Gender and Sexual Minorities II, Research Paper Example

Violence against Non-Binary Individuals

The gender binary is the societal conception that aims to keep all individuals confined to the gender they were assigned at birth based on their biological, sexual features. Those who do not fit into the gender binary are often seen as inexcusably provocative, if not punishably abnormal. With the growth of means for expression and transition for non-binary/non-cisgender individuals, a platform for discrimination and violent retaliation has also developed. The term ‘cisgender’ refers to any person who does not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth based on their biological characteristics (Steinmetz 2014). The popular synonym for someone who identifies on the opposite end of the gender spectrum than the gender they were assigned is ‘transgender’ (“Transgender” 2015). It is important to remember that sex, the biological characteristics of an individual, and gender, how an individual identifies, are not at all synonymous. The refusal of individuals to accept gender identities that go against popular societal norms has resulted in the arrest, battery, abuse, and even murder of transgendered persons. Comprehension of the psychological states and societal attitudes that breed violence against non-binary individuals is essential for uncovering how to establish environments conducive to acceptance of gender diversity. The oppression of transgender and non-binary identifying individuals, both by individual perpetrators and through the systematic regulation by government-enforced laws, reveals an attitude of unrest surrounding the breaking of societal norms and a refusal to accept the unfamiliar.

While hate crimes against non-binary persons may often be classified as black-and-white cases of non-acceptance, there are deeper psychological issues at play in these discriminatory actions. Professor of psychology Gregory Herrick delves into the possible motivations for hate crimes against sexual and gender minorities. He states that for many heterosexual individuals, one negative perception of or experience with a homosexual or non-binary individual may forever solidify their negative sentiments. He states that in these cases, the contact with the individual was probably “superficial and minimal,” which led the perpetrator to feel confident in filing all persons that identify that as such into a negative stereotype. Herrick also explores the possibility that perpetrators strike out as a way to defend against their own non-heteronormative sexual impulses that may make them uncomfortable. The discomfort and embarrassment they feel about their own questionable sexuality is then often directed at the surrounding sexual and gender minorities. There is also the possibility of religious inclinations and other moral feelings of obligation driving these hate crimes. Some perpetrators may feel it their religious right and duty to lash out against those who appear to go against their own personal moral code of conduct (Herrick). The psychological motivations for hate crimes against non-binary individuals differ with the unique situations, but the overall ingrained, negative social stigma against non-heteronormative individuals is usually present in all hate crimes.

While individuals commit many acts of discrimination, some extremely biased societies have also systematically repressed transgender individuals by asserting laws against dressing in clothes not traditionally worn by the individual’s society-assigned gender. Dr. Sears explores one of these phenomena in her book Arresting Dress: Cross-Dressing, Law, and Fascination in Nineteenth-Century San Francisco, which explores the 1863 San Francisco law prohibiting the donning of garments not associated with one’s perceived gender. This systematic repression of transgender individuals and enforcement of gender norms was essential in breeding the overall negative sentiments towards non-binary individuals in California at the turn of the century. Originally, these laws were only enforced to discourage males from wearing dresses and other “provocative” or “female” garments. However, later on they were used to prohibit women from dressing in slacks, vests, and other articles of clothing acceptably worn only by men at that time. Laws such as these encouraged an air of non-acceptance criminalized sexual and gender abnormality (Sears 2014). Past discriminatory laws have set the stage for the current conviction for holding onto gender norms that arguably should have expired, or at least diminished, in modern society.

Sasha Fleischman, the agender teenager who was attacked and set on fire while sleeping on a bus, riding home from school, is a prime example of how negative connotations with dress that go against gender norms is often seen as uncomfortably abnormal and punishable by violence (Herek and Berrill 1992). Richard Thomas, the individual held accountable and incarcerated for this crime, has conflicting motivations. On one hand, he claims that he never though Sasha’s clothes would catch fire so easily; the incident was merely a mean-spirited prank gone wrong. However, the court’s opinion of Richard seems to lean more towards malicious intent to harm based on prior prejudices. Richard was denied the right to be treated as a minor and given a hearing in juvenile court, even though he was only sixteen when the incident occurred. Also, the implication of “hate crime” was added onto all of his accusations, which greatly increased the intensity of his crime, and significantly added to his prison time. Richard claims that he does not hate gay people, he only detests when sexual and gender minorities “do too much.” That is to say, Richard is accepting of the existence of non-heterosexual, non-cisgender individuals as long as he is not confronted too obviously with their presence. Even though Richard has been extremely repentant and apologetic about his actions since his conviction, the court still feels confident that his crime was founded in hatred for Sasha’s personal gender identification (Slater 2015). The Richard Thomas case presents the problem of ambiguity in hate crimes, where the motives are not always perfectly distinguishable.

