Transwomen and their moment of Transmisogyny

 

Julia Serano who is a writer and transgender rights activist has mentioned that transgender individuals—particularly transwomen—often face “transmisogyny”. 

Transmisogyny specifically targets transgender expressions of femaleness and femininity in which it ranges from negative attitudes and feelings toward transgender people based on their gender expression.  In our society, transwomen are seen as artificial because they dress too hyperfeminely and wear too much makeup, thus, perceived as caricatures of real women.  We view transwomen as out of the natural because they take in a role that is more feminine of a real woman.

Because of their changing gender role, transwomen are continually criticized and harassed by people in the street.  They are harshly judged by our society in which most believe that transwomen are only trying to mimic a real woman.  In the society we live in, we revolve around negative and inferior connotations about transwomen and our society often oppresses and excludes them, regarding transwomen as a disturbing matter to humanity and a disrespect for women. 

It is no surprise that transwomen are brutally harassed because they don’t fit into our gender norm.  They become victims of hate crimes as they are viciously attacked for performing more feminine. Teasing, hurting, and murdering transwomen has become an act that has trending over years and it has become a challenge to transwomen as many now have the fear of being seen as feminine in public view. It is shocking to know that 238 trans people were murdered worldwide in the past year; however, it is not shocking to understand that the large number is due to the mistreatment that society places on these trans people.

Related Video: Trans Woman Attacked in Hollywood Hate Crime Speaks Out,Cops Offer Reward

 

It is unbelievable how many transwomen are involved in hate crime scenes such as Vivian Diego. They are brutally attacked in public and the only causes for these scenes are for transwomen showing their femininity in public.  We find it hard to accept transwomen in our culture and many individuals believe that the only way to solve this issue is by viciously assaulting transwomen.      

In part of transmisogyny, transwomen face negative attitudes when it comes to sex-segregated facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms.  Sex-segregated facilities are a great challenge for them as they are teased and bulked with harsh comments about their gender appearance and performance.  In situations like these, transwomen prefer to use none to avoid any transphobia.

Because transwomen alter their bodies and alter their appearance, they are often criticized by school communities and it becomes hard for schools to accept these individuals.  They are denied rights and not given the same equality as others in our society. They are judged for the way they appear to society and that holds a barrier to transwomen as they are perceived different from normal women and men.  

Tansmisogyny is a global epidemic that has a crucial effect on transwomen as they challenge heterosexism.  Their is still much to be done to have people treat transwomen with respect.  We shouldn’t see transwomen and their femme gender expression as a form of drag performance, but rather as performance in which they are trying to fit into society.      

Sources:

Brydum, Sunnivie. “Watch: Trans Women Attacked in Hollywood Hat Crime Speaks Out, Cops Offer Reward.” Advocate. 19 Jun.13. Web. 26 Nov. 2013

Constantine, Sandra. “Transwomen Often Face ‘Transmisogyny’.” MassLive. 25 Apr. 13. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.

Feder, Lester J. “238 Transpeople Murdered Worldwide in The Past Year.” Buzzfeed. 13 Nov. 13. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.  

Serano, Julia. “Reclaiming Femininity.” Transfeminist Perspectives in and Beyond Transgender and Gender Studies. 2012. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.