Each person should have the right to choose between pink or blue tinted gender categories, as well as all the other hues of the palette. –Leslie Feinberg
Many people see normal gender identification as distinctly male or female and expect people to play out the gender roles that are set. People who fall outside of the standards set for women or men can be considered unusual and referred to as “Genderqueer”. The term "genderqueer" can be used as an adjective to refer to any people who transgress gender, regardless of their self-defined gender identity. Some people directly identify with this term and see it as empowering, while others think it is offensive. I am interested in how these people identify themselves, how they appear to the common onlooker, and their response to the term “Genderqueer”. I will obtain my information by surveying people who fall into this category as well as ones who do not. This is primarily a research project to help show people that set gender roles are not necessarily the case and that people are way more diverse than that.
This was an amazing book. I recommend it for everyone to read. Leslie Feinberg is amazing. Her writing is also helping me in this project, specifically TransLiberation. I wrote this review in a women's studies course.
“Are you a girl or a boy?” (SBB). Did you ever deal with such questions while growing up? Most people do not have to deal with this ridicule, but in Leslie Feinberg’s novel Stone Butch Blues, that is only where the trouble begins for a masculine looking girl, Jess Goldberg. When she was just a young girl, an Indian woman next door told her parents she would walk a different path in life. She leaves home early on after continuous ridicule in school, including rape and being brutally beaten. Feinberg tells a story of what life was like for pre-Stonewall, working class, transgendered, lesbian and gay people in the urban Northeast.
Very few understood Jess, and the little that did, didn’t do anything to help her out. Her parents panicked when they realized she was different and sent her to Charm school, unsuccessfully. When they saw that didn’t work, they made her wear dresses every day to school. They even went as far as to send her to a shrink and even an asylum where they made her “sit pretty”.
School should have been an escape route for her but it was only another window open for ridicule. Her English teacher Mrs. Noble was very touched and sad when she read a poem she loved in front of the class,
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring,
From the same source I have not taken
My Sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I lov’d, I lov’d alone.
The poem was by Edgar Allen Poe and showed Jess’ maturity beyond her years.Jess didn’t understand segregation and was suspended from school when she sat with one of her friends at the black table. Stone Butch Blues not only deals with the struggles of the transgendered, but also with issues of race and class.
At first, Jess’ only escape was her job at a printing factory after school. She had to practically beg her shrink and persuade him that it was good for her. One day, another printer asked her foreman. “Who’s the butch?” (SBB). She was more confused than anything, not really understanding the term. At dinner that night, a work friend of her’s, Gloria talked about her gay brother that took her to a bar where “mannish” women came on to her. This is when Jess’ learned of Tifka’s, the first gay bar, and only welcoming place so far in her life. This is where she met Butch Al, who practically took her under her wing to show her what its like to be a real butch.
Soon afterwards Jess’ alibis for going to the bars were disappearing. She eventually ran away from home and Butch Al and her femme Jacqueline took her in. Cops routinely checked the bar and harassed them, taking them to jail and even raping them. Jess had escaped the ridicule of school but life outside was even more dangerous for a “he-she” like herself.
Because of her androgeny, she found she was able to pass as a man inside of the factories. Several times, people close to her accidently exposed her gender and got her fired, or she quit. She just wanted to get ahead without being put down for her gender. She didn’t necessarily feel she was born into the wrong body though. She just knew that the stereotype of woman didn’t fit her and just wanted to be seen as normal. Normal could only mean passing as a man, since that was what she was close to and what enabled her to work.
