Jax L.

Fonseca-Folden

April 21, 2022

WGST 3050 – Topics in Women’s Studies

Professor Byrd

Feminist Issue/ Topic: The pressures and stigmas of gender construct against trans people and

how we can impose change to prevent overperforming trans people from further depressing their

individuality.

Research Question/ Solution to Answer: Why does society continuously view trans people as

unacceptable and how can we prevent them from over performing themselves in order to avert

furthering the gender binary social construct.

Annotated Bibliography

Bird, J. (2018). Jackson Bird: How can we demystify trans identity?. NPR.

In the radio talk about Jackson Bird’s on how we can clear up the understanding of

what it means to be trans. The show goes into more specifics about Bird’s personal

experience of why he is transgender and also about how people are forcibly shaped to

be based off of their genders.

The NPR is based off of Bird’s Ted Talk about demystify trans identity. Which is well

spoken in terms of the common questions and issues transgender people (including

non-binary, gender fluid, transexuals) face and will continue to face. Most importantly,
 Bird speaks of his opinion in that, “some parts of identity that can be very innate, but

almost every identity really is fluid.” Meaning, although we are all born different and

that we have genetic anomalies we can’t control, we all act, feel, and stem from each

other in similar ways. There is no proven/ difference of each gender.

From Bird’s personal experience, it is both valid and individual. When being asked the

question of how he knew he was not a woman/female, he goes into the concerns of the

gender social construct, “wanting to have a short haircut, wanting to dress like the

boys, and just not understanding really why I couldn’t.” Although, this is one example

of changing your gender because of societal standards, you are un-able to cross

without being accepted. Another statement from Bird, “Being trans is awkward

because everyone else gets awkward when they’re around me.” gives an explicit

example of how society discretely (ally or not) pushes trans under the bus. When we

stop seeing trans people as something of ‘uniqueness’ and we need to start normalizing

it by seeing them as people.

Doyle, J. (2022, March 3). Anti-Trans Extremists ‘Come For’ Doctors. Ms.

In Ms. Magazine by Doyle, she writes about the correlation between the medical hate

of trans and abortion. The relation is the violence and protesting that is done at both

medical facilities as well as the accusations of “‘harming’ children”. It’s also mentioned

that there is no surprise to how violent these extremists protesters are. Thus creating a

correlation between of how far people are willing to go.

 The details about the multiple violent harassments are both relevant and amplified.

Although, this time around, it’s also targeting medical providers. It’s the extent

extremist are willing to go in order to prevent transitioning that scares those who are

marginalized (whether it’d be economically or racially) that go living their lives under a

mask. In so, it creates distress and can lead to serious mental health developments.

The protesters are trying to stop the root of transitioning in order to prevent

transgenderism, although failing to understand there is no stopping to someone’s

identity. In doing this, extremist are also forcing those who have transitioned to start

over performing their gender in order to protect themselves.

Ergun, E. (2022, March 18). Zoom interview.

An interview with UNC-Charlotte’s Assistant Professor of Women’s and Gender

Studies with a concentration in Global Feminism. We discuss different bits of opinions

from pop-culture and whether or not those opinions reflecting today’s trans

community. The most important topics were gender dysmorphia and society’s

response to the gender binary construct.

When speaking about gender dysmorphia, we spoke about how that shouldn’t be a

thing because it’s pushing a standard of what it means to be trans. At the same time,

it’s only another obstacle in transitioning. People who seek surgeries and hormone

replacement therapies are more than likely going to have to seek out a gender therapist

who can sign a informed consent form. As a result, society is making it seem like there

is something wrong with identifying this way. When talking about gender binary
 construct, “Transgender exist because gender exist.” Trans is a response to the binary

construct in order for people to further individualize themselves. So it’s not that being

trans may promote the gender binary, the real questions becomes, what causes them to

“over perform that gender, [and] reinforcing gender binary?”

Having a conversation with such a credible and knowledgeable Women’s and Gender

Studies Professor has enlightened me further into my project. It’s given me a different

and more advanced perspective of how to go about my project as well as sharing new

knowledge with other peers. Also in this interview, I’m able to find a clearer direction

of where my project needs to go.

