(no subject)
Apr. 16th, 2012 06:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
falcongrrlA transgender woman and senior citizen starts a "charm school" for LGBT youth: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-trice-charm-school-0416-20120416,0,3446855.story
(WARNING: Might be triggery if adherence to gender norms and the idea of passing (or not) make you twitchy.)
I have such mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, she's a mama for younger people who don't really seem to have one, and I think that's beautiful. On the other, statements like "ladies wear a slip" make my skin crawl. (Even though that was technically said by her great-aunt, it's implied that she agrees.)
On the third hand, I really hate the trend in children's/teen's clothing that has things getting skimpier and skimpier. I want my nine-year-old to look nine, not twenty-five and on her way to a nightclub.
On the fourth hand, I really think that everyone gets to present the way they want. Period.
On the fifth hand, I may feel differently about the fourth hand when my own children are older.
I think I'm hijacking my own thread at this point.
To get back to the point, I'm curious about what other (trans-friendly, of course) folks think of this charm school.
eta:eumelia brings up a really good point, and that's that passing can be a safety issue. Everyone I know who's transitioned seems so safe and happy that I forget it's an issue, but it is.
(WARNING: Might be triggery if adherence to gender norms and the idea of passing (or not) make you twitchy.)
I have such mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, she's a mama for younger people who don't really seem to have one, and I think that's beautiful. On the other, statements like "ladies wear a slip" make my skin crawl. (Even though that was technically said by her great-aunt, it's implied that she agrees.)
On the third hand, I really hate the trend in children's/teen's clothing that has things getting skimpier and skimpier. I want my nine-year-old to look nine, not twenty-five and on her way to a nightclub.
On the fourth hand, I really think that everyone gets to present the way they want. Period.
On the fifth hand, I may feel differently about the fourth hand when my own children are older.
I think I'm hijacking my own thread at this point.
To get back to the point, I'm curious about what other (trans-friendly, of course) folks think of this charm school.
eta:
eumelia brings up a really good point, and that's that passing can be a safety issue. Everyone I know who's transitioned seems so safe and happy that I forget it's an issue, but it is.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-16 12:11 pm (UTC)However, as a feminist, I find the whole talk about things that are lady like or feminine and thus inherent to one as a woman, in order to actually be a woman - which women are, born and raised as boys/men or not - really grinds me. Because it's also an assimilation thing, which is something I greatly oppose. I think the people who point at gender-non-conforming people in the street should be ashamed and not the other way around.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-17 12:34 am (UTC)Wow, yes. I forget this (as a ciswoman with androgynous tendencies) and think it's a gender binary political sort of thing, but it's not. Thanks for bringing this up. Do you mind if I add it (attributed) to the original post?
"I think the people who point at gender-non-conforming people in the street should be ashamed and not the other way around."
Definitely this.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-17 06:08 am (UTC)