BUT... although most of time stereotypes can be fairly accurate, there are many cases where stereotypes are dead wrong. Like wronger than wrong. ESPECIALLY when it comes to people.
Within the LGBT community, stereotypes can cause a lot of confusion. Most people assume gay men and women look, dress and act a certain way. Many also assume that in order to be Transgender, you must dress and act like the gender that you identify with.
Now you may be thinking, "But if they identify as a dude/chick shouldn't they dress and act like a dude/chick?" and I would have to tell you "Nah fam. They don't have to do anything"
Being transgender is much more complex than just getting surgery and dressing a different way and going by a different name.
Stereotypes generalize things and when you're trying to generalize something so complex, you can get really confused. Especially when it comes to lesbian and gay stereotypes.
What kind of person comes to mind when you hear the term "Lesbian"? Most think of a woman that dresses and acts very masculine... Like this:
But that isn't always the case. Literally ANYONE could be a lesbian. Come up with as many stereotypes as you want to, I guarantee you that I can find someone that contradicts every stereotype you think of.
And same goes for gay men. Many think of a very feminine man... maybe you thought of someone like this...
...that may like make-up and shopping but honestly, that's just another stereotype. That really buff guy you and your friend saw at the gym the other day? Yeah, he's gay.
You can be taught all sorts of stereotypes for all sorts of different people, some stereotypes may be spot on for certain people. Just keep in mind that you may also come across someone that contradicts everything you thought you knew.
So you know... keep an open mind
I apologize for the small font. There was a technical issue when editing.
ReplyDeletePersonally, knowing many people that identify as gay, lesbian, or any other, I never really believed the stereotypes that are labeled with their sexuality, but just as you said, I agree that there are still some individuals that fit those stereotypes spot on.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if stereotyping leads to huge misconceptions about people and how they are. Every person is different and you should never be basing someone off of how they look. Our eyes deceive us much more than we truly realize and that the general marginalization of the LGBT+ community should be stopped as it does not allow society to progress and further accept people for who they are.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had to help someone who had their sexuality assumed because of how they looked?
ReplyDeleteNot so much their sexuality as it was their gender. I have helped people out when someone doesn't use the pronouns that they prefer, but you have to be careful to not "out" the person in the process.
DeleteYou said that "being transgender is much more complex than just getting surgery and dressing a different way and going by a different name." Could you explain that a little more, please?
ReplyDeleteMany believe that one must go through a sex change surgery or dress differently to be considered transgender, but the reason that it's complicated is because it's easier said than done. There are people out there that simply cannot afford the surgery or are not old enough to get it. When it comes to the clothing aspect of it, again, there are younger individuals that may identify as transgender but do not have accepting parents/guardians that allow them to alter their wardrobe. Not everyone is able to undergo the change but that does not mean that their identity is invalid.
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