1>9>C Jol) 177< =o) 1?< 616-6$/ a!!ear courtes of @i!!incott Williams P Wil&ins) 5#cer!ts from Ji(iane =amaste< In(isible @i(es' The 5rasure of Transse#ual and Transgendered Peo!le a!!ear courtes of the :ni(ersit of Chicago Press) 5#cer!ts from Hanice G) Ra mond.s The Transse#ual 5m!ire' The Ma&ing of the %he-Male a!!ear courtes of the author) 5#cer!ts from 0ernice 2ausman.s Changing %e#' Transse#ualism< Technolog < and the Idea of Gender a!!ear courtes of Du&e :ni(ersit Press) 5#cer!ts from """)gidreform)org a!!ear courtes of Gelle Winters Bformerl under !en-name Gatherine WilsonC) Anne 0olin< In %earch of 5(e' 5#!loding the M ths of Male and *emale) Co! right Y 1>99) Re!roduced "ith !ermission of Green"ood Publishing Grou!< Inc)< West!ort< CT)

Ac&no"ledgments

05*4R5 I 05GI= T2A=GI=G all of the !eo!le "ho ha(e hel!ed me in this endea(or< I figured that Esince this is the ac&no"ledgments section< after allEI should ac&no"ledge the !ri(ileges that ha(e enabled me to "rite this !articular boo&) There are a number of them< but the one !ri(ilege that I belie(e has most influenced this !ro;ect is one of time and !lace) I had the in(aluable e#!erience of transitioning in the earl $???s in the %an *rancisco 0a Area< one of the trans-friendliest !laces on the

!lanet) While I certainl "ouldn.t describe m transition as a +ca&e"al&<- I "as able to change m li(ed se# "ithout losing m ;ob< m housing< m "ife< m famil and friends< and so on) =earl e(er bod in m life ga(e me the benefit of the doubt< the s!ace to gro"< the o!!ortunit to change m !h sical se# "ithout feeling li&e I had to re(am! m entire !ersonalit or start from scratch in a brandne" life some!lace else) While I than& m famil < friends< and co"or&ers for the su!!ort and understanding the .(e gi(en me< I also reali,e that m e#!erienceEm relati(el nontraumatic transition< that isEis a relati(el recent !henomenon< one that did not generall e#ist e(en a decade or t"o ago) M e#!erience "as onl made !ossible due to the countless transse#uals "ho ha(e gone before me< "ho too& on the hard "or& of clearing the !ath that man of us no" follo") It "as also made !ossible through the "or& of man gender acti(ists Btransse#ual< transgender< 8ueer< and feministC "ho ha(e hel!ed to create a little cultural "iggle room< gender-"ise< for all of us o(er the ears) While I s!end a good deal of this boo& criti8uing the (ie"s !ut for"ard b !ast feminists and transgender and 8ueer acti(ists< it.s not because I don.t a!!reciate the "or& these !re(ious generations ha(e carried out) It.s sim!l that I belie(e that this ne" and (er different time and !lace re8uires (er different strategies of gender acti(ism) 2a(ing said that< most of the ideas that I !ut for"ard in this boo& "ere de(elo!ed on the foundation that these earlier "riters and acti(ists ha(e built< and for that I am grateful) A second !ri(ilege that I "ould li&e to ac&no"ledge< as it has greatl sha!ed the ideas in this boo&< is "hat man in the trans communit call +!assing !ri(ilege)- This !ri(ilege Bone that most cisse#ual !eo!le ta&e for grantedC allo"s me to be acce!ted in m identified gender< to mo(e through the "orld "ithout constantl ha(ing to correct !eo!le.s use of !ronouns< deflect their un"anted stares< or ha(e them harass me because of m gender difference) *or me< this !ri(ilege mostl stems from m si,eEit is the fli! side of the same coin that made m life as male so difficult to manage< as I gra!!led "ith gender difference both in regard to being trans and because I "as ine(itabl the smallest gu in an room that I entered) While m small stature made me the target of other !eo!le.s an#iet and ridicule< !articularl during m school ears< it turned out to be a blessing in disguise) 4nce I began ta&ing female hormones< m small si,e allo"ed me to be gendered b others as female "ithout ha(ing to alter m a!!earance or beha(iors< "hich ga(e me uni8ue insight into the !rocesses of gendering and cisse#ual !ri(ilege that I describe in this boo&) =eedless to sa < if I did not +!ass- on a regular basis< I !robabl "ould ha(e "ritten a much different boo&) *or better or for "orse< I ha(e found that the fact that !eo!le tend to e#!erience me as female before the learn that I.m transse#ual hel!s ma&e it easier for me to defuse or debun& their misconce!tions about transse#ualit and gender) It forces them to consider Boften for the first time in their li(esC ho" their o"n e#!ectations and assum!tions greatl sha!e the "a the !ercei(e gender in other !eo!le) While I often e#!loit the fact that I +!ass- in order to bring into 8uestion the "a that !eo!le !ro;ect gender stereot !es onto other !eo!le.s beha(iors and bodies< I am also a"are that this can be a doubleedged s"ord< one that could inad(ertentl lead to the !ers!ecti(es of trans !eo!le "ho +!ass- trum!ing or dro"ning out the (ie"s of those "ho do not) %imilarl < the fact that other !ri(ileges that I e#!erience Be)g)< that I am "hite< middle-class< able-bodied< etc)C remain largel unmar&ed in this boo& could lead others to mista&enl assume that m rather s!ecific !ers!ecti(e is someho" re!resentati(e of the entire trans communit ) That "ould be a gra(e error) All trans !eo!le ha(e different insights into gender< insights that arise out of the uni8ue combination of !ri(ileges and life histories that "e each bring to the table) 5ach of us has a some"hat different ta&e on being trans< and all of our (oices need to be heard before "e can e(en begin to de(elo! an &ind of o(erarching understanding of "hat it means to be transse#ual) Therefore< I ho!e that !eo!le "ho read this boo& "ill see it not as the +definiti(e statement- on transse#ualit or trans "omanhood< but rather as sim!l one !iece of a much larger !ro;ect that in(ol(es man other !eo!le)

