"Passing": Conformity and Constriction in Trans Gender Expression

One idea that Alex addressed frequently in the book and in his presentation was the idea of “passing.” This means that a trans woman could “pass” as a cis woman, or a trans man could “pass” as a cis man, meaning that they are not recognizable as trans. In Continental Divide, the main character, Ron, often struggles with his own desire to pass as a cis man, particularly as his ex-girlfriend often criticized him for not wanting people to know he was trans. Even separate from the issue of whether trans people have the obligation to come out to their friends and acquaintances is the fact that cisgender people are much more comfortable with “passing” trans people. Ron is told by several characters in the novel that if he didn’t tell them he was trans, they would never guess. Thus, even as transgender people become more accepted it is still important to conform to the gender binary. Alex discussed this topic, particularly the difference between gender identity and gender expression. We have gotten to a point in society where it is relatively accepted for a man to dress femininely and for a woman to dress masculinely, but trans people are often not afforded this privilege. If a trans man wears makeup or a trans woman wears men’s clothes, they are seen as less valid. I, for instance, choose not to wear makeup, shave my legs, or dress in a particularly feminine manner, and although I may be criticized, as a cis woman I have the privilege to adopt less binary, gendered forms of self-expression. Trans people are often not afforded this privilege and thus are forced to conform to traditional, binary gender expression in order to be accepted. Trans people who have not had gender reassignment surgery are also often seen as less trans than those who have. Similarly, gay or lesbian trans people are seen as less valid than heterosexuals. This is because gender identity and sexual orientation are viewed as one entity, when in fact they are very different. Thus, even

A related, but slightly different topic, is that of whether trans men should simply identify as men. At the end of Continental Divide, Ron accepts what his ex-girlfriend always told him—that he is not just a “normal man.” While I understand the ethos behind this, I don’t know that I fully agree with it. I absolutely do not think that trans people should have to strive to appear cisgender. At the same time, applying the title “transgender man” as opposed to simply “man” seems to imply that trans men are somehow less men than so-called “normal” men. That said, it’s a question I struggle with. Ultimately, I think everyone should use the labels they feel most comfortable with.