This is what a trans guy looks like..
Ok. This is going to be a bit of a rant. Before I begin, I do want to point out a couple of things. First, everything I talk about here is my own experience and my own subjective, narcissistic view. I cannot speak on behalf of others, for others, etc. I may be able to retale what someone has mentioned to me but that isn’t necessarily my experience. Second, I do love my trans sisters. I’ve learned a lot from them about life in general, their trans folk experience and the discrimination that is often faced. What they have to go through to become who they are is amazing. What they have had to go through in the last 20-30 years, as many of them were the forefront trans activists, is just as amazing if not more so. I do respect everything about them. And find many of them incredibly beautiful in addition to intelligence (which for me has always been a turn-on). That said…
Why is it that when the mass media, researchers or others hear the word trans they think “trans woman”? Are we that invisible? I know that trans guys make up a far smaller percentage of the already small percentage of trans individuals. But that doesn’t mean we don’t exist. And we’re not all pregnant guys either. So far, the image of a transguy has be rather limited in the mainstream public eye. It’s frustrating for me to find role-models for me, a guy who transitions late in life but is happy with it. I look at the mass news media and when they write about trans individuals, it seems that it’s primiarily about trans women. Part of me wonders if it’s because we may blend in so well and pass so easily that we go stealth and become somewhat an unforgotten part of trans history or trans society. So far, only one place I know has a higher percentage of trans men and that’s at the Philly Trans Health Conference (I think it was 50-50 for last year and very young too).
As I wrote this I decided to see if I could find some photos of trans men to post. What I found was even better. Lynn Conway has created such a site that recognizes some great role models for trans men and, as a result, records some of our history to follow. But it’s still little things. The trans community is well-aware of us men and we often have places where we can put our hats on but outside of there, it almost feels like we’re nonexistant. I suppose that’s good in one way: we seem to have less violence against us (in general — there is always violence against trans individuals and moreso is targetted towards, very unjustly, POC; side thought: TOC, trans of color?). The only thing I can attribute to this disjointed and slanted view of trans society is that trans women are more visible. They have been fighting the fight for many years in a more prominent view in more numbers than trans men. It’s not that we aren’t there but.. well. I dunno. It’s too much generalization to say that we settle down more, start families and become devouted to those. Or perhaps we are able to keep our present jobs and want more to blend in, and are able to blend in far easier.
Whatever the reason, I do wish and hope that society would see trans individuals as more than trans women.
Sigh.
Awe, I can relate to this there are so many minorities within the GLBT minority. When the media speaks about ‘the gay’ they mostly target men cause ya know lesbians we are cool like Ellen so no need to mention, and people can ‘get’ why you would be a lesbian but GAY oh no that’s unheard of. I am sure this is no where NEAR what you are going through because bottom line I still have awesome role models, and I have to say I tried soooo hard to think of a trans for you while reading. Only guy I thought of was the guy on Calpunia Addams reality TV show, he wanted to date Calpurnia he didnt win though. That is horrible, I am actually ashamed that I wrote that. Gay pride parade all I see are trans women and the gender queer, which forgive me though I watched a documentary I STILL don’t understand that to well and wish someone had a blog I could read. Anyhow, I love you, and I am going to make a point to look out for awesome role models for you, I have several and you should too. XOXOXO Marian
@Marian
You’re thinking of Jim Rowley. He’s not a role model for me. Neither is Thomas Beattie (although I’m sure he’s a role model for other FTMs that pursue that path).
I think trans is still coming out and there is a debate still being done as to whether trans belongs under GLBTQ or not (since it’s about gender orientation and not sexual orientation — some trans individuals are straight while others gay, lesbian, queer, etc. beyond their trans status).
I guess it’s just a matter of keeping looking and forging new pathways.
I think Julia Serano in her book Whipping Girl made a pretty good case for the focus on trans women rather than trans men being a product of misogyny. Female-bodied people who transition to male are going in the “right” direction. Male-bodied people who transition to female must be crazy and are somehow dangerous.
I think she’s right that it has to do with the different places of women and men in our society. Society objectifies women, very often views them as sex objects. So MtFs transition into that objectification. Look how much interest there is when an MtF is strikingly good looking, and also when an MtF is notably not good looking. The former is feared as a deceiver, the later pitied.
As you yourself said, trans men have an easier time blending in. Testosterone does a pretty good job regardless of your age. To some extent, you are invisible, and as you also said, that’s not such a bad thing. I understand, however, that you want to find role models, and I’m not much help there. I’m glad that Lynn Conway has provided some help.