This book is really great. Many people don’t know what its like for people like Jess. Even though I have not been through anything nearly as bad as Jess, I can relate. The book also illustrates what the butch and femme lifestyle are like. Butch’s are only supposed to date femme’s and vice versa. I think this is really interesting considering that they are all women and choosing an alternative lifestyle that sort of mocks heterosexual lifestyles. Later in the book, Jess dismisses one of her friends out of disgust because she is a butch with a butch lover. Some lesbians really take pride in whether they are butch or femme. I think that it’s another way to categorize a minority that doesn’t need anymore sub categories. I don’t really fit into either of the stereotypes and sort of rebel against them. At this point in my life, I am a bit more androgenous, I think mainly because of my short hair. People are really rude and un observant. I have had to deal with people calling me Sir or looking at me with questioning eyes. Its not a good feeling.
Stone Butch Blues is one of those books that I couldn’t stop reading. Page by page I sunk deeper and deeper into the story of Jess Goldberg. Feinberg writes fiction so well that the reader almost sees through the eyes of the character. Many people mistake the novel to be partly autobiographical about Feinberg’s life. In an interview, she clears this up, “Although I am a non-fiction writer, I wrote a novel because of the power of fiction to reach readers. I also chose a novel because of its ability to reach down into emotional truths” (Feinberg). The truth really does hurt and that is why it was necessary for Feinberg to construct a fiction novel in order to show the world what trans people go through day to day.
I think this book is an example of why people should stop worrying so much about gender. It shouldn’t matter if someone is biologically male or female, or what they choose to appear as. They are people and deserve to live life without dealing with pressure because of gender. The violence and ridicule that happen could be reduced if people understood the transgendered and werent acting out of fear and confusion. I feel this could be avoided if schools werent so uptight about their gender education.
Feinberg, Leslie. Stone Butch Blues. Ithaca, New York: Firebrand Books, 1993.
Gravois, Valory. "Transgender Book Review." Rev. of Stone Butch Blues. Alchemist-Light Publishing 1999.
Gravois, Valory. "Transgender Book Review." Rev. of Stone Butch Blues. Alchemist-Light Publishing 1999.
I was speaking with a friend of mine while preparing to take her portrait. She was asking me exactly what my project was about. I've found that people that aren't directly involved with lgbtq issues or the gender queer at all aren't familiar with the term.
I explained to her loosely what I was trying to do. I'm rewriting my abstract tonight. By starting it out with a comment on heteronormativity, I lose a lot of people. I tend to forget that not everyone is as queer as me and interested in such issues. It just slipped my mind. In a way this is good for my project though. The point is to educate about the other ways of identifying besides the pink and blue of how women and men are supposed to appear/act.
I titled my project "Gender-Queer" thinking it was a very clever way to catch attention and play off of words. While my project does circle around the idea of gender-queers and what it means, Im trying to communicate with a broader audience. I've decided to rename my project "Gender Query", sticking with what I wanted to do in the beginning but compromising to bring in a larger audience. My project is exactly that... Questioning.
I am not turning this into a big "gay" project. My classmates were able to show me the variety of understanding I can get with audiences in general. One of the girls who participated in my survey said she was offended by the term gender-queer. I'm not trying to glorify gender-queers....I am merely trying to show that there are other types of people that don't fit into the gender roles set for men and women.
"Being bisexual or homosexual is no more odd than heterosexual. People have been bumping twin uglies since creation. Why does society feel that physical sex, gender roles, and gender identity should all align in order to be 'normal?'"
**so after reading that I knew I had a lot of work to do if I wanted my project to be successful. This project is not about being gay or straight. Its about gender identity--whether embraced consciously or subconsciously. There are many straight women that dress in men's clothing because its more comfortable....Tom boys.. I would say thats gender-queer. Outside of the norm. Her argument was interesting but she missed my point.
I hate labels. I know that Im stamping a huge label on my project. Im doing that to spark interest. I'm doing it to prove a point.
My powerpoint is due tomorrow. I'll be finishing up the first draft tonight. Luckily the library is open 24 hours Sun-thur. My computer doesnt have powerpoint. I think Ill keep my initial powerpoint as a base and go from there. I have to finish revising my abstract and some other information.
The semester is winding down and my stress level is rising. I don't have nearly as many participants as I wanted to have in the beginning. After my working crit I realised flaws that were in my abstract. I have to re-evaluate it so that it reflects exactly what I'm trying to go for.
My crit day is on the 8th but I have to turn in my powerpoint on the first. I hope that I can get the portraits that I need in time. Honestly this is more about research but being a photo major I do need imagery. In the end I need 10 pictures all together.
This project is not over when the semester ends in the least. I don't feel as if its even to a point right now that it should be. Working full time really puts a damper on artwork.
To me, on a very basic level, 'gender queer' means you fall outside of the definitions of or choose to not identify yourself as strictly male or female. I don’t believe the term ‘gender queer’ can be used to identify a person other than yourself until they claim the term. It seems many people who are unfamiliar with any gender queer issues (and even some who are) would automatically assume that just because a ‘member’ of one sex (assuming ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ refer to the same set of distinctions) dresses in clothing made or meant for the ‘opposite’ sex, they are gender queer, confused, or gay. And in that sense, on a superficial level heteronormativity can be directly related to ‘gender queers’ because those who would assume clothing equals gender queer equals gay would not even necessarily see a distinction between the two. The same goes for men who are labeled as effeminate – generally considered gay, not gender queer, but which is it really- if either? But in all actuality, the fact the heterosexuality is considered the ‘normal’ or ‘regular’ sexual orientation is no different than calling someone who is a ‘gender queer’ gender queer at all. We are assuming the ‘male’ and ‘female’ are the ‘normal’ and ‘regular’ genders, which leads into all the research done that supports a spectrum or several ‘genders’. But back to the question, ‘gender queer’ would be any person who self-identifies as neither rigidly male nor female. I don’t think that gender queer necessarily refers to someone who considers themselves to be actually in mind and spirit of the ‘opposite’ sex because that would be more of a transgender leaing, which can fall under the general umbrella of gender queer, but once someone transitions, they usually fully accept their true gender, which would no longer equate ‘gender queer’. But sometimes, someone who feels gender queer wears clothing of the ‘opposite sex’ because they are more comfortable in those clothes. I still don’t think wearing clothes designated for the opposite sex intrinsically identifies one a gender queer.
What types of people do you think of when you hear the term?
I don’t think of any particular 'type' of person. You can’t identify anyone as a ‘gender queer’ unless they first claim it. I suppose the common answer would be a drag queen or transgendered person. With which I disagree completely. As I said, the transgender individuals I know fully identify as Male or Female, thus going through a transition to physically appear more masculine or feminine, to match their rigid gender, usually either male or female. One issue with gender identity in general is that I think most people forget how easy it is for a female bodied person to put on ‘male’ clothing and go out into the public and not necessarily be accepted, but be tolerated. That same feat for a male bodied individual to go out in ‘female’ clothing, in which they may feel comfortable (for whatever reason), is almost impossible unless they are performing in drag or living as a woman. But if a woman puts on a ‘man’ shirt and jeans is she gender queer? If a man wears a dress and a wig and makeup, is he gender queer? If gender is not based on what we wear or how we speak or who we date, what is it based on? The dictionary says your gender IS your sex, and your sex IS derived from what reproductive organs you have. I guess really ‘gender queer’ could refer to anyone who feels that your gender and your sex are not the always the same. Which means it’s a much more broad term.
What are your thoughts on heteronormativity in relation to "gender queers"?
Basically I feel like if the world of heteronormativity would prefer that the topic of ‘gender queers’ never be brought to light because it makes ‘regular’ people who already marginalize gay and lesbians uncomfortable. But more importantly we must accept the fact that not only gays and lesbians are gender queer and there are heterosexual individuals that identify as gender queer as well. Gender queer is not a homosexual issue alone, nor is it really always a sexuality issue, and I think many gay people forget that and tend to marginalize that population. As well as the transgender population- being transgender is not inherently a ‘gay’ issue, there are same sex relationships and opposite sex relationships in the trans community. But because it IS still considered a ‘sexual minority’, it becomes the responsibility of gay, lesbian, bi and questioning people to be open and accepting, not tolerating, because that is bull shit, of the trans community. Sorry, major tangent. Those are my thoughts, anyway.
I was very thankful for this thorough response. Still trying to get answers like this.
What types of people do you think of when you hear the term?
Do you consider yourself to be a "gender queer"? Why/why not?
What are your thoughts on heteronormativity in relation to "gender queers"?
Responses So Far
1. To me, genderqueer means to identify with the opposite sex, in term of mannerisms and mind set. It means falling into an in between category, in which u can't be labeled overly feminine or overly masculine--you're just you.
2. When I hear the term genderqueer I think of my friends and myself. I see an image of a female, who might identify as lesbian or trans--who is a boi. She may dress like a boy and could possibly pass for one too or her dress could appear gender neutral; and her behavior is that of a "tomboy".
3. I definitely consider myself to be genderqueer. I feel that my personality and mannerisms have masculine traits, I don't dress to gender extremes. When I dress in general, I feel like its neutral, but possibly more masculine than feminine.
4. I believe that genderqueer attempts to defy heteronormativity. Many genderqueers abandon gender.
By definition, heteronormativity is a term to describe the marginalization of non-heterosexual lifestyles and the view that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation. Many people see normal gender identification as disctinctly male or female. People who fall outside of this category can be considered “Gender Queers”, whether they label themselves, or just qualify. I am interested in how these people identify themselves, how they appear to the common onlooker, and their response to the term “Gender Queer”. I will obtain my information by surveying several people and obtain as much original written source material as possible. I will also incorporate photography. This documentation of identity out of the norm help work to inform viewers about different ways people identify themselves.
I am interested in the blending of genders and in exploring what identity is today. These photographs explore the shifting boundaries between conventional gender distinctions. Their aim is to investigate the unique sensuality of the androgynous experience from the point of view of the aesthetic, rather than socio-political: I am concerned with the beauty and eroticism inherent in this redefinition, rather than with ideologies of sexual preference."
Genderqueer and intergender are catchall terms for gender identities other than man and woman. People who identify as genderqueer may think of themselves as being both male and female, as being neither male nor female, or as falling completely outside the gender binary. Some wish to have certain features of the opposite sex and not all characteristics; others want it all. The term may apply to appearance, social behavior or a combination of the two...
Some genderqueer people see their identity as one of many possible genders other than male or female, while others see "genderqueer" as an umbrella term that encompasses all of those possible genders. Still others see "genderqueer" as a third gender to complement the traditional two, while others identify as genderless or agender. Genderqueer people are united by their rejection of the notion that there are only two genders. The term "genderqueer" can also be used as an adjective to refer to any people who transgress gender, regardless of their self-defined gender identity.
People who identify outside the usual binary genders may use any or all of the following terms to describe themselves:
Some genderqueer people identify as transgender, using the word "transgender" as an umbrella term for a broad range of people who identify as a gender other than the expected gender for their assigned sex, and some do not. (This usage is only one of multiple conflicting definitions of the term "transgender" in use.) The terms "transgender" and "genderqueer" are not synonymous, but there is some overlap between people who identify as transgender and people who identify as genderqueer.
Like transgender people, genderqueer people may transition physically with surgery, hormones, electrolysis, and other practices, or they may not choose to alter their bodies by these means. They may also transition socially, or they may continue to dress and go by the pronouns of their assigned gender.
Alternate meanings
The term genderqueer is also sometimes used in a broader context as an adjective to refer to any person who challenges gender roles and binary notions of gender. This is similar to the way homosexual, bisexual, and other people may identify as queer as a broader, umbrella term. However, because genderqueer also refers to a more specific gender identity, the terms gender-variant, gender-transgressive, or gender-nonconforming are applied more broadly to refer to the wide range of people whose gender identity or expression transgress societal expectations.
