Process Paper

      Shotwell states normativity is a concept in which standards are defined of what is “good” or “beautiful” and approved of in society. These standards are often determined by the class with the most economic, political, and social power in a way that benefits them. The hierarchy of personal value that these standards creates is problematic for less powerful and marginalized individuals. Members of marginalized groups whether based on gender, sexuality, race, etc.; face unique obstacles based on their identities that impede their ability to live their life as they wish. The focus of our project is individuals who do not fit into normative gender binary and the challenges that they face by going against the normative throughout their everyday life. Specifically, we will explore those who define themselves outside of the normative binary view of gender, while focusing on location and culture and how those factors affect how non-binary identifying individuals are viewed by those cultures. This discussion, while focused on one minority group, is still fairly broad and multifaceted, as such it will contain many themes and ideas that interact with the challenges faced by transgender or gender fluid individuals. We will also address different aspects of the history of trans rights and where they are today. Consequently, we will research how gender norms vary by location and culture, which causes a causes a difference in treatment for trans and non-binary individuals.

       We will present these important ideas to the public in the form of a website. The choice of a website is purposeful and direct; a website allows our intended audience, young adults, to quickly engage with the public discourse on gender by interacting through a accessible format. The lack of time commitment and ability to quickly parse information match the needs of our target demographic, young adults. By engaging with these young adults, we hope to affect the thought process and opinions of those who will be deciding public policy for the next 40 years. This allows the readers to understand the norms currently placed around gender and the problems they create with the hope that they will join the movement towards supporting transgender rights and getting rid of the restrictions of the gender binary.

       Eva’s recognition map of non-binary gender identities across the world will show which countries are more friendly to non-binary gender identifying people. The intended audience will be able to identify which areas and organizations are accepting and allow for non-binary gender identifying people to receive identification with non-binary gender markers. The audience will also be able to learn the difficulties of areas having different laws from each other. Eva also contributed to the group prospectus paper and contributed heavily to the process paper. She also completed the project outline handout. Eva wrote the research-based opinion piece on Redefining Realness. Janet Mock’s description of the differences between Arizona’s and Hawaii’s cultures in Redefining Realness will demonstrate the difference in non-binary identifying culture in different locations.

       Meghan’s analysis of Bad Suns, an American Rock band that was formed in 2012, takes advantage of their platform in order to educate their audience about societal issues surrounding the gender binary. Our intending audience will be able to identify the ways in which music is an accessible platform to evoke social change, especially surrounding the gender binary. The audience will be able to compare the ways in which different forms of performances, musically and visually, are able to access an audience. Meghan helped with the website and the group prospectus paper.

       Through an analysis of the video “Transgender Training for Healthcare Professionals”, Emma explored the how the lack of training of medical professionals in the specific needs of transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals makes hospitals a hostile and traumatic environment. This endangers anyone who is outside socially accepted gender normatives because they may avoid seeking healthcare and when they do, may be treated by someone who is ignorant to their needs. Emma also worked with Meghan to write a research based opinion piece on the harms of gender classification policies based on an article by Heath Fogg Davis. These policies appear throughout everyday life and are accepted as the norm but are harmful and can lead to discrimination against individuals who don’t fit into gender norms. Emma and Meghan analyzed Davis’ piece and explained why gender classification policies should be abolished.

       An image that reflects a break in the gender binary is David’s two spirit picture. Gender was not assigned upon birth but rather later in life based on how the person defined themself. The intended audience will obtain a deeper understanding of previous cultures, and how gender normativity is an ongoing issue. David’s research piece exams the old Native American gender practices. Looking at how open and accepting their culture was and how white European settlers destroyed these practices due to a lack of understanding. They didn’t think it aligned with their morals and thus sought to remove it.

       Joseph contributed by operating, and keeping everyone’s pieces organized on the website. Joseph contributed heavily to the group prospectus, and analyzed an image of Jaden Smith, who breaks down the inherent femininity placed onto objects. Presently, he engages troubled youths by reassuring a person’s ability to be a trans-black women through staging himself as such. Contrasting feminine objects against himself allows for this transformation of thought on who should be able to wear an object. By breaking down his images critically, Joseph demonstrates how we can see this thought process.

     Medea’s video and analysis serves the purpose of giving the current generation a voice and faces to match when it comes to discussing the topics of normativity and representation. Five interviews were conducted in total. Four were on camera and in the video and one through text. Overall, all participants seemed to have the common interest that issues that have to do with the Black and Brown community should have more representation. Even though interviews were conducted in different environments the tones of participants all remained the same. Hopefully this video and analysis sheds a much clearer light on the issues that do not come up in the media and will inspire more actions to begin to attempt to resolve them.