Hi everyone. I can't help but notice that in today's modern world it's as if it like being transgender has turned into a trend. The problem with this is, there are real people who are in fact transgender that are not getting taken seriously as a result of the "trend" mentality.
It seems as though we went from being a group of people who were for the most part hated and wanted nothing to do with if we were to rewind about 10 or 20 years.
I am in fact a woman who lived with the transgender secret her whole life, so it does kind of disgust me that nowadays it has turned into something that some people may actually fake being or see it as a trend rather than a medical condition.
I guess my point in making this thread is wanting to know what other people's take on this is, particularly transgender people who have been deeply closeted for many years.
I respect the right for everyone to live the kind of life that they wish to live, but I also feel as though some things have just gotten very ridiculous.
I have never met someone faking this. I have to wonder what someone would hope to gain from that.
Hugs, Devlyn
Edit to add:
"I respect the right for everyone to live the kind of life that they wish to live, but I also feel as though some things have just gotten very ridiculous."
Yeah....no, apparently you don't.
Modern media and communication allowing people to realise that they aren't alone in the world? Just a thought from very long time closeted person.
Quote from: Devlyn Marie on March 10, 2017, 11:51:11 AM
I have never met someone faking this. I have to wonder what someone would hope to gain from that.
Hugs, Devlyn
Edit to add:
"I respect the right for everyone to live the kind of life that they wish to live, but I also feel as though some things have just gotten very ridiculous."
Yeah....no, apparently you don't.
What she said.
I would add that maybe the recent prominence of all things trans* in the media has provided a distorted view or stereotype of trans* that differs from what it was when we were closeted 30 years ago, but I have not seen it being co-opted nefariously in media, nor in person.
I suspect it may be that people are now better able to accept it within themselves and others. When I was a kid, it was considered a mental illness. Back then it was also illegal to be homosexual. This sort of thing, right across the board, made it difficult to accept what they were. I know, I was terrified someone would discover I wanted to wear girls clothes.
So, is it "trendy"? Or just more and more people able to accept who they are?
Funny you say this, as I've actually been adding an (unnecessary) statement to my "coming out" speeches about me not doing this because it's trendy and that I've actually been struggling with this for 35+ years. After all the discussion, not a single person ever considered me doing this because it's trendy.....I don't think sane people would ever choose this life.
What the "trend" has likely helped with is people feeling more comfortable coming out because it's being discussed more openly. However, for me that wasn't the case. In my case, I was just at my wits ends (to put it gently) and I couldn't go on any longer lying to myself and others around me. It just so happens that "I broke" in a trendy time :)
The reaction when I came out from a certain family member was along the lines of oh, you're doing this for attention, and because it's fashionable right now.
I came out two years before the media reported on Caitlyn Jenner's transition and yet the exposure since then has apparently imprinted on some people the idea that it's fashionable somehow to be trans.
Trendiness is kind of trendy. One one hand it's like the old saying that all PR is good. But it can lead to problems when people start to view a trend as a lifestyle choice. That's what bothers me when I read about people who say they are "healthy" multiples or that they decide to live as separate people. It diminishes the horror of the sexual and psychological trauma it takes to rip a child's mind into pieces.
I have never been what anyone could call a "trendy" person. What I have been is a closeted crossdresser that felt ashamed of it for over 50 years. It has cost me a lot in that time. I never let myself believe there was more to it until recently. I'm still having difficulties with accepting it in spite of starting HRT. I do feel it was the right thing to do. Well most of the time I do.
Jeanette
I read second-hand about something call "trans-trenders." It struck me as the usual BS that cis people tell other cis people when some topic is "hot." I mean, there is definitely some trendiness, but it's among the "cissies." Sort of like when "Native American art" becomes trendy and you see people creating mish-mashes of half a dozen very different cultures and saying "this is what Native American art is," and then a few years later everyone is running off after the next fad and the Native Americans are forgotten and left to rot in their reservation-ghettos. Today they're putting us on pedestals in their museums and galleries to gawk at like Central African carved masks, but in a few years we'll be dumped in the museum warehouses to gather dust.
I can't help grumbling that if we weren't so trendy and high-profile, maybe the right-wingers wouldn't have chosen us as convenient hate objects. (Or maybe they would have anyway -- they seem to hate anything and anyone who isn't exactly like them.)
I haven't seen any trend indications unless you count the awareness and overall pretty positive media attention that we are getting. Then there is also the more positive portrayal of us in entertainment.
