Concept of Transgender Depicted in ColorPurple, and Stone Butch Blues - Admission/Application Essay Example

Leslie Feinberg vs. Alice Walker: The books that this document seeks to compare are Stone Butch Blues, written by Leslie Feinberg and the Color Purple, a book written by Alice Walker. This document seeks to analyze the similarities and the differences in which the concept of transgender is depicted in Color Purple, and Stone Butch Blues. This paper takes a stand that Stone Butch Blues depicts the concept of transgender and femininity differently from Color Purple. In depicting femininity, Color Purple mainly focuses on the contributions of the male members in determining the feminine behavior of a woman (Walker, 13). For instance, a woman depends heavily on the protection of a man, and he fails to provide the protection, then the woman would rebel against the traditional social roles that the society expects of her. This was the case of Celia, who due to the abuse she got from her husband, decided to turn into a lesbian, for purposes of satisfying her emotional and sexual needs (Walker, 21). On the other hand, Stone Butch Blue holds the opinion that femininity is different from biological constructed concept of gender. It further denotes that a woman can act as masculine, and a man can also act as a feminine. This was the case of Jess Goldberg who acted as masculine, hence the title of a butch (Feinberg, 21). A butch is a female lesbian, whose role is to vigorously seek for other lesbians, for love making. Transgender refers to the state of an individual’s gender identity, i.e. self identification, either as a man, woman, or even both. Trodd (19) further denotes that transgender can also be an expression that does not match the assigned sex of an individual. Trodd (50) explains that transgender is an independent term from sexual orientation, mainly because transgender people may identify themselves as bisexual, heterosexual, asexual, pansexual, homosexual, or even polysexual. Stone Butch Blues by Feinberg was written in 1993, while The Color Purple by Walker was written in 1982. Trodd (31) maintains that during the 1980s, and the early 1990s, the transgender people suffered too much discrimination and stigma, that they could not express themselves. It is within this background that the two novels are written. This novel by Feinberg (1) is talking about a butch by the name of Jess Goldberg. A butch is a term that is always used to depict a lesbian or female homosexual. This is an aggressive fellow, who is out to look for her partners in the world of lesbianism. Jess Goldberg was able to face a lot of trials and tribulations, because of her transgender nature. Her parents, as well as the society did not understand nor respect her sexual status. This is because being a transgender, i.e. a lesbian was unacceptable before the society, and hence the community in which she was living, could not accept her. This novel was published in 1993, and it received popularity in the world of the transgender people, before receiving success in the mainstream literature. Trodd (16) explains that the major reason as to why the novel tool sometime, before being accepted at the mainstream literature is because it was talking about lesbianism, and the author was supporting the existence of this act of lesbianism. Just as noted earlier, during this period of time, lesbianism and homosexuality were viewed as deviant behaviors. However, with an increase in the civil rights advocation of the rights of the transgender people, the novel became accepted by the mainstream literature, evening winning the stonewall award of 1994. Trodd (18) therefore explains that this novel by Feinberg (19) is an important piece of art, that highlights the tribulations that gay people faced during the 1960s, and this is through Jess Goldberg, who had to run away from home, for the main purpose of looking for acceptance amongst the gay people of New York. On the other hand, this novel by Walker (1) also talks about transgender, and lesbianism. This novel talks about a woman by the name of Celie, who is abused by her father, as well as her husband. The center of the story is in rural Georgia, and Celia is a woman of color. Apart from issues of transgender, this story also addresses other issues that women of color also faced, and this includes violence, sexual manipulation, etc. The year of this novel is in 1930s, and this is a period when women of color were held in very low esteem. This is a very important novel, because it has been frequently targeted for censorship, because of its explicit contents, in regard to violence, and sexual connotations (Feinberg, 27). In highlighting the issues of transgender, both these novels manage to denote the theme of exploitation and violence, in depicting the experiences that these two transgender people were passing through. For example, while Jess Goldberg is growing up, she is faced with problems touching on her gender identity. For instance, on a day when both her parents went outside the house, Jess tried to put on the suit of her father, and tie. When they came back unexpectedly, they met Jess putting on male clothing, and they immediately committed her to a mental