I was most struck by Sean's insert on page 28 where he talks about Meagan who nearly killed herself because she didn't think she could live any longer as a girl. It made me wonder why people, who feel like they were "born in the wrong body" as Isis (the frequently mentioned trangendered America's Next Top Model Contestant) put is, why they feel the need to change their physical appearance. Isn't that just another adjustment to the cultural norm?
Out of curiosity, if we were in a world where differences weren't an issue. If we weren't held to the stereotypes of our physical bodies would our bodies become complete objects of expression. If sexuality wasn't assumed (as much as it is) would physical appearance be subjective even to the day, making the appearance of sex as diverse as gender. Would someone of a contradicting sex/gender be able to decide wake up every morning and choose where they wanted to wear a dress or a tux that night and have no social constraint? Would elective sex change surgery be more similar to plastic surgery and just based on style? Would the woman look be in one year and the male look be in the next? Hopefully a world like this would make people feel equal and the suicide rate based on sexuality and gender identification would be eradicated but there will be lots of complications along the way to getting there.
Whoa, Sara! Those are such cool ponderings! I consider myself very well-versed on the subject of gender identity and liberation of sexuality, but I have never had such incredible imaginings! This fictional world you wonder about seems true enough to western society's motivations (expressionism, individuality, capitalism, and that contradictory tendency we mentioned in class)! But at the same time, I just can't seem to believe the world we know would change that way to stop a minority faction from being suicidal. That sounds so sad...but it would have to be something else--some other approach to gender-view--that barraged us for years, in order to change us that way. Don't you think? Or maybe it doesn't even matter guessing what it would take to create that world--? It may just happen organically no matter what we spend our time thinking about!
ReplyDeleteSara, I already love your blog. The story about Megan really got to me too. It puts a whole new meaning to "born this way." It's hard to picture living like that, surrounded by people that really can't sympathize with you.
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