As for as a bandwagon thing, where people are jumping aboard i have seen nothing. Not saying you are wrong but just personally. Perhaps increased acceptance will mean more people will come out that would not have and that will seem like bandwagoning?
I don't agree there even is a 'trend' as such.. Its certainly in the wind, there has been such a huge boost in awareness of trans issues in recent years that have helped a LOT of us to dare come forward and be ourselves because the places we live are growing more accepting of our situation by the day. What we are seeing is not people trying to be cool by coming out as transgender, we are seeing the people previously too afraid come forward as they recognize they are far from alone, and the world is more accepting of them than ever.
I absolutely love that in just a few years my country is now a place where teenagers frequently dare start their transitions, and get so much love and support in return.. When I came out 8 years ago this was not a reality, never mind 20 years ago! It is like a dream that my relatively early transition at age 25 has started being considered 'late', as people here are so accepted and so understood for these issues that doing it at 15-20 is now completely normal.
And if this is a 'trend', let it roll on cause its only furthering acceptance as far as I can tell..
I don't think anyone is faking because it's trendy, like everyone else said, I think it's just becoming more accepted, so we're leaving the confines of our closets with a reasonable expectation of not being immediately assaulted. There was a thread a week or two ago about someone's friend coming out, but it being pretty obvious that they weren't trans in the slightest, but I think that's the exception rather than the norm.
Maybe some of it has been confused with other things that seem similar but are not.
I don't think it is trendy. There is an increased media attention on trans* issues so it could be perceived to be more of a trend. In addition there is a good chance that the increased public awareness has helped a few trans* to explore unexplained feelings and emotions and due to increased acceptance decide to come out and transition. This will skew the numbers since a lot of them have been trans their entire life but simply could not explain what is going on.
In the end it is a good thing and it will help long term. I still remember times where being gay / lesbian was something people had to hide. All the sudden there was increased public awareness and it became much easier for many to finally come out and live a happy life. It was a long road. Society is evolving (hopefully).
QuoteSociety is evolving (hopefully).
In Toronto, there is "Pride" which now encompasses the entire trans community, but started out in response to the infamous bathhouse raids, where several homosexuals were arrested.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_Toronto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_Toronto)
The only trend is being poisoned by hormones in our food supply and medications. It's setting the xx xy determination on it's ear.
There's always been trans folk. It's just that social media is giving people and outlet and a voice.
Of course within that there can always be room for exploitation and the distortion of facts if it sells papers, or creates more web traffic. Such is the times we live in.
Not sure how I think about it really. Kind of aware that something's changing in society, but not sure what yet.
What I do know is that in a few months they'll be onto something else.
Quote from: CosmicJoke on March 10, 2017, 11:46:16 AM
Hi everyone. I can't help but notice that in today's modern world it's as if it like being transgender has turned into a trend. The problem with this is, there are real people who are in fact transgender that are not getting taken seriously as a result of the "trend" mentality.
It seems as though we went from being a group of people who were for the most part hated and wanted nothing to do with if we were to rewind about 10 or 20 years.
I am in fact a woman who lived with the transgender secret her whole life, so it does kind of disgust me that nowadays it has turned into something that some people may actually fake being or see it as a trend rather than a medical condition.
I guess my point in making this thread is wanting to know what other people's take on this is, particularly transgender people who have been deeply closeted for many years.
I respect the right for everyone to live the kind of life that they wish to live, but I also feel as though some things have just gotten very ridiculous.
Can you offer us an example or two of someone who is transgender because it's "trendy"?
I've met a lot of people in the TG world, and "trendy" hasn't come to mind for any of them.
How much easier our lives would be if this was a "trend"!
I really believe the percentages of how much of the population is "Trans", has been grossly underestimated. The numbers have always been there, it's just that now many more of us are becoming aware of who we are and not wallowing in denial.
My only complaints is that I came out just about the same time the media started claiming that being transgender was becoming a trend. It made it supremely hard to be taken seriously.
Quote from: DawnOday on March 10, 2017, 02:48:27 PM
The only trend is being poisoned by hormones in our food supply and medications. It's setting the xx xy determination on it's ear.
Dawn you're so right. The number of man made known/probable/possible endocrine disrupting chemicals released over the last 100 years is just astounding. Most haven't been tested at all.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/26/senate.toxic.america.hearing/
And the testing done is very inadequate. For instance nobody knows if there's synergistic amplification when different chemicals come into contact.
To think this grand experiment isn't having effects on the human population is a tad naive.
