Understanding the Phenomenon of Transvestigation: A Deeper Look
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Chapter 1: Defining Transvestigation
Transvestigation has garnered significant media attention recently. For those unfamiliar, it describes the tendency to analyze individuals' appearances for indicators suggesting they are transgender. There exists a dedicated group of "transvestigators" who obsessively examine images of celebrities, convinced that many in Hollywood are secretly transgender. Numerous articles and videos have documented these online communities.
A notable incident that fueled this discourse involved Olympic boxer Imane Khelif. Although she was born and raised as female and verified by the International Olympic Committee, prominent figures like JK Rowling and Elon Musk attacked her online, mistakenly presuming her to be a trans woman. This misconception led to significant media coverage, including a misleading headline from the Boston Globe, despite the absence of any trans women in this year’s Olympic events.
Many discussions surrounding transvestigation either frame it as a bizarre conspiracy or as a symptom of deep-seated transphobia, suggesting that individuals are so consumed by their biases that they lose touch with reality. While these interpretations hold some truth, they overlook the complexity of how individuals perceive gender and transgender identities, which can vary widely.
In my recent book, Sexed Up, I delve into how we perceive sex and gender, and in my earlier work, Whipping Girl, I examined the challenges these perceptions pose for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals. In this essay, I will explore what transvestigation entails, why it occurs, and the more commonplace yet troubling ways we understand gender and sexual minorities.
Section 1.1: The Two Filing Cabinets Mindset
Helen Joyce, in her anti-trans book Trans, asserts that humans have evolved to recognize others' sex with near-perfect accuracy. Similarly, columnist Megan McArdle speculated that Imane Khelif must be intersex, claiming that people are remarkably adept at distinguishing between male and female, even among androgynous individuals.
This belief — that categorizing others by gender is a finely-tuned skill — is a misconception often held by cisgender individuals. As I discuss in Sexed Up, many cis people may feel confident in their ability to categorize gender because they are frequently affirmed in their identity. In contrast, those of us who are transgender often experience a fluidity in how we are perceived, sometimes being read as male and at other times as female, often within the same minute.
In Chapter 1 of Sexed Up, I elaborate on this phenomenon. Research indicates that children begin to recognize gender around ages one or two, entering what is termed the “gender identity” stage. However, young children rely on different cues than adults, focusing more on gender presentation, such as clothing, rather than physical traits.
It’s not until around ages four to seven that children typically grasp the concept of “gender constancy” — the belief that a person's sex remains unchanged throughout their life. While past researchers viewed this as a sophisticated understanding, from a contemporary trans perspective, it appears to be a flawed assumption.
The chapter further discusses my experiences during my transition. For several months after starting hormone therapy, I found myself in a state of “gender limbo,” where others frequently categorized me as either male or female, though I could not predict which one. This led to varied reactions from those I encountered, and once a determination was made, they often expressed disbelief when I identified with the opposite gender.
This tendency to categorize individuals leads to a filtering of any ambiguous or conflicting cues. Sociologists have described this phenomenon as a “filtering process.” Essentially, we seem to have two mental filing cabinets: one for males and another for females, into which we unconsciously sort individuals upon first glance. This mindset complicates the understanding of trans and intersex individuals, particularly those who identify as nonbinary. However, this behavior is learned and can be unlearned, especially through greater exposure to diverse gender identities.
Gender-critical activists like Joyce often claim that “biological sex” is strictly binary and unchangeable. This perspective stems from their own filtering process, which obscures any evidence to the contrary.
Section 1.2: The Impact of Ungendering
The Two Filing Cabinets mindset, combined with the belief in gender constancy, leads to what I term “cis assumption.” This is the notion that we automatically presume everyone we encounter is cisgender. We frequently discuss trans individuals as being “closeted” or “coming out,” reflecting a baseline assumption of cisgender identity.
In Whipping Girl, I introduced the concept of ungendering, which occurs when we regard a cis person as their perceived gender, while scrutinizing transgender individuals for discrepancies in their gender presentation. I have experienced this firsthand when coming out as trans; the “look” I received from people upon sharing my trans status indicates a sudden shift in their perception, as they search for signs of my previous male identity.
Ungendering is often a conscious act of reappraisal, but it can also be invasive and demeaning. It occurs when individuals cling to the belief that my “real sex” is male, disregarding the physical and psychological changes that accompany transition. This behavior is not always explicitly anti-trans, but is often rooted in deeply ingrained biases.
The act of ungendering highlights how society tends to examine transgender individuals under a harsh lens, whereas cisgender individuals are rarely subjected to the same scrutiny. This sets the stage for understanding transvestigation — the act of incorrectly categorizing a cis person as transgender based on perceived discrepancies.
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Chapter 2: The Compulsion of “Transdar”
The question remains: why does transvestigation often target individuals who are clearly cisgender? And what compels those who engage in this practice?
To understand this, we need to discuss the concept of “transdar,” akin to the more familiar “gaydar.” This term refers to the supposed ability to discern if someone is transgender based on observation. Many who claim to have transdar often rely on gender expression cues, which can be misleading, as sexual orientation and gender expression are distinct traits.
Studies indicate that what we believe about individuals significantly influences our perceptions of them. For instance, if someone is labeled as gay, observers tend to interpret their traits through a lens of femininity or masculinity based on that information. This suggests a self-reinforcing cycle, where expectations shape perceptions.
I once believed I had developed a form of transdar through extensive research on trans identities. However, my experiences have made it clear that one cannot reliably predict another person's gender identity based on appearance alone.
Recognizing the fluidity of gender and the spectrum of human experience can help dismantle the binary mindset that limits our understanding of identity. This understanding of gender as nuanced rather than strictly dichotomous is essential for acknowledging the complexities of transgender existence.
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Conclusion: Towards Greater Understanding
In conclusion, it is crucial to recognize the diversity of human gender and sexuality, and to challenge the stigmatizing narratives that surround trans individuals. Trans people are often seen as anomalies rather than as part of the broader human experience.
If you find yourself fixating on transgender identities, consider that it may be more about your perceptions than the reality of trans individuals. As society becomes more aware of gender diversity, it is essential to foster understanding and acceptance rather than judgment.
This essay highlights the importance of critically examining our assumptions about gender and recognizing the humanity in all individuals, regardless of their identity. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive society that respects the vast spectrum of human experience.