Summary of "Skirt Chasers"

In Julia Serano's, "Skirt Chasers", she discusses how the media portrays the transgender community. More often than not, this is done in a negative way showing the transgenders as villains in disguise and fake both in mainstream media and movies alike. In the movies, they are commonly shown putting on their makeup, feminine attire, etc. One can only draw the conclusion that this only serves to emphasize their fakeness. This also seems to please the public because it depicts the stereotypes becoming true, thus they feel they are right. Oddly the media has only covered male to female transgenders which has led many to believe that there are no transsexual men. However, this is not true as they are "relatively equal" in numbers. The idea that there is no trans men isn't limited to the media either. There are some feminist groups that share the view and have banned transsexual women from their events but, allow drag kings and like to perform at the events. With the limited support they have in society, transgenders are discriminated against with sexist stereotypes that in other situations would be frowned upon.

Defend a word

There are several words that come to mind as "bad" or "offensive" but at one time weren't used in such a way. One of these words is "gay". Traditionally, the word was not used offensively but, in a way to mean happy or joyous times. However, "gay" has taken on a new meaning and an offensive tone. The word "gay" also took on the meaning of homosexual. Nowadays, people use "gay" so much to describe actions, objects and a myriad of other things, that it has lost a lot of the bite it once had. "That's so gay" or the phrase popularized by the movie, The Hangover, "Ha, gay!" are common uses of the word that don't seem to carry a lot of weight as insults any more. It is considered offensive because it is used in name calling towards someone who may or may not actually be homosexual. And first off, calling someone something they're not is usually offensive and maybe hurtful. Then if the person actually is homosexual, they may not be comfortable with it being broadcasted or pointed out that they are homosexual. This word has different meanings and with the meanings can be used in different settings to be either offensive or not. I think that because of this, it can be used in a way that isn't offensive. One of these ways would be if some one was speaking on behalf of the homosexual community. They might say, "We of the gay community [insert statement here]." and this would using the word in a way to describe the whole of the community because it is a word they often associate with and describe themselves as.

Words have more power than we give them credit for. English 101 showed that  in an odd but entertaining way today. Also, this is where I'm supposed to post my homework for that class...very entertaining!