Do looks drive transsexual acceptance... or competenecy

[Wendy Summers]

I recently had a fan who is transsexual comment that if every TS "looked as great as you no one would ever consider us unwelcome"

It hit me: while being attractive has certainly made my life easier, it's not what's driven my mainstream, daily life acceptance. What's done more for me in terms of acceptance by others is high levels of competency. The better we are at what we do, drives folks to view us more as people and less as freaks.

So what do you think? What's the path transpeople need to journey on for acceptance in society? Beauty? Competency? Both? Something else?

[yodajazz]

I think there can be an over emphasis on looks. Competency could mean a lot of things, but if it means 'appropriate to the situation', I'd say that is more important.

[GroobySteven]

Competent in what? Sucking cock or piloting a jet plane?

[Wendy Summers]

Competent in what? Sucking cock or piloting a jet plane?

Competency in whatever it is we do... if you're a working girl then sucking cocks; if you're a marketing person how you market your product; if you're a financial planner, how rich you make your clients, if you're an inventor, how world-altering your creations are.

[Rabbiteyes]

Yup, I think how you look greatly affects how well accepted you are.

Being able to simple pass is the big one (if you can generally pass, then you really don't face unwanted attention unless you "out" yourself...but just popping off in the grocery store? No looks or people judging you... you can just go about your day).

Beyond passing, if you look really good, then you will have guys "looking past" the trans bit (so dating becomes easier).

Competency helps, but it isn't the main factor. I would say passing is more important than competency even in just finding a job.

[GroobySteven]

Competency in whatever it is we do... if you're a working girl then sucking cocks; if you're a marketing person how you market your product; if you're a financial planner, how rich you make your clients, if you're an inventor, how world-altering your creations are.

Have you been to bed yet?

[nysprod]

Looks drive acceptance in nearly every facet of western society...not that this is news or anything like that...

[JerseyMike]

It is all about looks for men, women, and transsexuals. When it comes to being accepted as women for transsexual it helps to look hot and like a woman. Especially since society at large only believe in two ideals of genders.

[GroobyKrissy]

I believe the premise of the original question is flawed since "acceptance" is a state of being and "competency" is a state of action. That being said...

The question, rephrased, is basically, "Do your friends like you because they like YOU or do they like you because YOU DO something for them?" Which would you prefer...?

I would make the argument that those who are accepting of Transgendered individuals in general, do so because that is within the nature of who they are as people (either by birth or learned through experience). People who do not, do so because they have a level of bigotry within them that no amount of "competency" will change, either based in religious beliefs or personal subjectivity.

When you're talking about acceptance of Transgendered individuals, I would throw out there that the question really is, "Can acceptance be taught and learned; and if so, what is the best way to do so?" To argue acceptance based upon merit or beauty, in any course of life, is an argument that is, in itself, bigoted.

[up_for_it]

As much as I love seeing a beautiful transsexual, to me it all comes down to competence. This of course is based on my personality- I think intelligence is the most attractive asset.

I'm glad this post was started because I just watched a CNN clip of the transsexual who won the high school homecoming contest. This is a historical and important event and I was excited to hear her talk,. However, while watching the clip I quickly became unimpressed due to her statements, which I thought were really lacking. Before anyone jumps on my case, I know she's just a kid and most people facing international media would probably freeze up too. I get it. But still, I can't help but think more could have been done with this opportunity, and that a better prepared and more "professional" attitude would have really helped not only legitimate her, but the greater cause of TG acceptance she was speaking about. In everyday life, competency will always triumph over looks, and this is especially important in the TG community, which shouldn't be pigeon holed as a fetish or a curiosity, but a group of people who need to be taken seriously and are so much more than their physical appearance. Again, I applaud the homecoming queen for her success, it's an important, if not crucial, milestone. I just wish she could have been coached into a stronger statement that reflected the event's significance.