1. The True Meaning of
Gender
An Insight Into Transgender Oppression
By Amber Petty
2. DEFINITIONS
Biological SexBiological Sex-- the property of qualitythe property of quality
by which organisms are classified asby which organisms are classified as
female or male on the basis of theirfemale or male on the basis of their
reproductive organs and functionsreproductive organs and functions
GenderGender-- the classification of the sexthe classification of the sex
of a person into male, female, orof a person into male, female, or
ambivalentambivalent
Notice the difference!?Notice the difference!?
3. VS
GENDER
GENDER
GENDERBiological sexBiological sex is determined by your reproductive organs, hormonesis determined by your reproductive organs, hormones
and genes.and genes.
GenderGender is ais a sociallysocially constructed idea of how men and women shouldconstructed idea of how men and women should
appear and behave.appear and behave.
While your biological sex is given to you at birth, your gender isWhile your biological sex is given to you at birth, your gender is
determined by years of outside influences, transforming you in thedetermined by years of outside influences, transforming you in the
stereotypical boy or girl.stereotypical boy or girl.
4. GENDER STEREOTYPES
MaleMale FemaleFemale
• toughtough
• strongstrong
• independentindependent
• does not crydoes not cry
• masculinemasculine
• intelligentintelligent
• dominantdominant
• sensitivesensitive
• weakweak
• dependentdependent
• cries a lotcries a lot
• femininefeminine
• stupidstupid
• submissivesubmissive
And these are just a few I have mentioned. The list goes on and on…..And these are just a few I have mentioned. The list goes on and on…..
5. CAN GENDER BE A CHOICE?
Since gender is an imaginary idea , created by society and reinforcedSince gender is an imaginary idea , created by society and reinforced
by our community, then we DO have a choice as to what gender weby our community, then we DO have a choice as to what gender we
decide to portray.decide to portray.
The idea of GENDERThe idea of GENDER does not exist.does not exist.
Media portraying “stupid” femaleMedia portraying “stupid” female
stereotype through advertising.stereotype through advertising.
Media portraying dominant and masculinMedia portraying dominant and masculin
male roles through advertising.male roles through advertising.
6. WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR GENDER?
Now that you have learned you do haveNow that you have learned you do have
a choice whether you identify as a mana choice whether you identify as a man
or a women, would you change youror a women, would you change your
gender from the one assigned to you atgender from the one assigned to you at
birth?birth?
If YES, then you would beIf YES, then you would be
consideredconsidered TRANSGENDERTRANSGENDER..
There are also many negative socially constructed stereotypes that areThere are also many negative socially constructed stereotypes that are
associated with the transgender community. But what does transgenderassociated with the transgender community. But what does transgender
really mean?really mean?
7. DEFINITION
TransgenderTransgender- one who identifies with or expresses a gender- one who identifies with or expresses a gender
identity that differs from the one which corresponds to the person’sidentity that differs from the one which corresponds to the person’s
sex at birth.sex at birth.
Try to imagine growing up knowing that you in the wrong body,Try to imagine growing up knowing that you in the wrong body,
meant to be a male instead of a female or vise versa.meant to be a male instead of a female or vise versa.
8. TRANSGENDER MYTHS &
MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #1:Myth #1: Transgender people are justTransgender people are just
confusedconfused
People often think that transgender men and women are justPeople often think that transgender men and women are just
confused or going through a temporary phase, when in reality, theyconfused or going through a temporary phase, when in reality, they
know exactly who they are.know exactly who they are.
Just because someone may appear to be different from the culturalJust because someone may appear to be different from the cultural
norm, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who they are.norm, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who they are.
9. TRANSGENDER MYTHS &
MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #2: Myth #2: Transgender people are gayTransgender people are gay
Truth is…sexual orientation has nothing to do with someone’s genderTruth is…sexual orientation has nothing to do with someone’s gender
identity.identity.
The transgender community is usuallyThe transgender community is usually
associated along side the gayassociated along side the gay
community, often confusing otherscommunity, often confusing others
about what transgender really means.about what transgender really means.
They assume transgender is just aThey assume transgender is just a
different form of gay.different form of gay.
10. TRANSGENDER MYTHS &
MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #3: Myth #3: Transgender people perform in drag showsTransgender people perform in drag shows
When people are asked what a transgender person looks like, they usually picture a drag queenWhen people are asked what a transgender person looks like, they usually picture a drag queen
performing on stage.performing on stage.
Truth is, the majority of drag performances are done by non trans people.Truth is, the majority of drag performances are done by non trans people.
When transgender men and women dress in clothes associated with the opposite sex, they areWhen transgender men and women dress in clothes associated with the opposite sex, they are
not cross dressing, but dressing in the clothes they identify with the most.not cross dressing, but dressing in the clothes they identify with the most.
11. TRANSGENDER MYTHS &
MISCONCEPTIONS
Myth #4: Myth #4: Transgender people aren’tTransgender people aren’t
“real” men or women“real” men or women
Just because they may identify with a gender different from the oneJust because they may identify with a gender different from the one
assigned to them at birth, doesn’t make them any less human.assigned to them at birth, doesn’t make them any less human.
