Orange is the New Black (Transsexual character)

[~RoadToTrista~]

This show just came out exclusively on Netflix. At first I thought it was just gonna be trashy (especially since the first scene is two women kissing in the shower with their breasts exposed on camera, one of which is that tall girl from That's 70's Show btw), and I was only interested in looking into it because I read that there is an mtf transsexual character on the show. (who is played by a transgender woman) What intrigued me is that she is portrayed as a post-op transsexual in a woman's prison, she's a recurring character and there are a few episodes that focus on her more.

Anyways, I've now become hooked on this show about as much as I'd been hooked on the Walking Dead. Watched the entire season already and now I'm sad that I have to wait a year for more. Have any of you watched it yet? What do you think of it?

[Rayalisse]

I just binge-watched about 6 episodes last night of this show.  I obviously identify with the TG character, reminds me of when I came out to my wife and kids,  dealing with some of the fall-out with friends and extended family, and re-establishing our friendship/relationship as a couple especially. 

Looking forward to catching up on the rest of the season tonight, I am really enjoying the concept and story.

[~RoadToTrista~]

I can assure you that when you're done you will be frustrated, because cliffhangers are evil

[Rayalisse]

Finished watching it last night.  It is such a good show!  I can't wait until the next season comes out!  I hardly ever binge watch but this show is exceptional.

[Edge]

I watched the first three episodes last night. Wow. I can't wait to watch more.

[Nero]

Finished watching it last night.  It is such a good show!  I can't wait until the next season comes out!  I hardly ever binge watch but this show is exceptional.

Binge watch. Never heard of that but I love it.  Sometimes I 'binge watch' Gossip Girl (still stuck on season 2). It's all about the fashion. lol

[Chloe]

'G'aughter (a 'girl' who also happens to be 'daughter') and I enjoy 'binge watching' everything too . . . as a nominal 'd'ale' ( 'dad' born 'male') usually 'ave no other choice in the matter!

Love the 'boygle'  character too! ( it's her 'quote' in definition and, apparently, getting 'arrested' is becoming 'trendy'? Her 21 yr old friend 'Nina' was dragged off just yesterday!)


On lighter note, check out this "well done lads" !

'Girls can wear skirts, so I don't see why we can't wear shorts. It's a reasonable protest.'

[skin]

Just watched the first three episodes.  The third one was a little hard to watch but the show is excellent so far.  Hopefully it doesn't get forgotten by the time emmy nominations come around again.

[spacerace]

I just started watching this and knocked out 5 episodes pretty quickly.

The portrayal of the trans woman in prison is done really well and accurately as far as I can tell from my narrow perspective.   Her access to her prescriptions, the flashback scenes with her wife and son as she began transition, and the reactions of other people are spot on.

I was so floored to see this done so well in what is really a mainstream high quality TV show that is getting good press - major name actors, created by the person who made Weeds (the showtime show) Jodie Foster even directed an episode- what excellent exposure to a piece of what it means to be trans for a wider audience

[~RoadToTrista~]

I guess the one thing that I didn't like as much about this portrayal was that everyone just knew she was trans (I don't necessarily mean the audience... I mean random people in the story, like the guy in the shoe store). I think that keeps it in a comfort zone that can be accessible to the mainstream but also I wish there was a portrayal where the character just wasn't obviously any different than a normal girl. (Or the reverse for an FTM character).

There are many portrayals of passable transwomen, such as Ugly Betty, though usually they are played by ciswomen. The reason everyone knows Sophia is trans is because her voice gives her away quite easily.

[Danielle Emmalee]

Ugly Betty is a transwoman?

[~RoadToTrista~]

Ugly Betty is a transwoman?

No there's a trans character in the show.

[~RoadToTrista~]

I agree, I also like ciswomen portraying transwomen. Others have a different opinion however, some feel trans characters should be played by trans people as much as possible.

No no my dear, number one rule for passing: The voice is most important. It can clock a visually passable transwoman just as easily as it can keep an unpassable transwoman in stealth. But yes, they probably didn't want a trans character who could just blend in with the crowd, they wanted one who would stick out from the rest and be forced to face struggles with the people around her for being what she is.

[eli77]

Honestly, I found the portrayal kind of bleh. One of the handful of stories that gets told over and over for trans women--married with kids pre-transition, transition story with lots of gratuitous dressing up shots. And it kind of ignored a lot of the main issues around trans women in jail--like whether we even get to be in women's jails, and if we get placed in solitary indefinitely. And I get frustrated with the whole assumed to be unpassable thing too. I don't think it's accurate or helpful for trans kids to keep getting that image of trans women over and over. And the stuff around her estrogen was irritating--they didn't really clarify it enough that it was all in Sophia's head, since she can't actually produce testosterone anymore so masculinization is not a thing.

I love Orange is the New Black, but I was gritting my teeth and hiding behind my gf for a lot of that episode. Usually I try to avoid shows with trans women in them because I invariably hate it. Porn Stash's perspective on Sophia was one of the few redeeming moments.

The only portrayal of a trans woman I've been comfortable with so far in a TV show is Jamie Clayton in Dirty Work: http://rides.tv/dirty-work/