Transgender Children- Ailene Huang

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/health/transgender-kids/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Backtracking a bit, I saw this article about transgender children and their struggles in society on CNN’s website. It struck me because we often think about the transgender community as being comprised of adults and not involving children. It’s interesting to think of the transgender topic in relation to children, how kids as young as 3 already feel they have a distinct understanding that their physiology isn’t who they are.

I remember seeing an episode of Oprah where she was interviewing a couple who was raising their son as a girl, because at age 2 or 3, their son conveyed to them that he wanted to live as a girl. The parents stated that, though it was very hard for them to reshape their thinking, they began to think of their son as someone who is more than just a body, that what really counts is the inside and who he/she is as a person; those qualities can develop whether or not their child lived as a male or female.

Looking at this, does it make you feel more sympathetic? Do you look at the issue of gender and sexuality in relation to transgender communities with a more compassionate eye?

Sex Sells

So take a guess at what these advertisements are for!
The one on the left is selling a VACCUM! Meanwhile the one on the right stating, " WE'RE JUST AS EXCITED AS YOU", is selling a VOLVO!
Whether or not you approve or disapprove of the millions of sexual advertisement, IT SELLS!
Southpark in itself, points out the hidden sexual messages even DISNEY advertises in their episode: The Ring.http: //www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s13e01-the-ring

More and more teens are engaging in sexual activities, watching shows-in the business of marketing, there;s nothing better than to reel in the innocent youth with sex. They more than any other age group are more likley to be enticed and influenced by these advertisements. It doesn't matter what they are selling; a burger from Carl's Jr., clothes, alcohol, cigarettes.

Even companies knowing sex sells that do not want to make it as obvious use subliminal messages. here is a link of few interesting advertisements I found funny. I would have never even guessed that was even there!
http://www.artistmike.com/Temp/SubliminalAd.html

If anyone is interested in stats relating to how often these younger kids are exposed to these sexual messages: http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/facts/mediafacts.asp

Not only are there more sexual advertisements and shows , but more children have more access to these adervtisements.

Isn't it Funny

I was thinking a bit about a point brought up in the article Holy Feast and Holy Fast. Caroline Walker Bynum said that saintly women much more commonly embraced sickness (specifically anorexia) as a sign of their connection to God. Professor Velasco added that saintly men could achieve a similar dedication through their minds rather than their bodies. This phenomena is still quite prevalent today, especially in entertainment. I read an article a few weeks ago, which I have since misplaced, about how women can achieve comic fame. The article stated that women used to rely on highly exaggerated shtick in order to be considered funny. Before Lucille Ball was Lucille Ball, she was a model. But she had to downplay her good looks and play up a wacky persona to be valued as a comedienne. On the flip side, all men had to do was be funny. The article continued to say that women now have the power to be both beautiful and funny. I was confused. How is this better? Not only do they have to be hilarious, but they have to look cute doing it? The article sighted Kristen Wiig and Tina Fey as these modern examples. Yes, these are extraordinarily funny women, but they still rely heavily on zaniness in their comedy. And they are beautiful. But I can't help but wondering if they would receive the same recognition if they looked differently. I often feel like so much of a woman's worth is attached to her physical body in so many ways, and I don't feel that it is appropriate or healthy.

Transgender

While at work, I stumbled upon an article about mother who got her 7-year old plastic surgery for having large ears. Knowing the intensity and damage bullying could do to her daughter, she felt the need to have her daughter's ears pinned back. The daughter received bullying from children as well as adults. According to the article, plastic surgery among children has gone up about 30 percent in the last decade to prevent bullying(Moss). Surprisingly, I found other articles about mothers giving their children Botox!

These articles made me question: If you were born a certain way that was susceptible to bullying, and not acceptable to the social norms- is it justifiable to change what you look like, talk like, wear just to avoid the bullying?

Some transgenders have had to hide and change themselves to become more acceptable to the world-to their family, friends who didn't understand why they were "different". Why is it ok, for these mothers to willingly change their children in hopes to "save" them from bullying. Does that just encourage and invite hatred? Why are we ok with hiding who we really are, and afraid of our children being bullied!? That in itself says enough: the fact we are pressured to conform and identify ourselves with a particular group,sex, and lifestyle shows a pivotal problem!

For me, its unsettling to think people still believe they know it all-and this happens even as science, psychology.. and all realms of education progress proving what we thought we understood and knew is not all the same anymore. As an example, some psychologists who study cults have become a member for about two months (participant observer). Their leader had proclaimed they would be evacuated by a flying saucer at 4 pm to pick up "chosen ones" to another planet. At 4 pm, nothing happened- and the members did not loose faith but reinterpreted their experience as a drill for the real pickup(Festinger,Schchter, and Rieken, 1956). We do this all the time! Psychologist, Leon Festinger, described this as cognitive dissonance, showing "how people cling to beliefs even in the face of dis confirmation by, for example, seeking out a new reason to justify their beliefs".

Is this not what happens to people who continue to enforce hatred despite proven educational evidence?

Indecision of Thomas Beatie--Ailene Huang

Thomas Beatie’s interview with Barbara Walters was an interesting insight into how he and his family are living their lives. What was particularly interesting was his apparent indecision of choosing a physical gender to be. I firmly believe that we are all born with a purpose, and that there are special tasks and responsibilities that are particular to each gender. Men and women are equal, we all have the same value as human beings, but each brings something different to the table particular to that gender. One of the gifts that women have is the ability to bare children. That is something specific and special to the female body. So when it comes to Beatie stating that he wanted to keep his “reproductive rights,” it stirs a bit of a fire within me because I believe when he decided he wanted to live fully as a male he gave up the “right” to have children with his body. Wanting to have a child isn’t a male or female thing, I agree with that, but wanting to carry a child is. It’s a female instinct. So to live as a complete male means that one gives up the “right” to carry out a task that is distinct and extraordinary to the female population. We as a society need to learn how to respect and honor the unique role and biological gift that women have.

Transgender Issue--Helena Yang

I also want to continue the transgender topic we discussed last week. Although I haven't met any transgender people in my life, I think they are just normal people who wish to pursue their happiness like everyone else. They are admirable in some aspects to me, as they may encounter difficulties and confusions with their inborn gender and people around them put pressure on them to obey their gender roles. It also requires courage for them to make the decision to transform their gender because they have to say goodbye to their past, or maybe say goodbye to their family and friends who do not support them, and begin a new but unpredictable life with a new identification card. Sometimes I feel puzzled on my life too: who am I? What shall I be? Thus I understand that the transgender people once also want to find the answers of what and where their true selves are. Eventually they solve the problem with progress.

There's also something I didn't have chance to talk about last week. Some people have negative views on transgender people because they violates the law of nature as they changed their biological identity. While there's a trend that people are favoring neutral attires and appearances today. Some women refuse to wear dresses and some men begin to use make-ups. Perfectly femininity or masculinity is hard to find in today's society as people are opening their minds and accepting the advantages from their opposite genders. So why can people accept a pretty looking man with long hair but feel uncomfortable with a M to F transgender woman? I think it all depends on the boundary of people's acceptance. There's a bottom line for everyone to accept people who are "different" from others, but what's the difference anyway? Transgender people are also people. It's better to know more about others' life and experience before we judge them, or just don't judge.

Transgenderism - Alisa Harada

To be honest, I never thought of the word 'gender' in the way we have been analyzing and discussing in class. To me, the term meant as simple as 'male' or 'female'. However, the past discussions got me thinking about what it actually means, and how it goes beyond identifying one's sex as M or F.

It amazes me how science influences our gender- the way genetic mutation causes our bodies to formulate in a contradicting way to our minds. Is it by chance that these mutations occur? Or is it by formula? It makes me wonder how and why these people get 'trapped' in the wrong body, and what influences them to think so.

I personally do not have any problem with transgendered people. That doesn't mean that I won't be surprised when I first find out that someone has altered their gender. If that's what they truly are, then why should there be any problem in changing (physically) to become who you really are? At the same time, I could understand though, how people may be uncomfortable being around or knowing them. Knowing and believing in something for so long, and one day all of a sudden they appear to be something entirely different. The hardest part will be to get over the shock, and I feel like many people who feel uncomfortable cannot go pass this stage of denial. But if we compare the emotions we would feel when we discover one of our friends becomes transgendered to how he/she felt throughout her/his entire life trying to conceal their true identity, we need to get over the shock. We need to be more compassionate and empathetic because after all, they are essentially the same people. The only difference there would be is the physical difference. So why is it so hard for the society to accept these transgendered people if they are solely trying to be true to themselves?

