Gender performance of trans and gender non-conforming people

Reasons for subversion or conformity and society's reaction

Gender expectations within the LGBTQIA+ community

My experience with gender subversion and conformity

Introduction

For this section, I aim to discuss issues and themes of gender representation and the gender performance of trans people and gender non-conforming people. With a specific focus on physical attributes and appearances such as clothing choices, hairstyles etc. To gather insight and information I sent out a Google Form questionnaire to a few peers and individuals who identify as genderqueer or gender non-conforming. Social media sources will also be used to highlight and illustrate the opinions of people in the LGBTQIA+ community on the topic of gender performance and acceptance. My personal experience as an Agender-identifying individual will be shared to showcase my treatment as someone who subverts from gender norms in a gender binary-reliant society.

Questionnaire and Results

Below I have attached the questionnaire I created in order to conduct my research and gain insight to topics surrounding gender performance subversion and conformity. I have also included the results I have gathered, and these results will be used to outline and highlight key points. All participants were informed that the questionnaire results would be used for academic purposes and they provided their consent upon the completion of the questionnaire. Participants personal information was not gathered to ensure their anonymity.

Women and Gender Studies Project (Responses)

Gender representation through clothing

Vasiliki Halastaras, a Greek-American, non-binary filmmaker and content creator (Pinterest, 2022).

Eckert and McConnell-Ginet (2013) state that “names and clothing are just a small part of the symbolic resources used to support a consistent ongoing gender attribution” (2013, 8). This means that in society certain items of clothing are associated with and assigned to the typical gender binaries of men and women. A common example of this would be a section for ‘men's’ clothing and a section for ‘women's’ clothing items in fashion stores or dresses associated with women and femininity.

But what does this mean for individuals who do not identify with the gender binary? In my questionnaire, I posed the question of whether the individuals present and express themselves according to society’s gender norms. Out of the 7 responses, 4 people indicated that they dress in both ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ clothing, they also stated that they subvert from their gender expectations in terms of dress. To quote participant 3, “I dress androgynous. Encompassing and not exclusive to both sides of femininity and masculinity,” this shows us that gender non-conforming individuals will wear items of clothing that they feel are the best to represent or even mask the social constructs of gendered clothing.

Reasons for subversion or conformity and society's reaction

In my questionnaire, one of the questions I asked was, “Why do you conform to or subvert from gender norms?” and 4 out of the 7 responses stated that they actually conform to gender norms to ensure their safety. Participant 3 listed various reasons and stated the following, “To be safe. To not be sexualised. To not be harassed, bullied, teased, taunted. To have peace,” while participant 5 shared the same sentiment and summarised by stating, “To not get hate-crimed.” By looking at these responses it can be said that Bockting and Coleman (2007) were correct in stating that “ambiguity is not well tolerated in our culture” because from my questionnaire, safety from harassment and ill-treatment from people in society, is a major concern for gender non-conforming individuals. Society and people have created these spaces in which people do not feel comfortable enough to express themselves in a safe and accepting environment.

Screenshots of the questionnaire responses

In the article by Lorber and Martin (1998) it is mentioned that, “When a person’s body contradicts social conventions regarding weight, height, and shape, that person may be viewed as lacking in self-control and self-respect,” which I think resonates with a response from Participant 1 (1998, 230). In their response, they state that when they subvert from societal norms they are labelled as being “sloppy” and have they have been called slurs such as “bi*ch” when their behaviour reflects constructed ‘masculinity’. The use of harsh and hateful terms solidifies Lorber and Martin’s statement regarding the societal view of “self-respect”. However, supportive and open spaces have been created and established through various social platforms. This is seen where participants have noted that they receive support from people they chose to surround themselves with, and from people on the internet.

Dylan Mulvaney

I would like to shift the focus onto a trans content creator Dylan Mulvaney, who documented her transition journey on the social media platform TikTok. In an interview, Dylan stated, “I really love leaning into femininity and all the girly things. And I have some women upset that I am so feminine” (del Carmen Corpus et al., 2022). Here it can be seen that Dylan conforms to the gender norms that society has constructed, yet despite that some women are upset. Dylan addresses this further by explaining, “a very prominent conservative podcaster just did an entire hour-long podcast about my videos in a pretty negative light… it was even more upsetting because it was a woman… it made it a little harder being from a woman” (del Carmen Corpus et al., 2022). This brings me to my next point, which is something I have noticed and observed.

