Not trans enough’ how the standard trans gender model gives in to cisgenderism

Here is an abstract of a paper that will be presented at manchester Sparkle and at the Psychology of Women's Section Conference. 

This paper challenges notions of what makes a good transgender person. In recent years the community has turned to more cisnormative ideals of gender to gain acceptance and often remain safe. The critique is not of specific people but how the transgender community is subjected to sexism, transphobia which is internalised and manifested in various ways.

This paper is going to be presented at the Psychology of Women's Conference. Here is a link to the program.

This is the abstract 

Not trans enough’ how the standard trans gender model gives in to cisgenderism – Pauline Sometimes and Sonia Soans

Abstract –

Amongst the LGBTQI community there are narratives of the ‘good trans’ person which alienate parts of the community that fail to identify according to the binary model of gender. Standard narratives about gender identity include transition from birth assigned gender and eventual hormone therapy and/or surgery. It is assumed that there is a strong desire to pass in cisgender society

Non-binary and bigendered individuals are often seen as confused and insufficiently transgender. Traditionalist views of what it entails to be transgender divides a community that is marginalised and creates a scramble for power and identification with ones oppressors. Attempting to restrict the transgender spectrum within a binary model imposed by cisgender society marginalises and excludes the most vulnerable members of society. Methodology is based upon lived experience of one of the co-authors supplemented with information published by transgender support organisations and social media postings by transgender, bigender and non-binary individuals.

Keywords: Transgender, Bigender, ‘oppositional sexism’

A free and open talk based on this paper will be given at Manchester Sparkle. For details consult the poster below 

White Boy Dangerous: The Mythology That Surrounds White Male Violence

My latest article on Charleston Murders

White Boy Dangerous: The Mythology That Surrounds White Male Violence

Irises

This is a painting I made recently inspired by irises growing in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. The painting has been sprayed with silver and gold paint which hasn't been picked up in the  first image. 

                      

                       

And here is the photograph that inspired it all

Sonia Soans on Critical Psychology by Ragged University

Here is a podcast interview I did with Alex Dunedin of Ragged University. I have attempted to summarise nearly seven years of my work in an hour. 

@sparkleweekend in Manchester Cathedral

Sparkle is the national annual transgender festival celebrated in Manchester. It is like pride though much smaller and but packed with interesting activities and information and free. A friend of mine in conjunction with ManchesterCathedral has organised this event. It is Sunday morning service followed by cake, coffee and conversation. The service is free to attend and open to everyone. We are hoping transgender people and their allies can find a safe  worship space in the heart of Manchester. 

It's a very, very mad world..

And I find it kinda funny

I find it kinda sad

The dreams in which I'm dying

Are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you

I find it hard to take

When people run in circles

It's a very, very mad world, mad world- Tears for Fears

If you are in Edinburgh and crave something cerebral I recommend the Mad World Exhibition at St Margaret’s Place. A wonderful free exhibition with meaningful artwork that will make you ponder about the mental health system. Amongst the many things I did over the weekend this made the biggest impact on me.

The exhibition is the perfect place to learn about activism in the radical mental health field for the last thirty years. Abuse in the mental health system is an idea that perhaps not emphasised upon enough this exhibition does just that. It invites the viewer to ponder over the stories of those who have used mental health services, been abused and are now challenging what it means to go through this system.

It was wonderful to see copies of Asylum magazine from the 1980’s; some of the issues raised then are still relevant today. Mental illness is still stigmatised in our society, fears about mentally ill people still colour our judgment. This exhibition helps dispel those notions calling the viewer to listen to stories of people who are more than the labels that were assigned to them.

The lovely Alex Dunedin is more than happy to sit you down and talk about this subject passionately. Sharing his inspiration behind this exhibition and the possibility of more to come. 

I was interviewed at the exhibition and here is the  free podcast interview with Sonia Soans

Here are some photographs of the exhibition.

Summer Pasta

This is a simple pasta recipe that is good cold and can be cooked in advance. It goes well with lots of vegetables and can

Boil pasta in hot salted water till al dente.

chop an onion and sauté in a hot pan with a little oil. I like to brown the onions to bring out their sweetness and add depth the pasta 

 

Chop a few mushrooms and add them to a buttered pan sauté till brown.

Drain the pasta well and while it is still hot add olive oil and butter, mix well. 

Add the vegetables mix well.

The sauce is easy to make. Add fresh chopped mint leaves, plain yogurt, salt black pepper, a little nutmeg and other spices you like. I like to add a little lime zest and a few drops of lime juice. Mix well and serve.