What does mainstream society think when they hear the word "transsexual"?

[Mahsa Tezani]

<As for the last part of your statement...you mean masc lookin like these transwomen(Look at the one on the left):>

Good grief, no! She looks more than ok in comparison to what I mean...

She looks extremely masculine... But the ones in the link are so much worse. I'm not one of these types who are fascinated/attracted to trans people. So I guess i am biased.

[Dahlia]

Scroll to the middle of the videolink I sent and play it. You'll see what I mean....

[Dahlia]

But yes, I fully agree: the most beautiful, feminine looking, stylish and stunning ones her in Amsterdam are gay men/DQ's. Most certainly not MTF's.
It's very, very rare if they are and if so, they're straight as a line.

[Annah]

weird,

I didn't know trans girls were judged on their dedication and/or validity based upon their appearance from other trans girls.

I must have missed that memo.

[Zelane]

What does mainstream society think when they hear the word "transsexual"?

Amanda Lepore /shudders

[Forever21Chic]

  Freak, ->-bleeped-<-got, unholy demon spawn etc etc...

[Shana A]

I think it depends on which "mainstream society" we're dealing with. If it's folks who watch Fox News and Jerry Springer, they'll have a very different interpretation than folks who read the Nation and Progressive, listen to Pacifica Radio and don't watch TV at all. I've had positive experiences sharing about being trans with a number of supposed "mainstream" people. And the level of understanding is often better if those people have a trans family member or friend.

Z

[kelly_aus]

I think it depends on which "mainstream society" we're dealing with. If it's folks who watch Fox News and Jerry Springer, they'll have a very different interpretation than folks who read the Nation and Progressive, listen to Pacifica Radio and don't watch TV at all. I've had positive experiences sharing about being trans with a number of supposed "mainstream" people. And the level of understanding is often better if those people have a trans family member or friend.

Z

Zythyra has a good point here.. I also think location will have some influence on the way people think.. Australians are not Americans, who are not English, who are not French, and so on and so on..

[JoanneB]

If you use demographics, there aren't all that many NPR listeners out there compared to the more mainstream media listened to and watched by most of the world.

I have observed during my many years of trying to be normal, otherwise known as pretending to be a guy, once people feel safe about having to be PC that is when you find out what the really think; or at least say to go along with the herd perhaps?

When they hear transsexual, it essentially only applies to MtF, mostly a TV by their definition, some feaky guy in a dress (think Jerry Springer, et al), followed by a gorgeous drag queen or Lady-Boy that of course they "Could tell". Hell I had a hard time in Thailand playing is she or isn't she with our local sales guy! FtMs are just diesel dykes with penis envy. Besides, they are women and therefore do not really count to start with.

The shocking video of Chrissy Lee Polis getting the crap beat out of her and TIDOR serve as good reminders of how many "mainstream" people think of transsexuals. Only one little old lady out of all the people at McD's that were watching, stood up and did the right thing. We're the dogs that are OK to kick.

[Mahsa Tezani]

The shocking video of Chrissy Lee Polis getting the crap beat out of her and TIDOR serve as good reminders of how many "mainstream" people think of transsexuals. Only one little old lady out of all the people at McD's that were watching, stood up and did the right thing. We're the dogs that are OK to kick.

That had nothing to do with her being transgender, but rather because she was a ghetto beezy talkin to a girl's man. That will get your ass kicked around here.

[xxUltraModLadyxx]

[Forever21Chic]

That had nothing to do with her being transgender, but rather because she was a ghetto beezy talkin to a girl's man. That will get your ass kicked around here.

  We don't play like that around here girl!  *snaps fingers*   

[Mahsa Tezani]

  We don't play like that around here girl!  *snaps fingers*   

Just hate people getting political on certain things. The McD's incident sucked because someone was getting their ass kicked and no one stopped it.

[pretty]

Well, put it this way, what would they think even if they actually spent a long amount of time around here?

Just because here nobody cares if you're a trans lesbian helicopter pilot with 3 kids and gun and motorcycle collections who prefers baggy t-shirts and jeans instead of makeup and girly clothes, doesn't mean that doesn't seem odd to the average person.

I mean, the trans community just doesn't have the same social norms that mainstream society does. So if they don't know a lot, they're gonna think bad things, and if they do know a lot, they're probably still gonna think bad things.

[Ava C]

Most people think of drag queens..

[tekla]

"Mainstream' society does not think of transsexuals at all, as transsexuals are not mainstream.  CDs might be, it's pretty common, but once you go TS, you're off the mainstream map.

[mixie]

 
Recently I watched a clip of Ace Ventura Pet Detective where Sean Young was supposed to be a transsexual.  I couldn't believe that this movie had been made and mocked the transsexual in such a vulgar way.  Whoever made that movie should really be ashamed of themselves and I think they should black list the movie.  The scene where they "strip her down" to reveal a tucked penis is unbelievable to me now though at the time even though I didn't think it was funny I could see "what they were going for."

I think the average mainstream American and person around the world would think of a transsexual the way you would think of a flamboyant gay person: that is, if you are in an industry where it is to be expected it's fashionable.  However in an ordinary life it is very creepy to many people.  This is why so many people get marginalized.

That clip of Paige on OZ factor,  is the kind of thing that needs to happen.  More and more people need to speak out so that people realize that it is a medical condition.  And the more people speak out, the more people will be willing to let transsexual children get the care they need at a young age and avoid a lot of what causes transsexuals to be judged so harshly in society,  they have masculine features but present as a woman.  I do think MtF have a harder go of it in that regard.

[Jen-Jen]

We did a survey on this very question on a few college campuses. A transsexual, to those who took the survey, was generally a crossdresser who had sex while dressed up.

wow... really?

weird,

I didn't know trans girls were judged on their dedication and/or validity based upon their appearance from other trans girls.

I must have missed that memo.

Right? Can someone forward me the memo?

Re: What does mainstream society think when they hear the word "transsexual"? Well here's what I've heard "freakshow" "The thing from the gay lagoon" "IT" "->-bleeped-<-" "heshe""eew" "thing" "Abomination" a few more but I don't remember. Obviously not any good thoughts, that's so sad

[Felix]

Honestly, even when I was deeply in the closet, when I heard the word transsexual I thought of Lou Reed, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the DSM.

But then I didn't hear the word often or ever think about it much. There's really just not a lot of awareness of us in mainstream society.

[Mahsa Tezani]

Computer nerds... I am sure if people looked closer they would see most trans aren't my type but these. These are the only type I've ever really met, besides the transgender(Not DQ) performers I know.

They don't even look as good as performers. They look like people who simply don't give a crap. These are the types that my gay friends and I used to point out, "that's a man" in public: