Transamerican Transexual

Transamerica was not what I expected going into watching the film. I had previous encounters with transsexual individuals, about four years ago, which made me question whether sex-change operations were justifiable. I had a hard time believing that wanting to change your sex was not a sign of illness. At my high school, we had a day of presentations regarding rights and equality in treatment of gay, bisexual, and transsexual people. We had a transsexual who introduced herself as Sophie and then later explained why her birth certificate identifies her as Robert. Her childhood could have been the plot of a top-selling novel. The amount of abuse she took as a child, then a boy, specifically from her father and uncle, gave me goose bumps. The way she was treated by her family and her town in general was absolutely disgusting and disturbing. She failed through school and could not make it to college. A part of me at then end of her presentation could not help but wonder if she would have made the decision to become female if she was raised under “normal” and civil circumstances. She explained how she never felt normal as a child, and was never comfortable with her genitals. I do not know if I would be comfortable with my genitals had my own father and uncle sexually abused me almost on a daily basis. For that reason, I went on and carried that notion towards transsexuals ever since that day. After having finished Transamerica I am not so sure I still feel that way assuming that Bree is similar to other transsexuals in regards to personality. Overlooking the fact that she took estrogen pills, her personality was completely feminine to me. Even the way Bree interacted with her son was feminine as she was very motherly. That may be a controversial point, but I cannot help being biased based on the way I was raised. My dad was a man of few words who never showed much emotion on a daily basis, while my mother was very protective and never stopped trying to take care of me. The way Bree interacted with her sister also gave me that impression. I never spotted any masculinity in the she interacted with anyone. She nurtured herself in her secluded life as well as her son when she was forced to find him. Right now I feel that everyone holds the right to be whatever they want, and if changing sex really makes a difference in how comfortable you are with yourself then no one has the right to stop or criticize you.

a little bit about "the beauty myth" and a lotta bit about "the porn myth"

I don’t understand how so many people in this class can say they do not ‘buy into’ Naomi Wolf’s, “The Porn Myth.” Much like our discussion about “The Beauty Myth,” individuals in this class have looked at “The Porn Myth” one-dimensionally without much evidence to back up their claims. You can’t have an opinion unless you know what you’re talking about. The conversation we had about “The Beauty Myth” shifted entirely to a conversation about media image as opposed to what it was really trying to say: that women have the importance of beauty pushed so far down their throats that goals involving intelligence are not something their told to reach for. Take Hilary Clinton for example, she is criticized for not trying to be a beautiful woman (and that’s it). However, if she were to beautify herself, no one would take her seriously. Just because you think women do not have to look at media images or be affected by them, does not mean you do not ‘buy into’ “The Beauty Myth.”

I feel I can state my opinion on “The Porn Myth” because have done extensive research into pornography and how it is harmful to women and our society as a whole. I have found quotes from actual men who have said that they have become so attached to porn that it is now difficult for them to perform with a real women. (Check out the book- Pornified: How Pornography is Transforming Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families) Wolf doesn’t just get her ideas from her imagination. She has real evidentiary support. Read that book and then get back to me and tell me that Wolf’s claims are bogus.

Pornography is an epidemic that is slowly eating away at our society. In 2006, pornography revenues rose up to an astonishing 97.06 billion dollars: of that, 13.33 billion was graciously donated by the United States. In the U.S., over 3,000 dollars are being spent every second on pornography. That is seriously insane. But if that’s enough for you… The revenue of the pornography industry is larger than those of the top technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink combined. Moreover, “[United States pornography] revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC.” But no, pornography isn’t an epidemic, of course not! Before I am criticized for being a conservative (something I definitely am NOT!)… I want to say I am neither anti-sex nor afraid of sexual expression. I am not a Republican for censorship of “dirty pictures.” I am simply for our humanity. I do not want to contribute to the continuing decline in this country’s moral and ethical standards.

