Transgender in Disney
 

This can go off topic to general transgender tolerance discussions but I read on a Facebook forum that people were saying Disney movies should have transgendered themes/characters. Others were arguing kids were to young to be watching such adult themes. The retort was that most transgender children know they are not the right gender by 'grade 5' apparently. Should we be encouraging themes like this in family movies to encourage tolerance in children (to reduce bullying amongst their peers) or is it not age appropriate?

Personally I wouldn't want my children watching movies with these kind of themes, I'd rather retain their innocence and teach them about tolerance myself. If I so happened to have a child that was transgendered I would wait until their older to make sure they know what they really want and make sure they get lots of education about it.

Since transsexuality is an inherently sexual subject, it doesn't seem appropriate to start teaching children about it until they are deemed old enough to learn about sexual subjects. In California, this is around 5th-6th grade (or ages 11-13). That being said, I don't think it could possibly hurt to include homosexual and transgender characters in children's films/shows, as long as the goal in doing so is to show that being transgender/homosexual is perfectly normal/acceptable.

http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/p...psisterbar.jpg

This is as near as I can think to a transgender character being included in a children's film.

I'm having a hard time imagining how a Disney cartoon would include such a character without there being any explanation for them? I don't believe the topic is about writing films about transgendered characters. I suppose I can't envision it very clearly.

Yeah, I was talking more about homosexual couples in films. It would be hard to depict/explain a transgender character without being sexual

I don't think so. "They're a boy who wants to be a girl". It doesn't have to be sexual.

Gender is separate from sexuality. Just leaving this important detail here...

Haven't you guys seen Mulan? Then again, that was more about breaking the mold in terms of gender roles than dealing with gender identity.

Wandering Son - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I hadn't read the manga, but the I liked the animated adaption of "Wondering Son". It pretty much revolves around two kids in 5th grade, one (a girl) wanting to be a boy, and another (a boy) who wants to be a girl. Imagine going through puberty with all of this happening, not sure about who you are, or better yet, not knowing what to do. It's full of pretty awkward moments, most of them from the male protagonist in the story.

Ranma 1/2 is about a dude who can change to a girl, with cold water and back to a dude again with hot water

the Japanese have been doing this for a while now

Eh, there are a lot of factors to the 'awakening' that you're transgendered. I was a very masculine person in high school to cover up what I felt all through my life. I'd never even heard of the word "transgendered" until just more than a year ago. It's not as black and white as "knowing" you're trans*. Gender is a spectrum, and is as fluid as sexuality. If you do so happen to have a transgendered child in the future, go along with their feelings, even if you feel it's just a 'phase'. It's so much easier to go through a life like this with support. How you raise your kids is your business, but I never had support from my parents on this issue so... Yeah.

I don't really know how having a transgendered character in a Disney film steals a child's innocence. I watched Mulan a few times as a child and that never corrupted me.

Well, they can make them if they so feel the need to, but if it's modern day Disney I probably wouldn't want my child watching that straight to video garbage either way.

I think Disney films could incorporate more material supporting being yourself and who you feel you really are inside. Still, as has been said, the actual transgendered side of things is inherently sexual in western culture. I think it would be inappropriate and quite forced to put them in these movies. Sex is never explicit in children's movies, and adding this aspect would make it quite explicit if only for the fact that it would be confusing to children...even transgendered ones.

That being said, I can still envision a time when these issues are no longer taboo in our society and we can readily put these situations and characters into films with no problems. There are cultures in the world that view transexuality and homosexuality as quite a normal aspect of life, and making a movie about it probably wouldn't be an issue for them. For us, it is still hugely taboo. I mean, we still debate gay marriage rights...and if you really step back and look at it, I'm sure we can all see how ridiculous that problem is. We are a far cry from allowing it in a children's movie. It will be incredibly gradual, but once it is no longer taboo, I think it could happen.

I don't understand why people keep saying it would be too sexual. Like Pedestrian said on the previous page "they're a boy who wants to be a girl" (or vice versa). That doesn't necessitate anything explicitly sexual at all.

Actually, I am a girl. I just lack the equipment. That's how me and most other trans* individuals see themselves anyway.

No. That's a very common and damaging misconception. GENDER and SEXUALITY are two completely different things.

Does anyone else reach for the violin whenever Above posts? :D

Excuse me?

That wasn't an emotional post. I was just pointing out some misconceptions related to transgenderism.

That wasn't by your standards, but generally I brace myself for a real buzz killer.

I get why it would appear that way, but the majority of my posts ain't like that. I just post a lot in controversial topics like this, where things are bound to get heated and/or emotional. I use my personal experiences to back up my arguments, and plenty of the time those are negative experiences because they are relevant. I'm not a downer, and if you knew me you'd agree.

You are one of my favourite posters. Just noticed that I expected a dramatic post, and didn't get one.

But as far as how Disney would portray a transgendered person in a movie, I would think it would pretty much have to be as I described. Otherwise it wouldn't really make the point would it?