Paige :)
To me it's not trendy. There is a perception of it being trendy that tends to come from the trans-phobic right. As the media give trans topics more air time and glorify it to some degree (Caitlyn Jenner, "I am Jazz", etc.) people who wish it would just go away start to get the impression it's trendy. Also as more young people in their teens feel empowered to be open about who they are, the idea that it is a trend is reinforced.
The reality is the growing attention from the media is the result of giving it more serious coverage. Previously trans topics were treated as a freak show (countless episodes of Jerry Springer for instance). Now the media is giving us a fair shake and looking at it objectively to help others learn. As far as the younger generation, let's face it, I'm betting most of us became initially aware of our gender identity (even if we denied it) in our teens as puberty was hitting. So the fact that more teens are open about it now in a more accepting society just makes sense. The trans haters however, assume that it's teens just looking to be cool as they search for their own identity. Having been pretty involved in our local high-school's LGBT community, I can tell you I've not met anyone I thought was "faking it".
I've had one or two people ask me about why it's so much more prevalent now and I just remind them that it really isn't. What's changed is science's and society's understanding and acceptance of it. I reiterate to them how foolish it would be to believe that anyone would choose this life voluntarily (an old adage often used in earlier gay/lesbian rights battles).
It's a fact that there is something of a trend in that more people are becoming open about their conditions. I seriously doubt anyone would come out to the world as being trans because they want to seem "trendy." Hate and discrimination towards members of our community is a real and it presents a danger to anyone who identifies as being trans. If someone wants to risk losing their family, friends and job to be trendy they are crazy.
Most of the trans people I know who have come out publicly as being trans and or transitioned have done so because they are tired of wanting to be dead. We put everything we know and love on the line in the hopes that we will find some relief from the pain we have been suffering.
So no, I'm not being trendy, I just got tired of wanting to be dead.
Quote from: Devlyn Marie on March 10, 2017, 11:51:11 AM
I have never met someone faking this. I have to wonder what someone would hope to gain from that.
Hugs, Devlyn
Edit to add:
"I respect the right for everyone to live the kind of life that they wish to live, but I also feel as though some things have just gotten very ridiculous."
Yeah....no, apparently you don't.
When I said this I was going based off of a dr phil episode I watched a while back where a girl who was not actually transgender as most diagnostic criteria would diagnose it was doing it for attention.
To clarify, my point is that there must be a kind of "trend" mentality if someone got the idea to do that type of thing.
The kind of thing you're describing is actors and actresses being paid to say what they're told to say. That doesn't relate to any of us at all.
Hugs, Devlyn
Quote from: lisawb on March 10, 2017, 04:02:44 PM
To me it's not trendy. There is a perception of it being trendy that tends to come from the trans-phobic right. As the media give trans topics more air time and glorify it to some degree (Caitlyn Jenner, "I am Jazz", etc.) people who wish it would just go away start to get the impression it's trendy. Also as more young people in their teens feel empowered to be open about who they are, the idea that it is a trend is reinforced.
The reality is the growing attention from the media is the result of giving it more serious coverage. Previously trans topics were treated as a freak show (countless episodes of Jerry Springer for instance). Now the media is giving us a fair shake and looking at it objectively to help others learn. As far as the younger generation, let's face it, I'm betting most of us became initially aware of our gender identity (even if we denied it) in our teens as puberty was hitting. So the fact that more teens are open about it now in a more accepting society just makes sense. The trans haters however, assume that it's teens just looking to be cool as they search for their own identity. Having been pretty involved in our local high-school's LGBT community, I can tell you I've not met anyone I thought was "faking it".
I've had one or two people ask me about why it's so much more prevalent now and I just remind them that it really isn't. What's changed is science's and society's understanding and acceptance of it. I reiterate to them how foolish it would be to believe that anyone would choose this life voluntarily (an old adage often used in earlier gay/lesbian rights battles).
I think that the Internet is the main reason why there are more out and transitioned trans people now (our community has been growing at a fast pace since the late 90s), because it allows people to have easy access to transition related information. I started my transition in 1998 when I had access to the Internet for the first time; and one of the main reasons why I didn't transition before then, was because I didn't know how to start the process.
If transition is in, that means being closeted and miserable is losing its appeal, which doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me.
I don't think we should shame people for needing role models.
