There has definitely been an influx of media around trans people over the last year or so. Thomas Beatie (the pregnant man) now has a memoir out, and WE TV has a new show called Sex Change Hospital.
Based in Trinidad, Colorado, this six-part series follows patients as they arrive in this Old West mining town--dubbed the 'Sex Change Capital of the World'--to see Dr. Marci Bowers, formerly Mark Bowers, who'll provide them with the ultimate life-changing operation. From retired grandfathers to construction workers, businessman to office managers, each shares their unique story of how they came to terms with their sexuality.
I recognized the name of the doctor from the Sundance Channel's series from a few years back, Transgeneration. One of the young women on that series goes to Dr. Bowers for her own gender reassignment surgery.
This series chronicles a number of trans people (both male to female and female to male) along their journey of transition and particularly surgery.
I haven't seen the show--have any of you? On first glance I am glad to see realistic depictions of transgender people and their experience on television. On further inspection, things like the before and after style photo gallery on the website bother me, as I think they focus too much on our fascination with the physical aspects of the trans experience.
This type of media has the potential to really expose a wider audience to transgender issues, but also runs the risk of exploiting their experience as part of the "wow" factor of television. Also, focusing entirely on transition surgeries leaves out a large sector of the trans community that either can't afford surgery or chooses not to seek it.
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I understand why they focus on that, cos it's televisual, it's the most dramatic part of a person's transition and, let's be honestt, there's a sizeable chunk of the population who love watching medical stuff with blood and stuff here and abouts.
And frankly, I'd rather 100 TV programmes like this, than one more article of hate speech from Julie Bindel in the Guardian (just the worst example, not the only one).
...except that surgery often isn't the most dramatic part of a person's transition at all and the fact that we are so commonly inclined to think so is only a product of society's obsessive fixation on trans folks' genitals. Like I'm looking at the before/after shots of Ryan Brown on the slideshow right now and of course the difference is dramatic--the dude's got a beard and his body mass is completely redistributed, etc--but the fact that he looks suddenly like any other nontrans guy doesn't have anything to do with what's in his pants, that's our own projection. I sort of laughed when I saw that each of the photos is titled "before surgery" and "after surgery" as if you can actually tell that anyone has had surgery in any of these images.
When I transitioned I thought it was sort of ridiculous that getting surgery was made into such a vastly bigger ordeal than starting hormone therapy. Testosterone completely transformed the way I went through the world; top surgery only meant I didn't have to wear those stupid uncomfortable binders anymore.
Anyway yeah, I don't think those photos are actually illustrative of anything; I just think that they pander to a particular set of nontrans folks' expectations about trans people.
Personally, I am fascinated by any medical show. Surgery is really interesting to me. I think, generally, the more educated the public is about something the better, so I don't necessarily have a problem with this. And as far as the pictures go, it sort of makes sense. Most surgical shows have before and after shots. While, they probably have a more sensationalist reason for posting it, generally I think it's acceptable.
I haven't seen the show, but I'll probably check it out just to see what it's like. As a transwoman eagerly awaiting SRS (I'm likely at least a year or two off, because I need to be healthier and save up a whole bunch o' money), I do think surgery is very important to those who seek it. But, Miriam is correct that it isn't the be all end all of the transsexual experience.
Regarding before and after photos, are you talking about on Dr. Bowers' site? Or on the site for the show? Many surgeons who perform sex reassignment surgery offer before and after photos, because it's very important for those seeking surgery to be able to see the skill of the surgeon based on end results. Since so many people are only able to do their initial research via the Internet, they put the pictures on the website. Most surgeons from what I've heard also have big books of before/after photographs for you to look at once you meet them, where you get more detail, can discuss different concerns or questions, etc.
I do wish these types of shows would focus less on the surgery and more on the actual transition, though. Transition is HARD. Surgery is EASY in comparison. Not only have I had to learn what to wear (what's appropriate and comfortable, as well as fits my body), how to walk, how to talk, how to behave, but I also have to deal with all the people I've known over the years suddenly seeing a woman, and having to get to know me again. Some people don't care to know me again, and go straight to rejection. Work was also difficult. But, being able to be yourself, regardless of parts, is one of the absolute best things imaginable.
