There are many things that go into the above sentence. A statement of self. Inclusion in a community. Oppression and ostracism from mainstream life. Yeppers, we don't show up in any hallmark moments cards. Various nouns, verbs and grammatical structures conjuring images of Jerry Springer like talk shows, coffee house whispers of, Is that a chick or a dude. I could go on with this list for awhile, but the thing I want to point at first is that it is a statement about conformity and freedom.
Humans love conformity. We love it so much we jump on the latest trends in a massive cuddlebomb of sweaty scratching black Friday at walmart madness; and save our ridicule of those same trends for when we are secure in the knowledge that everyone within earshot hates dogs that fit into purses with the same vile loathing as we do. We love conformity so much that we set aside what we really want, and who we really are for a more easily digestible you that fits in with corporate America and the in-laws. Even when we REBEL we get tramp stamps, nose rings or some other very scandalous yet culturally sanctioned fuck off to the man. Hell peer pressure is to blame for everything from teen pregnancy to Ann Coulter having a career. But if all the above has not convinced you that conformity is the greatest of all human compulsions. Then I will pull forth the big guns. The conformer that has unquestioned authority: The restroom sign!
Gender, and along with it what public restroom we use, is something most of us never give a second thought about. Some things just are the way they are and nuff said really. With all this conformity entrenched in our lives, most of it we are barley conscious of, what is the point, and how would freedom even enter the discourse? Well every trans person you have ever even heard about is at some level an embodiment of freedom in life.I think freedom is the first thing you norms out there should learn from the freaks and weirdos that the world hates and fears because of our superpowers. Wait, am I still thinking of trans people or the X-men? Not that it matters freedom applies in both cases. I'm not talking about legal freedoms here either, that is just too limiting too narrow. No, I'm talking about freedom in life. The freedom to live your life how you see fit. You see bucking mother culture is a difficult and painful thing to do. Yet trans people do more than just flip the man the bird. Either because the pain was too great or the desire too strong, trans people reject the authority of the bathroom sign and all their power, they reject the pink or blue symbolism, and pursue a life that is their own making. It is a difficult road, somewhat more difficult because we don't listen to road signs either, in general we are anti-sign in nature. Let me see if I can sum up my take on freedom.
It is my life, I'll live it how I see fit
Now before I'm accused of being a completely heartless and selfish bitch, I must point out that this is pure freedom. Humans in our wondrous collective living invented ethics, so as to help us live with one another. Ethics changes the pure freedom into: it is my life, I'll live it how I see fit; so long as I do not infringe on the ability of others to live their lives how they see fit. That caveat pretty much sums up ethics. I can't see why all the philosophers have such a hard time anyway with ethics.
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