Power, the Male Gaze, & the Catch-22 of Trans Gender Presentation

Filed By Drew Cordes | August 10, 2012 4:30 PM

http://www.bilerico.com/2012/08/power_the_male_gaze_the_catch-22_of_trans_gender_p.php

Recently, I read some comments by a trans, female blogger on adjusting to being the object of the "male gaze," which reminded me of my own discomforting experiences with it during transition, and caused me to reflect on the nature of the gazes that fall upon me since I decided to present a more butch and androgynous appearance.

The arrival of the male gaze is disconcerting when transitioning from male to female. When walking through the world as a man, other men unknowingly grant you the courtesy of generally averting their eyes. Men (well, straight cis men) rarely give each a once-over as they pass, and even more rarely do they lock eyes.

With women, the once-over is nearly prerequisite. So when a trans woman begins presenting as female, the sudden increased weight of all those stares is palpable. It can trigger a number of feelings and interpretations. It can signal anything from the person having a sexual attraction and not recognizing she's trans at all, to the person reading her as trans and wanting to hurt her for it. It's a bit maddening to never know what feelings and motivations are lurking behind those gazes.[1]