Quote from: kittenpower on March 10, 2017, 05:57:02 PM
I think that the Internet is the main reason why there are more out and transitioned trans people now (our community has been growing at a fast pace since the late 90s), because it allows people to have easy access to transition related information. I started my transition in 1998 when I had access to the Internet for the first time; and one of the main reasons why I didn't transition before then, was because I didn't know how to start the process.
Wish I had went to the websites you went to around that time...finding how much SRS costs, which was unfathomable for me to afford at the time as I was a broke college student, combined with the general anti-LBGT sentiment I found on many sites, especially dating sites with lots of women looking for a "real man", actually pushed me further in the closet...
The visibility of trans issues does have an effect on people's thinking. What really made me start reaching for the closet door again was actually the series premiere of Ray Donovan,[spoiler alert]
which had a lot of transphobic lines, but ended in Ray showing compassion and giving the trans woman who was trying to extort money from his client the money for SRS...it really made me think I am not even in that character's situation, financially at least, though very much so otherwise and actually could possibly pay for my own transition someday...
I typed in transsexual on an aol search and found a lot of information; I also searched for feminizing facial plastic surgery (iirc) and I found Andrea James' website which was a treasure trove, and I also found Susan's place around that time, there were other standout websites like Melanie Phillips', Gianna Isreal's, Anne Lawrence (I realize she is unpopular, but back then her website was really helpful to me), Dr. Becky Allison, etc.; and I was able to find a therapist in my area who referred me to a physician for HRT after 3 months of therapy, and my therapist also referred me to a support group, and an electrologist who did and still does provide services to most of the trans women in my area. Meeting other trans people in person and learning from them was extremely helpful to me in the beginning of my transition.
I think it is because the transgender community is just being born. We are witnessing the birth of a new culture. And there is a tremendous amount of energy being released as a result. While transexuals have been around for quite a while, the actual word transgender is something new. Transexual culture was isolated, misunderstood and quite frankly vilified by the mainstream media. What you are witnessing is the birth of a new culture. Which is only being made possible by advances in technology, sites like this where we share our experiences and support without the meddling of transphobic ignorance, Youtube, where transgender people are for the first time telling their stories in their own words without the filter of editors (telling us how wrong it is) who have always had an incomplete or biased opinion of gender nonconforming people. The media which has always portrayed us as lurid, living in the shadows, exotic, perverse, criminal, etc. etc, etc. The new face of transgender culture is bright-eyed, young, hopeful and defiant. It is the face of a beautiful trans girl staring out from the cover of national geographic magazine. The face of trans kids. Of parents of trans kids. Of trans men and women who are every day living out and proud lives in their communities and demanding respect and a place at the table.
It's like a Star Trek first contact.
Quote from: Jane Emily on March 11, 2017, 12:20:37 AM
I think it is because the transgender community is just being born. We are witnessing the birth of a new culture. And there is a tremendous amount of energy being released as a result. While transexuals have been around for quite a while, the actual word transgender is something new. Transexual culture was isolated, misunderstood and quite frankly vilified by the mainstream media. What you are witnessing is the birth of a new culture. Which is only being made possible by advances in technology, sites like this where we share our experiences and support without the meddling of transphobic ignorance, Youtube, where transgender people are for the first time telling their stories in their own words without the filter of editors who have always had an incomplete or biased opinion of gender nonconforming people. The media which has always portrayed us as lurid, living in the shadows, exotic, perverse, criminal, etc. etc, etc. The new face of transgender culture is bright-eyed, young, hopeful and defiant. It is the face of a beautiful trans girl staring out from the cover of national geographic magazine. The face of trans kids. Of parents of trans kids. Of trans men and women who are every day living out and proud lives in their communities and demanding respect and a place at the table.
It's like a Star Trek first contact.
This. I love your comparison to Star Trek btw. I think people who are somewhat extravagant are always those who we see first. This goes for typical gay pride man you can see on TV , you know the one with green hair half naked. Media love these extravagant people and that's how a false stereotype is being born. People falsely assume that all gay people are like that and have this image burned in their minds.
Stereotypes....
In my opinion something similar is happening to TG community. Doesnt mean that we shy tg girls are not out there. We just don't seek attention. People won't see us first in media.
When new culture is being born, people always try to make an opinion about it. In my mind, stereotypes help in this process.
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Trendy may not be my choice of word, I like knowledge, TG knowledge. This has allowed so many others who have managed a dysphoria they didnt understand and have been able to lead a good life. Now with this knowledge they have the choice without shame. Being a TG does not need to be someone who struggled in misery. Today, TG can emerge without the struggles and mental issues, and they recognize the struggles early TG suffered. I am one such TG. Assuming some statistics to be acceptable then there should be a simlar percentage of gays and TGs. Wow, then there is alot more of us to come out.