hospital. This action is an indication that Jess Goldberg was living in a society that did not appreciate the transgender people, and any signs of trans-gender, was seen as madness (Feinberg, 33). Trodd (51) explains that that is the reason as to why the parents of Jess Goldberg took her to a mental institution. This behavior from the parents of Jess Goldberg made her to stop trusting everyone, and specifically her parents (Feinberg, 29). She further recognized the fact that the world does not appreciate the transgender people, and without vigilance, chances are high that she will be destroyed. Hostility and violence against Jess Goldberg are not only depicted in scenario, but also while attending school, and while working at the gay bar (Feinberg, 34). While at school, Jess is raped, by footballer, an act that makes her to run away from home, and from school. Furthermore, the gay bar is frequently raided by police officers, who normally assault people there. For example, the police are able to raid the Tifka bar, where Jess, and her butch friends, Jackline and Al normally frequent. In the raid, police officers are able to thoroughly assault Jackline, and Al (Feinberg, 31). Furthermore, the police are also responsible for raping these butches, and it now becomes the responsibility of Jess to comfort them. This is an indication that even the law enforcement agencies did not recognize the rights of the transgender, and that is the reason as to why they had to frequently assault them. Trodd (36) explains that in the 1960s, the gay people and the lesbians faced a lot of violence from the police and the community in which they were living. This is one of the major reasons for the emergence of the Gay Liberation Front, in the early years of 1970s. This organization emerged for the main purpose of fighting for the rights of the gay people, and their recognition in society. It is important to understand that the setting of this novel by Feinberg (22) is in the periods of 1960s. By depicting this violence against the transgender people, Feinberg (21) actually explains what used to take place amongst the gay community in United States. In the book by Alice Walker, Celia also faces violence and intimidation. However, it is important to understand that Celia experience violence and intimidation, first, as straight person, before experiencing the same when she realized that she is gay. The first acts of violence and intimidation on Celia, is perpetrated by her father (Walker, 6). Her father is able to rape her, and when she bears children, her father took snatched them from her. This was an act of violence and abuse towards Celia, and it played a great role in lowering her self esteem. However, the difference between Celia in the book by Alice Walker, and Jess Goldberg, in the book by Leslie Feinberg is based on the fact that Celia did not fight against these tribulations and injustices. Instead, she accepted to be abused by her father, and her husband. On the other hand, Jess Goldberg did not accept to be abused or taken for granted. This is the major reason as to why she decided to run away from home, for purposes of living a life of her own. Trodd (22) explains this situation, based on the time period in which the two protagonists in the novel lived. Noble (29) explains that in the 1930s, women of color were heavily exploited, and looked down upon. It was very difficult for these people to find justice, in case they are abused, and hence they had to be submissive. On the other hand, the 1960s, the period in which Jess Goldberg lived was characterized by the rise of the civil rights movement that was advocating for the rights of the people, especially, people of color. People become more aware of their rights, and hence they wanted to obtain and achieve these rights. This is therefore an explanation on why Jess Goldberg was vigilant, and rebelled against those people who were trying to discriminate her, based on her transgender status. Noble (37) explains that in as much as Celia was very submissive, she later on became rebellious against her husband, resisting the abuses and the exploitations directed at her. This is after she discovered that her husband was hiding letters, that Nettie her sister used to write to her. It is important to denote that Nettie was the only person whom she loved, and who loved her back. This is an aspect that is also depicted in the novel by Feinberg (27). For example, when ED, a friend of Jess is accosted by police officers; whose action of pulling her shirt down exposing her breast causes an outrage to Jess. This makes her to confront the police officers, who in turn respond by beating these women. Another major similarity of these two novels is the concept of disruption of the traditional gender roles of the male, and the female. Throughout this novel by Alice Walker (6), a number of people have broken the traditional roles played by both the male, and the female. An example is the sexual assertiveness of Shug, and Celia. Shug is the first wife of Celia’s husband, but she breaks the boundary by seducing Celia, and thereafter sleeping with her (Walker, 11). This is an instance of lesbianism, a norm that moves away from the traditional method of