When did you know that you were born in the right body and that it was a fit for you? When did you learn how to connect with your assigned gender at birth? Do you remember when and how you were taught gender expression?
We have all been raised to uphold societal norms which have us all, for the most part, prescribe to normativity. Normativity is the social construction of how we do things in society. Most of us follow these without even knowing that we are and this is simply because they don’t impact us negatively or exclude us from society.
The idea of normativity isolates members in our community, it excludes and encourages victimization from society. As a ciswoman I have never once experienced what it feels like to be disconnected from my body or have my body not be a representation of who I am and how I feel.
As we celebrate and honour women this month, I want to give a shout-out to all the transwomen out there celebrating this month with us.
Did you know that transwomen of colour are one of the most marginalized groups? Transwomen have got to be the bravest group of women and I have nothing but respect for these folx.
The disheartening reality is that transwomen often find themselves unaccepted and ‘othered’ in our communities. It comes down to a conversation of medical procedures to determine who can identify as a woman or not.
As women celebrating women, it is crucial that we join together and celebrate each other, we will only be stronger together.
Jill