Decades ago, pornography may have had good intentions, seeking to liberate women’s sexuality by displaying their formerly sheltered bodies in glossy centerfolds. Currently, however, “the majority of men… [do] not consider Playboy—once the epitome of the genre—to even be pornography at all, because it doesn’t depict actual sex acts” (Paul 5). Pornography’s heavy integration into nearly every aspect of our consumer culture has gained it increasing social acceptability. The existence of sexually explicit material in mainstream society has caused a desensitization to centerfolds, pin-ups and TV and movie nudity. Presently, because of this desensitization, the pornography industry continues to push the limit on extreme sex further and further. They always try to create original images that shock. It is for this reason that the industry has created the “gonzo” genre of pornography. For those of you who do not know, gonzo is mainstream porn’s roughest, fastest-growing genre and is most popular because its films have no storylines, presenting sex almost without interruption. As an avid pornographer viewer states, “no longer [does] the pornoholic have to fast forward through 10 minutes of inept dialog to get 5 minutes of sex” (Pornoholic). In this genre, women are aggressively “throat-fucked” and experience triple-penetration by many men. Gonzo stresses “sex that is structured on a dynamic of domination and subordination” (Jensen, “Just”).This genre is not only obscene, but is also degrading, abusive, inferiorizing and harmful to women. It causes men to fail to see the divide between violence and sexuality. The link between pornography and real life provides self-validation and social justification for men to abuse, sodomize and rape women. Pornography perpetuates the primal, Neanderthal belief that females should be sexually dominated, which helps maintain the second-class social status of women.

In my research, I viewed pornographic images (of women giving oral sex) that were very unsettling. I saw male performers prying female performers’ eyes open, while smudged eye make-up, tears and semen ran down their faces; female performer’s eyes being covered with black electrical tape so that she could not see what was happening to her; male performers repeatedly banging their testicles against the females’ eyes and nose, to prevent them from breathing; a male performer forcing his penis into the female’s mouth and closing his fingers on her nostrils while taunting her. Some female performers, who are forbidden to use their hands while giving oral sex, were handcuffed. Worst of all, one of the female performers was forced to wear a wooden vise and kneel, while the male thrusted repeatedly into her mouth. What I just described to you is in the mainstream section of adult video stores across the country, which means it has been normalized and socially accepted. It would surprise me if you did not find those images degrading. Men see these images and masturbate to them; it sends the message “women are for sex, and women like sex this way” (Jensen, “Just ”). In fact, studies show that men learn from and emulate what they see in pornography; experts refer to this as exemplification theory: ‘Each and every sexual act portrayed in pornography is treated as an exemplar of sexuality. . . .Thus, to the extent that pornography shows almost all women screaming ecstatically when anally penetrated, for instance, exemplification theory projects the generalization that almost all women outside of pornography will do likewise.’ In other words, men learn that what goes on in porn, goes on in the real world” (Paul 18). And that doesn’t make you, Citizen Z, feel threatened by pornography? You might claim that there those men who are only masturbating to a fantasy, but in reality, the men masturbating to orgasm are not a fantasy. They watch real women being sodomized, abused or sometimes raped and the result is a real orgasm. “In this culture, men are masturbating to orgasm in front of television and computer screens that are presenting them with increasing levels of callousness and cruelty toward women” (Jensen “Cruel”). Men see this degrading, gonzo pornography and become sexually aroused; they find the infliction of pain on women during sexual activity to be an enhancement to their ability to achieve orgasm and not an obstacle.

Wolf states, “The porn loop is de rigueur, no longer outside the pale; starlets in tabloids boast of learning to strip from professionals; the “cool girls” go with guys to the strip clubs, and even ask for lap dances; college girls are expected to tease guys at keg parties with lesbian kisses à la Britney and Madonna.” These girls are the stupid ones who will do anything to get a guys attention. They think lowering themselves to men’s standards will help them get the guy, but in reality, those girls are just impeding women from being taken seriously in a “man’s world."

Where I found the porn statistics:

http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html

Transamerica

Transgender is one issue that I can in no way relate nor understand. Growing up, I would say that I was more of a "tom boy" than a "girly girl" but I never wished I was a boy. Maybe when I was going through puberty I wished I was a boy so I wouldn't have to deal with all the changes, even though boys go through changes too. But I never desired to actually have a penis. And I was a male, I don't think I would desire to get rid of my penis. I just find it odd to what to add or change body parts, especially if you are changing them for parts that are not fully functional.

What did people who wish to have these changes do when we weren't so advanced with technology? I think watching Transamerica was a good experience for me because I was able to view it as more "normal" seeing how it effected both Bri and her friends and family.

Transamerica.