I'm definitely looking forward to the surgery, though!
Allie--I was referencing the pictures on the WE site for the show. I haven't looked at Dr. Bower's website. I understand why she would need to have pictures to show patients, but when the media uses them it definitely leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Like on the article Ann posted yesterday, about the trans-identified mayor.
Thank you for the clarification. I agree with you, I just don't see any reason for the show/media to post such pictures on their site. The point shouldn't be to get people more familiar with our genitals, but more familiar with the challenges we face so they'll be more accepting.
I think it's a little exploitive. Is the show paying for any part of the process, or reimbursing them for their time? Because if they are, DEFINITELY exploitive, since it will cause people to go on this show so they can get the expensive surgery who might rather do so in private, but can't afford to.
And they should NOT be focusing on the surgery. They should be focusing on the pre-surgery, the transition. And even then, they can never get the real feeling for it, because, after all, the most important part is the therapy, which they couldn't ethically show on TV. Many people who go into the process believing they are trans are actually not, they are just confused and have trouble fitting into standard gender roles, but with some therapy are able to realize they are the right gender, just not a perfect fit in the prescribed role. It scares me to think people could watch this and reinforce their idea that any "crazy" could get the surgery, instead of seeing the real process and understanding that the people who get through screenings aren't just confused, they are genuinely the wrong gender. I think this will probably just reinforce the stereotypes of transsexuals, because it won't reveal the true process.
My biggest problem is that I hate the idea of glorifying transsexuals. Transsexuals are jsut people. They had a birth defect and are fixing it. Then they should be treated accordingly. Surgeries shouldn't be plastered on TV, they should be private, to help the person readjust to society. These people will walk into bars and such and people will recognize them. They will never really be considered their true gender by people who have seen the show, and will never get that chance to "pass--" to live as any other person of their gender lives. I can understand publicizing transsexuality in cases like Thomas Beatie, where he really had no choice-- people would notice the pregnancy, and he cared more about his children-- or maybe for some activists in progressive areas, but for the average person who has to live their life, publicizing a sex change is dangerous and severely limiting to the individual.
If these people volunteered to have their private medical care on television, and weren't bribed by producers, and understand the risks of doing so, I guess it's tolerable. But if they even got basic compensation... it's exploitation.
I do think you have a few good points, but I disagree with some of your assertions.
1) Most people who think they're trans aren't? Do you have a link to information about study that found this to be true? I've actually never heard this before, though I have heard people say, "Oh, I'm just like you, I think it's tough being too." I've never heard of any of these people actually seeking to transition.
2) Transsexuality is a birth defect. I don't agree with this, because I'm not defective.
3) Exploitation. In some ways, yes, you're probably right. But I do think the people involved in this process who are undergoing the procedure, if they are being paid to do it publicly, are not unwitting participants. Why is it automatically assumed that they're victims?
4) Glorification of transsexual people. I don't think ANYONE glorifies them, aside from maybe the fetish porn industry. Discussing something isn't necessarily glorification, but this is also an aspect of society that's been around for ages but hasn't been explored. Perhaps it's the "difference du jour", much like homosexuality (and TV shows with gay characters) was a few years back. But glorification? I completely disagree. As for Thomas Beatie, I think the publicity was welcome to them. Last I heard he was writing a book about it.
I do think exploitation and over-exposure in the media is a potential problem, possibly beyond potential, but I think transsexual people suffer far more harm from a lack of medical care, lack of supportive services, and the pornographic industry than they do from mainstream media that brings their stories to a wider audience.
1) They don't usually get very far, and never to surgery as far as I know. But yeah, there are a lot of confused people out there who don't fit well into gender roles and don't understand transsexuality enough to know they aren't one. Any competent therapist will wean them out quickly, and even if they don't get therapy, they usually learn they are not actually trans when they attempt to live as the gender they think they are. It's a side effect of living in a society with such defined gender roles, a tomboy teen can learn about the basic idea of transsexuality and if she's confused, she will decide she's transsexual. I've actually known several people who at some point struggled with this.
2) Being transsexual isn't the birth defect, the birth defect is the original body not being the correct sex. Your birth defect was that your genitalia wasn't right and needed to be fixed, and you needed some hormones. Sorry, should have been more clear. I didn't mean there was anything wrong with your brain.