making love. It is important to understand that the traditional expectation of love making is between a man and a woman, and not vice versa. Noble (31) further explains that this disruption of the roles of gender had an impact of creating problems. For instance, the insecurity of Harpo, regarding his masculinity made him to have marital problems, and this includes an attempt to beat Sofia, his wife. Shug is labeled a tramp, mainly because of her refusal to be dominated by men, and her confident sexuality (Walker, 17). Walker, throughout the novel manages to emphasize that sexuality and gender, are not simple as people would like to believe. This novel manages to defy and subvert the traditional methods in which an individual understand the nature of women, and men. Walker (16) manages to compare the concept of African-American femininity, with the struggles of the African-American masculinity. This idea of femininity amongst the African-American women is based on the ability of a man to care for his family or wife. The inability to carter for these roles would therefore mean that the African-American woman cannot fulfill her feminine responsibilities. This is the major reason as to why Celia and Shug began being involved in a Lesbian relationship (Walker, 21). By making love to Shug, Celia was able to denote that for the first time, she felt that she enjoyed a romantic relationship. This emanated from the failures of her husband to satisfy her sexual desires, and he was only interested in abusing her, and maintaining a sense of domination against her (Walker, 39). Due to this abusive nature of their man, Celia and Shug found comfort amongst each other. The manner, in which Walker (27) brings out these changes in gender role, is different from the methods used by Feinberg (1993). Feinberg (1993) purely concentrates on the existence of the transgender people, and this is different from sex. In as much as people are born either male or female, gender is not a biological status, and the masculinity or femininity of an individual is not determined by their biological make up. This is an aspect that Walker (18) failed to clearly depict in her novel. In her view, when the masculine fellow fails to provide for the family, then there is no need of a woman fulfilling her traditional feminine role. In her opinion, masculinity and femininity are determined by the sexes of an individual. Noble (17) denotes that this is the reason as to why Celia was able to take and sustain the abuses of her father, and husband. Jess Goldberg on the other hand was born a woman, but she had a masculine look. This is the characteristic that made her pursue other women, for purposes of making love to them. This novel by Feinberg (1993) is not a critique of femininity or masculinity per se. However, it advocates for an individual to act in such a manner when it comes from their true self. Trodd (18) explains that when this concept of gender is being imposed from outside, for example, when it comes from parents who want or desire their daughters to be normal, or from a feminist who wants to force everybody to have a gender neutral identity, then this is an example of personal exploitation or oppression. Noble (28) therefore maintains that the best society to live in, is one in which an individual can express his or her gender without fear of stigmatization or discrimination. In such kind of a society, issues such as lesbianism, homosexuality, and heterosexuality are widely accepted as normal activities and behavior. However, Noble (21) explains that the world has not yet reached that stage. Feinberg (1993) and Walker (1982) manage to achieve success in depicting the tribulations that people of the transgender face. However, Walker concentrates on the sex life of Celia, and her partner Shugs. Through her novel, Walker identifies this concept of masculinity and femininity based on sexes. According to this novel, a woman has to perform the roles of a woman, just because her sex is that of a female. Furthermore, she identifies the male sex, as the most superior and dominant within the society. However, when the male fails to carry out their duties, then the female sex has a right to rebel. This is the reason as to why she justifies the lesbian relationship that existed between Shugs, and Celia. On the other hand, the gender view of Feinberg (19) is not depicted on the biological make up of an individual. The concepts of masculinity and femininity can be acquired by both genders. This is the explanation as to why Jess was acting as a man, while her biological make up was that of a female. Furthermore, Jess was very comfortable when he wore the clothing of men, and also taking up the aggressive nature of male, while seeking females. Works Cited: Feinberg, Leslie. Stone butch blues: a novel. Ithaca, N.Y.: Firebrand Books, 1993. Print. Noble, Jean Bobby. Masculinities without men?: female masculinity in twentieth-century fictions. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2003. Print. Trodd, Zoe. American protest literature. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2006. Print. Walker, Alice. The color purple: a novel. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982. Print. Read More