Here's the article I'm basing my analysis on:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Story?id=5629177&page=1
What do you think of when you hear the title of the TV show America's Next Top Model? Tyra Banks, high quality fashion, tall and skinny models, contest, photo shoots. But most of all, who are these models? Biological females.
But not all are this cycle.
During a photo shoot at a homeless shelter last cycle, Tyra noticed there was someone who always stood out. This was Isis, a transgendered individual, still biologically male but tall and lean and knew what she was doing. According to the article "Tyra wanted to know who she was. It was clear she really had a passion for modeling. So when it came to casting this season, we said, 'Why don't we find that girl?'"
The modeling world, I feel, is very demanding and stressful and could potentially be hard on someone that doesn't quite fit the bill. I don't particularly watch the show, but I remember a few cycles back there was one girl who was a little heavier and was always criticized about her size and her balance. Modeling is a harsh world. And if Isis can handle it, great for her.
Breaking the gender norms is so hard for the world to accept, so I think it's wonderful that the modeling world is willing to allow such gender bending and breaking of the gender the barriers. The article also states "And if there's any place where gender is categorically an illusion, it's the fashion world. Every other season, designers and magazine editors demand women raid the closets of their boyfriends, husbands and fathers for pinstripe vests, suit pants and fedoras."
However, the article then goes on to discuss diversity and that although it is a good thing for America to open their minds to new experiences and different kinds of people, the industry is still unsure of where they are going with this. "There have always been trannies on the periphery of fashion. But using transgender people to market things involves a certain amount of risk because there's a lot of people out there who do have prejudices and preconceived ideas," said Simon Doonan, creative director of Barney's and author of "Eccentric Glamour."
I feel that transgendered people are gaining more attention nationwide but we're still experiencing mixed feelings as to how to react to these kinds of people. Just because they don't fit the stereotype for their sex. Because their gender identity is not consistent with their sex. And sometimes even because they can pass so well under their gender identity that people are frightened away when they find out what's underneath the person's clothes. Why does anything that doesn't conform to our norms make us afraid? It shouldn't bother us. There are too many differences in people to let this one be any different than others. But we use gender expression as a way to categorize people in a split second. When you realize you can't categorize someone, or that when you get to know the person and you are forced to change what category you put them in, it makes people very uncomfortable.
Trans-people are still people too, and we have to learn to respect that. I'm glad that the fashion world is taking a step forward in that department.
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5 comments:
Wow. I did not know that this occurred because I am not a Top Model fan. I think that it is wonderful that the fashion industry is making a huge step forward into accepting people for who they are and not what they were.
People today are so judgmental towards other people outside the "norm." But, what is normal? Is it what society, like TV, radio, and magazines, tells people what's "in?" Is it people's formulations of others who are not like those in the 'crowd?' Two thumbs up for Top Model and their looking forward into the future! -CB
I think it is awesome that "America's Next Top Model" is taking a step out of the box to allow a transgender to be apart of the show. Why were they never apart of the show to begin with? I think this question parallels to your question "why does anything that doesn't conform to our norms make us afraid?" I think the main reason is that when people are unaware of something, being that they don't have much knowledge on it or experiences with it then they tend to back away from it or be scared of it. At times, people might even shun it or show prejudices against it, very similar to the way people act towards transgenders. I think "America's Next Top Model's" brave step towards accepting transgenders will confront society with this issue and hopefully provide some knowledge on transgender life and show that transgenders are humans too, thus ultimately providing more acceptance for transgenders in today's pop culture society. -JL
This is an interesting programming development. It will be important to watch and see how the identified transgender contestant is personified throughout the competition and in what ways traditional notions about "gender" are reinforced, challenged, modified, and reimagined.
In terms of the program itself, what do you think might be some of the benefits and costs of taking a "new" position on what "gender" is and how "gender" plays out in the world of modeling?
I applaud America's Next Top Model again for pushing the norm and striving for something innovative and fresh. I am a huge fan of the show, but I hardly have time to watch it religiously, so I just catch up on re-runs. But from what I do watch, it seems Tyra Banks is constantly trying to find a contestant that will bring something groundbreaking to the floor.
At first she was trying to find contestants of all races and backgrounds. That is one of the ways ANTM found their first Hispanic winner on the show. And I also remember when there as a lot of buzz for a contestant who was openly gay. She was well received and accepted. She was even shown kissing another girl in the back of a limo. Now she is famous for currently working on MTV.
I am not surprised that ANTM would take this step and have its first transgendered contestant and I am very pleased. I agree, it is about time, and why wasn't this done before? From episodes I did watch from earlier this season, I thought the transgendered contestant was kicked off because I could hardly recognize that one of the girls still on the show was transgendered.
So, I appreciate that they don't make the fact that "she" is a transgendered person such a huge deal or make her stick our like a sore thumb. She seems to be treated like every other contestant. Which I believe sets a good example for others watching to show, to be open minded, respectful, and to accept people differences.
I am usually a regular viewer of America's Next Top Model, however, I have not been able to tune in yet this season. I think it is great that the fashion and modeling world is broadening the spectrum and accepting new types of people and body types into their world. I believe that their first step in breaking gendered stereotypes was in accepting fuller figured models into the industry. For example, on the last cycle of America's next Top Model, a plus sized girl won. Therefore, I think that introducing a transgender into the modeling industry may just be the next step in breaking the stereotype that female models must be thin, beautiful and straight.
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