While negative sentiments often fuel the intention to cause harm to transgender individuals, Rebecca Stotzer argues that the perception of discrimination may overestimate the actual opposition of heterosexuals towards sexual and gender minorities. To support this, studies have found that the majority of discrimination against non-binary individuals are not supported or instigated by strangers, but by acquaintances, such as family, friends, and intimate partners. Stotzer also argues that police protection for non-heteronormative individuals leaves much to be desired. While sexual assault reports are much more rare than actual instances of assault, transgender individuals reporting rapes and other abuses is even less common (Stotzer 2009: 170-79). This alludes to the overriding idea in the transgender community that opposition and hatred, even from those required by law to pursue all reports of sexual violence, will always trump adherence to the law and basic human decency. The LGBTQA’s perception of opposition and abhorrence from society may entrap them in fear and keep them from reporting crimes; fearing backlash or apathy from the police and/or the community.

While it is easy to direct blame at specific countries and cultures, the fact of the matter is that there are extremely few countries that have no history of violence and/or discrimination against non-binary individuals, and those that do promote an environment that makes it impossible for individuals to express their gender identity in the first place. One such example of violence against transgender persons is the battery and murder of Dwayne Jones, a transgender Jamaican teenager.  Dwayne was murdered in 2013 after attending a “straight” party dressed as a female (McFadden 2013). Before this tragic, fatal incident, Dwayne’s father forced them out of their home and town because of their ambiguous sexual identity. Dwayne’s friends have stated that his family will not even claim their body, and want nothing to do with Dwayne, even though he was mercilessly beaten and killed. Those who committed this heinous crime supposedly did so after questioning Dwayne about their gender, demanding to know why they were dressed like a woman without the genitalia to match. Dwayne’s last moments were filled with fear and rejection from society for attempting to wear what they felt comfortable in (McFadden 2013). The heteronormative refusal to accept transgender individuals reflects the intense desire to put people into one gendered box or another. This supports the insane notion that every individual should fit comfortably and solidly on one end of the gender-binary or the other, leaving no room for self-identification and gender determination based on the individual’s psychological inclinations/gender identifications. The ambiguous, unknown aspect of transgendered individuals is what scares and enrages many heterosexuals, making them feel justified in committing violent acts against those wishing only to express their gender identity.

Where in the 1800s and early 1900s homosexual and transgender individuals were prompted by fear of retaliation to conceal their gender and sexual identities from the historically unforgiving public, the gay and transgender rights movement has recently mobilized in the strive for equal rights. Societal sentiment has so much to do with how individuals see nonconformist individuals, and it is therefore essential that society change its overall tune to one more capable of acceptance, in order for a change to take place. In the 19^th century, the popular ideology regarding homosexuals was that they served as the embodiment of immorality; and encouraging others to succumb to sin and engage in these widely stigmatized sexual acts (Herek and Berrill 1992). Hatred towards the homosexual and transgender community has led to the sexualiztion of these individuals. They are reduced to the demonized sexual acts associated with those of their sexual and/or gender identity. This leads to the dehumanization of individuals, which creates a breeding ground for hatred and hate crimes (Herek and Berrill 1992). Societies that allow for the prevalence of negative sentiments towards minorities can expect no other outcome than crime and violence directed at those individuals that have been demonized and dehumanized by the popular majority in society for their irregularities.

