One of the few facts of life that are assured at birth for a majority of the world is gender. Gender is something that many seldom think about their entire lives and a concept that comes with many assumed traits that many are unable to escape to this day. The concept that a person would not identify with their gender given at birth is baffling to some and absurd to others. The term used to describe people who experience gender is transgendered. To some this is just a hot topic or a fad that expected to pass; to others it is their life, and that life is uncertain and dangerous. The trans community experiences an unbelievable eight percent chance to be murdered, with people of color’s chances being even higher. That means that almost one in
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The isolation of a trans person from the rest of society begins at the exact moment they realize their gender dysphoria. This is a polarizing and frightening time for all trans people, as many realize the hard and unsafe road that lies ahead. The first feelings of solitude come when a trans person comes out to their family or friends. Many do not understand what it means to be transgender, and more often then not their reactions to their child or friend being trans is negative. Unfortunately, most do not have the benefit of a supportive family so they are left with two options; stay with their abusive and transphobic families or leave and take a chance in the real world. While many cave into the fear of the unknown and stay at home with their family, some take the leap and leave the only life they have ever …show more content…
Prostitution is seen as disgusting and morally corrupt by society’s standards, but for many trans people this is the only option for them to find work. One report done by Nico Sifra Quintana, Josh Rosenthal, and Jeff Krehely of the Center of American Progress found that, “44% reported being asked to exchange sex for money, clothes, food, or shelter in their youth” (2). Imagine the detrimental effects that comes with being asked for sex in exchange for items that are considered basic needs. This just another part of life that they are forced to accept as normal due to the lack of protection and safe places in United States. Being involved in any type of sexual work means that they are putting themselves in danger. Prostitution can result in anything from death to mental illness to to it’s unsafe and toxic nature and being a trans person makes it that much more dangerous. Tooru Nemoto PhD, Birte Bofeker MSc, and Mariko Iwamoto MA found that, “50.2% of trans women with a history of sex work have been physically assaulted, not including rape” (1984). This means that every trans woman than gets involved in sex work has a fifty percent chance to be physically assaulted by someone in their life. But to many trans sex workers this is just a common occurrence that has to be accepted in order to live in the land of the
The isolation of a trans person from the rest of society begins at the exact moment they realize their gender dysphoria. This is a polarizing and frightening time for all trans people, as many realize the hard and unsafe road that lies ahead. The first feelings of solitude come when a trans person comes out to their family or friends. Many do not understand what it means to be transgender, and more often then not their reactions to their child or friend being trans is negative. Unfortunately, most do not have the benefit of a supportive family so they are left with two options; stay with their abusive and transphobic families or leave and take a chance in the real world. While many cave into the fear of the unknown and stay at home with their family, some take the leap and leave the only life they have ever …show more content…
Prostitution is seen as disgusting and morally corrupt by society’s standards, but for many trans people this is the only option for them to find work. One report done by Nico Sifra Quintana, Josh Rosenthal, and Jeff Krehely of the Center of American Progress found that, “44% reported being asked to exchange sex for money, clothes, food, or shelter in their youth” (2). Imagine the detrimental effects that comes with being asked for sex in exchange for items that are considered basic needs. This just another part of life that they are forced to accept as normal due to the lack of protection and safe places in United States. Being involved in any type of sexual work means that they are putting themselves in danger. Prostitution can result in anything from death to mental illness to to it’s unsafe and toxic nature and being a trans person makes it that much more dangerous. Tooru Nemoto PhD, Birte Bofeker MSc, and Mariko Iwamoto MA found that, “50.2% of trans women with a history of sex work have been physically assaulted, not including rape” (1984). This means that every trans woman than gets involved in sex work has a fifty percent chance to be physically assaulted by someone in their life. But to many trans sex workers this is just a common occurrence that has to be accepted in order to live in the land of the