CFS: The Body as a Site of Discrimination

I saw this call for submissions, and it looks like a pretty interesting project. I thought some of our readers might be interestd in submitting, since I know you all are an insightful and talented bunch:

Call for submissions: The Body as a Site of Discrimination – A Multidisciplinary, Multimedia Online Journal

The Body as a Site of Discrimination will be an interactive,educational, multi-disciplinary, high quality, critical, and cuttingedge online journal. This creative project will fulfill the degreerequirements for two Master’s of Social Work students at SFSU. This is a call for submissions to explore the following themes, but other interpretations are also encouraged.

– Disability and Ableism
– Fatphobia or Size Discrimination
– Ageism
– Racism
– Gender Discrimination
– Transphobia, non-conforming gender identities, sexual assault, sexism, and reproductive rights

Cultural and academic communities are invited to contribute for a well-rounded exploration of the theme. The significance of this project is to examine the intersectionality between varying forms of body-based oppressions. Crossing disciplines is necessary to understand this matrix of discrimination and will lead to inventive strategies of change and resistance. The outcome of this journal will contribute to the body of knowledge and serve as a resource for subsequent generations of social workers and other helping professionals.

Entries can explore activism and resistance around these issues, focus on social justice, and implications for social work practice and policy. Representative voices from the identified communities are encouraged to submit. Submissions can include personal narratives, research articles, performance and visual art, fiction, poetry, music, etc. Electronic copies of submissions will be considered for publication.

All submissions must be received by January 15, 2009 to bodydiscrimination@gmail.com

Please pass on this call to any interested parties and contact us if you have any questions.

Thank You

Editors-in-Chief
The Body as a Site of Discrimination

Since the theme is open to interepretation, off the top of my head I’d say that while I’m not qualified to write on it, something specifically about sex workers’ rights (and its intersections with the oppressions listed above) would be a good addition.

h/t F.R.I.D.A.

One thought on

Although I found this blog a bit late, I submitted my own story just now to the e mail address. I wrote this three years ago as a blog to help friends and family understand where I’m coming from. I feel comfortable enough to share it with your readers.

Thank you,
Aubrey

Writer’s note: The first part of this blog is going to be rather dry, but very important as to understand where I’m coming from. As the blog goes on, it becomes more anecdotal and easier to read. Please leave me a post and let me know what you think. I may not care much about what society thinks, but I do care greatly about what my friends and family think. This is the most in-depth topic that I have ever shared about myself. I do feel blessed with being surrounded by good family and friends. Thanks.

Okay, let’s talk about an issue that has been affecting me my entire life. I am talking of course, about gender. Gender is a crazy thing. It is not absolute. In fact, male and female gender runs in more of a spectrum than absolute male and absolute female. Some are hyper-masculine, masculine, androgynous, feminine, and hyper-feminine. Anyone can fall into any point of this spectrum.

Most people through genetics and environmental socialization will fall into the gender which agrees with his or her sex. When a person’s gender does not agree with his or her sex, that person can be viewed as “gender-dysphoric.” There are varying degrees of this dysphoria. It can be as mild as having an interest in activities reserved for the opposite sex, ie: girls being truckers and mechanics or boys being fashion designers and interior decorators. On the other hand, it can be as extreme as having surgery to become a member of the opposite sex. Mine is inbetween: I love flowers, stuffed animals, the color pink, shopping, cute clothes, getting my nails done, etc. I just don’t think I would ever want to go through the “transformation.” To be honest, I don’t know. In a perfect world . . .

My body is male, but I have the soul of a girl. Here’s the kicker though: I am attracted to females. I’m just not attracted to masculinity in any way. I’ve had gay friends say, “Oh, you’re gay. You just don’t know it.” I think I’d know if I were, just as I know that I have more female traits than male traits. The thing is that some people don’t understand that sexual orientation and sexual identity are two completely different things:

Sexual orientation – The sex that a person is attracted to.

Sexual identity – The gender a person identifies with the most.

In my case, my sexual orientation is toward females and my sexual identity is very female. One of my best friends who lives in Japan came out to me about ten years ago as being gay. You would never know it by looking at him. He doesn’t even register on the “gaydar.” There’s not even a spark much less a flame, but there he is. We joke from time to time that he’s gay but not femmy, and I’m femmy but not gay.

Although it is very common for a gender dysphoric person to be gay, it is also common for one to be attracted to the opposite sex. I have often joked that I should get a tee-shirt that says “Nobody knows I’m a lesbian.” =)

I have to stress that being gender dysphoric is not a choice. I was born with it. During development, my body went one way, my brain went the other. As a result, my brain is hard-wired as female. I’ve actually caught myself saying, “As long as I live, I will never understand guys.” I used to get so frustrated when a friend I was riding with would refuse to ask for directions. It would drive me crazy! When I was in Kindergarten, I refused to fingerpaint because I was afraid of getting my hands dirty. In second grade, I was teased because I just thought it was more fun to play jumprope with the girls than kickball with the boys. In third grade, I discovered “dressing up.” In high school, I was the only boy spinning flag on the colorguard of my high school marching band. I spent an entire childhood in secret shame thinking that I was the only one with this condition.

For over thirty years, I was extremely closeted about my gender. After all, homosexuality had been mainstream for years, while gender issues are still fairly uncharted territory for the masses. It is true when it is said that people fear what they don’t understand. For years, I thought of myself as a freak. I hated myself, suffered from major depression and came within a hair of killing myself. Three times I had to drive my suicidal self to the psych ward and get put on some different medication & therapy. I finally found a therapist named Liz who is very accepting and understanding. Many people look at me, but they don’t see me. Liz sees me perfectly. She knows that I am a human being with hopes, loves, dreams and fears. She understands that nature loves variation, but society hates it. No offense to the guys out there but because Liz is female, I find it easier to talk about my gender issues with her. Along with her though, I have a close-knit group of friends including my good brother who actually see me. My sincerest thanks to them for making my life just a little bit easier.

In my life, I have had people laugh at me, been approached by bashers in a parking lot, been called a fag, and have had other hateful things done to me. Let me put it in perspective though. Shouting “Fag!” from a moving vehicle is not brave. Bravery is going out in rural Alabama wearing a cute chunky pink sweater, flare jeans, really cute clogs, and carrying a bag. Bravery is going to a rural sports bar on Halloween in a platinum blonde wig, little red dress, 3″ heels and fully made up, competing in a karaoke contest singing “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” by Elton John, and winning the karaoke contest. Take that bashers!

I have come to the realization that my journey is far from over. I still have some things to come to terms with and work out. I still have issues that need to be addressed. I only ask this . . . If you see a girl who looks like she’s a boy or a guy who looks very feminine, take the time to think about what that person must be going through. Above all, we are all humans with feelings.

Most of all though, never assume.

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