This is one of the most well knowThis is one of the most well know
transgender stereotypes, as welltransgender stereotypes, as well
as one of the most harmful.as one of the most harmful.
12. &
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
In a study done in October of 2012,In a study done in October of 2012,
research showed thatresearch showed that
““22- 38%22- 38% of trans people have beenof trans people have been
harassed by police, with upwardsharassed by police, with upwards
ofof 15%15% experiencing physical abuseexperiencing physical abuse
andand 7%7% being sexually assaulted bybeing sexually assaulted by
law enforcement.”law enforcement.”
Police officers are meant to protect the community from harm, yet they arePolice officers are meant to protect the community from harm, yet they are
physically and sexually abusing innocent human beings, just because theyphysically and sexually abusing innocent human beings, just because they
are transgender.are transgender.
13. &
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
In the same study, it also stated thatIn the same study, it also stated that
26%26% of trans people have experienceof trans people have experience
physical assault from health carephysical assault from health care
professionals, whileprofessionals, while 10%10% havehave
experienced sexual assault.experienced sexual assault.
The transgender community is experiencing oppression and violence fromThe transgender community is experiencing oppression and violence from
people who are meant to help them. If they can’t trust police officers orpeople who are meant to help them. If they can’t trust police officers or
doctors, then who can they trust?doctors, then who can they trust?
14. &
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCEViolence against transgender men andViolence against transgender men and
women is becoming more of a problemwomen is becoming more of a problem
each day.each day.
AboutAbout 50%50% of transgender men andof transgender men and
women have experienced sexualwomen have experienced sexual
violence in their lifetime andviolence in their lifetime and
transgender women seem totransgender women seem to
experience more violence thanexperience more violence than
transgender men.transgender men.
Why do you think this is?Why do you think this is?
15. &
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
Many straight, masculine malesMany straight, masculine males
tend to feel confused about theirtend to feel confused about their
own sexual orientation, when theyown sexual orientation, when they
find themselves attracted tofind themselves attracted to
transgender women.transgender women.
They feel as if their masculinity isThey feel as if their masculinity is
being threatened and tend to act outbeing threatened and tend to act out
violently towards these transgenderviolently towards these transgender
women, in order to prove theirwomen, in order to prove their
masculinity to others, as well asmasculinity to others, as well as
themselves.themselves.
16. &
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
VIOLENCE
We need to put an end toWe need to put an end to
oppression and violenceoppression and violence
against the transgenderagainst the transgender
community.community.
If our society was better educated on the true meaning of transgenderIf our society was better educated on the true meaning of transgender
and saw the transgender community as equals, then maybe this violenceand saw the transgender community as equals, then maybe this violence
would finally stop.would finally stop.
17. HOW WE CAN STOP TRANS
OPPRESSION
One way that we can help endOne way that we can help end
the violence and oppressionthe violence and oppression
against the transgenderagainst the transgender
community is throughcommunity is through the the
media.media.
If the media portrayed transgender men and women as “normal” andIf the media portrayed transgender men and women as “normal” and
just like everybody else, then our society would start to treat thejust like everybody else, then our society would start to treat the
transgender community as one of their own.transgender community as one of their own.
We need to stop the confusion surrounding the trans community andWe need to stop the confusion surrounding the trans community and
allow others to realize they are no different from themselves.allow others to realize they are no different from themselves.
18. IN THE MEDIA TODAY
There are a couple influential television shows today that are challengingThere are a couple influential television shows today that are challenging
these transgender stereotypes and educating the community on the truththese transgender stereotypes and educating the community on the truth
about the trans lifestyle.about the trans lifestyle.
Laverne Cox inLaverne Cox in Orange is the New BlackOrange is the New BlackJeffery Tambor inJeffery Tambor in TransparentTransparent
19. LAVERNE COX
Laverne Cox, an advocate for transgender menLaverne Cox, an advocate for transgender men
and women, has made such a impact on theand women, has made such a impact on the
trans community through her role as Sophia intrans community through her role as Sophia in
Orange is the New Black.Orange is the New Black.
Since her television debeu, Laverne has spoken out manySince her television debeu, Laverne has spoken out many
times about growing up as a trans women in our harshtimes about growing up as a trans women in our harsh
society. She has helped educate our society aboutsociety. She has helped educate our society about
transgender people, and has made an huge impact on thetransgender people, and has made an huge impact on the
fight for transgender equality.fight for transgender equality.
20. LAVERNE COX
Click the link to listen to Laverne talk about her personal storyClick the link to listen to Laverne talk about her personal story
about being a transgender women.about being a transgender women.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbNEP8vMvmwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbNEP8vMvmw
21. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO
HELP
One of the easiest ways anyone can help eliminate transgender oppressionOne of the easiest ways anyone can help eliminate transgender oppression
in our society is byin our society is by talkingtalking about it!about it!
Educate others around you aboutEducate others around you about
transgender oppression and helptransgender oppression and help
them better understand thethem better understand the
transgender community.transgender community.
The more we are educated about the trans community, the closer we will beThe more we are educated about the trans community, the closer we will be
to equality.to equality.