3) I know how expensive the surgery is and how desperately many people need it, and that it can't be covered by 99% of insurance plans. One girl I know literally spent her life savings and went bankrupt to get the surgery so she could have normal sexual relationships. With such a needed, expensive surgery that they can't get any support for, it seems like many people would consider getting the surgery on TV to be preferable to not getting it at all, but would rather not be on TV. If they could cover it with insurance, or it was less expensive, then yeah, they probably wouldn't be victims. But since most transsexuals seem to simply want to peacefully go about their lives in their new gender and NOT get all the negative attention, they jsut want to live as their gender like anyone else, I think paying them is just perfectly set up for exploitation. It's like how coming into a poor area and setting up a brothel and recruiting from the area is exploitative towards women, because they may have no choice but to become prostitutes. These people may have no choice but to accept the film crews. If they are all independently wealthy, I guess it's not exploitative, but these were people whose jobs were "student" and "trucker."
That's irrelevant, though, since jescatling below confirmed they were not paid. I am a lot more comfortable with that, since at least I know they weren't being pushed into it.
4) I mean sensationalize them. Turn them into sideshow freaks. That's actually my biggest issue with this, I think. It's saying, here, come look at the sideshow freaks. They're different from you. It's why I hate the "conjoined twins" or "bazillions of kids" shows on Discovery Health, or half the subjects of Ripley's. It's essentially the same thing as those carnival sideshows, it's a chance for "normal" people to get to see the "freaks" without actually having to interact with them on a personal level.
A non-exploitative show would center around the normalcy of their lives post-surgery, the mundaneness of their existence. Show them as just like everyone else. Them talking about their struggles and experiences. THAT would help others understand their plight. Not focusing on the surgical aspects of the whole thing, and sensationalizing transsexuality. It's just so reminiscent of carnival sideshows, and that deeply disturbs me, because they are focusing on the differences, not the similarities.
I agree, the lack of medical care and supportive services is a far more important issue. I've written to my state Congresspeople before about that, but I doubt anything will come of it; I saw what that one woman I mentioned went through, paying thousands of dollars, struggling to hide and self-treat her post-op complications so she didn't have to go to the ER, running out of her hormones and the doctor not prescribing more without a blood test that she couldn't afford, and not being able to get follow-up therapy she desperately needed. And she doesn't even have to worry about not "passing" and being in danger because of that, she looks more traditionally feminine than I do; nor did she have to worry about the law, since she convinced the DMV clerk that her license was in error and he issued her a new one-- but those are real problems for most transsexuals. I'm not about to place this as more important than those issues. But that doesn't mean I can't be bothered by the undertones of carnival sideshows that run through all these shows.
I'd like to respectfully disagree that the people on this show come off as carnival sideshow freaks. I know that's not what you meant, but that's what was implied. The production company that made this show is called World of Wonder and they are not an exploitative company. My husband and in laws had a great time working with them. I agree with you that a better format wouldn't focus so much on surgery, but as someone pointed out earlier, it's visual drama that plays for television much better than hours of deep introspection. I also think the show did a very good job of showing that these were normal people, and they did talk about their struggles and experiences. They were all very brave for putting it all out there (literally) for the sake of helping others and showing the world that they aren't freaks. If none of them felt that they were exploited (many have blogs and myspaces you can check) then I don't see why anyone else should think they were.
2)" Being transsexual isn't the birth defect, the birth defect is the original body not being the correct sex. Your birth defect was that your genitalia wasn't right and needed to be fixed, and you needed some hormones. Sorry, should have been more clear. I didn't mean there was anything wrong with your brain."
Are you saying that we are hardwired to be the gender we are?That our brains are "sexed"? Isnt that dipping into gender stereotypes?
No, that does not follow.
There is an immense gap between *subconscious sex* and *gender roles.* Subconscious sex does seem to be wired before or just after birth. Gender roles, however, are learned. There are plenty of butch trans women and femme trans men, who may not care about gender roles, or may transition despite them.
See http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/85/5/2034
Kruijver at al., 2000, "Male-to-Female Transsexuals Have Female Neuron Numbers in a Limbic Nucleus."
