I came across this interesting TED talk recently that made me think
a lot about gender identity, hybridity and the classification systems that
we’ve been discussing in class. When it comes
to gender and sexual identity, I'd guess that many people today view
this identity thread from a social sciences perspective (i.e. is this person
biologically male or biologically female or do they identify as straight or gay) instead of within complex societal, political, familial, and cultural frameworks that shape ones sexual and gender identities. Our discussion about allowing gays and transgendered individuals in the Boy Scouts highlights the fact that many groups of Americans believe in his either/or approach towards gender and sexuality. By failing to investigate or examine
the complexities of gender and sexual identity on a spectrum, we're failing to illuminate the multifaceted, flexible and hybrid nature of human sexual and gender identity.
The
Martin and Nakayama readings mention both gender identity and sexual identity
by discussing the masculine and feminine themes, traits or sexual attraction categories. They mention the typical "masculine" vs. "feminine" stereotypes, as well as mention that people may fall into a category of heterosexual or homosexual identity. However, it struck me as off-putting that they said that we might only
“perhaps” be familiar with “bisexual categories” (Martin and Nakayama 182). Isn’t this bilateral categorization of gender and sexuality far too limiting? Isn’t there a
spectrum of gender and sexual identities, just as there is a spectrum of skin
colors?
This TED talk from io Tillett Wright entitled “50 Shades of
Gay” touches on just these questions. She has traveled the United States
photographing thousands of Americans who fall somewhere in between the spectrum
of “straight” or “gay”. Her website the Self Evident Project links to
the project directly, and the video is also posted below.
Would you consider sexual rights to be, as Wright claims, “the human
rights fight of our generation”? How do you feel about the fact that in 29 states you can legally be fired just for your sexuality, according to the video?
Do you think that strides such as legalization of gay marriage in the UK or President Obama’s support for gay marriage to be steps in the direction towards equality, or do you think that the innate discrimination
towards LGBT individuals is already too deep-seated for it ever to really
change?
Generally, I come from a town that is full of diversity. When I showed up for high school, I showed up to homeroom and sat down next to my best friend from Bangladesh. To the right of me my friend from Korea, to the left my friend from India. When I walked through the halls of my high school I took pride in the fact that I had so many friends whose own background and identity was so different from my own. I had thought I had experienced it all, until I went to college. My roommate I found out early on was a lesbian. While this wasn't a problem for me, I just had never met anyone who identified themselves as such. It was new territory for me, it was new issues I had never really thought about. We became fast friends and is today one of my best friends. She has put up with my endless amounts of questions and prying into understanding just what it means to go through all that she has. Looking back on it, I'm so thankful she was as open as she was because some of my prodding, I'm sure hindered on insensitive.
ReplyDeleteI loved this TED Talk and this idea we are comprised of so many different selves and that our sexual identity is only element to it. I agree completely and whole heartedly that the United States has once again reached a point where civil rights are being attacked and we have made humans to feel like they are second class citizens. I cannot and will never understand how it is still an issue. How we can honestly still be debating whether or not two women or two men or whoever wants to get married should be allowed. It's 2013 people. I can think of a whole range of things that would make for better use of our time.
How is it that we can pick and chose what part of a person's identity to recognize? I'm sure everyone of us has parts of us that in some way doesn't match up to society standards, yet many of us won't feel the discrimination that this community has to face. It sickens me that we have to debate the level of humanness based on someone's sexual preference. Or race. Or religion. Or ethnic background. As far as I'm concerned there is only one race and that's the human race.
This TED Talk really hit home for me as well. Unlike Katie and iO Tillett, however, I grew up in a town that lacked diversity of all kinds. Everyone was white, everyone was religious. Few people identified as homosexual. If you did, you faced much persecution.
ReplyDeleteI think that iO Tillett is right when she said that "familiarity is the gateway drug to empathy". When you find out that someone you know and love is LGBT, you are more likely to have empathy for their struggles. I found this to be true when my best friend in high school became the first lesbian I knew and loved. Then again, in college, when my first crush became my first gay friend rather than boyfriend. And finally, by the time my beloved brother came out to my sister and me, I had already developed a foundation of relationships that prepared me to fully accept my brother for who he is. I was even blown away by my own parents acceptance of my brother. To my surprise, they lovingly accepted my brother and continue to maintain a healthy relationship with him and his boyfriend.
I think as iO Tillett said, "visibility is key". I think that people need to see themselves as a part of the LGBT community. I think that everyone needs to realize that there's a spectrum and it doesn't matter where you fall on that spectrum. The LGBT community is everyone's community. It shouldn't be something separate. We shouldn't be separating each other based on sexual preference, race or any other aspect of our identities.
While this is easier said than done, this TED Talk also helped me realize that as accepting as I think I am, I still try to size people up and put them in the LGBT box or the heterosexual box. Just as iO Tillett realized that with her project was doing the exact opposite of what she'd set out to do. Even though I would not put myself at 100% either way on the spectrum. I realize that I too have unwittingly boxed others into one side or the other. Something I'll take away from this TED Talk and something I hope to correct moving forward.
In the past year TLC’c Toddlers and Tiaras phenom Alana Thompson, a.k.a Honey Boo Boo, has suffered her share of criticism. However, in January of this year, the young starlet and her family received a different type of attention. Alana’s breakout television show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” was nominated for a GLAAD award and in GLAAD's own words the show and Alana’s family, "reflect a new American landscape where a growing majority accept and value their LGBT family, colleagues, and friends."
ReplyDeleteAn article posted on the Yahoo! TV website explained that the, “popular reality program from TLC, recently received a GLAAD Media Award nomination. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation was likely impressed by the show's acceptance of Uncle Poodle's sexuality.” The article provides a touching introduction to Uncle Poodle by writing, “Honey Boo Boo's Uncle Poodle (real name: Lee Thompson) has played an important role in showing viewers what it's like for a man to live in the South and be gay. Thompson recently revealed that he is HIV-positive.”
In reading the article I was impressed and humbled by Alana, her family and Uncle Poodle. I think the nomination demonstrates that sources of cultural awareness and acceptance can come from even the most unlikely places. I also think it stands as a perfect example for Brittany’s argument that sexuality is often perceived through a social sciences standpoint, “instead of within complex societal, political, familial, and cultural frameworks that shape ones sexual and gender identities.” Honey Boo Boo herself once famously said, "Ain't nothing wrong with being a little gay. Everybody's a little gay."