Agree how it only seems trendy now to increased media coverage and acceptance. Just a few years ago being gay was considered trendy simply due to them finally being seen as normal; helped by more gay characters on tv shows, civil partnerships, equal ages of consent and being allowed to adopt. In a few more years hopefully being trans will be viewed just as blandly as being gay, nothing special; just how a person was born.
The problems that I see is non binary identities will take longer to be accepted due to more celebrities coming out as nb; which makes it seem like a fad. Although I believe it's far more likely for someone not be a 100% binary gender identity and to not be 100% gay (or straight) so I'm not a position to judge whether they're 'really' nb or just think nb is a fashion choice.
Great question! I never thought about it being a trend. My husband came out to me a month ago. I've done a lot of reading/research and pic viewing. I never realized what was out there or what a beautiful accepting community of crossdresser/ trans there is. As far as trends goes again, I thought being lesbian became a huge trendy cool thing about 6 or 7 years ago. My 8th graders always came home talking about most of her friend were lesbian. And they didn't end up lesbian they just all wanted the experience bc it was cool and still is .
Well, there is an increase in awareness and visibility. That could easily make it seem trendy to people who don't understand it.
Some may feel that it's OK or easier to come out now so that may feed into it.
The backlash of course is these bathroom laws.
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Quote from: Jane Emily on March 11, 2017, 12:20:37 AM
I think it is because the transgender community is just being born.
I guess it is! Three years ago, when I first came to Susan's, I remember us discussing that we didn't have a culture. We, most of us, only wanted to blend in and we feared that too many of us in one physical location would make getting clocked more likely.
Now that trans kids are being acknowledged I see a brighter future, perhaps not soon, but eventually. I wish I could say we had a part in that, that we're helping bring late transition to extinction, but I believe that for most of us that isn't so.
I almost want to believe that the success of marriage equality, which left some people searching for someone new, (us), to vilify, actually made us visible and helped us find allies we never knew we had. I almost want to thank those people who chose us to pick on... Nah!
I felt that I needed to reply to this with an excerpt from an interview from the APA (American Physiological Association), and Dr Walter Bockting, PhD. His explanation hits the nail on the head for myself. There are some other factors as to why I haven't made a move until now (35), but the biggest part for me was not knowing how many others like me there are in the world (not including the porn industry, and their distasteful depiction of trans persons).
APA: How have the media contributed to awareness and education about what it means to be transgender?
Bockting: Throughout the years, increased media attention has helped to raise awareness and foster public discourse on transgender people's lives and experiences and gender diversity more generally. In recent years, media attention has been more frequent and less sensational, instead offering positive role models, affirming transgender identity and gender diversity, and raising more awareness about the struggles that transgender people continue to face. These struggles are related to social stigma attached to their gender nonconformity. Our society still does not accommodate gender diversity and in particular nonbinary gender identities very well. It has also been very gratifying to see transgender people find their own voices and to see greater representation of the diversity, in race/ethnicity and age found among this population.
I don't feel that it has become "trendy", but rather more information from across the world at our finger tips 24/7, has allowed us to feel less like an outcast, and more welcomed/accepted for being who we are.
Valerie
Quote from: Jane Emily on March 11, 2017, 12:20:37 AM
I think it is because the transgender community is just being born. We are witnessing the birth of a new culture. And there is a tremendous amount of energy being released as a result. While transexuals have been around for quite a while, the actual word transgender is something new. Transexual culture was isolated, misunderstood and quite frankly vilified by the mainstream media. What you are witnessing is the birth of a new culture. Which is only being made possible by advances in technology, sites like this where we share our experiences and support without the meddling of transphobic ignorance, Youtube, where transgender people are for the first time telling their stories in their own words without the filter of editors who have always had an incomplete or biased opinion of gender nonconforming people. The media which has always portrayed us as lurid, living in the shadows, exotic, perverse, criminal, etc. etc, etc. The new face of transgender culture is bright-eyed, young, hopeful and defiant. It is the face of a beautiful trans girl staring out from the cover of national geographic magazine. The face of trans kids. Of parents of trans kids. Of trans men and women who are every day living out and proud lives in their communities and demanding respect and a place at the table.
It's like a Star Trek first contact.