If you don't believe some elements of subconscious sex are hardwired, then you don't believe transsexuals are really the gender they say they are. I mean, that's kind of like the old way of looking at it where people assume that transsexuals are making it up.
From the quote in the piece - "...each shares their unique story of how they came to terms with their sexuality."
Um... sexuality, aka sexual orientation, has nothing to do with one's gender, which is what being trans is all about. I'm sure some of the people on the show are otherwise queer w.r.t. their new gender, but it's such tired bullshit that you must be gay or lesbian or whatever if you're trans.
It's a minor point, I know, but as a trans person, it's important to me that people get this stuff right.
Anyway, any positive exposure that transfolk can get is all right with me, as long as we're not made into a freakshow or something.
I haven't seen this show, but as a trans-woman who is not in a position to pursue surgery, I find that the emphasis on surgery really just reinforces one of the biggest misunderstandings about the trans-gendered:
I am already a woman. Surgery could potentially give me a body I'm more comfortable with, given that I am a woman - It will not change me from a man into a woman.
It bothers me that there is this idea that the body is all-important, that trans gendered people are men who want to be women (or the other way around) rather than women born into male bodies. Unless people can come to understand that, I think it's going to be very difficult to move forward in terms of acceptance in society.
Also, Allie, thank you for saying:
"2) Transsexuality is a birth defect. I don't agree with this, because I'm not defective."
I couldn't agree with you more.
Of all the comments, I enjoyed yours the most.
'It bothers me that there is this idea that the body is all-important, that trans gendered people are men who want to be women (or the other way around) rather than women born into male bodies.'
I completely agree that society will continue to exploit and in many ways abuse the trans community without grasping your point above. I think it comes down to society having the ability to put a label on people - it's easier for them to group a with b and c with d. A and D don't exist for them.
I'm sorry, as I said before, I meant that your body was not the right sex and needed to be fixed, not that your mind was somehow defective.
Although I do find the potentially exploitive aspects of this show to be troublesome to say the least, I do enjoy watching the show.
They focus on the "final" aspect of transistion, which will get them better ratings because of the mainstream obsession with trans peoples genitals. And it is marketed by WE very poorly.
What I really like about this show is the human aspect. The "patients" are shown talking about the sacrifices that they've had to make along the way, their lives before and during transistion, and why they feel that genital surgery is the best option for them personally. They discuss their different expectations.
The real gem of the show in my opinion is Dr. Bowers. She is sooo sincere, and open and funny. She doesn't come off like those Dr.'s on Dr.90210, who are not likable. In one memorable episode, she is visiting a patient in recovery. The patient has lost her earring, and Dr. Bowers gets on her hands and knees and crawls around the floor to find it. She makes it seem like a perfectly reasonable thing for one of America's most famous and reknowned surgeons to do, all the while joking. You can tell she cares about her patients and making this part of their transistion as easy as possible.
We shouldn't ignore the issues and we should let WE know that before and after pictures are exploitive and othering. They are trying but they need to try harder.
may I just add a rather off-topic comment about the bizarre form of nation-centrism that seems to exist in this bizarre and extreme form only (as far as I know) in the US. Ethnocentrism - to think that your country and culture is the normal - is common everywhere. But in the US it is so extreme that it is mainstream to pretend, not that the US is the norm, but that USA is the only place that exists! Thus the "world series" in various sports that are just USA or North America tournaments etc. This "world view" is really really obscure.
The cause of the comment is the claim that Trinidad, Colorado is 'Sex Change Capital of the World' which is so obviously an example this. "Of the World" means just "in the USA"... the only part of the world worth mentioning, actually the only part of the world that exists?
To the rest of us (I am not American :) ) the "Sex Change Capitol of the Planet" would arguably be Bangkok Thailand. If the producers of the show had done more than a minute's research on transgender issues - just done a google-search - they would know that there was this country which is mysteriously outside of the US and has a huge sex-change industry and which is the place people from all around the world (however you view the "world") go to when they don't want to wait for the regulations or cannot afford the procedures in their own countries (unless they think their country is the entire world of course).
