Cye Zhang, Period 6, 01/05/2024

Cye Zhang, Period 6, 01/05

When I first came out as trans, my mom remarked, “But you were such a girly-girl as a child.” Chimamanda Adichie coined the idea of the trap of a single story in 2009 and it’s even more relevant in our current day where media plays an unprecedented role in shaping cultural norms and perceptions. I don’t know if you’ve seen the TedTalk I’m referring to but I have many many times, and while it might feel annoying and redundant at first, its significance and impact remains unwavering. Mainstream media favors binary and stereotypical portrayals of gender, reinforcing the idea that one's identity is fixed and should conform to society’s standards. Limited representation fails to capture the diverse experiences of queer individuals and contributes to the persistence of harmful stereotypes.

While the idea that trans people know they are trans from a young age may be true for certain people, this was not the case for me and many others. Growing up my favorite color was pink and I wanted to be a princess. All my friends were girls and I loved dressing up. I was met with a lot of apprehension and judgment when I told this to both people around me and medical professionals as I seeked gender affirming care; Many of them interpreted my feelings as confusion and just “a phase.” When the media chooses to portray transgender individuals, it is often chock full with misinformation. Such portrayals can result in misconceptions and contribute to the difficulties that trans individuals face when seeking understanding from others.

As I’ve begun to explore my identity more, I’ve come to recognize the numerous facets of social factors I am characterized as from society’s perspective. Whether it be ethnic congruence, gender identity, or my family’s socioeconomic status I’ve become aware of the impact of such factors and how they play a significant role in my life both as separate entities and overlapping systems of intersectionality. The concept of intersectionality was developed around the peak of feminist and critical race theory— its relevance indicative then and even more so now; Recognizing the idea that individuals have multiple social identities that intersect and interact to shape their experiences is important when analyzing and addressing social injustices. Highlighting the idea minorities are often complex and have diverse experiences aids in our ability to better understand and aid them efficiently. Systems of oppression are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, trapping individuals in uncomfortable situations where they might face double marginalization of interwoven complexity.

As an Asian trans minor I am more than familiar with these struggles, these are fundamental aspects of my identity that impacts my livelihood every single day. The marginalization of queer youth of color is profoundly important to highlight as a person part of the demographic. Queer Asian-Americans are very stigmatized and are often targeted from multiple faucets whether it be xenophobia towards our cultural background or queerphobia from the ways we identify and choose to express ourselves. This leaves us incredibly vulnerable to violence and discrimination from those around us.

I am so grateful to have grown up in NYC however this has also led to some ignorance on my end. For example, I tend to forget that I’m a person of color and a minority because of how diverse my school is. Researching colleges was a very sobering experience for me as I looked at the ethnic demographics of my “dream schools.” On the other hand, I’m very lucky to have grown up here– most people have been open minded and respectful about my identity. I still feel so powerless watching as Anti-Trans bills are passed restricting gender affirming care and banning books in other parts of the country.

Moreover, from 2021 to 2022 Asian hate crime went up three hundred thirty nine percent nationwide (Yam). In Chinese culture the idea of altering your body in any way is very frowned upon as it's considered disrespectful to one’s family and ancestors. Anything from dyed hair to piercings beyond the lobe to tattoos are deeply frowned upon. You can imagine the horror of my parents and extended family when I came out and eventually went on to seek hormone replacement therapy and medically transition. They had a lot of trouble understanding how I felt and why it was so important to me that I was willing to put foreign substances in my body. The ingrained belief that an individual's body belongs to their ancestors was a significant obstacle; however patience allowed for eventual compromise. Despite their acceptance, visiting family for holidays is still an ordeal. They no longer shame me for my identity, but they continue to call me my deadname regardless of my demonstrated discomfort. I find myself in an exhausting battle, choosing between preserving my personal peace and further invoking strain to familial relationships. While they might not fully understand, I am still very privileged to have an environment I feel safe enough in to come out which is not the case for many other queer individuals.

In this day and age the media is everywhere, holding great power over our perspectives and opinions. It’s important to keep an open mind and strive to be more inclusive by recognizing that personal experiences are complex and differ from one another. Being educated and educating others is essential as is compassion and support to those who are impacted.

“Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Increased 339 Percent Nationwide Last Year, Report Says.” NBCNews.Com, NBCUniversal News Group, 14 Feb. 2022, www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/anti-asian-hate-crimes-increased-339-percent-nationwide-last-year-repo-rcna14282