Last week in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Zella Ziona, a transgender woman of color, was shot and killed. For almost 24 hours after her death, she was misgendered and misidentified by police and local media. It becomes concerning when you think about how often this occurs and what the consequences are. Back in August, the death of Jasmine Collins, a trans woman from Missouri, went unnoticed by friends and family for months, due to inaccuracies in police and media reporting. Putting basic issues of respect and dignity aside, does this seem like an intelligent way to uncover information about a crime? Does it seem like accurate journalism?
Due to their treatment by many police departments across the country, trans women are often afraid to report violence they’ve experienced. In order to address violence against trans women, the police must first stop perpetuating it. As Chai Jindasurat, co-director of public advocacy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project, put it, “this kind of misinformation contributes to a culture of violence against transgender people and leads to the under-reporting of violence and homicide affecting transgender and gender nonconforming people in this country.”
Trans women have a disproportionately high chance of being murdered. Trans women of color face an even greater risk. 98% of all violence in the trans community is targeted at trans women. Although it is very difficult to find the exact number of trans people who were murdered this year, Zella’s death is said to be the 21st of 2015, making it the most fatal year for transgender people so far in history.
What can be done to stop violence against trans people? Why do you think the majority of violence is targeted at trans women, rather than trans men?
Articles:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/zella-ziona-trans-woman-killed_56227f4ee4b02f6a900c954c
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/17/transgender-woman-killed-maryland-washington-dc-suburb
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/29/end-violence-against-trans-people-police-stop-perpetuating-it
Recently I have found the mistreatment of the transgender community extremely interesting. I think that in the past, issues of gays has overshadowed the issues of transgenders. Lately, more and more publicity is coming up about the transgender community with figures such as Caitlyn Jenner who is already in the limelight and in that case can speak out about transgenders and have an audience to listen. Hearing this news in this article really makes me upset because I truly believe that transgenders should not be treated any differently than anyone else in the community. Yes, transgenders are definitely oppressed in the world we live in today, and it is definitely going to take a lot to get to the point where they are looked at as equal. I think the violence against trans people could end if more people spoke out against it, and brought the attention to the public. We need more people to be aware of what is going on so then we can actually put a stop to it.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of transgendered people was a mystery to me until, I can honestly, college. I never had been able to understand who "these people" were, and why they did what they did. Although my ignorance aside, I always have understood that EVERY human being is deserving of respect and equal treatment in their lives. These are PEOPLE we are talking about, not dogs or bugs or plants, human beings. No matter what they may wish to do with their lives, whether dress as the opposite sex or dogs or rocks; this does not change the fact that they are still as human as you and I. The mistreatment of trans people is an issue no one wants to talk about or address. This stems mainly from the uncomfortable nature of the topic, and much like the gay community, trans people are left to defend themselves and their lifestyle choices alone. As the nation of the free, there needs to be a big step in the right direction of equality soon, for all people. Trans people need to be seen as just that, people. Everyday people need to familiarize themselves with their fellow trans human beings, and see that they are as normal as you and I, and not some weird deep voiced man in a pink dress as depicted in many movies and TV shows. The question is not IF there needs to be steps taken to promote equality between alternate lifestyle people and others, but instead WHEN, and we are the generation that will decide the time it will take for this goal to be accomplished.
ReplyDeleteIt's only been up until recently I feel like that the talk and information of transgenders has come out. Although many people have always known that being transgender was a thing, I think that with the increase in social media and high profile people in society coming out it has been easier for people to know about transgenders. It boggles my mind how people can think any less of someone based on his or her sexuality or gender association. It's almost like we're reliving history when there was mistreatment of African Americans just because of their skin color. Although I do realize there is still racisim today because of the fact that there will always be bitter people, we have still come a long way from where we were. Today we find ourselves in a similar predicament as people treat gays, bisexuals, and transgenders differently from straight people. I think that as time goes on, the treatment and rights will get better and hopefully everyone will live in a world that they feel comfortable in.
ReplyDeleteIt almost seems as though issues pertaining to transgendered people started to pop up more often ever since Caitlyn Jenner became who she is. But at around the same time as this, gay marriage became more accepted than it ever was and became legal. So I believe that it was a mixture of these two topics that brought the attention to the transgender community. Along with this attention, came people who did not agree with the way transgendered people were living their lives. In return, this caused the up rise in violence. To be completely honest, I never really paid much attention to transgenders, I always thought, "Let them be themselves, it doesn't affect me." And that is how everyone should view them. The fact that there is increased violence towards transgendered people is beyond me, but we need to do something about it. I also cannot think of a reason why trans women are targeted more than trans men, maybe because they are seen as an easier target? Regardless, they deserve to be treated equally because they are no different than us, they are human beings just like everyone else is. And I believe that only time will cure this issue, just as it does with almost every other equality issue. For example, women's rights and gay rights. Women were not treated equally until the last few decades and still can be looked at as a less capable person than a man. And as for gay rights, it JUST became legal, nationally, for gay people to get married. There really is not much that can be done to stop this violence, it isn't just going to happen over night. Firstly, everybody needs to come to the understanding that trans people are just like anybody else. Once trans people are accepted more in society, then the violence will start to fade away.
