Audio from the session: Transfemininities and transmisogyny.
A facilitated discussion on the experiences of, and the unique ways sexism and transphobia affects those who express a feminine gender presentation. Topics include racial intersections with trans-feminine oppression, exclusion from "women's" spaces, the exaggerated hyper-sexualisation in the media coupled with desexualisation in queer spaces, what role "male socialisation" plays in AMAB (assigned male at birth) trans* people's experiences and more.
Summary
The summary of the "Beyond Conference" session presented by Sally Dellow focuses on the complexities and lived experiences associated with transfemininity and transmisogyny. Dellow begins the session by acknowledging the cultural pressure on trans women to conform to an ultra-feminine presentation as a way to be recognized according to their gender identity. The presenter shares a personal choice to not adhere strictly to such expectations, which has both positive and negative consequences.
Dellow invites contributions from other trans women in attendance to discuss their experiences with femininity and societal reactions. Attendees mention feeling a need to conform to certain presentations during transition and the struggle to balance personal comfort with societal expectations. The topic of transmisogyny is also addressed, describing how familial rejection and workplace reactions vary depending on the cultural and social environment. Misgendering by cisgender individuals, especially men, is flagged as a significant issue, with some participants noting they develop strategies to counteract such experiences.
A key aspect of the talk highlighted is the challenge of accessing safe, female-only spaces as a trans woman. Dellow details both positive and negative experiences with these spaces and emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and acceptance. Moreover, the hyper-sexualization of trans women in media representation is criticized, with discussions on how such portrayals can be clichéd or one-dimensional, emphasizing traditional femininity, or ridiculous caricatures that undermine the complexity of trans identities.
Participants also touch upon problems of classism within the trans community, where certain trans individuals with access to more resources can overshadow the experiences and needs of others who are less affluent. This concern extends to media representation as well, with the discussion noting a scarcity of varied and complex trans characters and a call for more realistic and multifaceted portrayals.
Finally, the session turns to the topic of male socialization in trans women and the challenges that accompany negotiating social behaviors learned before transitioning. The conversation acknowledges the individual experience of socialization and cautions against overgeneralizing or minimizing personal agency.
The session concludes with more open-floor comments, sharing personal anecdotes and emphasizing the diversity within the trans community. Among the many topics discussed, the importance of recognizing trans individuals as integral members of society is highlighted, especially through the lens of being a taxpayer and contributing to society like anyone else.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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2010s, aotearoa new zealand, beyond conference (2013), carmen rupe, cis male, classism, community, conundrum, counselling, discrimination, emi koyama, exclusion, fa'afafine, femininity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, georgina beyer, health, identity, jan morris, janice raymond, julia serano, language, laverne cox, lesbian, lesbian information, library and archives centre (lilac), male socialisation, media, michigan womyn's music festival, māori, oppression, orange is the new black (tv), pronouns, queer, racism, renee richards, representation, role model, sally dellow, sex work, social, spaces, sport, support, the queer avengers (wellington), the transsexual empire: the making of the she-male, transamerica (2005), transfemininity, transgender, transition, transmisogyny, wellington, wellington high school, whipping girl: a transsexual woman on sexism and the scapegoating of femininity, youth
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