My group therapy in the 1979-1982 time frame was for transitioning transsexuals as we were the only ones willing to pay for therapy with a surgical goal. In that group we used the term transgender defined as anybody who was uncomfortable with their gender identity. It would have been interesting to explore the word to discover just what it meant at the time but none of us though that far as it covered transsexualism. We were aware of cross dressers and ->-bleeped-<-s but that was about the limit of our knowledge of the non binary. Needless to say, coming to this site was a real learning experience for me.
As for the media, we received very little coverage and what we received was somewhat like visiting the zoo. We were different but at the end of the day it was forgotten and people move on with their life. All of the reality TV shows of today shine far more light on the community than I am comfortable with. People are now aware of us and as such, stealth or semi stealth is far more difficult than before. I am fortunate in that I live in an area where there isn't that much discussion about the subject so people don't question things as much but I know it's more difficult for others.
I believe that the more we're talked about, the more media coverage we receive, negative and positive, will only serve to imbed us into the mass consciousness. Eventually, we'll become commonplace which will serve as admittance into the mainstream. It's worked for the blind, the deaf, the handicapped as well as the gay and lesbian community. It will work for us too. Being "rare as hens teeth" is never going to get us anywhere. We need all the conspicuous exposure we can get, good and bad. We need to get boring. It will be awesome when were yesterday's news and no longer attract attention or curiosity.
While the relative "explosion" of trans in today's culture does take on some aspects of "being a trend", I think it is just GD is no longer relegated to the deepest dankest darkest dungeons of "proper" society. The only arguably "trendy" aspect I see is with youth doing what youth does, mess with the old folks.
I also think that with the recent proliferation of "bathroom bills" floating through state legislatures, many more trans people who have lived relatively stealthy lives have felt compelled to come out and stand up for the community. Even true-blue Washington is currently fighting against I-1552 that has a goal to repeal Washington's non-discrimination protections for our transgender friends, neighbors, and family members. I know I have been more vocal in standing up against these injustices that aim to remove my rights as a citizen. I am also more aware that in doing so, I open myself up to potential harm, but at the same time, I have the chance to educate my neighbors, and others in my neighborhood. Maybe I can make a difference. But is it "trendy", I don't think so. I think it is my responsibility for the next generation to show that a transgender woman can be successful, independent, strong, and fierce. It is what I do. :)
Quote from: jentay1367 on March 11, 2017, 10:42:23 AM
It's worked for the blind, the deaf, the handicapped as well as the gay and lesbian community. It will work for us too.
I think the deaf community is an interesting correlation you make. The deaf community can definitely be seen as an unique and separate "culture." They even have their own language. And many deaf people consider themselves to be separate culturally. Many deaf people chafe at the idea of having surgery on their children to change them and make them part of the hearing community. We can learn a lot of lessons here. I.e., I don't know how many times I've heard repeated on this site and elsewhere among the trans community, "Nobody would
ever want to be trans." I wholly reject this idea. If prefer the paradigm, "Trans is beautiful." Also, personally, coming from the gay community, I seldom heard gay people expressing the sentiment, "nobody would
ever want to be gay." Quite the opposite in fact. That sort of thing came from the other side. People like Anita Bryant. Gay people didn't win a place at the table by promoting that idea.
Quote from: Dena on March 11, 2017, 09:35:24 AM
1979-1982 . . . In that group we used the term transgender defined as anybody who was uncomfortable with their gender identity.
I didn't know that the word was being used that early. I didn't become aware of it until this millennium and after the invention of the internet and from what I have read it didn't have any widespread use in the lexicon until the 1990's.
OP, I really don't think this is a trend thing. I do think that some trans people express value judgement on those who came along later and have had easier times. As we say in science: if we can see far, it's because we stand on the shoulders of giants. 20 years ago transition was too high a bar for me and the requirement that one pass in the binary for a year RLE was simply beyond reach. Now I'm looking at GCS in just a little over six weeks. I've actually enjoyed a year of RLE and I'm looking at a procedure that's advanced considerably from what I'd have had then.
There have been negative sentiments expressed recently on Susan's about non passing women who have GCS like they haven't paid their dues and I certainly remember similar sentiments being debated back in the day and I think it's as ridiculous today as it was then.
There are people who transition in whatever way and then change their minds, detransition etc. To be sure there's good scientific evidence that most trans women have feminine identified brains (the methods of testing the have evolved a lot in 30 years). However there's no definitive diagnostic test and so besides the individual's experience, we don't have certain knowledge of causes. I doubt most trans women or men could categorically identify whether their trans identity is nature or nurture. The research, btw is also pretty clear that some trans women and fewer trans men have the brain structure that matches their birth assignment. I know for certain that I cannot untangle this for myself.
