Analysis

Although there are many resources available online for transgender individuals (and any identity that may be variant from the societal norms of gender identity and expression) and those looking to educate themselves on these categories, one must actively search for this information in order to find it. One must have a grasp not only the concepts that they are looking for, but also the language in order to effectively convey these concepts in a way that others will have been writing about them that will come up in a search.

At its best, the Internet provides a safe space for transgender individuals to find people that look like them, identify like them, and can help them through their processes. The Internet can often play an enormous role in the identity development of transgender individuals in terms of learning more about different identities and then finding one that fits them the best.

The downside of the Internet, however, mostly comes from misinformation or lack of education surrounding transgender issues/identities. In more informal settings (chat rooms, discussion boards, blogs, etc.) misinformed or ignorant individuals can often compromise the atmosphere or feeling of a safe space. Misinformed individuals usually do not know that they are misinformed. This becomes problematic as ignorant individuals come to other individuals for their information as this spreads misinformation and often perpetuates negative stereotypes and cisgender ideologies.

As long as one knows what to look for, or at least can recognize more credible sources in terms of people who are actually involved in the community – whether that be through identifying as some variation of trans* or being an active ally – then one can make use of the Internet in an effective way. As with any kind of research on any platform, one should be aware of where their information is coming from and keep in mind the perspectives of the author and biases that come with those perspectives – that certainly includes this blog.

Visual Transitions on Youtube

Along with being able to find other individuals who identify in the same way, trans people are also able to establish communities online. One way in which this has been done is through Youtube.

Because being transgender is still very stigmatized in our society, the feeling of isolation is always a concern for trans individuals. No one wants to feel as though they are alone in their identity and has to face all the challenges that come with that identity on their own. Instead, trans individuals set up Youtube chanels that not only establish a community in this online space, but also provide resources for other trans people while giving them a real life example of what affects different choices will have on them (ie. hormones, surgery, etc).

This Youtube trend of documenting one’s transition is especially popular with MTF and FTM identities and there is a large presence of each on Youtube as such. Here are a few examples of these videos:

Glenny

This channel follows the journey of Glenny in her transition process as an MTF identifying individual (missglenny). Looking at the different stages in her transition can give insight into this process for other MTF individuals as well as keep them looking forward and hopeful for their own transition (missglenny).

Here is Glenny before she started hormones (missglenny):

Here she is after 8 months on hormones – with a collection of pictures from the past 4 months (missglenny):

Dade

This channel follows the life of Dade and his wife as they both give insight into their experiences as Dade transitions via hormones and surgery (ElectricDade). This blog is unique because it shares experiences of the significant other of a transman as well as the transman’s own perspective (ElectricDade).

Here is Dade before he started hormones (ElectricDade):

Here he is after 5 months on hormones (ElectricDade):

These blogs are not only useful for building general community, but again they play a part in helping transgender identifying individuals who want to transition hold on to hope as well as see what their future experiences may be like. When people can see others going through the same issues and experiences that they have, it helps them to not feel quite so alone.

Works Cited

ElectricDade. Youtube. Web. 20 April 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/user/ElectricDade&gt;.

missglenny. Youtube. Web. 20 April 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/user/missglenny&gt;.

Milestones of Identity – Female-Presenting Cross-Dresser Milestones

The first thing that is important about cross-dressing is that even though we as a society may include cross-dressing under the transgender “umbrella,” many individuals who practice – what we would classify as cross-dressing – or consider themselves cross-dressers do not identify as transgender (Beemyn and Rankin). There are also individuals who identify as cross-dressers and transgender, but that is up to that individual to determine (The Chameleon Society). It is essential that we remember that how we interpret one’s identity and expression is not necessarily the same as how that person identifies. We must remember that regardless of one’s actions, expression, or anything else – we must respect how people identify and not challenge their identities.

For the purposes of Beemyn and Rankin’s study on those who fall under the transgender umbrella, only female-presenting cross-dressers were studied in depth simply because of the lack of participants who identified as male-presenting cross-dressers (Beemyn and Rankin). Although there may be many people who identify as women and wear clothes that we would consider to be “men’s,” these individuals may not identify as cross-dressers simply because women wearing “men’s” clothing is more normalized than men wearing “women’s” clothing in our society (Jamie Ann). Given that cross-dressing is so focused on clothing, the common milestones involved in this identity are understandably different than those of a MTF identity (Beemyn and Rankin). Beemyn and Rankin list the following as the typical milestones that suggest shared experiences for those who identify as cross-dressers:

1. Attraction to “women’s” clothes and cross-dressing from a young age (Beemyn and Rankin 138)
2. Buying or obtaining one’s own “women’s” clothing (Beemyn and Rankin 138)
3. Repressing the desire to cross-dress and purging clothing because of shame (Beemyn and Rankin 139)
4. Learning about and meeting other cross-dressers (Beemyn and Rankin 140)
5. Overcoming shame to accept oneself as a cross-dresser (Beemyn and Rankin 140)
6. Cross-dressing in public for the first time and adopting a feminine name (Beemyn and Rankin 141)
7. Whether and when to tell others, and developing new relationships after disclosure (Beemyn and Rankin 142)
8. Arriving at a comfortable place with cross-dressing (Beemyn and Rankin 145)

Again, the idea of male privilege when discussing cross-dressing identities often comes up as many cross-dressers identify as male in certain spaces. Much like with MTF identifying individuals, female-presenting cross-dressers are sometimes thought by members of our society to have male privilege. Again, this goes back to the idea of wondering why someone would ever want to get rid of their privilege and “lower” themselves to present as a woman. Again, these discussions are happing in all sorts of online spaces. Even discussion on cross-dressing specific boards that are not specifically about topics of male privilege reveal them in more subtle ways (Crossdressers).

It is also important to note that the top five Google results for “cross-dressing” consist of a Wikipedia entry, a photo gallery, two online stores specifically for cross-dressers, and cross-dressing related news. This just goes to show the heavy influence the Internet is having on the availability of resources for individuals who identify as cross-dressers as opposed to just the uncensored discussions that are often not informed (Sandeen).

Works Cited

Beemyn, Genny & Rankin, Susan. The Lives of Transgender People. New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. Print.

The Chameleon Society. Crossdressing Info. Accessed on April 18^th, 2012. Web. 20 April 2012. <http://www.chameleonswa.com/info.html&gt;.

Crossdressers. Presenting as a Woman. 2010. Web. 20 April 2012. <http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-127057.html&gt;.

Jamie Ann. Crossdressing: He’s a Lady! 2012. Web. 20 April 2012. <http://toselfbetrue.com/transgender/index.html&gt;.

Sandeen, Del. Cross Dressing Interview. Love to Know: Men’s Fashion. 2012. Web. 20 April 2012. <http://mens-fashion.lovetoknow.com/Cross_Dressing_Clothes&gt;.

Trans Bodies on Tumblr

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.

Fuck Yeah MTFs!

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).

Fuck Yeah FTMs!

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).

Fuck Yeah Androgyny!

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/&gt;.

Fuck Yeah FTM. Tumblr. Web. 23 March 2012. <http://fuckyeahftms.tumblr.com/&gt;.

Fuck Yeah MTF. Tumblr. Web. 23 March 2012. <http://fuckyeahmtfs.tumblr.com/&gt;.