Let's Play: Catch Up!

The following writings are blog posts that I had missed, so let's get to it!

Week 8: Barbara Smith Interview (How We Get Free)

This week, we read Barbara Smith's interview on the Combahee River Collective, as well as the collective's statement on their group as well as the issues they face. This interview and statement are important when we consider how groups were formed, whether it's out of a need for voices -- or from exclusion in other groups.

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This had gotten me thinking about the formation of the transgender rights movement. I feel it may have similar issues that the Combahee River Collective faced when discussing how Black feminists were their own movement -- a lot of LGB groups hadn't considered transgender rights when fighting for their own rights, or outright ignored them as they didn't have the same "values" as those fighting for their sexual rights. Although we now know this to be true, it definitely put transgender people -- mainly, transgender women of color -- out of important narratives and groups for support. Thus, these women created their own groups to fight for themselves as well as their loved ones. A notable example would be Marsha P. Johnson, who was not allowed to participate in gay parades and committees due to them "not allowing drag queens".

Week 9: No reading, blog post updates

This was my week 9 post -- woo! Knocked that one out already.

Week 10: Madison and Klang, The Case for Digital Activism: Refuting the Fallacies of Slacktivism

Madison and Klang's writing, The Case for Digital Activism: Refuting the Fallacies of Slacktivism, showcases the pros/cons of digital activism and its lesser-loved attribute: slacktivism. This relates heavily to the transgender youth movement, as there's been so many instances of slacktivism throughout the community that has been met with harsh response. A few examples are highlighted below:

1. Transgender Awareness Week 2020 icons and banners by Adobe, making the ease of spreading awareness through images in solidarity with transgender individuals.

2. "Pronouns in bio" -- a discussion created by the idea of providing your preferred pronouns in your biography section of any website to create an inclusive environment for those who are transgender.

3. Show Your Pride through Facebook icon overlays -- although the example is of generalized gay pride, the intent is similar to the overlays that have popped up for transgender pride and awareness as well.

Week 11: Genres and How Writers and Readers Depend on Them, Miller, Devitt, and Gallagher, Genre: Permanence and Change

Miller, Devitt, and Gallagher provide insight into genres through their work, Genres and How Writers and Readers Depend on Them while also informing about how as a reader and writer, these genres are important to getting a message or interpreting a message. Coupled with the writing Genre: Permanence and Change, we've explored the concept of genres in an introductory way, beginning to notice what they are and the roles they function with. A few examples pertaining to the transgender youth movement of genres are provided below:

1. Coming Out Post -- typically done within a digital space, such as Facebook, announcing the person's identity along with preferred name and pronouns. (The example provided is one of a woman coming out as bisexual, but the same sentiment applies.)

2. "Belated" Gender Reveal Party -- a new type of genre in which families conduct a "belated" or "re-gender" gender reveal party for their transgender children.

3. "Pronoun Check" TikTok videos -- a type of genre in which individuals on TikTok allow their viewers/followers to know what pronouns they feel comfortable using for themselves.

Week 12-13: Week 12-13: Nish, Activist Genre Knowledge

Over these two weeks we've read Nish's Activist Genre Knowledge, highlighting the importance of "spreadable" genres that create "sticky" uptakes -- such as selfies with the hashtag #ChallengeAccepted, and how they work throughout an activist's perspective to the genre. A few sticky uptakes for the transgender youth movement are highlighted below:

1. #RealLiveTransAdults inspired by the death of transgender teen, Leelah Alcorn

2. Transgender Awareness Week 2021 Reading list -- similar to the Activist Syllabus genre we've discussed in class

3. PFLAG's reading list of transgender books for children -- a well-known activist group for parents and families of LGBT+ children providing another reading list, similar to the Activist Syllabus genre we've discussed in class