The thing you most remind me of however, could hardly be called a current trend. Back in the late '90s some trans activists were concerned and writing about how easy the track was for young trans people in Europe, while expressing the concern (rooted in personal experiences) that that openness was funneling people who might ultimately be happiest identified outside the binary into a rigid plan for HRT -> GCS.
I don't think of trans people's interactions as a new social construct. I've been involved in trans and lgbt activism, and feminism for 20 years and things have evolved, especially with the shift to a more inclusive feminism. I see trans people having very similar issues amongst ourselves as well as with respect to society at large. I do think we are better understanding of ourselves as well as understood by the cis population.
Quote20 years ago transition was too high a bar for me and the requirement that one pass in the binary for a year RLE was simply beyond reach
I agree. Also, you needed a psychiatrist to approve it and more. The medical aspects of transitioning are much easier these days.
The Media makes it trendy like everything else. Who would wish this on anyone else! The Media knows nothing about being Trans!! Today Trans is good and tomorrow it will be Bad!
Trendy with a select few online, I'm sure. The online world, makes certain things look great, fantastic, and trendy, but outside of there, it is anything but!
Anything online can be trendy, I could have a collection of beer cans, and have an audience for it I'm sure. I could make a ten minute video for each beer can I have, detailing the logo, the imagery, the ingredients, and so on. There would be a following, people sharing their beer cans in turn, an entire community built around beer cans.. But in the real world, most people would just laugh at it.. (I don't have a beer can collection, just an example)
Being transgender is not trendy, nor is being gay, at least not to society at large.
I personally feel as though it is not necessarily trendy, but more acceptable.
In the same ways that there was a large coming out of homosexual people once that became acceptable, it is not strange to see the same thing happening with transgender people.
I have quite a few friends who are younger than me, and they don't view it as a trend but rather just another way that have to express themselves. Many are very respectful of proper pro-noun usage and respect that their friends or acquaintances identify and live their life how they want.
I have the unique experience of seeing this happen with adoption and being a birth-parent. All of a sudden it is okay to come out as a birth parent and to let the world know that you have placed a child for adoption. It's on TV, in the movies and encouraged that you not hide a major part of your life.
Transgendered people are starting to appear in the same ways, be recognized for being valid, and accepted by large (mostly liberal) groups of people. For the most part the people that are not accepting of transgendered people are those who have little drive to understand outside of their own mind or have little drive to expand their world to include people who are outside of the norm around them.
Trendy no, but the media brought my personal problem into the light. As I have mentioned before I always new something was wrong but chose to, as was the custom of the time "suck it up and live with it". So I lived with the unease all my life and am just now opening up thanks to the spotlight.
Ever since 2012 LGBQT in general started to surface, I've noticed it myself.
First there was the wave of the gay rights era which was around 2012-2013 ...
This was when I was in high school. I remember our whole table talking about how we could support the cause.
At this time there was none of the Tumblr custom made terms flying around.
or at least none that I knew of. so it was either Bi- or homosexual
then the transgender wave began like in mid 2015 after I graduated..
the transgender thing entered mainstream media. Late 2015
.
that's when I learned of the term transgender, because it was literally everywhere on the internet at the time.
Tumblr also played a role in it too 🤞 with the custom made pronoun thing. Pretty creative.
Also, there was 2 other trans people that I knew of at my school other than myself.
people were pretty accepting for being so unclassy. I thought of myself as girly until these terms
were introduced to me, now I'm a trans.
Now it's a flat out war, Trans vs Government.
It does seem pretty weird to me actually.
cause Just a few years ago everything was fine.
over here at least.
It could just be a coincidence.
It could be an agenda.
You never know.
No need to get triggered though.
Great minds question everything 🤤🤤🤤
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Valkria, I get what you're saying, but these terms have been around much longer than Tumblr had been. I'm 35, and I remember first hearing the term transgender when I was in elementary school. There does seem to be an influx of new terms, but also think of how society (and psychology) has progressed over the years. There are eplenty of people my age and older (as seen here alone), that are just now finding a voice, because of more media and Internet attention. As the world is exposed to more trans people, the more people that hid away (like myself) are more confident in finally acknowledging our inner selves. There are quite a few pioneers on this site that began their transition either before I was born, or as I was still in diapers. I was completely unaware of how many more people in the world felt the same as I do. I am still in the beginning stages of my journey, and having to take it slow for my wife to adjust as we discuss our next steps, and then how/when do we tell our kids too? So yes, it does appear to be somewhat "trendy", but this is not like buying a pair of pants; this is a life altering decision we all make. If there is anyone doing it because it seems that way, I am sure that they will bear some heavy consequences from within, which will only hurt all of us that much more.
