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Dissertation - Recognition of the transgender self

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Felix:
Recognition of the transgender self: an examination of the apologia of the 'pregnant man'
Erika Marie Thomas, Wayne State University
http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/336/

In 2008, Thomas Beatie, a legally recognized male, transgender man, became pregnant with his first child and approached the American mass media to tell his story and defend his decisions. Shortly thereafter, the public fought against his image, attempting to normalize his body and gender. Beatie's unique gender blurring, his choice for exposure and social recognition, and the resulting public controversy surrounding the incident makes for an important test case to understand Beatie's discursive and visual strategies directed toward the American public.

AbraCadabra:
Good thing for showing me were my limits in acceptance are…

I'm obviously too binary, to see this helpful for anything other then major controversy and media-klatsch.
An obvious feeding frenzy followed this one, and it was for sure in NO WAY of any help for our trans issues/acceptance. YMMV

My 2 cents
Axélle

Felix:

--- Quote from: Axélle on December 10, 2011, 12:11:36 am ---Good thing for showing me were my limits in acceptance are…

I'm obviously too binary, to see this helpful for anything other then major controversy and media-klatsch.
An obvious feeding frenzy followed this one, and it was for sure in NO WAY of any help for our trans issues/acceptance. YMMV

My 2 cents
Axélle

--- End quote ---

Tbh, I don't remember him being in the news (npr and local free weeklies), but I'm inclined to agree. I'm not sure why he came forward exactly. But then, that's the topic this dissertation chews on. The meaning and ramifications of the pregnant guy's existence and media presence.

AbraCadabra:
One reason they (still?) insist in continental Europe for trans-men to have a hysterectomy - and as it was, for us MtF, to HAVE bottom surgery, SRS.
They would not otherwise change your gender nor e.g. female to a male Christian name on any of your documentation. (First name must conform to gender based on Napoleonic Code)

In this case the person, T. Beatie, would have been simply a female that was pregnant. Period.
What ever she claimed to be was simply her personal perception and no media klatsch could have or would have resulted...
Like, what's the news in a 'lesbian' being pregnant? Nothing.

Food for thought...
Axélle

Arch:
It would be nice if the author had a better grasp of parallel structure...

I believe Beatie opened up to the media because he wanted to get ahead of the storm that was already brewing. He said that someone where he was receiving medical treatment--I believe he suspected one of the nurses there--starting talking about him to outsiders. I don't know whether her alleged action broke confidentiality. At any rate, he couldn't expect to stay private for long about it, and I believe that people were beginning to notice his condition. Better to be open about it, I guess.

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