Yeah, in that context I would definitely agree with you. I admit I haven't seen many Disney movies with trans* themes other than Mulan, but yeah. I think there should be more of this stuff in films aimed at children. We should be taught to think critically from an early age rather than be indoctrinated into our gender roles, which need to go.

You just said it. It's a COMMON misconception... Meaning most of the population would take it that way. There's just no way it can be done right now that wouldn't b taken in a "fear for my child's sexuality" kind of way.

I'm sure there are plenty of ways to educate transgender tolerance in film and TV.

Randomly crowbarring it into Disney movies just for the sake of it isn't one of them and would probably do more damage than good.

I just don't think it's a big enough issue that young children should have it forced down their throats. It'll probably just confuse them until they get older and can understand better anyway.

I agree that the application of transgendered characters should be used sparingly. It should have something to do with the story, and they shouldn't just be background characters. Maybe their gender identity would add to their motivation to achieve their goals, or something similar.

...and the vast majority of society views gender as genetic and fails to see the value in acting as though cosmetic surgery can change gender.

Agree.

I personally think there is too much weight put upon gender. The real problem is the differences society has between Men and Women.

In my opinion, the only thing that separates us is our reproductive organs (AND BOOBS) and I don't think any Man or Woman should feel out of place within their gender because there shouldn't be set principles by which certain gender's should live by.

While I don't doubt that there are plenty of confused children and adolescents who could greatly benefit from entertainment that helps them better relate to themselves and come to terms with some of their feelings; I don't at all agree that it should be shoehorned into being the responsibility of a private company that already has very clear public image in regards to more traditional social and family values.

If there's a group of people who are demanding this type of media, then they should step up and create it for themselves. Forcing Disney to change their methods to suit a vocal minority won't amount to anything besides pandering.

Unfortunately for you, I don't care how society views me. Who are you to tell me what a 'real' woman is? You're right; cosmetic surgery cannot change gender, but it can change sex organs and appearance. My GENDER has always been female. My sex is male. Different things bro.

I don't understand this. How do you define what is male and female? To me they are the same thing besides reproductive organs. A female has vagina and a man has a penis. That's what separates us and gives us separate genders.

Whereas you seem to think you are female despite having male parts.

Do you consider yourself "female" because your personality suits the profile of a woman, and therefore you feel you should have been born a woman? Or is it deeper than that? Because if it was the former, I can't wrap my hear round it to be honest. Because I really don't like to consider men and women all that different, if at all.

I have no problem with any of this, it is just an interesting discussion.

Happy to clarify, as this is where most of the confusion lies.

I don't consider myself female because I "fit the profile" of a woman. Gender roles need to go, which might seem hypocritical for me of all people to say this, but hear me out (it may get TMI though). In the psychological level, I am a woman, but not because I want to fit 'girly' stereotypes. I just am, you know? The way you're born with a sense of male-ness (for lack of a better word), I feel female in that sense. For the physical side, I feel as though my sex organs aren't what I should have, and I feel great discomfort dealing with the fact that I don't have breasts or a vagina.

Going off on a tangent here; hormone therapy is really great. It redistributes fat to the breasts and hips and butt so you get a natural pair of breasts and figure etc. Surgery is very sophisticated too. They turn the tip of the penis into a clitoris and you experience female orgasms (I warned this would be TMI, haha). Hoped this answered your questions.

Glad you agree with me on the gender stereotypes issue and thanks for explaining.

Or you can drink a lot of beer and not exercise. My breasts are getting supple and my curves pretty hot for a white dude.

i think that's basically what gender diaspora is all about

i dated a transsexual

Tits or gtfo :V

You actually seem to care an awful lot about how society views you:

...etc.

To wager a guess; you feel rejected, so you've created a post hoc justification for your perceived rejection. Shakespeare has a relevant quote (link)

You're boring.

I find him fascinating. I still can't tell if he genuinely holds the views he espouses or if he's just permanently a devil's advocate.

^^or maybe that he's just bored and this "persona" is his way of having fun

Sounds a lot like body dysmorphia. I can't imagine a Disney character amputating healthy limbs. While I sympathise personally with the mental anguish that this must cause I am also uncomfortable with the idea of normalising a mental disorder as a lifestyle choice.

Just out of interest what would be the effect of taking male hormones? Would that mitigate the feeling of being the wrong gender?

I don't know who it was but they said something along the lines of causing confusion to children and they really wouldn't understand until they were a bit older. I don't see why it has to be put in disney films. Its not like its nessesary for them to know. Many people know their not 'normal' at very young ages or want to be of opposite sexes at young ages, I don't see the harm in allowing them to do what they want, but there's no real reason that transgender transitions should be showed by disney.

I don't get this. Whats the point of putting a transgendered child into a Disney film? If you have a transgendered child, or think you do, and you don't want them to be persecuted, move out of the Bible belt where those anti-science nutbags thing its a curable thing.

Disney isn't going to help you.