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Trans women are often alleged to be caricaturing women by playing into the stereotypes and stylizing them to an exacerbated degree. We are accused of defining our womanhood through stereotypes, merely an act.
The frequent response denies this, but it should be closer examined.
The frequent response denies this, but it should be closer examined.
It is indeed true that many trans women play into stereotypes of womanhood, as many cis women do as well. You will see this with transfeminine people of all ages throughout their experiences; not all, but many have been there with dresses, lipstick, high heels.
But this is not malicious. Our overplaying of these stereotypes is rather a response to the expectations placed upon is. It is compensation for the fact that biologically, fundamentally we are not considered women and thus we must find womanhood elsewhere to justify ourselves.
And as such, we are still beholden to our assignment of sex at birth, the epitome of all stereotypes and the epitome of the objectification of bodies.
And as such, the accusation of caricature becomes a reification of these same stereotypes that this trend pretends to condemn.
And as such, the accusation of caricature becomes a reification of these same stereotypes that this trend pretends to condemn.
It is, ironically, because of our inability to muster to stereotypes that we are accused of overplaying them.
This is usually so far ingrained that it is taken for natural, whereas trans women all of sudden emerge as invaders that break the rules.
We are singled out. Per usual.
This is usually so far ingrained that it is taken for natural, whereas trans women all of sudden emerge as invaders that break the rules.
We are singled out. Per usual.
So on one hand we are never women enough, because we cannot fulfill the stereotype of providing children to men that is so crucial to the traditional picture of women; and on the other hand, we are women being too much women.
Damned if we do, damned if we do not. Per usual.
Damned if we do, damned if we do not. Per usual.
But, gender is always in the end defined through stereotypes, and everybody of a certain gender performs them a degree, even when it may just be a specific set of pronouns.
Elsewise there would not be distinction to other genders. The division of gender follows from stereotypes.
Elsewise there would not be distinction to other genders. The division of gender follows from stereotypes.
There is no 'natural group' of genders (that being biological sex) that comes before social constitutions such as expressed through stereotypes; instead, the 'natural group' is constructed ad hoc to cement these stereotypes.
By our very existence as trans women, we defy this.
By our very existence as trans women, we defy this.
We may overplay these stereotypes to find some kind of acceptance in a gendered world, but fundamentally we are the nullification of traditional stereotypes.
Still, the accusation of caricature is levied against trans women like no other group. It is just unfair.
Still, the accusation of caricature is levied against trans women like no other group. It is just unfair.
