News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on May 31, 2009, 07:54:41 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Boost Mobile’s Education on Trans Issues
Post by: Shana A on May 31, 2009, 07:54:41 PM
Post by: Shana A on May 31, 2009, 07:54:41 PM
Boost Mobile's Education on Trans Issues
May 31st, 2009
By Monica F. Helms
http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/men-in-dresses/boost-mobile%E2%80%99s-education-on-trans-issues.htm (http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/men-in-dresses/boost-mobile%E2%80%99s-education-on-trans-issues.htm)
As an activist for the transgender community, I never know when an opportunity will come up to educate a company or an organization. Sometimes it's by accident and other times it's intentional. However way it comes about, myself and others have to take the time to help them understand. To me, the opportunity happened with Boost Mobile, whose parent company is Sprint Nextel, the company I've worked for nearly twenty years.
The education of Boost Mobile on trans issues started with this commercial featuring Danica Patrick as their new spokesperson:
As you can see, this commercial just looks plane dumb on the visual level, but it also uses men in women's clothes in a negative context. Trans people who saw this commercial went ballistic. Even though the commercial does not specifically make fun of trans people, out of the 300 million Americans, many will use this as another excuse to discriminate and hold back equality for Transgender Americans.
May 31st, 2009
By Monica F. Helms
http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/men-in-dresses/boost-mobile%E2%80%99s-education-on-trans-issues.htm (http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/men-in-dresses/boost-mobile%E2%80%99s-education-on-trans-issues.htm)
As an activist for the transgender community, I never know when an opportunity will come up to educate a company or an organization. Sometimes it's by accident and other times it's intentional. However way it comes about, myself and others have to take the time to help them understand. To me, the opportunity happened with Boost Mobile, whose parent company is Sprint Nextel, the company I've worked for nearly twenty years.
The education of Boost Mobile on trans issues started with this commercial featuring Danica Patrick as their new spokesperson:
As you can see, this commercial just looks plane dumb on the visual level, but it also uses men in women's clothes in a negative context. Trans people who saw this commercial went ballistic. Even though the commercial does not specifically make fun of trans people, out of the 300 million Americans, many will use this as another excuse to discriminate and hold back equality for Transgender Americans.
Title: Re: Boost Mobile’s Education on Trans Issues
Post by: Janet_Girl on June 01, 2009, 08:15:30 AM
Post by: Janet_Girl on June 01, 2009, 08:15:30 AM
I watched the commercial and found it offensive. The commentary really did not explain their reasoning. And the 'moobs' commercial will also be offensive.
Why did they use the statement "you think this is wrong", to make a point about rates? Well it is just another attempt to objectify the trans community.
Janet
Why did they use the statement "you think this is wrong", to make a point about rates? Well it is just another attempt to objectify the trans community.
Janet
Title: Re: Boost Mobile’s Education on Trans Issues
Post by: lizbeth on June 01, 2009, 12:11:58 PM
Post by: lizbeth on June 01, 2009, 12:11:58 PM
lighten up, that wasn't a dig at the transgender community, that was a dig at gender stereotypes.