Politics of Transgendered People and Human Rights - Coursework Example

Transgender “Transgendered people is a term used to define all those people who bear the internal feeling of their gender identity, core, correspondsnot with their pre-assigned gender at birth or that which they are raised, but violates their internal feelings.” (MacDonald, 284). Despite transforming gender may satisfy one’s desire, transgendered people are usually faced with significant challenges such as gender identity, human rights, inclusion into feminist sphere and transgender politics in Western societies as addressed by Lara Karaian, Eleanor MacDonald and Joanna Harris in their articles. Gender Identity The three articles written by Lara Karaian, Joanna Harris and Eleanor MacDonald cover a wide variety of gender identity issues that affect transgender living in the western society. The gender identity issue can be evident in Harris article in which Kimberly Nixon had lived for 30 years as a man with identity issues. As a result, she, or rather he, ended up in a clinic to have surgery to change her gender in order to live the way she desires. The issue of gender identity has sparked many debates and legal issues in western societies concerning where transgendered people fall in the Western sex/gender binary system. The system classifies people into two categories, which are male and female, or masculinity and femininity. The categories determine the kind of treatment or protection one is entitle to receive from society. In reference to the classification, transgendered people have defied odds by bringing confusion of where they fall in the social system. For example, the Rape Relief and Kimberly Nixon’s case discussed by Harris and Karaian in which they demonstrated how Kimberly Nixon, as a transgendered woman, experienced genderless under the traditional sex/gender binary system. This is as per seen in the legal issue between Kimberley Nixon and the Volunteer Rape Relief feminist organization she hoped to work for. However, she was excluded from the training program when she was discovered to be a transgendered woman not a woman born woman; even though she thinks she is a woman and has lived her life as a woman. However, as a transgendered woman, she was discriminated and stereotyped that she does not have the same experience as a normal woman; therefore, she should not be belong to women’s category in the binary system. She is considered unfit to the counselling role in the feminist organization because her female identity is not recognized by the organization. In addition, neither does Kimberly Nixon’s gender identity be recognized as a woman nor did she recognize herself as a man, therefore, this case demonstrated that being transgendered woman is an issue in Western society. On the other hand, according to the arguments presented by Karaian and Harris in their articles, although feminist organizations may not acknowledge their gender identity based on the western binary system, however, there exists a way in which the law recognizes their identity and not as genderless individuals. This is well illustrated by the establishment of a tribunal in a quest to deal with the issue brought up by Kimberley Nixon and discrimination issues against her. The law plays a role in shaping ideas about gender, as Karaian argues that the acts as an active and creative force in building and changing people’s perceptions and ideas directed towards transgendered people (Karaian 183). It is also concerning adopting complex means that help to understand the identity of transgendered people. In addition, transgendered people receive recognition of their gender identity from other members in the society as was the case of Kimberly Nixon who even lived with a male colleague. This is in spite of being a post-operational female, meaning that, to other members of society, transgendered people are accepted in western society and are recognized as “normal” people (Karaian, 182). On the other hand, Harris does not comment much on gender identity for transgendered people, but only speaks of the attempts by the law to give the transgendered an identity. This way, Harris shows that the law aims at giving them an identity by fighting for their rights in discrimination issues (Harris 174). Despite the recognition, Macdonald argues that the transgendered people are left as genderless people with no likelihood of identifying with any gender. This is because; the male gender views them as traitors to their gendered while women view them as the kind of people aimed at violating their haven in society by infiltrating to be female (MacDonald 237). In this light gender identity for transgendered, people stand out owing to the various arguments made by MacDonald, Karaian and Harris. Human Rights The rights and protection for transgendered people are in review because the law traditionally protects only men and women group. Harris and Karaian articles demonstrated the steps taken by the law in trying to bring the right of this population into effects as part of any other communities in the society. Karaian argues that, when it comes to the law, all individuals are required to place themselves in identity groups of either male or female, which are labelled as protected Grounds in anti-discrimination provisions (Karaian 183). However, there may be conflict between transgendered individuals and feminists when trying to gain protection from sexual discrimination due to the traditional understanding of male and female as stable knowable categories, which can be differentiated in the society (Karaian 183). The issue of transgendered people or transsexuals can be perceived as threat to essentialism that forms the basis of western feminism. Essentialism, in this case, refers to the social theory belief that one’s identity is stable, consists of clear meaning and has fixed traits that remain contestant through time and space, as well as social and personal contexts (Karaian 185). In spite of all that the legal system’s