Quote from: Valkria01 on March 12, 2017, 11:36:04 PM
Ever since 2012 LGBQT in general started to surface, I've noticed it myself.
First there was the wave of the gay rights era which was around 2012-2013 ...
This was when I was in high school. I remember our whole table talking about how we could support the cause.
And here I thought the trans and gay rights wave started in the late 60s at Compton and Stonewall (/humor) ;-)
Here's the prevalence of the terms transexual, transgender by Google ngram.
https://goo.gl/photos/aSARjUtdNjGcg9dr9
Quote from: SadieBlake on March 13, 2017, 04:06:44 AM
And here I thought the trans and gay rights wave started in the late 60s at Compton and Stonewall (/humor) ;-)
Here's the prevalence of the terms transexual, transgender by Google ngram.
https://goo.gl/photos/aSARjUtdNjGcg9dr9
I was speaking on the subject "mass media coverage/Interweb". :-*
[waves come in many shapes, sizes and durations]
Quote from: Scorpio2Scorpia on March 13, 2017, 01:05:51 AM
Valkria, I get what you're saying, but these terms have been around much longer than Tumblr had been. I'm 35, and I remember first hearing the term transgender when I was in elementary school. There does seem to be an influx of new terms, but also think of how society (and psychology) has progressed over the years.....
~
I never said the terms Transgender/Transsexual didn't exist, maybe something in my comment was misunderstood.
"that's when I learned of the term transgender, because it was literally everywhere on the internet at the time."
I do understand what you mean though. :angel: :angel: :angel:
While "trans identity" issues have certainly become more trendy, I don't see a similar correlation when it comes to transsexing -- to fully assimilating into female (or male) culture. But then, how could such a path become trendy, when it's predicated on non-disclosure?
Quote from: Valkria01 on March 13, 2017, 04:41:51 AM
I never said the terms Transgender/Transsexual didn't exist, maybe something in my comment was misunderstood.
"that's when I learned of the term transgender, because it was literally everywhere on the internet at the time."
I do understand what you mean though. :angel: :angel: :angel:
I apologize. I did misinterpret what you meant (I really shouldn't be reading/commenting when I'm sleepy). I understand what you're saying too; with it being more prominent in the past 5+ years, it does seem to be overwhelming (to an extent) with so many more people (like myself) bursting out of nowhere lol
Quote from: Sophia Sage on March 13, 2017, 11:03:23 AM
While "trans identity" issues have certainly become more trendy, I don't see a similar correlation when it comes to transsexing -- to fully assimilating into female (or male) culture. But then, how could such a path become trendy, when it's predicated on non-disclosure?
This. Trans identidies certainly have become more trendy. We can't say the same for transsexing which envolves non-disclosure to the larger part of society, and means you have been fully assimilated in society as a woman (or a man) and everyone who knows you can't imagine you being any other way.
Quote from: CosmicJoke on March 10, 2017, 11:46:16 AM
Hi everyone. I can't help but notice that in today's modern world it's as if it like being transgender has turned into a trend. The problem with this is, there are real people who are in fact transgender that are not getting taken seriously as a result of the "trend" mentality.
It seems as though we went from being a group of people who were for the most part hated and wanted nothing to do with if we were to rewind about 10 or 20 years.
I am in fact a woman who lived with the transgender secret her whole life, so it does kind of disgust me that nowadays it has turned into something that some people may actually fake being or see it as a trend rather than a medical condition.
I guess my point in making this thread is wanting to know what other people's take on this is, particularly transgender people who have been deeply closeted for many years.
I respect the right for everyone to live the kind of life that they wish to live, but I also feel as though some things have just gotten very ridiculous.
The same can be said about almost any social movent or cultural change. During the civil rights movements, there were plenty crackpot hippies making the left look bad, there are feminist that go to far, and I'm sorry but Bill Maher is mean sometimes when he talks about religion.
Point is don't sweat it. Personally, I'm actually glad we're at a point where you can be saying that. People want to be us now? Great, sign me up.
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