Looking back on it all, we've been up down and around on the topic of gender identities. From the 1800s, to now, and from the basics to the slightly less basic aspects. We started off with a basic approach and understanding of the issue, laying the grounds for the next 4 posts. Here we established the difference between gender and biological sex, along with the idea of the gender spectrum and how things aren't just black and white. We then moved on to learn about how it is obviously a global issue, and cemented Canada's very solid role in the issue and what it has to do, and has been doing to help it. I introduced an NGO and talked about briefly. Next, a more important post that looked into how the issue can be called an issue, along with how we can help solve it. Here I highlighted societies very forced ideals on the idea of gender (using public washrooms as an example). Finally, we chronicled some of the amazing history and milestones set by amazing indiviuals throughout the years.
In the end, the main idea and point that you should take away from my blog actually coincides with what I think a being a global citizen is; be happy with your life and let others be happy with theirs. Out yourself in the shoes of that one girl that not only hates the way she looks, but the way she was born. Think of how she has to be deprived of a childhood because of judgement, and as people around her are focusing on finding what they want to do with their lives, she's just trying to find herself.
Monday, 15 June 2015
Thursday, 11 June 2015
A Brief History
Early times:
Before the 1800s, there was some notable accounts of Native American Tribes referring to people who took on traditional gender roles opposite their sex, as "Two-spirited". Some people still use this term today.
Early Records of People Identifying as Trans:
Albert D. J. Cashier (December 25, 1843 – October 10, 1915), was born Jennie Irene Hodgers and was an Irish-born immigrant who served as a male soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Cashier was transgender and lived as a man. He was, however seen and known as a man to everyone around him, being able to vote and be treated fully as a man. He was found out later, in two accounts, one where he was forced to wear a dress, and one where he was checked on by nurses and referred to as"female bodied" but they never went public on their discovery.
Christine Jorgensen (May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989) was an American trans woman who was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery. Growing up in the Bronx, New York City and having just graduating from high school in 1945, she was drafted into the U.S. Army for World War II. After her service she attended several schools and began work. Around this time she heard about transitioning surgery. She traveled to Europe and in Copenhagen, Denmark, obtained special permission to undergo a series of operations starting in 1951. She returned to the United States in the early 1950s and her transformation was the subject of a New York Daily News front page story. She became an instant celebrity, using the platform to advocate for transgender people and became known for her directness and polished wit. She also worked as an actress and nightclub entertainer and recorded several songs. She later was denied the right to marry a man, resulting in the man losing his job when the engagement went public.
Through the ages:
The 1950s and 1960s saw some of the first transgender organizations and publications, but law and medicine did not respond favorably to growing awareness of transgender people.
In the 1970s and 1980s many support organizations began for male cross-dressers.
In the 1990s and 2000s transgender history began to be recognized. People began counting it into gay and lesbian forming the term LGBT. People came out more and it was referred to more commonly.
Today, many celebrities have come out as openly transgender. Most notably Laverne Cox, an American actress most known for her role in "Orange is the new Black", Lana Wachowski, sister of Andy Wachowski, her directing partner on films like The Matrix Trilogy, Jupiter Ascending and Cloud Atlas, as well as Chaz Bono, son of Sonny and Cher. Most recently and possibly widely known, is olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, who recently underwent her transition and broke headlines across the globe. (Picture in previous post.)
Here is more indepth timeline with a lot of very awesome points!
Before the 1800s, there was some notable accounts of Native American Tribes referring to people who took on traditional gender roles opposite their sex, as "Two-spirited". Some people still use this term today.
Early Records of People Identifying as Trans:
Albert D. J. Cashier (December 25, 1843 – October 10, 1915), was born Jennie Irene Hodgers and was an Irish-born immigrant who served as a male soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Cashier was transgender and lived as a man. He was, however seen and known as a man to everyone around him, being able to vote and be treated fully as a man. He was found out later, in two accounts, one where he was forced to wear a dress, and one where he was checked on by nurses and referred to as"female bodied" but they never went public on their discovery.
Christine Jorgensen (May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989) was an American trans woman who was the first person to become widely known in the United States for having sex reassignment surgery. Growing up in the Bronx, New York City and having just graduating from high school in 1945, she was drafted into the U.S. Army for World War II. After her service she attended several schools and began work. Around this time she heard about transitioning surgery. She traveled to Europe and in Copenhagen, Denmark, obtained special permission to undergo a series of operations starting in 1951. She returned to the United States in the early 1950s and her transformation was the subject of a New York Daily News front page story. She became an instant celebrity, using the platform to advocate for transgender people and became known for her directness and polished wit. She also worked as an actress and nightclub entertainer and recorded several songs. She later was denied the right to marry a man, resulting in the man losing his job when the engagement went public.
Through the ages:
The 1950s and 1960s saw some of the first transgender organizations and publications, but law and medicine did not respond favorably to growing awareness of transgender people.
In the 1970s and 1980s many support organizations began for male cross-dressers.
In the 1990s and 2000s transgender history began to be recognized. People began counting it into gay and lesbian forming the term LGBT. People came out more and it was referred to more commonly.