Jeanes, E., & Janes, K. (2021). Trans men doing gender at work. Gender, Work, and

Organization, 28(4), 1237–1259. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12675

This research project looks into the individual life experiences of being transgender or

transitioning and a person’s work life. It categorizes the similar actions and concerns

of what it’s like to work with different work forces and authorities. Most importantly,

highlighting the attitudes of different types of employment places and people.

Although this research study was performed in England, there is still a variance in

culture. The accuracy of this research study is limited in terms of only having eight

participants. However, the researcher’s most notable observations from higher

authority in workplace is the “risk being seen as deceptive” and “trans-aggression.”

From the research study, it has shown that because of the gender construct, “we all do

gender” in order to fit in. In specifically transgenderism, it’s keyed as the “social
 construction of trans people” proving further how transgenderism tries it’s best to

‘blend’ with the gender construct. Moreover, it provides categories and reasoning as to

why trans men participate in masculinity/ toxic masculinity.

Knutson, D., & Goldbach, C. (2019). Transgender and Non-Binary Affirmative Approaches

Applied to Psychological Practice with Boys and Men. Men and Masculinities, 22(5), 921–

925. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X19875174

Knutson and Goldbach both dive into the psychological aspects of transgender and

non-binary male individuals. The results show what psychology practice does in order

to establish one’s identity as well as incorporating the effects of toxic masculinity in

U.S. culture.

The psychology research study takes heavily considerations of U.S. masculine culture.

Incorporating a relation between toxic masculinity and transgenderism/ non-binary

male individuals. Even stating a “conformity in gender roles or toxic masculinity may

be intentional.” One’s intentions are almost un-measurable, but without a doubt

important in understanding connections between culture and individualism.

The academic journal justifies the works of identifying yourself in the trans

community through psychological help. This is by promoting self-acceptance as well

as self-alignment. It takes away the aspects of changing oneself for others. Although it

shows that as trans males continue to transition, they almost naturally adapt toxic

masculinity as a result of how deeply ingrained it is in U.S. culture.

Marron, D. (2018, April). Empathy is not endorsement. TED Talks.

https://www.ted.com/talks/dylan_marron_empathy_is_not_endorsement

Marron is a digital creator whose made videos about Hollywood’s minimal

representation of people of color, interviews with trans people, and ideologies such as

police brutality. As he continued to receive good press and new followers, as stated by

him, “the flip side of success on the internet is internet hate.” The way Marron has

addressed the amount of hate given is by calling those people back. In this way, he’s

described them as only humans: living, breathing, and of course the same as us.

When calling these ‘hater’, it’s important to note their responses such as, “I am a little

bit bigger than a lot of my classmates and they seem to judge me before they even got

to know me.” This perspective of a bully comes from those being bullied. While this

not being every single case of hate, it humanizes the people behind hate. It gives a

back story to the villain.

Most importantly, this Ted Talk shows one of ways hate is created in people. It gives

us a new understanding on how to address the hate given to the transgender

community. It’s not just about campaigning and going head to head against opposition,

but asking why they choose to follow their own values in the risk of putting others in

harm’s way.

Nef, H. (2016, April). The aesthetics of survival. TED Talks.

https://www.ted.com/talks/hari_nef_the_aesthetics_of_survival
 In this TED Talk, a transgender woman presents about the “idea of a women.” A

conversation which informs the audience of the struggle of being a passing woman,

trying to be a passing woman, and being a woman. Her talk also consists of reaching

for gender stereotypes, specifically the feminine role.

It’s important to mention that although she is white, she isn’t exclusive to herself and

her privileges, but also highlighting those who are underprivileged. Nef’s talk

highlights the detriments of “men who judge us [passing transgender women] to be not

fem enough.” Thus creating a standard which these already marginalized women go

through. It fabricates femineity with no change.

Nef’s asked the audience “where is the challenge, the transgression, and breaking of

any real boundaries?” emphasizing the value of fluidity and difference in human

beings. To a great importance, when transgender individuals are pressured by gender

roles and discrimination it does not make change but is forced reinforcement of the

binary system.

