"The T Word"

"The T Word"

MTV premiered a special documentary on October 17th entitled, "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word". The one hour documentary show follows the stories of 7 transgender young adults from the ages of 12-24.  MTV describes the show as 'exploring the intersections of transgender identity and race through the eyes of youth with varying levels of support from their parents and peers'.This TV special is a big moment for transgender visibility in the mainstream media. As an issue of sexuality in the media that we have not yet discussed in class, I thought it was an important piece of popular media to bring to our attention.

The GLAAD Organization defines transgender as an umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Why is transgender equality important?

Transgender people face staggering levels of discrimination and violence. In 2012, 53% of anti-LGBT homicide victims were transgender women. According to "Injustice at Every Turn," a report by the National Center for Transgender Equality and The Task Force:

Transgender people are four times more likely to live in poverty.

Transgender people experience unemployment at twice the rate of the general population, with rates for people of color up to four times the national unemployment rate.

90% of transgender people report experiencing harassment, mistreatment or discrimination on the job.

22% of respondents who have interacted with police reported harassment by police, with much higher rates reported by people of color.  Almost half of the respondents (46%) reported being uncomfortable seeking police assistance.

41% of respondents reported attempting suicide, compared to 1.6% of the general population.

Transgender people still cannot serve in the US Military.

Transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, face shockingly high rates of murder, homelessness, and incarceration. Most states and countries offer no legal protections in housing, employment, health care, and other areas where individuals experience discrimination based on their gender identity or expression.

Portrayals on TV are often stereotypical and heteronormative. Only more recently have alternative depictions been emerging showing lesbian and gay relationships on shows like 'Modern Family' and 'Glee'. Even less attention has been paid to the often marginalized community of transgender individuals who are often left out of media content. It is important that audiences can receive balanced representations of sexuality within the media in order to maintain a well rounded view of societal interactions.

Laverne Cox, host of the special, is an actress, producer, and LGBT advocate. She is best known for her role on the Netflix show 'Orange is the New Black'. In 2014 she became the first open transgendered person to be nominated for an acting Emmy award and the first to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. Her success as an actress has allowed her to create a platform to speak out for the rights of trans people. 

A study done by Lombardi et al. looked at transgender experiences with violence and discrimination. There is a cultural tendency towards discrimination and prejudice towards people who identify as transgender. A survey study was done to asses to what extent these injustices take place. They found that over half of the people in the sample experienced some form of harassment or violence within their lifetime and about a quarter experienced a violent incident. Additionally, they found that economic discrimination was related to transgendered people's experience with violence. 

Another study done by Iantaffi and Bockting looked at sexual legitimacy and transgender people's experiences of relationships. This Internet based study examined with transgender people's experiences of relationships are influenced by heteronomativity and gender as a binary construct. They found that participants were strongly influenced by pervasive heteronormative discourses. 

The findings of these two studies point to the sad reality that many transgendered individuals face on a daily basis. Popular media can often serve as a model to look up to and inform young adults. Yet transgender youth up until now have not had role models or norms being portrayed and they are forced to look at 'traditional' gender roles and relationships. As the media continues to grow towards greater acceptance it it important to increase the visibility of the transgender community to help prevent abuse and prejudice among this highly stigmatized community. 

To support “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” MTV’s Look Different campaign has launched a trans resource hub on LookDifferent.org, where young people can learn more about being transgender, get tips on how to be an ally to the transgender community, get help, and share their personal stories about living authentically using #livemytruth. MTV’s Look Different campaign aims to help young people better recognize and challenge hidden racial, gender and anti-LGBT biases and empower them to create a more equal future.