attempts to provide social justice to transgendered people, the law at times is contradictory in terms of execution of the rights granted to the said population. This is because, the justice system is considered to be in violation of the law concerning granting justice based on gender issues. This is evident in Harris’ article, in which, the Canadian Supreme Court overturned Kimberley Nixon’s case. The Supreme Court overturned a decision, which regarded her treatment by Rape Relief Society as discriminatory based on her gender and required recognition and compensation from the said organization (Harris 248). MacDonald on the issue of the rights of transgendered people speaks of the violation they make towards women’s rights. This is in light of feminists attempting to maintain the current gender systems to uphold women’s rights (MacDonald 286). MacDonald argues out that transgendered people are out to take up the benefits that feminists have fought to gain over time. Overall, rights issues for transgendered people remain a call for concern owing to discrimination and selective application of justice. Inclusion in Feminist Spaces All three articles touch on issues of inclusion or exclusion of transgender people into feminist sphere with various explanations as to why transgendered people should not enjoy the same services and opportunities as women. This is concerning the views that feminists from different walks of life. In Karaian’s article, Rape Relief argues that support groups that handle women’s issues, should have women’s interests as the issues at hand and no interference from other genders. Therefore, this puts transgendered people in positions where they cannot access women’s services, as well as those of men as restrictions in the organizations do not leave them in any gender group (Harris 248). This is evident in the case where Kimberley Nixon was offered a position in the fundraiser committee with the men and not with women like herself, which was after the discovery of her transgendered personality (Harris 250). In addition, Kimberley Nixon did not stand a chance in any other positions offered to her at the Rape Relief Society such as being a member of the fundraiser committee with men, as she did not identify with them. MacDonald states that transgendered people should not be included in feminist organization, as they do not stand for similar values as actual female feminists do. Her claim is based on the degradation of the female form, to represent just an artefact, which violates a woman’s sexuality and spirit (MacDonald 237). According to MacDonald, they are dubbed as negative influences due to the Image they portray of women (MacDonald 237). In this light, she labels as men out to invade the personal space of women and likens them to rapists, a negative image that affects all transgendered people. Based on the above argument, it justifies the exclusion of transgendered people from women-only services, gatherings and events. All the articles, however, have little, if any, information as to why transgendered people should be included in feminist activities and organizations. The only social institution fighting for their inclusion is the law by addressing issues of disparities as discussed by all three writers. Karaian writes about the steps taken by law institution in Canada to include transgendered people in women’s society. Politics of Transgendered People Controversy between feminists and transgendered individuals sparks up in MacDonald’s article but fails to feature in the rest, in reference to issues concerning transgendered people. This is in an attempt to discern cause of the problem and determine whether to address it, as a psychiatric case or as a mental one. As a result, the gender concerns raised by transgendered individuals are not included in feminist theories. However, it is crucial to note that, in recent times, the views and concerns of transgendered individual do not entirely fall out of the sphere of interest of feminists as current feminist theories incorporate these views. This owes to what MacDonald labels as the expression of diversity and difference aimed at breaking down binary dualism in western metaphysical thought (MacDonald 283). MacDonald defined the politics that are involved in transgender issues and their causes, which Karaian and Harris fail to address as they only identify the process of gender change as that of receiving surgery to change one’s sex. On the other hand, MacDonald goes into the details of identifying the problem from a biological and psychological point of view in which she defines the problem as discomfort in one’s assigned gender (MacDonald 284). In this light, details of the problem are brought to light dismissing misconceptions and stereotypes used in portraying the image of transgendered people. This helps to clear unfair criticism directed towards them and their personalities as well as inappropriate attitudes. Conclusion In summary, it is evident that transgendered people face numerous challenges in everyday life as well benefits in being in their preferred sexual orientation state. In addition, they face challenges in light of the condition when it comes to identifying with their preferred gender due to the negative images painted by feminist organizations. Apart from that, all writers highlight the plight of transgendered people effectively by highlighting their cases and producing the relevant evidence. Overall, the arguments addressed by the three writers bring up the need to look into issues that affect transgendered people, and that should be addressed appropriately. Works Cited Harris, Joanna. Competing Claims from Disadvantaged Groups: Nixon v. Vancouver Raoe Relief Society. 2006: 170-181. Print. Karaian, Lara. Strategic Essentialism on Trial: Legal Interventions and Social Change. Sumach Press. 2006: 182-191. Print. MacDonald, Eleanor. Critical Identities: Rethinking Feminism Through Transgender Politics. Pearson Education Canada. 2004: 282-290. Print. Read More