Misconceptions of the trans community
This week, I had been researching transgender representation in the news and other forms of media and to say that it is limited is an understatement. As a result, I've decided to check out how this has affected our generation with a small poll of 20 students. In my dorm, I asked fellow students what they perceived the trans community to be and it is shockingly un-shocking!
What do you think of when you hear the term "transgender"?
14 answered with "like drag queens, right?"
2 didn't know what transgender meant.
2 answered with "someone who gets a sex reassignment surgery"
1 answered with "isn't it an umbrella term?" (this person was my roommate who has listened to the facts I share with her, learned from my Trans|Gender|Bodies class)
I say these misconceptions are shocking because they are incredibly unrepresentative and further from the truth.
Sure, "drag queens" can be considered transgender, however not all members of the trans community would identify as a "drag queen." Also, there are many different styles people like to express themselves with, not necessarily labeling those who dress outside of their perceived gender a "drag queen," as well. Media has portrayed all transgendered peoples as those who exaggerate their femininity [false!].
Though I'm sure the two that did not know what transgender meant certainly looked it up after, it's precisely the fact that they didn't know that is disappointing. There is little to zilch representation in government, academics, media, and news causing the public to be disoriented from knowing that the trans community even exists.
With the two that thought sex reassignment surgery was the rite of passage in becoming transgender, again, this is only representative of some of the trans community, but not all. There are many who don't feel the need to change the way their bodies look to feel "complete" though others do share this sentiment. There are others who embrace their bodies and do not feel trapped but still identify with a gender outside of their assigned at birth gender. Like Katie Courick, it seems that news and media have romanticized the trans culture where living as trans is consumed with changing lifestyle and body.
Clearly, the inaccuracy is shocking but let me discuss why this isn't shocking at all. When you look up transgender on Youtube, you find videos of Male to Female transitioning and Drag Queen makeup tutorials. When you look on google images, you find surgery before and after pictures, and transitioned individuals. When you ask those around you, most will not know or will answer with small representative facts. In government, there are no trans politicians to be found, and it is rare to find policies directed to the trans community, though all other policies do affect them. These skewed perceptions of what it means to be transgender are the result of news and media refusing to accommodate the trans community fairly, facilitating the invisibility and alienation of transgendered people.