There are paradoxical and contradicting views on trans people. They are told they are still men, yet in the breath, they are criticised for not correctly presenting as women. Trans individuals are often told they need to perform gender reconstruction surgeries and receive hormone treatment. Yet trans people are still excluded for not being “real” men or women, even if they have done reconstructive surgery to be biologically present as male or female. This reinforces the idea and concepts that trans men and women should appear or be a certain way according to societal gender constructs.

Gender expectations within the LGBTQIA+ community

Even in the LGBTQIA+ community, there are still similar issues around gender, sexuality, class and race. In the questionnaire, I asked if there are certain ideas or expectations of gender within the LGBTQIA+ community, and all 7 of the participants said yes. Participant 2 stated, “For example, I've often felt inadequate to other male/Non-binary people like me who have a similar sexual preference. I've often felt underdressed in queer spaces or like I should have more money or perhaps confidence or personality to make friends with others like myself,” and participant 4 even stated that there is a “pedestal holding up white skinny gender non-conforming people.” After reading these responses I turned to the social media platform TikTok to see if other individuals felt this way and recognised these patterns within the LGBTQIA+ community. I have included 2 videos from TikTok, which address the issues raised in my questionnaire.

RPReplay_Final1665832653.mp4

In the video posted by nose (2021), the creator attempted to outline the gendered expectations of how a trans-masc ‘should look’, this is done by the creator taking out their earrings, changing into a black band T-shirt and putting their hair up into a beanie (nose, 2021). This emphasises the fact that people have this expectation of what ‘masculine’ is supposed to look like. Specifically, how trans masculine people are supposed to look. What is interesting to note is that in the comments of the video, TikTok user fynn (2021) commented that people only “respect” your identity if you “match their expectations.” Again this reinforces the point that there are gender expectations for trans and genderqueer people.

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TikTok creator Koi’s content focuses on trans masculine issues, with a specific focus on black trans-masc people. In Koi’s (2022) video, he highlights the stereotypes of trans-masc individuals being “white” and having “fluffy hair”. This ties in with the point that participant 4 makes, that genderqueer and trans people who are “white” are put on these pedestals or they are the expectations even within the LGBTQIA+ community. It indicates and solidifies the idea and concept that issues such as race are still evident in queer spaces.

My experience with gender subversion and conformity

I have been fortunate to grow up in a family that is open, accepting and inclusive of diverse people or people who do not fit within society’s expectations or norms. My parental figures have always been supportive and encouraging of my siblings and me, they have created a space in which we feel comfortable enough to express ourselves in ways that bring us joy and make us happy. Therefore, I would say that gender expectations and social policing have not been enforced on me, however, this does not mean that other social institutions and social environments have been the same. Because I have been exposed to spaces such as school or even public social spaces, ideas of gender have been enforced or expected in some way or another.

12 October 2019: The day I cut off my long hair

When I decided to cut off my long hair for the first time, I did not think there was anything wrong or unusual about it. Because throughout my life, my mom has always had a short haircut or hairstyle. Although I was aware that short haircuts or styles on women were not something common to see in media and that there is a culture or expectation for women to have long hair. So when my high school peers and family saw me for the first time after my haircut, the first thing they would comment on was my hair. Various things were said such as “Why did you cut off your hair? Now all your pretty curls are gone,” and one that stands out the most was, “Did you cut your hair as a way to ‘come out?’” which shocked me at that moment. Not only was I made to feel that my long hair and curls made me pretty, but my sexuality was commented on. These encounters made me realise that something such as hair, became a key identifier of gender and even sexuality to other people and society.

05 March 2022: Wynberg Family & Lifestyle Market

The physical feature that people notice the most about me, is the hair on my legs. Because I identify as Agender, I do not see fit to confine myself into boxes of what is considered feminine or masculine. Since April 2021, I stopped shaving the hair on my legs and under my arms because I did not see why I needed to keep up with the concept that women should be hairless. But since my decision, many people have either made direct comments to me about my body hair or stared pointedly at my legs or armpits. On Christmas day in 2021, I received a Christmas card saying “Merry Merry you’re so hairy” this left me stunned and speechless. My brothers have never received something like this, nor has their body hair been commented on. But because I am female, visible body hair is something unexpected and somehow the punchline of a joke regarding my body’s appearance. I have noticed that these experiences are inevitable to happen, so I have made it a point to start discussions on the gender binary expectations of society.

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