Movie Analysis Essay on Pink Boy and Growing Up Trans

Introduction

When we are looking at issues that affect gender we need to spotlight issues in Transgender and gender-nonconforming. In recent years people in these categories have become a spotlight and they are increasingly coming out. We have had many people in the world coming out in the public. Although there have been studies on these issues more literature is needed to help in providing more understanding and filling in the gaps.

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In the short film Pink Boy, the main character is a 6-year old transgender child who lived in a very conservative rural area and was being raised by her aunt who is a Butch lesbian. The short film is all about raising issues that concern how to help Jessie feel safe in her transition. The film also highlights the challenges that her parents had. In the film, it is Jessie's mother who shares the story of the family whereby she gives the account of Jessie's gender development and how she responded to the issue of Jessie's gender non-conformity. Looking at the film we see the issue of heteronormative notions about a family which is challenged to a great deal.

These notions are challenged by the fact that in the film Jessie's mother identifies herself as a lesbian and also she is the aunt who raised Jessie since infancy. Through the intersection of Jessie's gender expression with her mother's sexual orientation and gender, reflections give us the hint of the life LGBT-parent families and how they try to cope with the societal pressures. Jessie's mother says that there were feelings of disappointment with Jessie's attraction as she grew up. Jessie also was peculiar in terms of toys she played with and the colors that she wanted (Settersten, 2018). At that time she had not fully transitioned socially. Her mother was so surprised with Jessie playing with Barbie and looked at it as foreign. However, Jessie's mother supported her non-conformity and she even allowed her to wear female clothes but this she started at home before allowing her to wear them outside. This she did because of her past experiences with discrimination because of her sexual orientation.

Another film that documents issues of gender is Growing Up Trans. In this movie, the lives of six Trans-Gender and gender non-conformity young people and their families are presented. The young people reflect upon their experiences growing up, navigating their lives in puberty and looking at their gender transition. The young people are meeting with doctors and other health-care professionals at a certain clinic as they play their roles in promoting psychological adjustment. The children have very high support from their families and communities whereas others have low support. The ones with high support are coping well as compared to those that have very little support (Settersten, 2018). A good example is with the teen John whom we are told that his father exhibits a lack of acceptance and we are told that John suffers from depression and bouts of anger. Looking at John's story we are compelled to analyze the family systems theory. The issue of mother-child subsystem appears aligned in regard to the issue of John's Trans identity. The mother explains how she came to accept her son's gender identity. The father also acknowledges that there is tension that has resulted from his resistance which he says it is because of his religious beliefs.

When we apply the concepts of the family systems theory we look at the queer consideration such as heteronormative and cisnormative notions that apply to gender can help us understand the father's resistance (Settersten, 2018). The whole story about John gives us the details and understanding of family acceptance with regard to issues of TGNC members. Some family members might accept whereas others will exhibit resistance. This is as seen in the case of John. This means that the family plays an important role in the whole issue of TGNC and that they determine the well-being of young people.

The story about Scott is a very good one that can serve to show the concepts in terms of Life course theory. We look at the lives of Scott and his adopted child Erica and we see somehow issues to do with linked lives. Scott himself is gay and after he adopted Erica she turns out transgender and he decides to accept her. First of all the family of Scott accepts him and helps him in the journey to look for adoption This shows the concept of support and acceptance that is very important (Settersten, 2018). This is also what he does and when he was asked a question in the adoption center he said that he would let his child express himself in any way that he wants. This shows that he accepted and when he learned that his adopted son was transgender he accepted and even accepted the name, Erica. All this show the concepts in family life course theory. This means it very important and prudent to understand what happens in the family.

Conclusion

The issues around gender are supposed to be supported from a family perspective. The existing literature should be added to enhance the issues of gender in the family and that we should look at the family is one that grows and changes over time.

References

Growing up Trans [Motion picture]. Navasky, M., & O'Connor, K. (Producers and Directors). (2015). United States: Frontline.

Pink Boy [Motion picture]. Rockey, E. (Producer and Director). (2015). United States: PBS/POV.

Settersten, R. A. (2018). Propositions and controversies in life-course scholarship. In Lives in Time and Place and Invitation to the Life Course (pp. 15-45). Routledge.