Cis-privilege checklist
I'm not always happy about being born and raised a woman, and yet, have no desire to be a man; and yet I still identify as being a woman/female. So, of course, I don't know what it is like to be born trans-gendered, gay, bi- or anything else like that.
Now, more than ever, I am hearing about trans-gendered people: whether they were born women and want to be men; or born men but want to be women. I still come from a time and place, people were born into a particular gender, be it male or female - and if you didn't like it, then too bad (unless of course they are hermaphrodites, or something like that - then it gets confusing),
But anyway, this checklist applies to the things cis-gendered people take for granted that confront trans-gendered people alot of the time, sometimes even every day. Stuff that we take for granted, like what toilet do I use when I am out in public? What locker/change room do I use if I were at the pool or the gym? What's on my birth certificate, passport, driver's license, and what I changed my name to know?
In other words, a cis-gendered person knows where they stand, while a trans-gendered person doesn't.
However, it doesn't mean I'm not confronted with any of those issues at one time or another - I still don't like changing my clothes, relieving myself, showering, dressing/undressing in front of others - and I'm not even transgendered. I hate wearing sexy clothes, tight things, cozzies (swimsuits), skirts or dresses (unless they are long), shorts. In fact, swimming, the beach, the pool, sports, even school in general - it was a nightmare for me.
And this was even more of a nightmare when I hit puberty (earlier than everyone else) - and getting my period meant I missed out even more. While tampons helped reduce some of the 'yuck' factor (because you don't feel it coming out of your body so much), contraceptive pills reduce some of the hormonal irregularities that come with being pre-menstrual or having dysmennoreah, and pain-killers can be prescribed the pain.
But at least I know I am a woman (as long as I have breasts and a vagina), am still (physically) capable of having babies and haven't yet gone through the change. But I don't hate everything about being a woman - just don't like having my period, nor do I want to have babies, and nor do I like the way people treat me or expect me to look/dress/behave a certain way just because I am a female.
Call it what you will (gender dysmorphic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, whatever), but I am still cis-gendered; and can't fathom the extent that trans-gendered and/or intersex people feel, I only have a vague idea.
But anyway, from my own standpoint, I can only say that all women probably feel that way to some extent and pardon my ignorance, but I don't know whether or not male-to-female trans-gendered people have been through the same things that cis-gendered women have been through (like periods and childbirth - especially periods), but I doubt it.
Unless were born with XX chromosomes (and not XY) and a vagina, you've had a period, or worried about getting pregnant (or not) or worried about the 'change' (or you can't wait, as in my case) - these are the issues that confront cis-gendered women their whole lives, unless of course, they themselves get a sex change and decide to be male.
But yes, I am female and I have to 'suck it up' and (in this world of male privilege), I would be grateful if I were male, but I'm not and I have to deal with it.
cheers,
Night Owl
I'm not always happy about being born and raised a woman, and yet, have no desire to be a man; and yet I still identify as being a woman/female. So, of course, I don't know what it is like to be born trans-gendered, gay, bi- or anything else like that.
Now, more than ever, I am hearing about trans-gendered people: whether they were born women and want to be men; or born men but want to be women. I still come from a time and place, people were born into a particular gender, be it male or female - and if you didn't like it, then too bad (unless of course they are hermaphrodites, or something like that - then it gets confusing),
But anyway, this checklist applies to the things cis-gendered people take for granted that confront trans-gendered people alot of the time, sometimes even every day. Stuff that we take for granted, like what toilet do I use when I am out in public? What locker/change room do I use if I were at the pool or the gym? What's on my birth certificate, passport, driver's license, and what I changed my name to know?
In other words, a cis-gendered person knows where they stand, while a trans-gendered person doesn't.
However, it doesn't mean I'm not confronted with any of those issues at one time or another - I still don't like changing my clothes, relieving myself, showering, dressing/undressing in front of others - and I'm not even transgendered. I hate wearing sexy clothes, tight things, cozzies (swimsuits), skirts or dresses (unless they are long), shorts. In fact, swimming, the beach, the pool, sports, even school in general - it was a nightmare for me.
And this was even more of a nightmare when I hit puberty (earlier than everyone else) - and getting my period meant I missed out even more. While tampons helped reduce some of the 'yuck' factor (because you don't feel it coming out of your body so much), contraceptive pills reduce some of the hormonal irregularities that come with being pre-menstrual or having dysmennoreah, and pain-killers can be prescribed the pain.
But at least I know I am a woman (as long as I have breasts and a vagina), am still (physically) capable of having babies and haven't yet gone through the change. But I don't hate everything about being a woman - just don't like having my period, nor do I want to have babies, and nor do I like the way people treat me or expect me to look/dress/behave a certain way just because I am a female.
Call it what you will (gender dysmorphic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, whatever), but I am still cis-gendered; and can't fathom the extent that trans-gendered and/or intersex people feel, I only have a vague idea.
But anyway, from my own standpoint, I can only say that all women probably feel that way to some extent and pardon my ignorance, but I don't know whether or not male-to-female trans-gendered people have been through the same things that cis-gendered women have been through (like periods and childbirth - especially periods), but I doubt it.
Unless were born with XX chromosomes (and not XY) and a vagina, you've had a period, or worried about getting pregnant (or not) or worried about the 'change' (or you can't wait, as in my case) - these are the issues that confront cis-gendered women their whole lives, unless of course, they themselves get a sex change and decide to be male.
But yes, I am female and I have to 'suck it up' and (in this world of male privilege), I would be grateful if I were male, but I'm not and I have to deal with it.
cheers,
Night Owl
Comments
Post a Comment
What is your own take on this situation? How do you rise above the rot?