Transgender people have been experiencing various forms of oppression, violence, discrimination, and prejudice for centuries, which has led to their exclusion from mainstream society. As a result, they are often marginalized and stigmatized, resulting in social alienation. Trans individuals have an identity crisis that is unresolved due to societal expectations regarding gender roles. They are forced to conform to binary ideas of gender that limit them to being either male or female, which doesn't reflect who they really are. The traditional phenomenological account of the self assumes the existence of an essential core, independent of experience and the body.
Trans embodiment challenges this assumption by questioning whether there is any such thing as an essential self. This essay explores how trans embodiment complicates traditional phenomenological accounts of the self and its transformation.
The body plays a crucial role in shaping one's identity, and it can be seen through physical appearance, sensory perceptions, and emotions.
Men are supposed to act masculine, while women should be feminine; however, these stereotypes can lead to anxiety when one feels different from what they were assigned at birth. Trans people identify themselves with a gender that differs from their biological sex, which leads to confusion about who they truly are. They may feel like they don't fit into the binary categories imposed by society, leading to a sense of disconnect between their inner selves and outer world. According to Merleau-Ponty, bodily awareness is integral to the formation of selfhood, but for trans people, their bodies don't match their gender identity, causing a dissonance between their physicality and subjectivity.
Transgender individuals often undergo hormone therapy, surgery, and other procedures to align their physical characteristics with their gender identities, which can transform their bodies and minds simultaneously.
These changes do not always result in a complete change in identity because some aspects of their original biological makeup remain intact, leading to ambivalence. Their experiences may range from positive to negative, and they may still face discrimination despite physical transformations. The process of transitioning may involve several stages, including coming out as transgender, seeking medical treatment, changing legal documents, adjusting to new social roles, and finding acceptance from family and friends.
The traditional phenomenological account assumes that the self is constant over time, but for transgender people, this view becomes complicated due to their multiple identities.
Someone who was born female but identifies as male may have different memories and experiences than those who were born male but later identified as female. This raises questions about whether the body shapes or limits our identities and how we should respond when our experiences conflict with societal expectations. Trans embodiment complicates traditional accounts by challenging the notion of a fixed self that remains consistent throughout one's life.
Trans embodiment poses significant challenges to traditional phenomenological accounts of the self and its transformation. It highlights the complex interplay between bodily experience, societal norms, and personal identity. We must understand that gender is fluid and cannot be reduced to binary categories. Trans individuals deserve respect and inclusion, as their experiences provide valuable insights into the nature of the self and society.