Lately I’ve been seeing people discuss why ‘genderbending’ isn’t transphobic, or why it’s something that’s fine and should be accepted. Most of the people who have been discussing this are cis, which is an issue right off the bat, so I’m going to preface this post by saying that if you are not trans, you do not have the right to determine what is or is not transphobic. Full. Stop. So if you’re cis, and your first instinct is to argue with me on this, I would like for you to consider why you believe that you can recognize transphobia better than someone who is routinely subject to it. That being said, let’s get into this.
To start off, what is ‘genderbending?’ Most fansites will define it as the act of ‘switching’ a character’s gender, but there’s already an issue with this. ‘Genderbending’, or ‘rule 63’ as is called in some circles, it not just about switching a character’s gender, it is about changing that character’s body as well. I have yet to see a ‘genderbent’ version of a male character who lacked breasts and a dfab body. This the first and most obvious reason why ‘genderbending’ is inherently transphobic – it assumes that physical traits and gender are the same thing, and that you cannot be female without also being dfab.This is cissexism, and this is transphobic. The message that ‘genderbending’ says is that you must have breasts and a vagina to be female, and you must have a penis and a flat chest to be male. I should not have to explain why that message is transphobic.
However, the way ‘genderbends’ are carried out also has distinctly transphobic implications in how it switches out the physical traits of characters to make them ‘the opposite gender’ ( the notion of there being ‘opposite genders’ is some fresh bullshit that I’ll cover later in this post ). For example, by giving a male character breasts and curves when ‘genderbending’ him, the message is clear that this character was cis to begin with. ‘Genderbending’ inherently implies that all characters are cisgender by default, and erases any possibility of these characters being trans.This is not as overtly transphobic as the first point, but it is harmful to trans people within fandom spaces, as the assumption that all characters are cis until explicitly stated otherwise pushes us out of media and removes whatever representation we might try to make for ourselves.
The third issue with ‘genderbending’ is that it is always cis male <—> cis female, and nothing else. I have never seen people ‘genderbend’ characters by making them nonbinary or intersex. I have never seen a genderbend of a female character which made her a trans male instead. ‘Genderbending’ implies that there are only two options when it comes to gender: cis male and cis female. There is no such thing as nonbinary people within this ideology. Intersex people are laughable at best. Agender people are little better than a distant myth. ‘Genderbending’ ignores that it is impossible to make a character ‘the opposite gender’, because there is no such thing as an ‘opposite gender’. Gender is a spectrum, not a binary, but you wouldn’t know that from the way fandom spaces treat it.
Of course, there are some reasons for ‘genderbending’ cis male characters into cis females that will always get brought up in discussions on the politics of ‘genderbending.’ The most frequent is that cis girls, who only see themselves as one-dimensional characters in media, want to have characters like them who are just as multifaceted and developed as the male characters that we are given, so they make their male faves female to give themselves the representation they desire. This is a decent reason for ‘genderbending’, but it does not excuse the fact that the way in which ‘genderbending’ is done is inherently transphobic, and it gives fans yet another excuse to ignore female characters in favor of focusing on their male faves.
Another reason for ‘genderbending’ that I’ve heard is ‘it’s for the sake of character exploration – like, what if this character had been born as male/female instead?’ This excuse is cissexist and transphobic from first blush. The idea behind it is that someone ‘born as female’, aka with breasts/vagina will automatically be a cis female, allowing fans to explore what that character’s life would have been like if they were female. Why not explore the possibility of a character being designated female at birth, but still identifying as male? Why do you need a character to be cis for you to find their personality and life interesting to explore? Why do you automatically reject the notion of your fave being trans? If you want to explore what it would have been like for your male fave to have struggled with sexism, consider them being a trans woman, or a closeted dfab trans person.
As a closing statement, I want to make one thing very clear. ‘Genderbending’ does harm trans people. It perpetuates dangerous cissexist notions and the idea of a gender binary being a valid construct, erases nonbinary and intersex people, and others trans people. These are what we call microaggressions – they are not as dangerous as outright harassment and assault, but they enforce and support a system and ideology in which we are other, and we are worthy of hate and violence because we do not fit in.
‘Genderbending’ is a transphobic practice, and if you engage in it, you need to be aware of and acknowledge this.
{{ okay so this is the first breakdown of the “genderbending is wrong” argument where I can actually understand what people are talking about. Mostly I think my confusion stems from the fact that I don’t participate with the greater fan community at all. I just don’t see the horrible shit others do it the big fandoms so I’m sitting over here in my tiny corner being very naive.
That said, *waves hand in the air* I am one trans nonbinary person who has explored gender fluid character head canons (I’m going to call it that since the other word is poison it seems) and have played with versions of dmab to fluid male and dmab to trans female for the same character.
I am glad you at least acknowledged that there are okay ways to approach the topic because it always feels… overly aggressive? (not sure the right word) to say that something is always wrong and should never be done. But I 100% agree that it must be done with a careful hand and an understanding of the difference between gender and sex. And done in ways that don’t reinforce harmful stereotypes. }}
1. Waking up to the horror of your headscarf having slipped off in the middle of the night.
2. Trying to sleep with a fresh head of braids.
3. Or trying to tie your hair up within the first week of getting your braids done and wincing in agony.
4. Feeling a strange amount of anxiety every time you have to book a hair appointment, even though you’ve been booking hair appointments for several years.
5. Relentlessly scratching your scalp all week and then realising your mistake as soon as you get your hair relaxed.
6. Going to the toilet half way through getting your extensions done and finding hair in the most random crevices of your body.
7. Being given the painstaking task of having to pass your stylist the hair.
8. Being convinced to get a trim you definitely don’t want.
9. And then having your trust betrayed when your stylist takes three inches off and gives you a CUT instead.
10. Never being quite sure if the prices in your salon are set or entirely made up every time.
11. Being forced to cancel a plan because your stylist can only do your hair on Saturday at 11am.
12. Fake scratching the back of your hair to check the kind of progress you’re making.
13. And touching the little tuft of hair at the top of your head after six long hours and thinking you only have two braids left when you actually have 20.
14. Forgetting to bring enough food to the salon and having to mask the sound of your stomach rumbling.
15. Or eating all of your provisions in the first two hours and realising you’ve been a fool.
16. Having your phone die halfway through your hair appointment.
17. When your stylist takes a break from your head every 15 minutes to have a conversation with their mate.
18. Or to chat on the phone.
19. Or to tend to their kids.
20. Or to do all three, while eating a plate of food.
21. Being told to come to the salon at 1pm and seeing two people in front of you when you arrive.
22. Being told to come to the salon at 9am and they haven’t even opened the shop yet.
23. Feeling the heat catch the oil on your scalp as your hair’s being straightened.
24. Having your weave so tight that you can’t put your eyebrows down.
25. Breaking the hairdryer pick when your hair’s only half dry.
26. Snapping a comb in half while tending to the thickest part of your head.
27. Having your wig slip back a little too far and only realising several hours into the day when you check the mirror in the toilet.
28. Or wearing your wig on a particularly windy day and praying that it doesn’t get swept off your head.
29. Feeling the ache in your muscles and actually sweating while detangling your hair.
30. Procrastinating on washing your hair and then having to start the process of washing, deep conditioning, and detangling your hair at 10pm.
31. Feeling very dubious about your new stylist and asking them a trillion questions to make sure they don’t mess up your hair.
32. Or realising they’re not quite doing your hair the way you want, but being too scared to say anything.
33. Having to do the duck and dive when someone tries to touch your hair.
34. Being asked if you cut your hair or “grew it” when you go into work with a new hairstyle.
35. Being asked if that’s your “real hair” and having to stop yourself from screaming “I BOUGHT IT, SO HELL YEAH IT’S MINE.”
36. Coming out of the salon when it’s raining and having to put a plastic bag over your head because you have no umbrella.
37. Hearing the words “hold your ear” just before the hot comb narrowly misses burning it off.
38. Trying to scratch underneath your weave discreetly with a pencil or pen.
39. Or accidentally slapping your head so hard to itch your scalp that you almost knock yourself out in the process.
40. Watching shrinkage claim the length of your hair as soon as you wash it.
41. Being asked to have a sleepover on a whim and refusing because you don’t have your headscarf.
42. Sitting under the dryer for so long that you forget what life was like before you basically lived under it.
43. And when the dryer finally cuts off, but your hairdresser tells you “ten more minutes”.
44. When you have to wash your hair in the kitchen sink and feel like your neck is gonna fall off at any minute.
45. Having extra long weave or braids and getting it caught in every zip, door or piece of velcro you come into contact with.
46. Using more ingredients to wash your hair than you do when cooking yourself an actual meal.
47. Struggling to fit a hat over your afro and wondering why you bothered trying in the first place.
48. Falling asleep without your headscarf and waking up out of your sleep to put it on.
49. Watching someone who came to the salon after you leave before you.
50. Having to reject plans on wash day.
51. Having to reject plans on “taking out my braids” day.
52. Having to reject plans when you’ve already put your satin bonnet on.
53. Showing your stylist a picture of what you want and having them completely ignore you to do their own thing.
That’s 53 reasons why i hate when white people are trying to copy our natural hairstyles or the hairstyles that have been invented by back people to cope with their hair. They’re doing this without thinking that they’re doing something wrong and pretend like they are so fresh and stylish giving no f**ks about cultural appropriation. If you still don’t think cultural appropriation is wrong re read 53 points above.