Thomas Beatie Pose - Ronald Deng

During lecture today, a question was brought up regarding Thomas Beatie's pose in which he puts his right hand behind his head and his left on his stomach. Many students believe that Thomas Beatie is not putting his hand behind his head but rather flexing his arm to demonstrate some muscles and armpit hair, things associated with masculinity. In a sense, he is trying to exemplify that he has not lost his masculinity just because he is pregnant. I, however, believe that Beatie is showing some uncertainty by posing in such a way. It is possible that Beatie feels as if he is forced in a way to return to his prior sex as a female and feels uncomfortable or embarrassed.

Thomas Beatie Post

Max Bard

SWMS 215

There are a few interesting things about Thomas Beatie on the web. One that particularly marked my eye was his YouTube page. Thomas Beatie has his own Youtube page that documents the birth of his third child, Jensen. It is almost as if he is creating his own reality TV show. He sets a tripod up on some scenes in order to get key points across in his mini eight-minute webisodes. This YouTube channel and the way he documents him and his wife makes me wonder if he is having babies because he really wants them or is he trying to make himself into a celebrity. I personally think it’s good that Thomas came out on Oprah, CNN, and the other news channels but to start going into the documentary mode and make his own autobiographical mini-episode was taking it to the top. If it was for him, then fine. But if not, let the professionals create a documentary that the public would love. Feel free to check out the link below to see a couple of his videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThomasBeatie

Groups - Nancy Chiu

We talked about transgender people in last week's discussion and some people feel uncomfortable about it. I know some of my friends feel uncomfortable being with transgenders or homosexuals; however, I don't think it's a big deal. After all, they are still people and their family or friends who love them will care only about who they really are under that thin layer of skin. If one day your best friend since childhood suddenly tells you that she is actually a guy, will you stop being friend with her/him? Very unlikely. Sure, you will feel weird and awkward at first, because you need time to get use to the change; but after all, she/he is still the person that you know and you love her/him as who she/he is. This fact is not going to change just because her gender changes.

Then why are we uncomfortable about transgender people? I think this is because they are "different." Humans like groups because groups help us define who we are. For example, gender is a way to categorize people: you are a boy, or a girl. But now, there are more and more people who cannot be simply put into one absolute gender group. What are we going to do with them? We eventually have to change the whole grouping by gender and develop a new one. But people are usually scared of changes and feel insecure. To me, this is one of the reasons why some people feel uncomfortable about the whole transgender thing, because they are scared that what we believe and taught for the whole time is no longer absolutely correct.

Formulating our Ideas and Beliefs-- Ailene Huang

After the discussion we had last Wednesday, which was one that seemed to provoke more in-depth thinking in terms of how we define gender and sexuality, it got me thinking about what the basis of our understanding is. Gender and sexuality is something that is very personal. If challenges arise within our lives that contradict what society defines and gender and sexual orientation, we experience a very internal, personal growth experience. I think one of the reasons why these topics are uncomfortable to talk about is because most of us cannot comprehend what it’s like, for example, to not feel like we belong in our bodies! So then how do we even try and understand it or define it?

We’re reading in class all these stories and articles that are heavily based in a historical context; so does that mean we base our ideas and knowledge on what we’ve learned from history? Do we base it on our political views? Do we base it on personal experience? What I found when trying to dissect how we derive at a personal conclusion is that there are a lot of influences that seem to be fluid and ever changing. Take politics for example- the whole system of laws and governance changes over the years, molding to an ever-changing and advancing society, so how can we base our knowledge on a system that is never stable? If we look at personal experience, that’s something that is very individualistic since no one has identical experiences that create the same learning.

So it seems to me, we are forming conclusions based on truths that are never constant, or only pertain to our lives. What is out there in the world that is an eternal truth, that is constant and never changing, and has moral values in which we can try and apply while formulating our ideas and beliefs?