We fear the unknown...so let’s get informed!

It is simply human nature to fear the unknown. And in the eyes of our society today Transgendered and Transsexual people are among those which are unknown, and thus feared and looked down upon by many. Explicitly defining what both of these are, how they are related, how they are different, and properly educating people are nearly impossible tasks…however that is not to say they have not been attempted.

Giving a proper definition of what is means to be transsexual and what it means to be transgender is a complex feat. Both David Valentine and Julia Serano gave different interpretations of what it means to be transsexual and what transgender. Valentine refers to transgender as being an umbrella term and saying that virtually everybody could be considered transgender. He thought men, women, transsexuals, transvestites, drag kings, drag queens, and so on, all fell under the idea of what it meant to be transgender. Serano defined trans women as “any person who was assigned a male sex at birth, but who identifies as/or lives as a woman,” (Serano, 20). As it is clear, coming up with one blanket meaning of what it is to be transgender is difficult, as it has much to do with personal ideas and experiences.

It is a generally well-accepted misconception that transgendered and transsexual people are homosexual. Though this does not contribute to the fear that I have talked about, it does add to the mystification and misunderstanding of trans people. From my basic understanding being trans is having a physical desire to be the gender, which they were not physically born as, but the gender they identify with. Transsexuals have physically gone through the change of reconstructing the body they were born into, to the one they identify with. Although there are most definitely homosexual men who identify as women, and homosexual women who identify as men; there are also heterosexual men who identify as women and heterosexual women who identify as men. For example, Julie Serano was a heterosexual man who identified as a woman; then categorizing him to be a homosexual woman.

Those who have not experienced or learned about transgender and transsexual people have little to no idea of what it means, and therefore hold the possibility gain what Serano calls transphobia. Transphobia, much like homophobia as pertaining to homosexuals, is “an irrational far of, aversion to, or discrimination against people whose gendered identities, appearances, or behaviors deviate from societal norms,” (Serano, 12). Lack of information and sometimes lack of diverse exposure creates ignorance, creating fear. For example, even when I typed Transphobia into my Word document, it did not recognize it as a word.

Where information comes from can also fuel feelings of discomfort towards subjects such as defining and understanding trans life. Though I find RuPaul fabulous I understand people’s feelings that he exemplefies “freakery” as Professor Shaw said today, to the idea of what all transsexuals and transgender people act like. I feel this is a factor that reinforces notions of transgender people being over the top and intimidating. I feel that there should be a more varied view of trans people in media. RuPaul’s shows are wonderful and I think necessary but I feel as though more shows like “Sex Change Hospital” could help further the education of the null informed and fearful.

How else do you think we could further peoples education of what it means to be transgender? Do you think it is necessary?