I "ant to than& e(er one in the %an *rancisco 0a Area s!o&en "ord and 8ueer/trans !erformance communities< "ho offered me much lo(e< su!!ort< and the o!!ortunit to read and !erform m "or& "hen I first began "riting) I also "ant to than& e(er one I met at Cam! Trans "hen I attended in $??/ and u!on becoming more in(ol(ed in the organi,ation in $??1) It "as during those e#!eriences that I first began to gi(e some thought to the "a s that trans "omen are (ie"ed and treated (er differentl Bboth in straight and 8ueer cultureC from our *TM s!ectrum counter!artsF that recognition "as the germ that e(entuall gre" into this !ro;ect) I also "ant to than& 0itch maga,ine for !ublishing +%&irt Chasers' Wh the Media De!icts the Trans Re(olution in @i!stic& and 2eels-Ethe essa that in man "a s became the starting !oint for this boo&Ein their *all $??1 issue Bno) $6C) %!ecial than&s to Rachel *udge< m editor on that !iece< and to @isa Her(is and Andi Seisler< for later including the !iece in their 0ITC2fest antholog ) 4ther !ieces included in this collection ha(e also !re(iousl a!!eared else"here) The essa s +0ending 4(er 0ac&"ards- and +Trans Woman Manifesto- Boriginall entitled +2ot Trann Action Manifesto-C first a!!eared in m cha!boo& 4n the 4utside @oo&ing In B$??3C) +0arrette Manifesto- originall a!!eared in m cha!boo& 5ither/4r B$??$C and in Cubb Missalette 1/' The Girl Mag B$??/C) And +Deconstructi(e %urger <- +%elf-Dece!tion<- and +%ubmissi(e %tea&- all originall a!!eared in m cha!boo& Dra" 0lood B$??1C) %!ecial than&s to the organi,ers of the $??1 :C 0er&ele !roduction of The Jagina Monologues< "ho offered me the o!!ortunit to "rite and !erform +Deconstructi(e %urger - for that e(ent) 4ther sni!!ets and sentences in this boo& ma ha(e been lifted from !re(ious !ieces that I ha(e "ritten< most of "hich are contained "ithin the three aforementioned self-!ublished cha!boo&s< or on the follo"ing "ebsites' """);uliaserano)com< """)hottrann action)org< and """)s"itchhitter)net) While man of the !ers!ecti(es and conce!ts !ut for"ard in this boo& ha(e originated "ith me< others are sim!l m inter!retations of ideas that ha(e been &ic&ing around in the trans communit for a "hile< or that ha(e been !re(iousl e#!ressed b others) In !articular< I "ould li&e to than& the follo"ing "riters< artists< and acti(ists "hoEthrough their "or& and/or in con(ersations "e ha(e sharedEha(e influenced and ins!ired man of the thoughts and arguments in this boo&' Carol n Connell < %adie Crabtree< %ean Dorse < Thea 2illman< Rocco Ga iatos< 5mi Go ama< Ji(iane =amaste< Ha Prosser< @auren %teel < Michelle Tea< Ma# Wolf Jalerio< and %ha"na Jirago) 5#tras!ecial than&s to m "ife< Dani 5ur nome< for being a (ital sounding board for me< for !ro(iding in(aluable insight and focus to m "or&< and for indulging m incessant need to tal& about the boo& "hen it "as a "or& in !rogress) *inall < I.d li&e to than& m editor< 0roo&e Warner< and e(er bod else at %eal Press for gi(ing me the o!!ortunit to share m ideas "ith the rest of the "orld< and for being !erha!s the onl "oman-focused !ublishing house "ith the courage to release a boo& that claims a !lace for trans "omen "ithin the feminist mo(ement< and that criti8ues man ta&en-for-granted feminist assum!tions about trans "omen< femininit < and se#ism) This boo& "ould not be !ossible "ithout their hard "or& and the "onderful su!!ort the ha(e !ro(ided me)