Organo, A. (2022, April 11). Interview.

Organo is a trans women with a bachelor’s degree in History and English and a minor

in Women’s and Gender Studies. She brings a new individualistic perspective of hate

given to her as a transwomen. Most importantly, she has insight on the medical

restrictions given to her by doctors.

I find when studying trans people’s struggles as well as a way to lessen the hate, is that

some of the discrimination comes from the medical field. As said by her, there’s
 limitations on blockers (hormone blockers) due to doctor biasness. She also states

about how labeling within the community can lead to conflict and that she “wouldn’t

want to define the LGBTQ+ by how depressed we are.”

Organo’s education and experience gives a better and more inclusive insight on her

opinions about change. She notes that hatred and sexism “trickles down to the trans

community” and as said by Dr. Ergun before, “Transgender exist because gender

exist.” The things that happen within gender construct also happen within the trans

community. It’s more than approaching a systemic change, it’s also trying to get a

slow generational change.

Reading, W. (2021, February 25). Separating out gender identity from gender expression.

Everyday Feminism. https://everydayfeminism.com/2014/05/separating-identity-

expression/

In this blog, Reading is defining sex, gender identity, and gender expression. He is

explaining how there is variation between how you express your gender and your sex.

It’s importantly noted how some “expressions go along with socially sanctioned ideas”

while other’s “don’t fit perfectly into a pre-destined gender mold”. Reading also

mentions that people are “programmed” to recognize specific traits and sounds in a

gendered way.

The blog introduces new ways of thinking about gender expression. It uses new

phrases in order to explain different gender variation. Most importantly, the blog takes

out all mentions of the binary system telling readers to express themselves while also
 having the choice of gender identity. Whether one is trans masculine or cis male, they

both are allowed to express societal feminine traits.

I find this blog is very important to my research in terms of understanding self-

expression over expressing for others. When people feel they are unable to express

how they are because it unsettles other’s, few find it’s much easier to change

themselves. Although mentioned in the blog, there is so much variation with people

and their self-expressions that not all people feel the same way when it comes to

changing their gender identity or sex.

Sarkeesian, A., (2016, August 9). Toy ads and learning gender. Feminist Frequency.

https://feministfrequency.com/video/toy-ads-and-learning-gender/

This blog talks about gendered ads and how their effect on gender roles. She goes over

how although ads of the same products (such as Lego, kinetic sand, kid’s cars) all

exposes and influences children’s gender roles. The language that these ads use give

sub conscience messages to the brain telling them they have to grow up to be certain

way based off of their gender.

Although this is a blog and there is no statement of education, it is very put together

with backed up facts and her comparison examples of ads from the 2000s kids shows.

Sarkeesian displays her different arguments with different ads taking one argument at

a time and explaining it.

The information in this blog explains how these ads can restrict self-expression. The

in-ability to do so causes children to change themselves in order to fit in the social

 construct of gender. With these ads, it also conveys this notion of gendered toys.

Marketing in society is the key way in selling products, although it also sells more

than just a product. This video also further shows how ingrained the social construct of

gender is in U.S.A. culture.

(2017). Transgender prejudice and the belief in a biological basis for gender. NPR.

The article is about a research project Boby Ho-Hong Ching and Jason Teng Xu who

presented one of three articles to different students in the Hong Kong university

students. It’s shown that those who had the alternate article (questions the view of

biological differences between gender) and the control article (entirely unrelated to

gender differences) shown the “ ‘essentialist’ view of gender — the idea that men and

women belong to fundamentally different categories.” This project is also based off of

measuring prejudices of transgender community.

The research project uses scientific method in order to better understand how people

un-inherently have views of gender having separate categories and that those who fall

within a category also have similarities.

My understanding of this research evaluation is that the implied essentialist view of

gender can also be applied to the views of transgenderism (not the umbrella term) and

transsexualism. The belief that they are similar, yet they are fundamentally different.

Although, this topic is widely not talked about leading to many misconceptions.