Monthly Archives: September 2019

Gender Issues

A cab ride, a nap and privilege

4 Comments

Usually, I would drive to an interview for a story. But on Thursday, I didn’t. I was unwell and I took a cab.

As I often do, I sat in the front passenger seat. As I was tired, I soon fell asleep.

The view as we exit EC, moments before I dozed off.

 

When I woke, we were just outside my destination. Fairly normal.

However, this commute reminded me of when a friend who, on her way home, hopped into the backseat of the Uber instead.

Now, the context here is that:

  1. My use of cabs has declined significantly since I got my license last year.
  2. What felt so familiar and almost natural (a front seat nap) to me may not be the same for another passenger.

I had read Twitter threads earlier about how women feel safer with female drivers.

I wanted to explore why so. To find out, I did a poll on Instagram and Twitter, asking which seat would a female passenger take and why, later asking guys the same.

Most female respondents said they prefer the back seat (either right behind the driver or across).

When asked why, some said they felt safer right behind, and others cited being away, closer to the furthest door, felt more secure. Others said it didn’t matter.

However, that women often have to think before getting in a cab says something about safety, both actual and perceived.

That I and most guys don’t have the same consideration shows our privilege.

Gender Issues

Dolls and inclusivity: Mattel’s new line offers promise

1 Comment

I don’t remember having one of Mattel’s dolls as a kid, but I still knew of them.

Especially Ken and Barbie – the iconic pairing that has defined beauty ideals for well over the past 5 decades.

Image: pixabay.com

However, given where we are as a society, inclusivity and representations matter. Mattel’s new line, Creatable World – a series of gender-neutral dolls, is a welcome addition in this regard.

In 2016, the French toy-maker had a landmark overhaul to their products, when they added three new body types to the Barbie line.

Creatable World, then, is another step in the right direction, because dolls are more than toys: they are mediums of expression and identity and that involves gender-neutral, gender-fluid; everything beyond and everything in between. As the first of its kind, the series is immense for representation, and this is just one example.

It’s only been two days since the line was announced, but there is promise here. That an eight-year-old boy who is gender-fluid, or a seven-year-old girl who is non-conforming can have a toy that represents them and looks like them is huge.

In a few years, someone will study the impact of these toys, but for now, Mattel can pat themselves on the back. Well done!

 

 

Gender Issues

Transgender models, fashion & society

11 Comments

In the not-too distant past, a model could lose their job, solely for being transgender. Indeed, both Tracey Norman and Caroline Cossey saw their careers come to a halt in the 1980s after tabloid stories disclosed their trans identities.

Today, things are different.

In August, Chanel tied up with Teddy Quinlivan, who became the first openly transgender woman to work with the fashion giant.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1eA307g9mq/?igshid=1lip219qmo62a

The same month, Victoria’s Secret partnered with Valentina Sampaio, with the Brazil-born model earning the same honor as Quinlivan, albeit for VS Pink.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0oDsqnC2am/?igshid=13bzukk2yti48

According to Elspeth H. Brown, Associate Professor of History at the University of Toronto, Bruce Jenner coming out as Caitlyn Jenner in 2015 was a factor in changing people’s views on trans individuals. Further, actress Laverne Cox, who plays Sophie in Orange is the New Black, has also had a positive impact through her advocacy of LGBTQ+ issues.

However, fashion endorsements, positive representations and advocacy of trans people can only go so far. Statistics show that in 2018, at least 26 trans individuals were killed due to fatal violence, with a majority being black transgender women. For 2019, that number currently stands at 19. This is the major issue trans people are faced with, besides the mistreatment and abuse they experience regularly.

If we can accept the trans community in advertisements and fashion campaigns, then it is only right to accept them as individuals and grant them the freedoms and dignity as listed by the United Nations Bill of Rights. It’s about time we did.

Gender Issues

Sam Smith, Gender & media representations of LGBTQ+ people

1 Comment

Over the weekend, American singer Sam Smith came out as non-binary, announcing their decision in an Instagram post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WpiusAc6h/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

According to Associated Press Guidelines, news outlets should honor individuals’ choices and use appropriate pronouns as required.

However, in their initial filing of the story, AP failed to follow their own guidelines and used he/him pronouns, drawing criticism from Smith’s fans, as well as several users on Twitter and other social media.

In this op-ed, journalist Ashley Dye expresses the symbolic meaning behind AP’s reporting error, calling their actions transphobic.

AP’s error in covering Smith is troubling, because it portrays LGBTQ+ voices and individuals as invalid.

Being a wire service, the Associated Press plays a key role in sourcing news and while AP subsequently corrected their report, the same cannot be said for news outlets who ran with the original update, as they may not have noticed the issue, and much less amended it after.

Smith’s case and the discussion around it are part of the wider conversation about LGBTQ+ narratives in media and their recognition as people. Words matter – and it’s time we respect people’s pronouns. Here’s to Sam Smith and to Ashley Dye!