Amongst the societal qualities conducive to acceptance of non-binary persons are laws that guarantee healthcare for transgender individuals. This includes healthcare plans that allow transgender individuals to receive routine checkups, but can also provide support for non-binary individuals during their phases of transition. Suicide rates amongst non-binary individuals trump suicide rates for cisgender persons. The feelings of being trapped and abandoned that accompany admitted transgender individuals in most aspects of their lives should not be a part of their healthcare routine. It is essential for transgender individuals to have the resources they need in order to be safe and healthy, especially if they are in a period of physical and/or hormonal transition (Currah 2006). Healthcare for transgendered individuals is also pointedly important due to the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases in the homosexual and non-binary community. Going untreated, these diseases will only continue to permeate the homosexual/transgender community (Baral 2013: 214-220). There is evidence to show that communities that allot equal protection for transgender individuals as cisgendered persons, as well as proper healthcare for non-binary individuals have reduced stigmatization against these communities, and therefore fewer hate crimes against individuals (Currah 2006). Roughgarden promotes the celebration of diversity in opposition to hate crimes committed out of fear and ignorance (Roughgarden 2004). Progressive perspectives such as Roughgarden’s may indicate a switch in opinion surrounding gender and sexual minorities. Hopefully, by acknowledging the benefits of diversity in society, books such as this one can be successful in breaking down some of the negative connotations associated with minorities (Lovaas 2006). By removing negative stigmas and promoting transgender and non-binary rights, the society of revulsion towards homosexual and transgender individuals that spawns hate crimes can begin to be broken down.

While there are an array of causes that can fuel hate crimes, the overall attitude of society is largely to blame in most cases. Allowing negative sentiments and stereotypes against non-binary individuals to thrive in communities, excuses the actions of those who act out of blind hatred and distrust for those unlike themselves. There is an air of desperation surrounding the assurance of the societal majority that individuals must conform to the end of the gender spectrum they were assigned at birth (Sears 2014). The truth of the matter is that gender is full of nuance, and to punish individuals for their personal struggle for self-identification is preposterous, and only makes life more difficult for these individuals, who are usually already struggling with challenges involving transitioning and acceptance from family and friends (Herek and Berrill 1992). Heteronormative culture has normalized violence and discrimination against those who do not conform to the perpetrator’s personal preferences non-ambiguous gender. To stop the harmful actions of individuals, the attitudes of societies must first be altered. Only then can the homosexual and transgender community begin to heal from the years of individual and systematic discrimination and violence directed towards them for factors out of their control.

Resources

Baral, Stefan D., Tonia Poteat, Susanne Strömdahl, Andrea L. Wirtz, Thomas E. Guadamuz, and Chris Beyrer. “Worldwide Burden of HIV in Transgender Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” The Lancet Infectious Diseases 13.3 (2013): 214-22. Web.

Currah, Paisley, Richard M. Juang, and Shannon Minter. Transgender Rights. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota, 2006. Print.

Herek, Gregory M., and Kevin Berrill. Hate Crimes: Confronting Violence Against Lesbians and Gay Men. Newbury Park: Sage Publications, 1992. Print.

Herek, Gregory M. “The Psychology of Sexual Prejudice.” Sage Journals: Current Directions in Psychological Science9.1 (2000): 19-22. Web.

Lovaas, Karen, John P. Elia, and Gust A. Yep. LGBT Studies and Queer Theory: New Conflicts, Collaborations, and Contested Terrain. New York: Harrington Park, 2006. Print.

McFadden, David. “In Jamaica, Transgender Teen Murdered by Mob.” USA Today. Gannett, 11 Aug. 2013. Web. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/08/11/jamaica-transgender-teen-murdered-by-mob/2639995/>.

Roughgarden, Joan. Evolution’s Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People. Berkeley: U of California, 2004. Print.

Sears, Clare. Arresting Dress: Cross-Dressing, Law, and Fascination in Nineteenth-Century San Francisco. N.p.: Duke UP, 2014. Print.

Slater, Dashka. “The Fire on the 57 Bus in Oakland.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 31 Jan. 2015. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/magazine/the-fire-on-the-57-bus-in-oakland.html?_r=0>.

Steinmetz, Katy. “This Is What ‘Cisgender’ Means.” Time. Time, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. <http://time.com/3636430/cisgender-definition/>.

Stotzer, Rebecca L. “Violence Against Transgender People: A Review of United States Data.” Aggression and Violent Behavior 14.3 (2009): 170-79. Web.

“Transgender.” Dictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/transgender>.