I found the class discussion on transwomen very informative.
I was always confused by the terminology of transgender women, transmen, MTF,
FTM, drags, two-spirit, and intersexuality, but all of this just umbrellas
‘transgender.’ Because gender can be so simple and complex at the same time, I
found it quite interesting when Sam pointed out that we aren’t born with
gender, but with genitalia. With that, it only makes since to agree that sex is
biological and gender is social. I also feel like there are notions attached to
the word gender. When someone hears the word gender we make visual connections
to support our assumptions of what we define as gender. I think that’s where we
get these preconceived ideas that boys wear loose clothing, boots, hats, and
have short hair, and girls wear skirts, makeup, and have long hair.
I read a short story in my Journalism as Literature class
today called, From Whoredom in Kimmage:
Irish Women Coming of Age by Rosemary Mahoney, and I immediately thought of
our class and how it related to lesbian women. It’s about how the journalist
portrays herself as a feminist ambivalent about the erosion of traditional
Irish values in Dublin. Homosexuality is frowned upon in Dublin and this quote
is what really gave me pause and made me think, “Homosexuals were among the
people living in Ireland’s tiny margins, and the mainstream was so large, so
strict, and so unanimous that its margins struck me as particularly cold and
lonely.”
I always seem to forget how unacceptable homosexuality and transgender
is in other countries. It’s still not completely acceptable here in the United
States, but it’s recognized; whether people agree on it or not, is up to the
individual. In Ireland, it’s difficult for people to express their sexuality
openly.
Now that I have been exposed to such knowledge of sexuality
and transgender, reading the story made me stop and think. Prior to having this
knowledge, I would have read the story with no remorse or feelings towards
homosexuals in other countries and just read the story for what it was.
Instead, I was able to make a connection with it, which made it a whole lot
more interesting. Just thought I would share. After reading the short story
though, I can tell you, I wouldn’t ever want to be a lesbian in Ireland, that’s
for sure!
