Disclaimer: The following is merely the opinion of a lone Canadian in his late teens. I do not pretend to know the thoughts of all people like me, or what they went through, or society in a whole. This is my interpretation of what I have experience. My apologies if anyone is offended.
Uhg... okay, this is gonna be a tough one to write. Okay, so with all the frequent talk of sexism and all that, which seems to be the new escapist meme of 2009 (January at least), I thought I'd bring to light sexism against a minority who I am a part of. Androgynous males.
First things first, let's get some definitions out of the way, so there's no ambiguity about terms. Wikipedia has the following to say:
As an androgynous male, I would like to educate the members of this forum on some of the problems faced by, well if not all of us, at least me. Now indeed I cannot speak for greater western society, and in fact I cannot speak for much outside of the odd social climate in highschool. But I want to get something into all your heads from the outset:
If you can think back to that time when you never quite fit in with anyone, when there was always something somewhat off, or if you are in that time right now, imagine that being every moment of your life. A nagging feeling in the back of your brain that you are not the same as everyone else. Maybe you've noticed your hips curve a bit more than most guys. Perhaps you really like stuffed animals. Your hair may be a bit longer. You may enjoy the prospect of braiding it. You may even have a bit more meat on your chest. You may be a bit more lithe, and may be not nearly as strong as the others. No matter what you think, or what you're doing, all it takes is a slight glance down at yourself and you'll remember.
Now remember that I only know society inside the school system, and the Canadian one at that. It's the unfortunate part of being this age. And I know I'm focussing more on the physical side of androgyny, but don't worry, I'll get to the mental side soon.
The thing I'd like to say is that in society as I know, you will receive HELL for being built this way. The second anybody knows about this, they've got fodder for you. So what do you do about it? How do you hide this? Well, you quite literally have to hide it. Baggy clothes are great for physical differences, and you can always spout macho phrases to reaffirm your "masculinity". Yet with these physical differences, you might never be able to go swimming. In the summer, you may have to spend much of your time sweating underneath your vague layers. And the prospect of any real romance may be hindered by a sense of self-disgust brought on by your peers.
Besides, how can you avoid the words now engrained in your mind? "Gay fag." Whether or not you're gay has nothing to do with it. The words don't mean that you're gay. What they mean is simple: "Your physical or mental features are worthless and less superior to me, and I will ridicule you for it."
But this is a gaming forum, so why don't I get to gaming? Yes, let's talk a bit about this harmless piece of media, shall we?
So how about them gaming heroes, eh? Good ol' Snake, and how about those wonderfully muscled specimens in Gears of War? Oh indeed, I suppose the latter is a bad image, what with the steroid abuse and all. But Snake? Snake is cool. Snake is badass. Snake is a REAL man. Snake has VALUE as a HUMAN BEING because of how MANLY he is. Oh, Tidus? Why, that "whiny douche" can go cry, what with his "parent issues" and his "feelings". Yuk!
You know, I know women complain (for valid reasons) about negative images in games, but the guys seem to have perfectly fine images. Maybe a bit unrealistic, yeah, but who wouldn't want to be ripped like Snake?
You know who wouldn't? I wouldn't. This is where I'm getting more into the psychological side of things. My main problem is that, you know that thing I was talking about with always knowing you will be different? Well video games reinforce that. All the protagonists are strong, manly men of high calibur, something a real man would want to be. But what does an androgynous man want to be? I can't say much about the psychological drives in other guys, or other androgynous guys, but I know that I sorta like being this way. I mean, sure, I may have a curvier figure, and longer hair, but I think it suits me.
The problem though is that these games become a remainder that nobody else wants me to be this way. That society is looking down upon me for my odd gender. And it doesn't help when a character who (in my interpretation at least) is struggling against his androgynous nature is criticized for being a "whiny douche" or a "gay fag" every time I turn around. The problem is that there IS no good role model. There ARE no likable androgynous characters. (Except in the realms of anime it would seem. Wo-hoo Japan!)
And the sexism. Let's get into the sexism. Ladies, I'm gonna be looking your way as well. Let me go through one of the most common phrases heard by me from you ladies:
"Be a man."
Well excuse me, I am a man. No, I am not as strong as Ted over there, and I may be more emotionally susceptable than Fred, but that doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong. You know who IS doing something wrong? You, and a lot of other people. Many assume that just because I'm biologically a guy that I am instantly interested in sports, that I work out, that I'm averagely strong, and that I am emotionally detached. This is sexism. Valuing me lower because I am not living up to a definition of a "man".
And the thing is, this type of sexism exists in both genders towards people who don't fit the mold of a "man". The media in general, especially games, seems to get ill at the thought of such "fag imagery". So it doesn't matter who I go to, what I do, what I watch, what I play, I will be constantly assaulted with reminders of my worthlessness.
And YOU. Yes YOU internet and Escapist Forums. You are terrible about this too. So many blanket statements about "guys", you're missing a minority. Androgynous males.
And hey, we're not all "whiny douches". Some of us are highly intelligent. Some of us are highly romantic. But most of all, we are HUMAN. You may not like it, others may not like it, but it is the truth. I merely hope that in the future we can see some more interesting characters in the media. How about some lithe guy forced to be an assassin? Lots of character development available there. And hey, why not add a bit more meat to the chest of a few guys, slim down their arms, and maybe make them write poetry or something?
We have the ability people. All we need is the will. And just remember, that when you're refusing to allow a character to be a bit less masculine, you're saying "screw you" to people who would rather be a little more androgynous.
