Soujin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
psalm_onethirtyone) wrote2010-09-16 01:15 am
psalm_onethirtyone) wrote2010-09-16 01:15 am
"Don't Need a Simple Answer..."
Fff here is the letter I sent to Res Life. I am hoping it is basically professional:
Mr. [redacted],
I am writing regarding the issue of [redacted], the transgendered woman who is currently not allowed to use the female restrooms on campus. I really would like to express that I think this is appalling. [Redacted] may not be biologically female, but she is attempting to transition into a lifestyle that is appropriate to the gender she identifies with. Just as I would find it incredibly uncomfortable to be told that I was not a real woman and could only use male restrooms and showers, she is uncomfortable, and is feeling that there is a sense of stigma and insufficiency beginning to surround her and her identity. Transgendered folks are already marginalised by society and told that they are not "real" men and women because they don't happen to be lucky enough to have a biological sex that matches their gender identity. When we support that marginalisation and discriminatory culture we enhance feelings of shame and inability to fit in, and make people put their lives on hold while we--the privileged people in the conflict--argue over whether or not we are willing to concede civil rights to people who deserve them by virtue of being people.
Please consider that while it seems like a small issue to us cis folks because we can use whatever bathroom we want without even having to think about it, to a trans person this is a really big deal--a part of their identity is being completely denied. Small things like this are what lead to escalations in the larger society when we label people's differences with negative connotations. I know that Res Life is trying to resolve the issue appropriately, but I think that as members of a purportedly forward-thinking college and as decent human beings we cannot just "hide" our trans students off-campus or pretend that their gender identity is irrelevant. [Redacted] deserves the rights and consideration of any other student, woman, and person.
Thank you for your time,
[Soujin]
I think this is okay? I am bad at writing angry letters. Incidentally, the student mentioned in this e-mail is currently facing suspension for using the women's restrooms/showers, and that Res Life has tried to fix the problem by offering her off-campus housing, which she feels would be not actually solving the problem. Also I think I am hoping that this letter reflects both some familiarity with transgendered issues and the fact that I am taking Interpersonal Comm and Conflict Resolution this semester (I want to be able to communicate!).
Anyway, it took me a whole damn hour to write and that is why I am not in bed like I want to be, so now that OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS HAVE INCONVENIENCED ME!!11!, I am going to try to get some sleep for once. >_> To-morrow is poetry day! yay!
Mr. [redacted],
I am writing regarding the issue of [redacted], the transgendered woman who is currently not allowed to use the female restrooms on campus. I really would like to express that I think this is appalling. [Redacted] may not be biologically female, but she is attempting to transition into a lifestyle that is appropriate to the gender she identifies with. Just as I would find it incredibly uncomfortable to be told that I was not a real woman and could only use male restrooms and showers, she is uncomfortable, and is feeling that there is a sense of stigma and insufficiency beginning to surround her and her identity. Transgendered folks are already marginalised by society and told that they are not "real" men and women because they don't happen to be lucky enough to have a biological sex that matches their gender identity. When we support that marginalisation and discriminatory culture we enhance feelings of shame and inability to fit in, and make people put their lives on hold while we--the privileged people in the conflict--argue over whether or not we are willing to concede civil rights to people who deserve them by virtue of being people.
Please consider that while it seems like a small issue to us cis folks because we can use whatever bathroom we want without even having to think about it, to a trans person this is a really big deal--a part of their identity is being completely denied. Small things like this are what lead to escalations in the larger society when we label people's differences with negative connotations. I know that Res Life is trying to resolve the issue appropriately, but I think that as members of a purportedly forward-thinking college and as decent human beings we cannot just "hide" our trans students off-campus or pretend that their gender identity is irrelevant. [Redacted] deserves the rights and consideration of any other student, woman, and person.
Thank you for your time,
[Soujin]
I think this is okay? I am bad at writing angry letters. Incidentally, the student mentioned in this e-mail is currently facing suspension for using the women's restrooms/showers, and that Res Life has tried to fix the problem by offering her off-campus housing, which she feels would be not actually solving the problem. Also I think I am hoping that this letter reflects both some familiarity with transgendered issues and the fact that I am taking Interpersonal Comm and Conflict Resolution this semester (I want to be able to communicate!).
Anyway, it took me a whole damn hour to write and that is why I am not in bed like I want to be, so now that OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS HAVE INCONVENIENCED ME!!11!, I am going to try to get some sleep for once. >_> To-morrow is poetry day! yay!
no subject
When you're done with this schooling lark, could you get a job as POTUS, please? I thank you.
no subject
Whaaat is POTUS?
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
One thing to pay attention to: people who aren't in the conversation about transsexuality may not have encountered the word 'cissexual' before, and you use the abbreviated 'cis' very casually. You might want to write it out, in case you are dealing with boneheads. >_>;;
no subject
no subject
Cis is basically the opposite of trans; matching up instead of not matching up, for whatever reason.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Yes! Agh! I'm now annoyed that I sent the e-mail before posting my draft here, because I definitely forget that not everyone knows what cis-ness is.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
1) 'cis' and 'cissexual' are not really in common usage outside certain circles, so using either without explaining it will likely baffle Res Life people.
2) 'biological sex' is not an unproblematic concept, although I'm not sure it's worth going into that in this situation.
http://tim.dreamwidth.org/1707069.html
http://tim.dreamwidth.org/1707657.html
Res Life has tried to fix the problem by offering her off-campus housing, which she feels would be not actually solving the problem
So what is she supposed to do when she's ON campus? God, how shitty.
no subject
Ohh, those are good articles. I definitely see the point, but I think that considering that she got a nasty letter from Res Life telling her that "female bathrooms are for women only" there is not enough understanding of trans folks on the most basic front, so getting into subtleties is probably unlikely to go anywhere. :/
EXACTLY. so STUPID. It's like, that's nice, so she can't use the bathroom all day while she's on campus, or if she comes on campus to visit friends? She might as well take computer classes.
no subject
Ohh, those are good articles. I definitely see the point, but I think that considering that she got a nasty letter from Res Life telling her that "female bathrooms are for women only" there is not enough understanding of trans folks on the most basic front, so getting into subtleties is probably unlikely to go anywhere. :/
I thought that was probably the case, but it's good information to have--pretty big language-check for me right now, and I'm still processing it.
EXACTLY. so STUPID. It's like, that's nice, so she can't use the bathroom all day while she's on campus, or if she comes on campus to visit friends? She might as well take computer classes.
Yuck. Hope things end up working out.
no subject
I know! It definitely influenced how I replied to
Me too. I will probably keep y'all updated.
no subject
Also, you are wonderful for writing it. ♥
no subject
no subject
no subject