Today, many celebrities have come out as openly transgender. Most notably Laverne Cox, an American actress most known for her role in "Orange is the new Black", Lana Wachowski, sister of Andy Wachowski, her directing partner on films like The Matrix Trilogy, Jupiter Ascending and Cloud Atlas, as well as Chaz Bono, son of Sonny and Cher. Most recently and possibly widely known, is olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, who recently underwent her transition and broke headlines across the globe. (Picture in previous post.)
Here is more indepth timeline with a lot of very awesome points!
Thursday, 4 June 2015
Overcoming Challenges.
Challenges of the issue:
The most basic challenge of the issue is that some people just won't take the common courtesy of treating people with the respect they deserve, and being outright discriminative at times. To dig deeper, some people have religious beliefs that go against this, which is a VERY tricky thing to work around, since it's THEIR religion, but that's a debate that could last millennia. Another thing that has been pointed out to me recently, is gender stereotypes. Our society has slowly moulded itself around the identification of two basic genders, male and female, and shoved us into a category by force. Take public washrooms for example, which one would an agender person pick? The keyword being pick. It's like it's a CHOICE. In the end, it's not only the members of society that cause a speed bump in the road, but society itself, that make all this an issue.
What we can each do:
All of us together, can help by supporting members of the LGBT community and realize the truth in the matter. We can help educate and spread our words for others to join the fight and this HAS been happening. Lately, there has been a lot of buzz around Caitlyn Jenner (Formerly known as Bruce Jenner) in the media, and when negative feedback is given, the poster (usually a celebrity) will lose a lot of respect and end up taking down the post (As seen below). Along with this comes the fact that there has been an OVERWHELMING amount of positive (and jealous) feedback on the image released by Vanity Fair just a few days ago (See below). This marks a huge milestone and a clear visual reminder that support is there.
The most basic challenge of the issue is that some people just won't take the common courtesy of treating people with the respect they deserve, and being outright discriminative at times. To dig deeper, some people have religious beliefs that go against this, which is a VERY tricky thing to work around, since it's THEIR religion, but that's a debate that could last millennia. Another thing that has been pointed out to me recently, is gender stereotypes. Our society has slowly moulded itself around the identification of two basic genders, male and female, and shoved us into a category by force. Take public washrooms for example, which one would an agender person pick? The keyword being pick. It's like it's a CHOICE. In the end, it's not only the members of society that cause a speed bump in the road, but society itself, that make all this an issue.
What we can each do:
All of us together, can help by supporting members of the LGBT community and realize the truth in the matter. We can help educate and spread our words for others to join the fight and this HAS been happening. Lately, there has been a lot of buzz around Caitlyn Jenner (Formerly known as Bruce Jenner) in the media, and when negative feedback is given, the poster (usually a celebrity) will lose a lot of respect and end up taking down the post (As seen below). Along with this comes the fact that there has been an OVERWHELMING amount of positive (and jealous) feedback on the image released by Vanity Fair just a few days ago (See below). This marks a huge milestone and a clear visual reminder that support is there.
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| After hate |
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| Before hate |
Monday, 1 June 2015
Who's Helping The Issue?
Egale:
Egale is a non-government organization devoted to the protection and acceptance of all LGBT personal, mainly in Canada. They have a vision of a less discriminative and more accepting nation and they act towards this goal every waking moment. Most notably, they are working on developing gender and sex inscriptions for Trans individuals (and the sort) in Canada and assisting parents of Trans youth (and the sort) in appropriate handling of the situation. It's people like this group and its supporters that are really helping to make a difference on the issue.
Their website
Who's not helping the issue:
The people not helping the issue, are the exact people that groups like Egale is targeted at helping, or one may say going against, as some people are religious about it or just have very personal beliefs. It's all about what we grow around and we really need to make a community, a country, a world where everyone is accepted, respected and given the rights they deserve. Pointing fingers would be rude, especially on a topic like this, and there really isn't one singular type of person to call out. Almost everyone has a slight bit of discomfort or disinterest towards the non-binary community and some people are just outright arrogant. Luckily, the newer generations are now growing up in a more accepting world and we are slowly taking the steps to shed our old skin and breath life into the new world.
Egale is a non-government organization devoted to the protection and acceptance of all LGBT personal, mainly in Canada. They have a vision of a less discriminative and more accepting nation and they act towards this goal every waking moment. Most notably, they are working on developing gender and sex inscriptions for Trans individuals (and the sort) in Canada and assisting parents of Trans youth (and the sort) in appropriate handling of the situation. It's people like this group and its supporters that are really helping to make a difference on the issue.
Their website
Who's not helping the issue:
The people not helping the issue, are the exact people that groups like Egale is targeted at helping, or one may say going against, as some people are religious about it or just have very personal beliefs. It's all about what we grow around and we really need to make a community, a country, a world where everyone is accepted, respected and given the rights they deserve. Pointing fingers would be rude, especially on a topic like this, and there really isn't one singular type of person to call out. Almost everyone has a slight bit of discomfort or disinterest towards the non-binary community and some people are just outright arrogant. Luckily, the newer generations are now growing up in a more accepting world and we are slowly taking the steps to shed our old skin and breath life into the new world.
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