hey ladies so a friend of mine watched an oprah show a couple of days ago regarding a seven year old trasgenered boy:
"Ok so teh topic is about transgenders... So iw as watching Oprah the other day and there was this story about a 7 year old boy that decided when he was 3 that he wasnt supposed to be a born a boy he was supposed to be a girl. So his parents decided that they were going to take him seriously and for the last 4 years have changed his name to from Harry to Haley and dress him and address him as a girl. So now he is a she and everyone address him as she. Now i want to know from you ladies where you stand on this? I know its a free world and we can do as we please but I just feel as a parent we are supposed to guide our children down the right direction, no? This CHILD is 7 years old! how does he know what the difference is? I was very saddened with the episode because i felt that the parents didnt try hard enough to steer their son in the right direction. Mind you we obviously dont know what excatly went down all these years and how it has affected them but do i feel they could have done things differently? Yes! They could find a diff way to address the situation.
Now correct me if im wrong and tell me if im being closed minded or just plain judgemental but as a mother i just feel it is unfair to assume that 3year old would know what the consequences of his/her actions are. This is a lifetime of therapy for this child when he enters the real world and is bullied.
That was my rant let me know what you think ladies! would be nice to hear what others think...:)"
so ladies let us know your take on this topic:)
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Lisa-Ling-Talks-with-a-Transgendered-7-Year-Old-Girl-Video
ReplyDeletehere is a link to a video concerning the topic ladies
Well I think that there are alot of things that parents do wrong that affect children and society as a whole later on in life. If he decides to be a she then thats up to him but only when he can make true and wise decisions for himself/herself. To me the problem sometimes is that we are too free and trying to 'protect' that/such freedoms that we are really going to end up in a society that has completely lost its mind. If this kid is allowed to smoke and drive and live by themselves then he can choose to be a she, until then the parents really should think about the future of their child and the society that they want to bring him/her up in. Trying to avoid heartache now will probably cause more in the future.
ReplyDeleteAs a human rights activist I already feel discriminated against because the topic and responses to it henceforth were only directed to "the ladies".. But I'll let it slide, hahaha.
ReplyDeleteFrom your language I can tell you are approaching the topic from a social, relatively Christian-African point of view and thus tend to be slightly naïve (with all due respect) to the fact that what you view as "right" or "socially appropriate" might not be viewed similarly by Muslims or Hindus or Bhuddists. As human rights activists we try to distinguish between the law and religion. Why? Because we come from different backgrounds, settings, with different values and social norms. I'm not saying what the parents did was right, but you forget to think of a somewhat positive outcome if the child grows to feel his/her decision was actually right, because it would be much harder to become a woman at a later age. Thus doing it in toddler-hood (for lack of a better word) would result in a steady and gradual transition. All in all, Francois Marie de Voltaire sums up my take on issues of sexual orientation - "I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." That is the premise of human rights.
As a African man I believe it is the sole purpose of the parents to steer your children in the right direction in respect to the society he/she will grow up in. But as you rightly said societies differ. In our society that child would live a life of discrimination most probably wouldnt be given a place in school. I just have one ?. Does he she use the mens bathroom or the ladies while at school. The parents were wrong not to make a serious effort in educating their kid.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the backdrop of your views Bhullaz. But once again, as activists, the mission is to change "societies" perceptions so as to eliminate discrimination and stigma. Only a few decades ago white children were born and raised believing black folk are inferior and as people of colour we grew up in societies that made us feel inferior, so should our parents have raised us in a manner that would have us adapting to such a status quo? Norms aren't always right, and its up to us to then change them to suit all in a manner that benefits all. How does someone else's sexual orientation affect me? However the toilet/lavatory issue is still in major contension. And I'm drinking right now so I'm not in a position to elaborate. Shorty, very interesting convo you've sparked here.
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