Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future

(Gagne et al., 479). New members occasionally admit to feeling forced to enact one gender or another
rather than existing between the poles, because they fear being pegged as illegitimate social actors by
members of their in- and out-groups (Roen 2002). For this reason, there are individuals who live the
entirety of their young lives as members of a false gender before making the brave decision to transition,
only to be forced to become members of another false-gender for their remaining years (Bornstein 1994).
The cultural imposition of passing upon transgenderists is not of use to transgenderists themselves, but is
intended to allow the rest of society to remain comfortable with their perceptions about the meaning of
gender. ―… Through the mandate of passing, the culture uses transsexuals to reinforce the bi-polar gender
system, as transsexuals strive for recognition within their new gender, and thus the privilege and chains of
their new gender‖ (Bornstein 1994).
Within the trans community, there are subcategories that perpetuate in-group tension and a
general lack of respect for those who do not or cannot completely adhere to the expectations of the
community. There are very few groups that cater to the entirety of the transgender community, and most
groups are still divided along the lines of gender (Bornstein 1994). A good portion of transgender support
groups are available solely to transsexual women, which leaves transsexual men and other non-
transsexual gender deviants out to dry (Roen 2002). In these types of groups it is common for passing to
be the main topic of discussion. These groups dedicate much of their time and resources to teaching born
males how to perfect their public presentation as women, thus further excluding those who may
technically be included in the community, by making them feel devalued because they do not wish to pass
as women (Schrock et al. 2004). Sources within the community often attempt to impose a rigid hierarchy
based on the categorization of individuals into sections based on their gender identity and their ability to
pass as their intended gender (Bornstein 1994). This hierarchy places those who can successfully pass as
women above those who cannot or do not attempt to, and both of these subcategories above those
attempting (successfully or unsuccessfully) to pass as men, leaving gender queers and similar
subcategories at the bottom of the community imposed structural hierarchy.
138