Véronique’s last blog post..Art and life
Female-bodied people who transition to male are going in the “right” direction. Male-bodied people who transition to female must be crazy and are somehow dangerous.
If that were true, then wouldn’t more FTMs exist than MTFs? It’s a question of male-privilege that’s being suggested, no?
I think it’s more an issue of passing and stealth. And the fact that society is too freakin’ shallow: it wants the perfectly presentable passing person or the “freak” as it were.
It’s not just a role model but wanting to shake the mass media stream to realize that it’s more than trans women that are out there.
Perhaps it’s just me.
I’ve long shared your feelings about the lack of FTM visibility. I have great respect for my trans brothers. Perhaps it is because of this that I have chosen to make the protagonist of my next novel a trans man.
Dharma Kelleher’s last blog post..Diversity
@Linus
I don’t think it’s so much about male privilege as simply that people can understand someone becoming male but not someone becoming female. At any rate, I don’t think that’s what transition is about. There are FtMs and MtFs because both groups have a mismatch between brain and body. We transition because we have to, not because it might be advantageous in some way.
I’ve seen it written that there are about a quarter as many FtMs and MtFs. I think that’s wrong. I think there are more FtMs than that, just less visible. I’m seen written in other places that the ratio is about 50/50.
I still think Serano has the best take on why society pays more attention to MtFs than to FtMs.
Véronique’s last blog post..Art and life
@Véronique
True. Privilege isn’t the reason for transitioning and it certainly isn’t a reason to pay attention to those who have transitioned. And yet, still, MTFs get more medical resources, more support groups, etc. If the numbers are anywhere from 25-50%, then why isn’t the support or attention to reflective of that?
One of the reasons I came to NYC (I was considering San Fran as well), was because of the possibility of more resources that were specific towards FTMs. It still leaves a blank in regards to the fact that more attention, time, etc. is put towards MTFs than FTMs.
@Dharma Kelleher
Very cool. I’d be interested in reading it when it’s done. 🙂
@Linus
Linus, my spouse just reminded me of Gender Odyssey, a conference held every Labour Day weekend in Seattle. It’s heavily trans man oriented. I realize you’re in NYC and the conference is in Seattle, but I figured I’d mention it anyway.
Véronique’s last blog post..Art and life
It’s because transwomen once had a penis and are therefore way more important than any transman who may gain a penis through surgery.
Thus, yes, it’s because transwomen were once men, whether they ever felt that way or not, and men get what they want way faster than women do. So the focus is on them, and there are more advances in surgery for them, etc.
It’s the same reason why over the counter yeast infection medication became available. Men wanted their women to get over the infections quicker so they could go back to having sex. So the health professionals made it happen even though, really, every infection should be looked at to make sure it’s not something worse.
That, and “female impersonators” are considered such a freak show that there’s a “paying audience” for it. So the media and others pay more attention to it. (And, no, I’m not saying every transwoman was once a female impersonator, seriously.)
Did you never run into the same sort of thing before? I always saw the same theme in the split between gay men and women.
Will’s last blog post..Quit Whining You Damn Tranny
@Linus
Wait, no I want trans to stay in the GLBTQ life wont be the same if trans peeps are gone from the rainbow. That’s what I love most about our community it’s ours! I mean I am not the smartest person when it comes to our community I don’t know everything but I love everyone and that’s huge our community has a mass amount of love and I like that a lot. How do you feel about it?
Interesting view.
You mean, male privilege? Could have some of that in it. But if that were true, trans women’s salaries wouldn’t be halved as a result of their transition and FTMs wouldn’t see an increase (as minimal as it is). I don’t know if it’s as much penile envy or privilege as much as it is passing. The more I transition, the more I blatantly see how shallow society is.
As for gay vs. lesbian — I dunno that you can compare it. In this case, there is the issue of sexism, the pornographic view of lesbianism (society pigeon holes it) and the feminist fight. Lesbians are very much at the forefront of that fight for basic rights (e.g., Prop 8, adoption rights, etc.). Gay men get viewed different and retain male privilege even if they are viewed by society as “something evil”.
Well, I can see both sides. I have faced and do see transphobia from the LGBTQ community. Unfortunately, not everyone is as open as you.
As I transition, I go from a “lesbian/same-sex relationship” to a “straight” relationship as far as society is concerned. If I get my gender changed on various forms, then I’ll have the right to marry anywhere in the US — legally. I’ll be able to adopt with that partner — legally. etc. The biggest challenge is that the GLBTQ is about sexual orientation. That may or may not include gender orientation. So far organizations like HRC have let the trans community down (e.g., watered down GENDA).