Homophobia and Gender-Based Discrimination
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“I don’t like the word disorder, I prefer special or unique because that’s what I think transgender is” (ABC News, 2013)
Media creates such a small window of what is publically accepted as what a girl "should" look like. Anyone that does not fit into this image of what girls in the media look like often experience discrimination and bulling because they are not one of the few that perfectly fit this image.
One brave girl named Jazz spoke out about the issue of sexual discrimination, her gender identity has always been different from her birth-assigned sex. She spoke so positively about her life and how happy she is in her interview; this is amazing to me because whenever I have heard individual stories about being transgender in this society it is never a positive one. Jazz was proud to show viewers who she truly is and try to help raise awareness. She proved that biological sex, gender or sexual orientation does not matter, everyone deserves to live a happy life and should be able to feel safe and accepted within society just as much as the “it” girl in the media.
Society is very quick to judge, especially with Internet and Smartphones becoming more popular. Bullying has become increasingly prevalent. Cyber-bullying takes a face away from the bully making it easier for someone to simply write a nasty comment without consequence or guilt.
I was so happy to see someone who is transgender being so positive about her situation and confident with who she is. Jazz is such a positive role model for all of those girls out there who do not fit the medias idea of beauty and gives them someone to look up to.
Media creates such a small window of what is publically accepted as what a girl "should" look like. Anyone that does not fit into this image of what girls in the media look like often experience discrimination and bulling because they are not one of the few that perfectly fit this image.
One brave girl named Jazz spoke out about the issue of sexual discrimination, her gender identity has always been different from her birth-assigned sex. She spoke so positively about her life and how happy she is in her interview; this is amazing to me because whenever I have heard individual stories about being transgender in this society it is never a positive one. Jazz was proud to show viewers who she truly is and try to help raise awareness. She proved that biological sex, gender or sexual orientation does not matter, everyone deserves to live a happy life and should be able to feel safe and accepted within society just as much as the “it” girl in the media.
Society is very quick to judge, especially with Internet and Smartphones becoming more popular. Bullying has become increasingly prevalent. Cyber-bullying takes a face away from the bully making it easier for someone to simply write a nasty comment without consequence or guilt.
I was so happy to see someone who is transgender being so positive about her situation and confident with who she is. Jazz is such a positive role model for all of those girls out there who do not fit the medias idea of beauty and gives them someone to look up to.
References:
ABC News. (2013, January 19). Transgender at 11: Listening to Jazz (Part 1) [Video file]. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJw3s85EcxM&feature=c4-overview- vl&list=PL6410327A7E45015A
ABC News. (2013, January 19). Transgender at 11: Listening to Jazz (Part 2) [Video file]. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH4kbybo60Y&list=PL6410327A7E45015A
Ontario Human Rights Commission. (2011, January 27). Policy on preventing sexual and gender-based harassment. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-preventing-sexual-and-gender-based-harassment-0
Header Photo:
http://www.maryvanbalen.com/your-stories/
ABC News. (2013, January 19). Transgender at 11: Listening to Jazz (Part 1) [Video file]. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJw3s85EcxM&feature=c4-overview- vl&list=PL6410327A7E45015A
ABC News. (2013, January 19). Transgender at 11: Listening to Jazz (Part 2) [Video file]. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH4kbybo60Y&list=PL6410327A7E45015A
Ontario Human Rights Commission. (2011, January 27). Policy on preventing sexual and gender-based harassment. Retrieved September 6, 2013, from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-preventing-sexual-and-gender-based-harassment-0
Header Photo:
http://www.maryvanbalen.com/your-stories/