Comments on: Transsexual Clichés and Stereotypes in Film, Television and Print Media

By: Joanne

Joanne — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:17:54 +0000

Hello Calpernia
I'm on the hunt for intersexed and/or transsexed caricatures from English speaking news-papers and magazines.

These are required for an article I'm working on, intended as the first post on new blog I'm building. The blog will mainly be dealing with what I call 'semantic terrorism.' Semantic terrorism being broadly defined as the way words, beliefs and negative stereotypes are used to create a feeling of fear and uncertainty in a target group.

If you or any one else could help me source these items I would welcome hearing from you.

All the best – and thanks for an interesting read.

Joanne

By: mathilde

mathilde — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:34:27 +0000

Dear Madame Calpernia,
I watched your video about the "bad questions" and well, I loved it! People are dumb…
Hugs from France.
Mathilde

By: Deanne

Deanne — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:08:33 +0000

Hey Callie,
Loved the essay. We are in a similar place that gay characters in the media were not so long ago. Using negative stereotypes has always been applied to those that are not part of the "norm." This mostly for the same reasons you site.

In the "Hall of Fame" category I would include the french movie "Une Artre Femme" (Another Woman.) Although there is the stereotypical TS prostitute in the film, the main character is a woman that is dealing with the effects of living a stealth life.

Love the site and the life commentary from one of my favorite girlfriends!
It's nice to know that you are out there fighting for us!
Deanne

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:13:26 +0000

Certain characters have a basis in reality. I had the "Silence of the Lambs" Voice going for awhile.
I'd have him ordering stuff at Burger King, and silly stuff. I was angered at the premis that TG's might actually
be that disturbed, but I suppose now that I'm better informed about HRT, it maybe isn't so bad?
I was in a Park the other day, when i was spoken of as a "lady" and it eats at me now I didn't go ahead at age 20 and Transition. My results would have been very good. My parents kicked me out of the house, and I was a nervous wreck anyway! South florida was my first exposure to "out's".
I'm glad i have support now, and am lined up to be reassigned fully, i hope so anyway.
Self- Acceptance is so important! I've had my heart bashed so many times, let them all eat cake!
Non TG's don't know J-A-C-K !

By: Chicago Molly

Chicago Molly — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:43:26 +0000

"Ally McBeal" ran a story about a transwoman called Stevie (played by Wilson Cruz if I remember aright), who was caught working the streets and Ally steps up to defend her and maybe rescue her. The writers couldn't decide if Stevie was Really Transsexual or a Pretty Gay Boy Sex Worker, so the script got confused early on and never really recovered. By the middle of the story it started to look as if she was transsexual and wanted to raise money for transition; Ally lobbied to get her a part-time job at the law firm, helped her shop for Office Appropriate Clothing, and Stevie gave the other women advice on cosmetics (Cliché 9!). By the start of the last act I really thought they were going to make her a recurring character. I should have known better; instead they went for Cliché 3 — She Just Had To Turn One Last Trick. Closing shot showed Stevie lying on a table in the morgue — but gorgeous.

By: Dear Kitty. Some blog :: Gay and lesbian struggle in Nepal :: March :: 2009

Dear Kitty. Some blog :: Gay and lesbian struggle in Nepal :: March :: 2009 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:11:18 +0000

[...] Weekly in Australia: The Blue Diamond Society is the largest LGBTI (lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and intergender people) rights organisation in Nepal. The societyâ€™s coordinator, Subash Pokharel, [...]

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:06:33 +0000

This seems very applicable to me, as I enjoy lots of "extreme dance music", and mainly just do my own
"Hormonal Transition" in secret just to make myself feel better. I don't fit into any of these
Stereotypes and find myself drifting more and more into "Genesis P-Orridge territory" as my
lack of friends and useful helpers, just seem to leave me no choice.
I want to "lash out at people" in my own artful way, as i feel they won't listen anyway.
I might as well be amused. "The Riddle of Gender" has an interview with a Transition who
thought going the quiet way was better–like in the 1960's, and i'm starting to agree.
People mess with me too much for my own comfort level.

By: Eshto

Eshto — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:11:37 +0000

I love Silence of the Lambs. I remember the very first time noticing that they explicitly stated that the killer was not really a transsexual. But you have a great point when you say it can't compete in our imaginations with the other images. I still think it's a great movie, and I do think at least some responsibility should be placed on the audience to pay attention and not attach their own biases to characters in a work of art. I think I would have placed this in a gray area, but then not being trans I suppose it's easy for me to say that.

Either way, great article. I am sharing it with all my friends.

By: sexgenderbody

sexgenderbody — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:57:40 +0000

wow. what a wonderful, detailed and solid post. I simply love it. great job. great, great job.

-arvan

By: Lexie Cannes

Lexie Cannes — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:41:36 +0000

While not trying to blow my own horn here, I thought I'd mention that I just recently completed an indie feature film ("Lexie Cannes") where the central character is transgendered and and the film doesn't have any of the above mentioned cliches and stereotypes. Not only is the central character is portrayed as "normal", she's somewhat of a heroine. Another role in the film played by an actual TS person whose part is just another (non-tg) male character in the film. "Different for Girls" was one of the films that sparked "Lexie Cannes."

Check out the website LexieCannes.com and Facebook.com/LexieCannes as well as Twiiter.com/LexieCannes.