I loved transamerica. I feel that it was done very well, and that Felicity Hoffman did an absollutely amazing job playing Bree. To be honest, when i first saw the movie i had no idea who Felicity Hoffman was. I truly thought that the person playing Bree was a man. Someone mentioned that the only reason why transamerica was so highly praised was due to felicity hoffman's fame, i would disagree, because i didnt even know who that was when i first saw the movie. I think what really drew me to the film was the kind nature and awkwardness of Bree. Even though she was transgendered, i think that alot of people could look through that and actually try to see the sweetness of Bree as a person, rather than whether or not she were male or female. The movie collection at my house consists of what many may call weird movies. I really believe that movies like these help us see the good in everyone, even in the not so obvious places. Transamerica shows a transgendered person just struggling with everyday life. Everyone can relate to Bree, and you do not have to be a transgendered person to do so.

Personally, i do think that body dysmorphia is a mental disorder. However, the term "mental disorder" has such a negative connotation. When someone thinks of people with mental disorders, they think of crazy, beligerant, loud, manic, depressed, violent, dumb, or schizophrenic. However transgendered people are just like everybody else. They arent bouncing all over the walls, thinking that the FBI is after them, or thinking that they are god. Alot of the time, its almost impossible to pick them out of a crowd. I do think that transgenderedness is is a mental disorder because it is abnormal wanting to cut off body parts, however if only the word "mental disorder" did not have such a negative connotation, perhaps these people may have more respect, and not put in to the same categories with the catatonic schizophrenics. They are just like you and i, just a bit different in their sexual orientation.

Transamerica

Felicity Hoffman is a talented and beautiful actress who played Bree/Stanley well, but I will not watch Transameria ever again. The subculture comprised of people who are transgender, transvestite, and crossdressing is one that I accept but do not agree with.

I repeat, I ACCEPT them but I do not agree with the way they are dealing with their disorder.
-Men are men and women are women.
-Our sex is biologically determined.
-Using surgery and hormone therapy to change ones sex is against nature. The results are only superficial.

A person who is disgusted by their own penis (as in Stanley) breasts, or vagina is not mentally stable. A guy willing to cut off his dick is no real man. I love my penis, and everyone NORMAL guy out there does so as well. The phallus is a symbol of masculinity and manhood. As a gay male, I am offended that homosexuals are compared to these people.
-Homosexuality is genetic.
-Wanting a sex change because you feel like you should be the other sex is physchological.
-The two cannot be compared.
-Gay men are men who like men.

As for crossdressing, our culture agrees that if done as a joke (i.e. halloween) it's funny. If it's done seriously, than that person is sick. It's not normal for a reason.

A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine took me to see a drag show and within minutes of being there I was sick to my stomach. I had to leave, but he didn't want to, so I punched him as hard as I could in the chest and knocked the air out of him.

A year ago, I found out that the person I was dating had done drag for 4 months, I went off on how much he disgusted me, made him cry, and ended our relationship over it.

Transamerica

I have always believed that a person can be born in the wrong body. The movie Transamerica tells the story of a man who becomes a woman because he feels like he identifies with the gender and sex of a woman. I think that wanting to be another sex or gender is not a mental disorder, as a scene in the movie labels it, but more of a genetic trait. There have been numerous stories told on television shows such as, Oprah where the guest says they knew from a young age that they weren’t supposed to be in their body. In the movie, Bree tells the doctor that he/she is disgusted by her/his penis. This shows that there is something more than a mental issue because it is something that she feels she should not possess. Like homosexuality, transgender people suffer the issues of whether or not their lifestyles are nature or nurture. Personally, I feel it could be a little of both, but I do think that people are born with an indication that they are either gay or should be of a different sex or gender. It is not hard for someone to dress as the opposite sex, what people refer to as a transvestite, but it is a whole other issue when someone takes drastic measures to transform their body by eliminating their symbol of sex. The movie was able to illustrate the struggles, both emotionally, physically, and personally of a person going through a transgender identification.

During our class discussion yesterday, people brought up many point that’s I had previously thought about. When I first saw TransAmerica in theatres, I did not know what it was about going into the movie. While watching the movie I was in shock of what was happening. To me it was an eye opener because I have never really thought about the complex lives that transvestites carry. I obviously knew people wanted to be an opposite sex of what they were, although I never realized how serious it is or the extreme levels that people take it to. After seeing the movie, I felt a bit shelter and in my own bubble. It showed me how complex peoples lives are, and how often times people “seem much happier than they really are”. The relationship between Toby and his mom/dad was something that I could have never imagined. The movie really showed me more about relationships between men and women, men and men, and family members. Not everyone has to be perfect, and often times families aren’t perfect, but I never saw such a graphic picture of how messed up home lives can be for some people. I think this movie is really good and allows people to look at the world in a different way and see another perspective on how some relationships work.