Anyway, this was kind of off-topic. But surely transpeople and people researching the subject must have heard about the place called Thailand and know that it is not off the broader topic of transissues.
PS. I am (was) confident that the show will be awful but if I am wrong then that is a good thing. Actually the website looks okay and not at all sensationalist, so I might be wrong.
Actually, Trinidad is called the "Sex Change Capital of the World" because of Dr. Stanley Biber, who performed over 4000 transsexual surgeries. Dr. Bowers took over his practice in 2003.
I don't know exactly how that compares to the doctors in Thailand, such as Suporn, but it's a hefty number, and the title may have been given to the town before Thailand was known for their SRS procedures.
I'm so happy to see this appear on feministing! I'm married to one of the two sons who appear in episode 4 to support their dad's surgery. Jackie is an absolute sweetheart and incredibly talented artist and I'm happy to have her as a father-in-law.
In answer to a couple of questions:
1. None of us feel the documentary is exploitative. Jackie, my husband and brother in law were very careful about not getting involved in anything remotely "reality TV".
2. No trannies were paid in the making of this documentary.
3. I'm not crazy about the before and after pics either. Strangely enough, WE only included a before pic of Jackie. Probably an oversight, but I'm sure she would have preferred an after shot if they were only going to do one picture.
What I loved best about their episode is how my husband and BIL were their normal, bizarre geeky selves. They crack jokes, make pop culture references and refuse to take the whole process too seriously. I brimmed with pride when someone asked Dr. Marcie Bower what the sons were like and she said, "They're really cool!"
Just a note that the term "trannies", especially when used by a non-transsexual, can be very offensive to some transfolk (like me). It has some really negative connotations, along the lines of the "n"-word.
Apologies.
I apologize.
i can't comment on the actual show because i haven't had the opportunity to watch it yet, but as far as the picture gallery being exploitive...
i won't disagree because there is no clear answer and everyone's opinion is valid, but i will say that as a genderqueer person i find it fascinating and also helpful to see before and after shots like that.
I saw an episode of this show, and I think there are good points and bad points to be had.
One of the main things I noticed about this show, that many people have already mentioned here, is that it re-enforces the idea that the surgery is all important and the "ultimate goal" for all trans people, when in fact many many people don't have genital reassignment surgery, or any surgery...To be fair, in the episode that I watched, did talk briefly about options like orchiectomy, breast implants, mastectomy, hormones, however the main focus was definitely surgery. Basically following a format of backstory->presurgery->surgical experience->post-surgery. Well, to me, it's obvious that the whole reason that the show is focusing on genital surgery is because they want to sensationalize it for the TV audience. In general, I think the whole focus on surgery just continues to reinforce myths about gender identity (i.e. male=penis, woman=vagina/breasts), when in fact, whether you are MTF, or FTM, you are ALREADY female or ALREADY male (respectively) with or without surgery, simply because that IS your gender identity.
This was already mentioned, but I think, the concept of gender identity and sexual orientation become "lost" on many cis-gendered/non-LGBTQ people too. I think it's probably true that the majority of the TV audience wouldn't know the basic differences between identity and orientation and so this show can greatly add to certain misconceptions such as these. For example many cis-gender people assume that all trans people are "automatically gay". Or like I mentioned before, many assume, for example, if you are transitioning to female, that you are still not female unless you have had the surgery. And of course neither of these things are true...This, to me, is a BIG thing that this show doesn't really convey...the result is, it ends up leaving out a whole entire range of different experiences.
Okay, so one of the good things, and again, someone already mentioned this...Is that, I think the show does a good job of showing trans people as PEOPLE! (I know, BIG concept, as us "radical" feminists always say, that people are PEOPLE!!!) Well, this helps, for example, the TV audience that I mentioned earlier whom even though they may not "get" certain things like identity and orientation, at least they can see that trans people are PEOPLE, and not freaks, or not "mentally defective". And considering where we are as a society, and how entrenched we are in the idea that our culture is supposed to have "normal" gender identities, with "normal" being cis-gender...Perhaps exposure of trans stories will lead to more questioning of what is considered by our culture to be "normal" as well as helping to correct some of the myths mentioned earlier and to create more acceptance.
