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Transgendered Like Me

By Desiree Corley

I am transgendered.

Originally, I wanted to write an article that called to attention the fact that feminism and transgenderism had similar goals, and battles to be won together, that the gay and lesbian community shared these goals as well. But, then I realized something. We're all transgendered.

What does that mean??? For the purpose of this article, let's take a general view, with transgendered meaning to transcend the gender that society assigns us. Western societies, American society specifically, cherishes the dichotomy of the sexes, that men are aggressive, strong, with no show of outward emotions, and women are sensitive, emotional, irrational. Men are breadwinners and fighters while women are mothers and wives. Men don't cry, women talk too much. Popular books such as Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus drive home the 'fact' that these differences are essential, and biological. We are so different, that we might as well be from different planets, speaking different languages! Any deviation from these 'norms' must be a freak occurrence or caused by a mental deficiency, and should be ignored.

Those who we usually think of being transgendered, transsexuals and crossdressers, typify what our society fears most: the shattering of their ideas about gender. Transsexuals dare to challenge the idea that gender is biological, that your born genitalia defines what your goals and dreams should be. We're even more frightened by those who do not try hide their transsexuality, who talk freely of their past as the opposite sex, who speak of their identity as a transsexual as much as being a woman or man.

Then you have those damn crossdressers! How dare straight men enjoy being feminine and defying one of the main mandates given to them by society, "No Sissy Stuff!!!!" Men aren’t supposed to wish to be flamboyant, to be beautiful, to be expressive, to be emotional, to be nurturing…to enjoy women’s work! Crossdressers are stigmatized not just for deviating from the norm, but for choosing the traits and identify of an inferior creature, a woman.

However, there are more people who transgendered. Men who love other men. Women who love other women. Women and men who love both. Men who refuse to like sports, to fight, to kill. Women who refuse to be passive, to always be cheery, to be abused. Men who are emotional, who are nurturing, who are stay at home Dads, who spend more time with their families, than at the office. Women who hate house work, who are CEOs, who are aggressive, who take charge, who dare to demand to be treated as a human being. This list goes on and on. I bet you are on the list, I know I am.

The fight for transgendered rights is not just about for the right to walk around in frilly clothes, or to be accepted in the gender you are instead of assigned. It’s about the ending of hurtful stereotypes used for oppression and discrimination. The fight is not just done by IFGE or GenderPac on Capitol Hill, it’s done in your workplace and your home, in how you treat others, how you raise your children. It’s the example you set for others. The end of stigmatization of gender expression beings with us.



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