Now that we’ve taken a look at the general helpfulness of how social media is helpful to LGBT people in their search for community, let’s start to look specifically at the portrayal of transgender people on social media sites – in particular: Tumblr.
A simple Google search of “transgender tumblr” reveals quite a bit in the ways of the resources available to display transgender bodies. Essentially, transgender gets split into three groups on Tumblr: MTF, FTM, and androgynous. In addition, each of these groups is equipped with their very own “Fuck Yeah _____!” title.
This blog states its main purpose as empowerment (Fuck Yeah MTFs). With a collage style layout, it is important that the emphasis for this blog is clearly strictly the images (Fuck Yeah MTFs). Furthermore, the “like” heart symbols are all red against a plain white background allowing for this feminine symbol to stand out (Fuck Yeah MTFs).
This blog uses the idea of it being a safe space specifically designated for anyone on the FTM spectrum (Fuck Yeah FTMs). Although there are plenty of submissions that involve pictures, the layout of the blog does not alienate the purely text submissions that are usually seeking resources (Fuck Yeah FTMs). In addition, only a subtle blue strip that grazes the top of the page accents a white background (Fuck Yeah FTMs).
This blog claims the celebration of the beauty of androgyny and gender-variant people to be the goal (Fuck Yeah Androgyny). The neutral gray background with slight speckles of color really accentuates these goals as it keeps the page free of any socially gendered colors (Fuck Yeah Androgyny).
Just a simple exploration of these sites’ mission statements, layout, and target audiences shows the message that we are sending to each of these groups in our society. Not only is it essential for people to see bodies that look like their own in order to feel that they are not completely alone, but it also helps others outside of each identity to further understand MTF, FTM, and androgyny.
Works Cited
Fuck Yeah Androgyny. Tumblr. Web. 23 March 2012 <http://fuckyeahandrogyny.tumblr.com/>.
Fuck Yeah FTM. Tumblr. Web. 23 March 2012. <http://fuckyeahftms.tumblr.com/>.
Fuck Yeah MTF. Tumblr. Web. 23 March 2012. <http://fuckyeahmtfs.tumblr.com/>.
