Transgender, Queerness, and Gender Roles?
Shiloh, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's four-year-old daughter, has unwittingly made headlines for her adorable tomboy style.
There's nothing unusual about that, says Chaz Bono -- but the story has helped the general public think more about gender identity, notes the fellow child of celebs (Cher and the late Sonny Bono), formerly known as Chastity before undergoing gender reassignment.
"I would love to talk to [Brad and Angelina] at some point," Bono, 42, tells E! News. "To at least let them know we have this resource for them if they ever need it."
Bono volunteers for a support group for kids with gender identity issues and their families. "I relate to these kids," he tells E! "The difference between them and myself is that I didn't articulate it and fight for it and say, 'No, no, no! I'm a boy!' I have so much respect for these kids that do."
Still, he adds, "People get too freaked out about kids and what to do with kids. If you just let kids do what they need to do they usually have the right idea."
Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/momsbabies/news/chaz-and-shiloh-2011105
I saw this and Chaz's comments immediately rubbed me the wrong way, but it got me thinking about how gender roles and queer(gay) identities intersect. I was wondering how others feel. It seems like he's insinuating that women who do not adhere to typically (social-constructed) "feminine" appearance or mannerisms may actually be transmen. This is obviously very problematic from a feminist perspective, but it holds particular bearing to butch lesbians. There is a history of people who are (solely) attracted to the same sex that have been told they are "gender confused", among other more common and degrading terms. For those who don't know, Chaz used to identify as a lesbian woman. Let's keep any discussion/debate respectful.
P.S. Maybe there should be a tag separate from transphobia/transmisogyny for transgender topics that do not include violence/prejudice against those who are trans?
There's nothing unusual about that, says Chaz Bono -- but the story has helped the general public think more about gender identity, notes the fellow child of celebs (Cher and the late Sonny Bono), formerly known as Chastity before undergoing gender reassignment.
"I would love to talk to [Brad and Angelina] at some point," Bono, 42, tells E! News. "To at least let them know we have this resource for them if they ever need it."
Bono volunteers for a support group for kids with gender identity issues and their families. "I relate to these kids," he tells E! "The difference between them and myself is that I didn't articulate it and fight for it and say, 'No, no, no! I'm a boy!' I have so much respect for these kids that do."
Still, he adds, "People get too freaked out about kids and what to do with kids. If you just let kids do what they need to do they usually have the right idea."
Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/momsbabies/news/chaz-and-shiloh-2011105
I saw this and Chaz's comments immediately rubbed me the wrong way, but it got me thinking about how gender roles and queer(gay) identities intersect. I was wondering how others feel. It seems like he's insinuating that women who do not adhere to typically (social-constructed) "feminine" appearance or mannerisms may actually be transmen. This is obviously very problematic from a feminist perspective, but it holds particular bearing to butch lesbians. There is a history of people who are (solely) attracted to the same sex that have been told they are "gender confused", among other more common and degrading terms. For those who don't know, Chaz used to identify as a lesbian woman. Let's keep any discussion/debate respectful.
P.S. Maybe there should be a tag separate from transphobia/transmisogyny for transgender topics that do not include violence/prejudice against those who are trans?