GRSJ224/Transfeminism And Representation Of Black Trans Women In Popular Media

Transfeminism

Transfeminism is a movement centred around the idea that the rights and equality of Trans women are in connection with feminist beliefs of liberation. Historically, there have been conflicts between feminists and Trans feminists. At the same time that second wave feminism was gaining traction, the trans rights movement was also flourishing. Radical feminist groups of the 1970s believed that Trans women “posed a physical or sexual danger to cisgender women”. Significantly when Janice Raymond’s The Transsexual Empire: The Making of the She-Male was published in 1979, Trans discrimination was further perpetuated and this work became a literary text that feminists of the time, those which held transphobic opinions, could use to justify their prejudice. The text is most famous for the assertion that “all transsexuals rape women's bodies by reducing the real female form to an artifact, appropriating this body for themselves” . It failed to look past the man-woman binary and contributed to second wave feminism’s tendency to overlook the intersectional aspects of identity . In contrast, Transfeminism presents an intersectional discussion, acknowledging the multiple aspects of identity which contribute to experiences of oppression. It allows space to discuss the discrimination experienced by all genders and seeks to find solutions to the inequity experienced by them . Trans individuals are able to provide an intersectional lens which considers the perspective from all genders; in other words, including these individuals in the discussion of gender equality allows space for consideration of diverse experiences of gender discrimination.

(Note: While this page focuses on Black Trans women, I recognize the urgency to examine social justice issues through an intersectional lens recognizing all races, genders, (dis)abilities, economic backgrounds, and much more.)

In Relation to Representation

Many popular films show strong and independent women, but they are still often stereotyped. They are sexualized, seen only as love interests, or often killed to motivate the male protagonist's ambitions. Further, rarely do we ever see Black trans women in popular media. Transfeminism theory would agree that the stories of women need to be shared, but with acknowledgment of the urgency to also represent Black trans women.

Representation

Representation on screen allows viewers to create opinions not only towards others but also themselves; seeing people who resemble oneself in the popular media boosts self-confidence. Additionally, it contributes to our actual experiences because of the large influence the media has on how we think through our decisions and opinions. It also normalizes what we see on screen in relation to what we will then see in real life .

In George Gerbner and Larry Gross’ popular paper titled “Living With Television: The Violence Profile” (1976), the authors coined the term “symbolic annihilation”. They stated: “Representation in the fictional world signifies social existence; absence means symbolic annihilation” . This is the underrepresentation and erasure of certain people groups in the media which creates inequality, maintaining power for a very specific type of person (typically straight, cisgender, white males). This is exactly what is happening to Black Trans women in the popular media. They are underrepresented, and when they are present, they are misrepresented.

GLAAD is an American non-profit organization that works to bring attention and change to LGBTQ+ struggles, specifically in the media. A page on their website reveals statistics of Trans representation in television, showing the great amount of improvements needed. They found that since 2002, Trans characters have been “cast in a ‘victim’ role at least 40% of the time” , and “Anti-transgender slurs, language and dialogue was present in at least 61%” of the storylines. The Trans community is underrepresented, and when there are Trans characters present, they are often misrepresented. They are shown as weak and struggling, with violence taking over their lives. Trans people can live happy and successful lives - this is what should be shown. Further, Black Trans women should not only be seen as victims to violence, they are mothers, sisters, friends, teachers, and much more.

Example

Port Authority (2019) is an American film by Danielle Lessovitz that respectfully represents Black Trans women. It follows a Black Trans woman named Wye and a straight, cisgender, white man named Paul. The story showcases not only their love story but also their financial struggles and displays the characters pursuing their genuine interests. Wye is seen as passionate, she has a true love for dance, drag, and cares for her family unconditionally. This is so important because Black Trans women are often represented as victims to violence or as suffering in some other way. Throughout the film, although Wye faces various conflicts, her passion never fades and neither does her happiness.

One of the pivotal moments of the film is when Paul learns that Wye is Trans. This creates a rift between the two, but Wye is never shown as the issue. She is quick to say that she doesn’t need him if he won’t accept who she is, so it is Paul who goes through a “reality check” and must prove to Wye that his love will remain unconditional. Port Authority shows that Black Trans women have worth just like any other human being and focuses mostly on the positives of who Wye is, not the things that bring her down.

The actress, Leyna Bloom, herself is a Black Trans woman which is extremely significant for two reasons:

• Someone who actually identifies with the character was cast for the role; this often is overlooked as roles are offered to big stars rather than new talent with diverse backgrounds which allow them to bring their real-life experience.
• Leyna Bloom became the first Trans woman of colour to star in a film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Effects

In 2015, the National Center for Transgender Equality conducted the United States’ largest survey relating to Transgender individuals. Out of a total 27, 715 participants, 796 individuals identified as Black. Questions related to accommodation, poverty, education, health, etc. - most of the data revealed Black Trans women as most targeted. They are more likely to experience discrimination because of their identity. The following statistics are from the mentioned survey, and reflect the experience of the women who participated:

• “Black transgender women were substantially more likely to report being fired because of being transgender.”
• “Transgender women (34%) ... were nearly twice as likely to have experienced verbal harassment as transgender men (18%).”
• “Transgender women were most likely to have been verbally harassed (67%), physically attacked (55%), and sexually assaulted (38%) because people thought they were transgender in K–12.”

Additionally, 485 participants identified as multiracial (another ethnicity mixed with Black), and out of them “who interacted with police or other law enforcement officers who thought or knew they were transgender, 73% experienced some form of mistreatment. This included being verbally harassed, repeatedly referred to as the wrong gender, physically assaulted, or sexually assaulted.”

Importance

The mentioned instances of oppression are muted and not prioritized. Through proper representation of Black Trans women in popular media, viewers can start to be exposed to who these women are as individuals. Viewers will be able to internalize and contemplate the experiences of Black Trans women shown on screen, allowing for increases in empathy. Popular media allows people to further understand one another - we cannot understand Black Trans women without learning about who they are, what they believe. That being said, their struggles should not be at the forefront of how they are portrayed. Black Trans women are almost always understood as victims of violence, they are not seen as individuals but are viewed as “Black Trans women”. Their achievements and relationships, hobbies and interests - these things are rarely highlighted.

Resistance

The following section is dedicated to Black Trans women who have proven that they will not let the world knock them down, that they will thrive on their own terms. Here is a short list of Black trans women who have created groundbreaking work in popular media:

• Laverne Cox - Stars in hit Netflix series Orange Is The New Black and became the first Transgender individual to be nominated for an Emmy award.

• Angelica Ross - Actor, activist, and founder of TransTech Social Enterprises which supports Trans individuals navigate through tech-orientated careers.

• Indya Moore - Actor and model who has worked with iconic fashion houses including Gucci and Dior.