Gender Identity-Transamerica

Gender Identity-Transamerica
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Gender Identity-Transamerica
Transamerica is a film released in 2005 directed by Duncan Tucker. It seeks to address some of the issues that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) face in their day-to-day life. Specifically, the focus is on transgender as the protagonist; Bree is just a week shy of the gender reassignment surgery when she is introduced to us for the first time.
The film's protagonist is presented to the audience as a female, but we soon learn that they were born male and wish to undergo surgery to become a female. Bree has, however, never viewed herself as a man. This presents the first obvious obstacle that in society, gender identity must be congruent with gender roles. Bree works hard to fit in those confines of the definition throughout the film. In the beginning, the audience is presented with voice therapy for her to sound a certain way.
This is also displayed in the conversation she has with the doctor before her surgery form is signed. She tries to keep a low profile so that she does not draw attention to herself, which would probably lead to people probing to know her, and maybe her secret would be out. She even bends her knees slightly when standing next to a short man to 'blend in.' She tries exceptionally hard not to raise any form of suspicion in terms of her transition. This, of course, is thrown out of the window by the turn of events. Bree gets a call from the son-Tobby he sired seventeen years past. The deeply rooted need to keep a low profile is challenged.
The film's name is quite exciting and genius because it presents a duality of the character's challenges. There is the one side of the long journey across America with enough challenges on its own. And the actual transition from a biological man to a woman. Both emotional and physical obstacles serve to represent the real-life occurrences that every person goes through. For instance, the conversation between Bree and her therapist Margaret depicts the initial reaction for anybody when confronted by a past event they do not wish to acknowledge. Bree is ready to transition into a woman. However, a reminder of her past as a man presents itself in the form of sin. It is only natural that she does not want to associate with that. Similarly, this is portrayed by her keeping the secret from Tobby, and she would instead disguise herself as a Christian social worker than reveal a secret to a stranger.
Tobby's abusive stepfather, discovering Bree's transsexuality, their car being stolen; Bree being forced to make contact with her parents, and later Tobby running away from Bree's parent's house all create great arcs for the film. Notably, these are presumably difficulties that any individual would face, especially with a person with whom they are trying to build a relationship. These are not exclusively difficulties that only a transgender person would go through, well, other than the transgender aspect.
The film offers an excellent opportunity for a conversation about personal growth and development. The fluidity of gender identity is entirely a personal journey and choice, but societal confines are still restricting. From the very onset, Bree focuses on the stereotypes that she uses to portray herself as a woman. New York's journey is also riddled with encounters showing the challenges she goes through, especially to fully present herself as a woman. These experiences are relevant to show the requirements and concerns that she has as an individual and a transgender person. Additionally, through these challenges, the audience can begin to acknowledge the complexities of gender fluidity and maybe even view them outside gender roles.
Most times, gender identity is used concurrently with gender roles. In the majority of individuals, gender roles and identity are congruous. This has been the basis for traditional society methods assigning and expecting certain traits from the 'appropriate' gender. However, this is not always the case. The few who do not fit the gender stereotypes are made to feel like the odd ones ou...