#leapinto2019 #arttherapy #heartchristmas
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Experimenting with ‘(un)gendered selfies’ for upcoming workshops… thoughts?

elierlick:

I’ve seen repeated accusations that trans people who post selfies are arrogant or narcissistic. Do you know why we do it? Every day, we go out and are told our gender isn’t valid; there is something wrong with our bodies. Every day we see ourselves represented on TV by cisgender people who will never know what it’s like to be trans. Every day we have to deal with comments online about how we are bathroom predators or sexually confused. When we are able to represent ourselves in ways that we want to, that actually allow us to articulate our own identities to the public, only then can we finally be affirmed. Selfies give us space to show how we want to be seen against the continuous misrepresentation. With selfies, we are finally allowed some autonomy over our bodies, narratives, and lives. I’m going to go ahead and take all the selfies I want to. You should too.

And perfect timing! Reading this prior to a presentation on gender-fluid selfies…

elierlick:

I was going through old photos and found one from when I was 17. The outfit in it was the “feminine” version of my favorite suit. What’s most interesting to me about these photos isn’t the similarity. In fact, just the opposite. The most important point here is how transitioning affects the wellbeing of transgender people. In the first photo, I had only begun transitioning four years prior. The pressure of conforming to gender roles is intense, especially as a rural trans girl who only had access to trans help guides online. I was bombarded by messages of exactly how to appear in order to conform to gender roles. If I didn’t, then - according to the websites - I would face violence and rejection from everyone around me. Now over four years later, I know that’s not true. Transitioning has allowed me (and so many other trans people around the world) to not only reject gender roles but also help others in their transitions. Refusing the gender binary isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about allowing communities everywhere the power of self-determination. It’s about rethinking and restructuring these systems that we’re born into.

So much good stuff here - thanks! #nonbinary #enbyfashion