catch of breath, choke, gulp, heave, inhale, pant, puff, snort, wheeze, huff, rasp, sharp intake of air, short of breath, struggle for breath, swallow, winded
catch of breath, choke, gulp, heave, inhale, pant, puff, snort, wheeze, huff, rasp, sharp intake of air, short of breath, struggle for breath, swallow, winded
Yes, him and little Richard never get their due smh
except…chuck berry didn’t invent rock n roll…
Sister Rosetta Tharpe predates both chuck berry and little richard by quite a few years
Two of Tharpe’s hit songs were released in like 1944-45 when Chuck Berry was a) incarcerated and b) still a high school student, Tharpe basically discovered Little Richard, and she’s referred to as the godmother of rock n roll
lol just
throwin that out there
^^^EXACTLY
but Sister Rosetta was a woman and queer… so Black men will totally overlook her.
rock music was created by a black bisexual woman
Sister Rosetta new idol
Sister Rosetta Rocked the world
Spread the truth and dead the lies
❤ KICK ASS BLACK BISEXUAL MOTHER OF ROCK AND ROLL ❤
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS WOMAN!
MUSIC NERDS – EDUCATE ME NOW!
I’m almost positive this is the same woman who actually sang “You Ain’t Nothin But A Hound Dog” first before Elvis stole it…
And her version was BETTER
WAIT! WHAT?
He didn’t sing that first? I need air and music. Someone tell me more.
Big Mama Thornton recorded Hound Dog in 1952. She is the first.
See this just makes that song actually make sense to me for the first time so you know, hat-tip for that, too, you have relieved my endless puzzlement I’ve had since I was a small child.
Wonderful documentary on her life & legacy in rock n roll
Today, March 20th is her birthday so can we just take the time to list some of her amazing accomplishments
– she was one of the very first great gospel artists who crossed over into r&b, rock n roll, and gained mainstream success
– she frequently performed with a racially integrated band
– guitar playing was seen as a “man’s” skill, but that didn’t stop her from beating out many guys in guitar battles at the Apollo
– she may have been one of the first successful black artists to even have a tour bus with her name on it
– this woman literally turned her wedding day into a rock concert for over 20,000 fans
– openly bisexual in her private life
– she sang with little richard in what would be his first public performance at her concert
– she held a successful tour in the UK during the early 1960′s well before the “british invasion” of rock n roll
“Candy Store” from Heathers for Emma D. @1000liveslived and Carmen @rocking-rockatoo and Belle (me) otherwise known as The B.E.C.s.
BELLE:
Are we gonna have a problem? You got a bone to pick? You’ve come so far, Why now are you pulling on my dick? I’d normally slap your face off, And everyone here could watch. But I’m feeling nice. Here’s some advice. Listen up, biotch!
EMMA & BELLE: I like!
CARMEN: Lookin’ hot Buying stuff they cannot
CARMEN & BELLE: I like!
EMMA: Drinkin’ hard Maxin’ Dad’s credit card
CARMEN & EMMA: I like!
BELLE: Skippin’ gym Scaring her Screwing him
BELLE & EMMA: I like!
CARMEN: Killer clothes
B.E.C.s: Kickin’ nerds in the nose!
BELLE: If you lack the balls You can go play dolls Let your mommy fix you a snack
EMMA & CARMEN: Woah!
EMMA: Or you could come smoke Pound some rum and coke In my Porsha with the quarterback
B.E.C.s: Woah! Woah! Woah! Honey, whatchu waitin’ for? Welcome to my candy store It’s time for you to prove You’re not a loser anymore Then step into my candy store
BELLE & EMMA: Guys fall
CARMEN: At your feet Pay the check
EMMA: Help you cheat
B.E.C.s: All you
BELLE: Have to do
CARMEN: Say goodbye to Shamoo
B.E.C.s: That freak’s
EMMA: Not your friend I can tell in the end
B.E.C.s: If she
BELLE: Had your shot
B.E.C.s: She would leave you to rot
CARMEN: ‘Course if you don’t care Fine! Go braid her hair Maybe Sesame Street is on
B.E.C.s: Woah!
CARMEN: Or forget the creep
EMMA: And get in my jeep
BELLE: Let’s go tear up someone’s lawn
B.E.C.s: Woah! Woah! Woah! Honey, whatchu waitin’ for? Welcome to my candy store You just gotta prove You’re not a pussy anymore Then step into my candy store
EMMA: You can join the team
BELLE & CARMEN: Or you can bitch and moan
CARMEN: You can live the dream
EMMA & BELLE: Or you can die alone
BELLE: You can fly with eagles
B.E.C.s: Or if you prefer
BELLE: Keep on testing me
EMMA & CARMEN: And end up like her!
B.E.C.s: Woah!
CARMEN: Honey, whachu waiting fo—
BELLE & EMMA: Step into my candy store! Time for you to prove Oooh woah! Woah oh oh! You’re not a lame ass anymore Then step into my candy store
B.E.C.s: It’s my candy store It’s my candy It’s my candy store It’s my candy It’s my candy store
RP backup 