ReplyDeleteTransgender violence has been an overlooked or hushed subject for decades and recently there has been more attention with it. With the changing of laws and "Love Wins" people are broadening their perspective on equality and how to properly treat our fellow human beings. Transgender violence has been overlooked because people don't recognize the feelings of not connecting with your body and wanting something different then what they are assigned at birth. To answer the question I think transgender women get more abuse because of the stigma of being a man who "turned" into a woman. The stigma of gender roles is apparent every day and any man who has more effeminate traits is treated wrong and called a sissy or other more demeaning words. When being more effeminate is seemed as wrong or gay or outside the norm it is hard for people to reach out from that stigma. Gay kids have suffered violence and discrimination for liking other men because quite possibly the straight men feel threatened, which does not really make sense. I'm sure this applies to transgender women as well because they do not fit the typical stereotypes of gender roles as being a biological male or female. People need to understand and stop this discrimination. Our country has taken a step in acceptance but a lot more needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteEvery human life matters, no matter if you're transgender or not. Even if someone is different than what you're used to, if your beliefs say it's wrong, or for any other reason, a person is a person no matter what. Everyone deserves to be treated equally and respectfully. To answer the question of why trans women are far more targeted than men in violence can be traced simply to gender roles and stereotypes. Men in our society (and most of the world) are stereotypically stronger and wanting to become a woman may seem like a "weak" act. If thought through, how is this a weak act? They are expressing who they are and what they are comfortable with. Also, I can see where the problem would lie in misgendering a victim. This could could not only be a problem in maintaining their respect and dignity, but in presenting accurate information. Although this is true, you also have to look at the perspective of the police. They are not looking to disrespect anyone and are not setting out to see if the male they identified is actually female and vice versa. That being said, and realizing that there are mistakes being made, action could be taken to inform police of misgendering as an issue. Hopefully this could reduce the mistakes made and could improve the process.
ReplyDeleteEvery human life matters, no matter if you're transgender or not. Even if someone is different than what you're used to, if your beliefs say it's wrong, or for any other reason, a person is a person no matter what. Everyone deserves to be treated equally and respectfully. To answer the question of why trans women are far more targeted than men in violence can be traced simply to gender roles and stereotypes. Men in our society (and most of the world) are stereotypically stronger and wanting to become a woman may seem like a "weak" act. If thought through, how is this a weak act? They are expressing who they are and what they are comfortable with. Also, I can see where the problem would lie in misgendering a victim. This could could not only be a problem in maintaining their respect and dignity, but in presenting accurate information. Although this is true, you also have to look at the perspective of the police. They are not looking to disrespect anyone and are not setting out to see if the male they identified is actually female and vice versa. That being said, and realizing that there are mistakes being made, action could be taken to inform police of misgendering as an issue. Hopefully this could reduce the mistakes made and could improve the process.
ReplyDeleteEvery human life matters, no matter if you're transgender or not. Even if someone is different than what you're used to, if your beliefs say it's wrong, or for any other reason, a person is a person no matter what. Everyone deserves to be treated equally and respectfully. To answer the question of why trans women are far more targeted than men in violence can be traced simply to gender roles and stereotypes. Men in our society (and most of the world) are stereotypically stronger and wanting to become a woman may seem like a "weak" act. If thought through, how is this a weak act? They are expressing who they are and what they are comfortable with. Also, I can see where the problem would lie in misgendering a victim. This could could not only be a problem in maintaining their respect and dignity, but in presenting accurate information. Although this is true, you also have to look at the perspective of the police. They are not looking to disrespect anyone and are not setting out to see if the male they identified is actually female and vice versa. That being said, and realizing that there are mistakes being made, action could be taken to inform police of misgendering as an issue. Hopefully this could reduce the mistakes made and could improve the process.
ReplyDeleteI agree that all life is sacred and it should not be taken, especially a human murdering another human being. When I say a post my friend had posted saying that he is transgender, I did not know what to think. I did not know how it would affect me or if it would affect me. I remember in the post it said to private message him with any questions or possible concerns. Transgender people are:
ReplyDelete1. People
2. do not feel a deep connection with their gender they were assigned at birth compared to another one
Since appearance leaves an impression on us subconsciously, we create assumptions on those impressions we receive. Another issue is how transgenders are represented in the media, they are mainly depicted as trouble makers trying to deceive people.
I wish I could answer or even have a valid explanation on why the majority of violence is targeted towards transgender woman.