This January, the world renowned magazine National Geographic will be posting as the cover of it’s magazine for the first time an image of a 9 year old transgender person. Captioned at the bottom of the magazine cover is a quote from Avery, name of person on cover, saying “The best thing about being a girl, is now I don’t have to pretend to be a boy.” This truly is a remarkably powerful statement and milestone as it shows the innocence and honesty of Avery, and the potential progression that our nation is leading towards. Unfortunately we live with a generation and in a time period where a person isn’t able to express their true self and identity. But that may all change as National Geographic intends to potentially inform readers around the world an opinion or a story of a transgender individual. I personally have no information on what the article will cover because it doesn’t come out until January. But this still is an interesting find. A little research showed me that Avery’s family are advocates for equal rights for all groups. In the Times Tim Jackson, her father, writes “The one thing that I impart upon my daughter is very simple: Love yourself and show love to others.” It’s nice to see that Avery also has a supportive family of her decision. I personally am curious as to see how the public reacts to this and hope that they do in a positive manner that sends a positive message to our nation. But this was a really interesting find and if you guys are interested by the find as well definitely give it some research and find out for yourself. Attached below is the link

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/national-geographic-january-cover-transgender-girl

Feminist, Queer, Crip by Allison Kafer is by far one of the most critically complex novels that has allowed me to attempt to grasp understandings of many different and unique situations. But the one chapter that stood out to me the most is the chapter on Ashley X. Ashley X’s story has not only brought into question my idea of ethics and morality, but a notion of reality and what is considered right and wrong. Every situation is unique to the people it is effecting because of different opinions, circumstances, and influences. But the case of Ashley X felt more universal in the sense that it could potentially happen to anyone, who in turn would be faced with the same moral dilemma. This blog post intends to question our idea of morality and whether an idea of right and wrong can be created around a situation that may be completely opinion based. But first fact and understanding that Ashley X is assumed to be at an infant level physically and mentally has to be accepted.

I genuinely do not know if their is an easy way to approach Ashley’s unique situation due to my moral standing. I personally believe that what I would do is considered my morals, and what I wouldn’t do is what I would consider immoral. But in the case of Ashley X, I genuinely understand the perspective her parents are coming from with the decision to surgically alter her physical and biological being. This is probably the only case where I can understandingly say that it may not be something that I may do if I were put in the situation, but I empathetically understand the angle that her parents are coming from.

There is no easy way towards this opinion and I understand that it may be different from others and that my opinion may change as I grow and have experienced more. But for my current standing I understand their position and do not hold it against them.

Halloween is one of the most popular, semi-significant holidays for people of all ages because of its openness to all genders, races, classes, and sexual orientations. It is a time for everyone to have fun whether it be going door to door asking strangers for tasty treats or drinking so much that you fall off of your feet. But for others it may be a time of difficulty because of the criteria that it demands from the group of people who go out and drink. Long ago are the days when we could get away with wearing a scary or ghoulish outfit and go out with our friends. Now, a certain expectation of body exposure is means of attire. This has the potential to create certain barrier for certain people, specifically transgender people. A friend of mine, who’s name due to privacy and respect will not be shared, and who is fairly popular at UMBC, was stressed out about his attire because it wasn’t able to express her body the way that she had wanted it to be expressed to the world. A side note, bodies are our ways of communicating in the world and a person felt that because her body was not what she expected it to be, and exposing costume created a feeling of disapproval and dissatisfaction. In order to take away some of the stress I reminded her that it does not matter how people understand your bodies message to be, but rather to fully understand it yourself and have people who are close to you be the ones to genuinely understand your bodies message and the way you wish to be perceived.