So I’m currently trying to watch the Itty Bitty Titty Committee, and its gotten me thinking about trans inclusion in spaces identified as ‘for women.’ (I say “trying to watch it” because the DVD is giving me trouble, not because it’s a particularly bad movie.) (Although I haven’t gotten far enough into it to say it’s a particularly good movie either.)
Anyway.
Questions of trans inclusion generally involves how (or whether) to include trans men and/or trans women in women-only spaces. The “womyn-born-womyn” policy of the Michigan Women’s Music Festival is a well-known example of this debate. (I’m going to table a larger question of trans inclusion for some, whether or not to include trans people in the queer community in the first place, as it would take me too far off-topic…)
So what does this debate have to do with The L Word and the Itty Bitty Titty Committee?
Both involve characters who are trans men, but accepted and included in women’s spaces. Both are (almost) entirely devoid of characters who are trans women.
Continue reading 'The L Word, Itty Bitty Titties, and Trans Men'»
How I Met Your Mother is a funny show. I’m not going to lie and say it’s not. I really like the cast, I really like the characters, I really like the writing, and I consistently laugh when I’m watching it.
I’m getting more and more upset by the transphobia. That is, by jokes told at the expense of transgender women. Two big examples spring to mind:
- When discussing how relationships work until the ‘oh’ moment, one of the examples is Robin saying “I used to be a dude.”
- When trying to figure out why his girlfriend, Cathy, should be dumped, the third scenario has her saying “I used to have a penis.”
But I know there are more out there. In both examples, a potentially attractive female partner is rendered unattractive by being trans. I realize the show makes fun of a lot of different minority groups, but there seems to be a difference between having a positive gay character on the show and laughing with him, than simply making fun of how no one in their right mind would want to have a relationship with a trans woman.
As a trans woman, it really sucks to hear characters I thought I liked casually dropping things that would be incredibly hurtful if directed at me as a joke. I can’t imagine my little blog is going to have a huge effect on the show’s viewing audience (though I am also posting this to the show’s forum) but the very least I can do is speak up in the face of what is, in all likelihood, ignorance.
-R
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