Word count: 1403. Pages: 3
Uhg... okay, this is gonna be a tough one to write. Okay, so with all the frequent talk of sexism and all that, which seems to be the new escapist meme of 2009 (January at least), I thought I'd bring to light sexism against a minority who I am a part of. Androgynous males.
First things first, let's get some definitions out of the way, so there's no ambiguity about terms. Wikipedia has the following to say:
I would like to point out though that I am indeed talking about both the gender identity roll and the more physical state of Androgyny. And now that we've got definitions out of the way, it's time to come down to brass tax.Wikipedia entry on Androgyny said:
As an androgynous male, I would like to educate the members of this forum on some of the problems faced by, well if not all of us, at least me. Now indeed I cannot speak for greater western society, and in fact I cannot speak for much outside of the odd social climate in highschool. But I want to get something into all your heads from the outset:
If you can think back to that time when you never quite fit in with anyone, when there was always something somewhat off, or if you are in that time right now, imagine that being every moment of your life. A nagging feeling in the back of your brain that you are not the same as everyone else. Maybe you've noticed your hips curve a bit more than most guys. Perhaps you really like stuffed animals. Your hair may be a bit longer. You may enjoy the prospect of braiding it. You may even have a bit more meat on your chest. You may be a bit more lithe, and may be not nearly as strong as the others. No matter what you think, or what you're doing, all it takes is a slight glance down at yourself and you'll remember.
Now remember that I only know society inside the school system, and the Canadian one at that. It's the unfortunate part of being this age. And I know I'm focussing more on the physical side of androgyny, but don't worry, I'll get to the mental side soon.
The thing I'd like to say is that in society as I know, you will receive HELL for being built this way. The second anybody knows about this, they've got fodder for you. So what do you do about it? How do you hide this? Well, you quite literally have to hide it. Baggy clothes are great for physical differences, and you can always spout macho phrases to reaffirm your "masculinity". Yet with these physical differences, you might never be able to go swimming. In the summer, you may have to spend much of your time sweating underneath your vague layers. And the prospect of any real romance may be hindered by a sense of self-disgust brought on by your peers.
Besides, how can you avoid the words now engrained in your mind? "Gay fag." Whether or not you're gay has nothing to do with it. The words don't mean that you're gay. What they mean is simple: "Your physical or mental features are worthless and less superior to me, and I will ridicule you for it."
But this is a gaming forum, so why don't I get to gaming? Yes, let's talk a bit about this harmless piece of media, shall we?
So how about them gaming heroes, eh? Good ol' Snake, and how about those wonderfully muscled specimens in Gears of War? Oh indeed, I suppose the latter is a bad image, what with the steroid abuse and all. But Snake? Snake is cool. Snake is badass. Snake is a REAL man. Snake has VALUE as a HUMAN BEING because of how MANLY he is. Oh, Tidus? Why, that "whiny douche" can go cry, what with his "parent issues" and his "feelings". Yuk!
You know, I know women complain (for valid reasons) about negative images in games, but the guys seem to have perfectly fine images. Maybe a bit unrealistic, yeah, but who wouldn't want to be ripped like Snake?
You know who wouldn't? I wouldn't. This is where I'm getting more into the psychological side of things. My main problem is that, you know that thing I was talking about with always knowing you will be different? Well video games reinforce that. All the protagonists are strong, manly men of high calibur, something a real man would want to be. But what does an androgynous man want to be? I can't say much about the psychological drives in other guys, or other androgynous guys, but I know that I sorta like being this way. I mean, sure, I may have a curvier figure, and longer hair, but I think it suits me.
The problem though is that these games become a remainder that nobody else wants me to be this way. That society is looking down upon me for my odd gender. And it doesn't help when a character who (in my interpretation at least) is struggling against his androgynous nature is criticized for being a "whiny douche" or a "gay fag" every time I turn around. The problem is that there IS no good role model. There ARE no likable androgynous characters. (Except in the realms of anime it would seem. Wo-hoo Japan!)
And the sexism. Let's get into the sexism. Ladies, I'm gonna be looking your way as well. Let me go through one of the most common phrases heard by me from you ladies:
"Be a man."
Well excuse me, I am a man. No, I am not as strong as Ted over there, and I may be more emotionally susceptable than Fred, but that doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong. You know who IS doing something wrong? You, and a lot of other people. Many assume that just because I'm biologically a guy that I am instantly interested in sports, that I work out, that I'm averagely strong, and that I am emotionally detached. This is sexism. Valuing me lower because I am not living up to a definition of a "man".
And the thing is, this type of sexism exists in both genders towards people who don't fit the mold of a "man". The media in general, especially games, seems to get ill at the thought of such "fag imagery". So it doesn't matter who I go to, what I do, what I watch, what I play, I will be constantly assaulted with reminders of my worthlessness.
And YOU. Yes YOU internet and Escapist Forums. You are terrible about this too. So many blanket statements about "guys", you're missing a minority. Androgynous males.
And hey, we're not all "whiny douches". Some of us are highly intelligent. Some of us are highly romantic. But most of all, we are HUMAN. You may not like it, others may not like it, but it is the truth. I merely hope that in the future we can see some more interesting characters in the media. How about some lithe guy forced to be an assassin? Lots of character development available there. And hey, why not add a bit more meat to the chest of a few guys, slim down their arms, and maybe make them write poetry or something?
We have the ability people. All we need is the will. And just remember, that when you're refusing to allow a character to be a bit less masculine, you're saying "screw you" to people who would rather be a little more androgynous.
Word count: 1403. Pages: 3