Something that many of you might find interesting is, I happened to watch this show with an 86 year old, and a grandchild of a best friend of hers just had genital reassignment surgery about 2 weeks earlier. Now, this particular 86 year old is just a very cool and accepting person in general...She watched the show, not out of "curiosity for the surgery aspect" but because she wanted a better understanding and a more complete picture...Unfortunately, the show lacks a bit on showing a variety of experiences, but still, the show did help to bring up a conversation that I think helped lead to a better understanding. For example, we were able to talk about both identity and orientation and how trans doesn't automatically = gay, and how surgery isn't "all important" for many people, among other things. Mind you, this is an 86 year old woman, who although she doesn't have an ounce of judgment for others in her body, considering the concepts of gender she grew up with back in the 20's 30's 40's etc., and regarding what was always considered "normal" in our culture, I think this is pretty amazing that we could be on the same page in having this conversation. If there's a lesson to my rambling here, I think, it's that shows such as this can at least get people talking and in talking it's possible to help tear down some of these myths and misconceptions.
For these reasons, I think it is at least a step in a sort-of-forward direction, because sometimes when you take two steps forward, you also take one step backwards...But, hopefully future shows & projects can take what is good about this particular series and then build on that.
I watched several episodes of the show and I don't find the advertising on the website to be an accurate representation of the show content. The actual program does focus on the person's life and personality much more than the surgery,typically for well over half of each episode. They do talk about the surgery as well, of course, but then the premise of the show is to profile clients who pass through Dr. Bowers's care. I agree that there is a strong focus on surgery as "the" defining event in a person's transition, but as other commenters have said: trans people are individuals. Everyone has different motivations and needs. Some trans people do view surgery as a turning point or a mile marker, and I am reluctant to deny them their right to feel that way.
The media needs more of a range of portrayals of trans people in general, but I don't think it's fair to blame this show in particular. There's no smarmy voiceover, the stories are told entirely in the individuals' own words... It's not perfect but it's still better than 95% of what's out there (CSI, Jerry Springer, Dateline, etc and ad nauseum).
I never had a problem with the name 'tranny'. Acutally its a word I have used myself, whether refering to me or someone that I know is. As for the pictures, they dont bother me either. I dont mind the past as in who I used to be because its still who I am today. I like my old pictures of Julie.
I think one of the most important aspects of the show is its coverage of the vast and diverse group of trans people seeking gender reassignment surgery. For instance, the episode I watched last night highlighted a middle age trans women bounty hunter from northern CA. Awesome!I’m also kind of (really) in love with Dr. Marci Bowers. I was so impressed by her warmth and skill and compassion.
All I know is that so many first time mothers are being brainwashed by these crappy shows, and something really needs to change.
Boycott these stupid shows or else they are going to continue, and work
against the natural birth community and all that we work for daily.
"Everyone has a right to be an individual and comfortable in their own body. Some folk, however, like those on 'Sex Change Hospital', just abuse the bloody privilege. If I were to say that two grown men, last eve, removed their dinkles, became women, and then started a lesbian affair, would you believe me? Well, hopefully, yes. This is the 21st century, after all, you blasted prudes! If I were to tell you that the very same two lesbian trans-genders teamed up as a 'Cagney and Lacey' style duo in the weekend to fight crime, would you still have faith in my musings? In all honesty, I don't even believe myself. Unfortunately, 'Sex Change' hospital is a reality. It is a serious show what deals with the cold, hard facts of this world in which we live. There are two dyke, balless muscle Marys molesting innocent criminals in the U.S. as we speak. The mind certainly boggles."
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may I just add a rather off-topic comment about the bizarre form of nation-centrism that seems to exist in this bizarre and extreme form only (as far as I know) in the US. Ethnocentrism - to think that your country and culture is the normal - is common everywhere. But in the US it is so extreme that it is mainstream to pretend, not that the US is the norm, but that USA is the only place that exists! Thus the “world series” in various sports that are just USA or North America tournaments etc. This “world view” is really really obscure.publishing services The cause of the comment is the claim that Trinidad, Colorado is ‘Sex Change Capital of the World’ which is so obviously an example this. “Of the World” means just “in the USA"… the only part of the world worth mentioning, actually the only part of the world that exists?
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