About the Author

H:@IA %5RA=4 is an 4a&land< California-based "riter< s!o&en "ord !erformer< trans acti(ist< and biologist) 2er "ritings ha(e a!!eared in 8ueer< feminist< and !o! culture maga,ines and anthologies< been e#cer!ted on =ational Public Radio and in The 0elie(er and the %an *rancisco Chronicle< and been used as teaching materials in college-le(el gender studies courses across the :nited %tates) %he has !resented and !erformed her "or& at numerous conferences and uni(ersities< and at high-!rofile e(ents such as the =ational Aueer Arts *esti(al< %an *rancisco @G0T Pride.s D &e March and Trans March stages< @ad fest< and the :C 0er&ele !roduction of the !la The Jagina Monologues) As a scientist< Hulia has a PhD in 0iochemistr from Columbia :ni(ersit and is currentl a researcher at the :ni(ersit of California< 0er&ele < in the field of e(olutionar and de(elo!mental biolog ) *or more information about all of her creati(e endea(ors< chec& out """);uliaserano)com)

%elected Titles from %eal Press

*or more than thirt

ears< %eal Press has !ublished groundbrea&ing boo&s)

0 "omen) *or "omen) Jisit our "ebsite at """)seal!ress)com)

*ull *rontal *eminism b Hessica Jalenti) R11)>3< 1-39??3-$?1-?) A sass and in- our-face loo& at contem!orar feminism for "omen of all ages)

The 0igger the 0etter< the Tighter the %"eater edited b %amantha %choech and @isa Taggart) R11)>3< 1-39??3-$1?-I) A refreshingl honest and funn collection of essa s on ho" "omen (ie" their bodies)

%he.s =ot the Man I Married' M @ife "ith a Transgender 2usband b 2elen 0o d) R13)>3< 1-39??31>/-1) An e#traordinar e#amination of those "ho 8uestion and bend gender roles< "hether heterose#ual or homose#ual< and the effects of gender on relationshi!s)

The Testosterone *iles' M 2ormonal and %ocial Transformation from *emale to Male b Ma# Wolf Jalerio) R13)>3< 1-39??3-17/-1) A gri!!ing transse#ual memoir that focuses on testosterone.s role in the author.s emotional< !erce!tual< and !h sical transformation)

=obod Passes' Re;ecting the Rules of Gender and Conformit edited b Mattilda< a)&)a) Matt 0ernstein % camore) R13)>3< 1-39??3-191-7) A timel and thought-!ro(o&ing collection of essa s that confronts and challenges the notion of belonging b e#amining the !erilous intersections of identit < categori,ation< and communit )

Intimate Politics' 2o" I Gre" :! Red< *ought for *ree %!eech< and 0ecame a *eminist Rebel b 0ettina *) A!the&er) R16)>3< 1-39??3-16?-I) A courageous and uncom!romising account of one "oman.s !ersonal and !olitical transformation< and a fascinating !ortra al of a &e cha!ter in our nation.s histor )

Whi!!ing Girl A Transse#ual Woman on %e#ism and the %ca!egoating of *emininit Co! right Y $??7 b Hulia %erano

Published b %eal Press 11?? 63th %treet< %uite $3? 5mer (ille< CA >16?9

All rights reser(ed) =o !art of this boo& ma be re!roduced or transmitted in an form "ithout "ritten !ermission from the !ublisher< e#ce!t b re(ie"ers "ho ma 8uote brief e#cer!ts in connection "ith a re(ie")

@ibrar of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

%erano< Hulia) Whi!!ing girl ' a transse#ual "oman on se#ism and the sca!egoating of femininit / Hulia %erano) !) cm) Includes bibliogra!hical references and inde#) eI%0= ' >79-?-796-717>1-7 1) Transse#ualism) $) Transse#uals) /) *eminism) I) Title)

2A77)>)%17 $??7 /?6)76.9Edc$$ $??7??/>31