Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Beauty pageants have been used to celebrate women for decades. Sure, their roots were less than balanced, but many modern pageants promote self-esteem, personal achievements and world-view thinking. Pageants have also substantially broadened their contestant base: seniors, children, plus size, and, finally, transsexuals.
A transsexual is someone whose inner gender is mismatched with his or her birth sex. This often leads to surgery to reconcile a person’s outer and inner identities. In the past, such transformations were stigmatized, but “Trans pageants,” though less broadly publicized, have been around for years. The big one, “Miss Tiffany Universe Transsexual Beauty Pageant” in Thailand, is coming up on its thirteenth year.
Unfortunately, there aren’t very many others in other parts of the world. Las Vegas has hosted a small pageant since 2004. Last year, India had its first. Still, there’s definitely room for more; we should embrace what we can learn from the conduct of trans pageants.
Flipping through photos of some of the contests, I’m amazed by how beautiful the women are— and not just physically. The winners have a magnificent, ladylike glow and the uniquely female happiness that makes every woman attractive.
That’s what these pageants are about: Recognizing transsexuals’ femininity rather than portraying them as stereotypical clumsy knock-offs. By proxy, they promote femininity on a grander scale.
It doesn’t matter that the outsides of these people used to be male; inside, they are, and always have been, beautiful women.
“Specialty” pageants, be they plus-size, senior, or trans, reinforce the message that identity is something to celebrate. That’s something that even the traditional twenty-something beauty crowd should be able to get behind.
I’ve always been impressed with the variety of LGBT and women’s studies classes that the University offers. Making those topics as prominent as more traditional studies has made me feel like I fit in. And, that’s saying something; for a bisexual goth chick in the Midwest, fitting in isn’t easy.
Having a student-run pageant could have similar effects on the student body. Lawrence is a prime spot for a grass-roots trans pageant. It’s the only city in Kansas that has anti-discrimination laws for sexual orientation. Last fall, KU Professor Maggie Childs even led the charge to include gender identity in those laws.
What’s more, KU’s annual “Pride Week” already brings in performers and hosts an informal drag show; slap the two together and there are the seeds of a pageant.
The KU student body alone may not have enough transsexuals to fill a pageant, but there are plenty of trans women within driving distance. Kansas City boasted a successful trans group for 20 years (Kansas City Crossdressers and Friends), with members hailing from Manhattan to Springfield, Mo.
Better yet, why not open a pageant to all women? Allowing trans and natural-born women to participate in a beauty pageant together is the next logical step in accepting transsexuals as the beautiful women they are.
Throughout time women have been able to do amazing things by banding together. It’s time to pull our trans sisters into the fold and accomplish even more—and look great while doing it.
— Lytton is a senior from Kodiak, AK.
Lytton: Race shows high-heeled men can help ...
Women's issues races primarily attract women, but both genders stand to gain ...
Identity crisis commentary: To develop a presence
Transgender men and women use the online forums to share their stories.
Sexually (inter)Active: What is the purpose of ...
Three panelists weigh in on how "roles" continue to define relationships.
Lytton: Gender inequality stunts chances for academic ...
Gender gaps of any type result in pitfalls.
Lytton: Women's holiday should be celebrated by ...
Potential of International Women's Day goes unrecognized in the US, where few ...
Editorial: Equality policy change important
The University’s nondiscrimination policy now includes gender identity and gender expression.
Lytton: Sports advertising perpetuates gender stereotypes
Both men and women suffer from warped portrayals.
Student enters beauty pageants on no-mirrors platform
Emily Camille Boullear pledged not to look in a mirror for the ...
Identity crisis: Lauren's story
Lauren is a female who takes masculine roles in lesbian relationships.
'Pageant' back by popular demand
The KU theater is showing ‘Pageant’ this weekend to accommodate those who ...
Pride Week events demonstrate need for gender-neutral ...
Transgender students face fear and humiliation with simple male and female decisions.
Editorial: Commission vote defies community values
City should protect transgendered people from discrimination.
Castle: Anti-gender identity religious group sings same ...
Opponents for the need of gender identity protection don't understand the issue.
Sexually (inter)Active: Guide to year-round satisfaction
Our panelists discuss how to keep relationships passionate throughout the year.
Play explores race, gender, sexuality
This weekend, a Multicultural Theater Initiative production
Cosby: University needs to address gender equality
On this year's anniversary of the February Sister's occupation of Wescoe, improvements ...
Actors vie to become beauty queens in ...
The Kansas Summer Theatre's musical production 'Pagent' opens Friday.
Crowning KU's Miss Africa
Kori Williams won the first beauty pageant hosted by the organization last ...
Cohen: How Palin’s campaign made me appreciate ...
Marsaglia: Generation Y identity strongly rooted in ...
TeenNick's fall programing show the cultural impact that Nickelodeon had on our ...
Queers and Allies hosts “Tranny Talk”
Panel will address transgender issues.
Lytton: Women pay price for biased insurance ...
Practice of gender rating makes women dig deeper into their pockets for ...
Editorial: Students should show support for anti-discrimination ...
Despite inconvenient meeting times, students should give support of Human Rights Ordinance.
Editorial: City proves it protects citizens' rights
It’s a governing body’s job to protect citizens who are under distress, ...
Hirschfeld: Using broad labels erases valuable differences
Identity crisis: Introduction
Two people come to terms with their true sexual identities.
Marsaglia: Facebook questionnaire posts reveal raw inner ...
How candid, or unknowingly candid, are Facebook users about their faults?
Keeping up appearances
Fancy cremes and badger brushes—it’s not always easy preservin’ your sexy.
Forget what you heard
The Kansan's four part series showcasing hip hop's impact on a mix ...
Living life to its fullest
From playing two instruments to speaking four languages, Michelle Tran, Derby senior, ...
Bornstein: Respect from others starts with respecting ...
Discrimination toward bisexuals from within LGBT community creates conflict.
Lawrence adds gender identity protection
Lawrence commissioners voted 4-1 to add gender identity protection to the city's ...
Let's talk about sex, baby, and not ...
Asexuality is an often overlooked sexual orientation.
Bisexuals face additional challenges
Students struggle for acceptance in LGBT communities.
Bornstein: Learning to live with labels
Sometimes getting pigeonholed helps to discover personal identity.
Exhibit makes statement on masculinity
A new Spencer Museum of Art exhibit examines the concept of what ...
Teaching beauty pageants goes beyond skin deep
Staci Klinginsmith helps train younger girls for the competition and helps them ...
Panel to discuss transgender issues
Queers and Allies will host the event to raise awareness of gender ...
Miss Great Plains takes home 'Pageant' title
Popularity of Summer Theatre production carries show into fall season.
Lytton: Thanksgiving then and now
Thanksgiving carries a different meaning for Native Americans.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID