"The danger of the single story." Even within a subset of a group, there is a variety, a diversity. I think over the years, the world has embraced larger, and then groups within groups, learning to appreciate diversity further and further. Trans people have many stories to tell, and there are many similarities and a lot of variety through our, what my mother would call, "realities". Stereotypes come from a "single story" being told about a group of people. When trans people don't always fit that single story, there is further confusion, naturally. By learning and being open to other realities, we can expand our worlds.
My story doesn't include a conscious awareness of my transsexuality as a child, but it does include an epiphany as a young adult. This doesn't make me any less trans than a child that says they're a girl from the moment they can speak. I would like to transition and have a lesser form of bottom surgery one day, but this doesn't make me more trans than a gender queer youth who desires no form of transition. Trans people hold the common thread of having a disconnect between their bodies and gender identities, but past that there is plenty of diversity. I still have to learn how to listen and learn. It's a skill!
I try mostly to speak within my own experience. I am entitled to my own opinions, my own perceptions and realities, but not my own facts. Hopefully, my skills at speaking from my own experience while not denying other experiences will continue to be honed, through practice and precision.
My story doesn't include a conscious awareness of my transsexuality as a child, but it does include an epiphany as a young adult. This doesn't make me any less trans than a child that says they're a girl from the moment they can speak. I would like to transition and have a lesser form of bottom surgery one day, but this doesn't make me more trans than a gender queer youth who desires no form of transition. Trans people hold the common thread of having a disconnect between their bodies and gender identities, but past that there is plenty of diversity. I still have to learn how to listen and learn. It's a skill!
I try mostly to speak within my own experience. I am entitled to my own opinions, my own perceptions and realities, but not my own facts. Hopefully, my skills at speaking from my own experience while not denying other experiences will continue to be honed, through practice and precision.
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