Gender Identity/Gwen Araujo Story

Subsequently, I was watching a movie on lifetime called a "A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo and was really amazed at how "Gwen" really identified as a woman from birth. This movie was not my first experience with transsexuals. I have read books and watch movies about other people dealing with gender identity. However, I have always been fascinated with transsexuals because I never really understood how someone could be confused about their gender identity. "Simply put, gender identity is a self label; gender role is a label given by society because of behavior and appearance." (Ghosh, Shuvo, P. 10. Every individual has a gender identity and the psychosocial development is the process that makes a child aware of their gender identity. Furthermore, this paper will discuss gender identity and how individuals deal with their gender identity.

First of all, Gender development is influence by the following factors: sexuality, personality traits, peer pressure and anxieties. Gender identity is an individual that perceives himself as male or female. In contrast, gender role is an external display of an individual's personality that reflects their gender identity. A baby's gender identity is shaped and determines by the parents from the moment that the mother find out that she is pregnant. The environment in which a child is raised has a lot to do with how their gender develops and this takes shape prior to birth. The ultrasound sound tells the parents the sex of the baby. Parents will plan the baby arrival around sex. For example, the baby room has to be painted blue, pink or yellow.

The color blue is for boys, the color pink is for girls, and yellow is for a boy or girl. In addition, the names are picked depending on the sex and gender thoughts surface about the baby. For example, a father may express that he want his unborn child to play football. Actually, boys should play sports and play rough because this is the gender role of boys in society. Also, the clothes are picked out depending on the sex. For example, baby girls are suppose to wear pink, ruffle dresses and little boys wear blue jeans. Nonetheless, a child comes into this world with an assigned sex before the child is born into the world. In addition, the environment plays a significant role in how the child is raised and the parents usually raised the child as female or male. As a matter of fact, evidence supports that as child goes through gender development the child will personally express the gender of his or her choice.

Children will eventually develop gender constancy. Children will start to develop their gender identity as early as 2 to 3 years old. Whereas, a child's gender role is well defined by the age of five years old. Gender Constancy is when a child can differentiate between girls and boys. School is another factor that will reinforce gender role for adolescences. For example, the child will develop a preference for same sex playmates. "The school environment often serves as a model for society, and ascription to either a male or a female gender role often is presented there, as well as at home." (Ghosh, Shuvo, P. 3) It seems that western society is more accepting of a girl acting like a "tomboy" then a boy acting like a "sissy" in school activities. Meaning, a girl playing football is more accepting then a guy being a cheerleader. Moreover, gender identity should be well defined by late adolescence and early adulthood.

Particularly, the Gwen Araujo story was very interesting to me because Araujo felt that she was a girl from an early age. In addition, the Gwen Araujo story is an excellent example of gender identity. Gwen Araujo was a transgendered teen that was born Edward Araujo Jr. Araujo lived as a woman and was tragically killed October 4, 2002. Gwen was only 17 years old when she died. Sylvia Guerrero which is the mother of Gwen felt that she was carrying a female child when she was pregnant with Gwen. Guerrero was very surprise to have a boy child. From an early age Gwen knew that she was different from other little boys. Also, Gwen's family and friends knew there was something different about Gwen. Guerrero tried to get Gwen involved in sports as a child but she was never interested in gender type activities. Also, Guerreo tried to get male members of the family to be a role model for Gwen but Gwen preferred to play with the girls. Gwen really enjoyed playing with dolls and her sister as a child. There was one time when Guerrero caught Gwen dressing in her clothes and makeup.

It was a game that Gwen and her sister hid from her mother. Moreover, Gwen decided at the age of 14 to tell her family that she would be living as a Girl named Gwen. As a matter of fact, Gwen's family was pretty accepting of her decision. The transformation was really hard for Gwen's peer. The faculty or students was not pleased with the idea of Gwen living as a girl. There was a problem with Gwen using the girls' bathroom. In addition, Gwen was teased and bullied at school and eventually dropped. Gwen decided to look for jobs in her hometown so she could save some money. Gwen wanted to attend beauty school and have gender reassignment surgery. Gwen had dreams of moving to California and becoming a makeup artist to the stars. Gwen applied to a couple of jobs but felt that she wasn't hired because she was a transsexual. Eventually, Gwen turned to partying, drugs, boys and makeup. Gwen really enjoyed the attention of men and she didn't tell the guys that she was born a man. "Fooling around gave her what she needed most. If you can make men want you, that mean somebody is finally accepting you as legitimate, as a woman, says Danielle Castro, a transgender friend of the family." (Moser, B, P. 3)

There was a couple of incidents that Gwen had with guys involving her not telling them she was born a boy. For example, there was one incident when Gwen's mother had to pick her up in an alley and some guys had cut Gwen with a broken beer bottle. Guerreo warned Gwen about her behavior but Gwen didn't listen. Furthermore, Gwen met some guys that ultimately took her life. On several occasions, Gwent had sex and did drugs with these guys. Eventually, these guys begin to suspect that Gwen was a boy. The guys thought that having sex with Gwen made them gay. Also, they felt the only way to correct the problem was to kill Gwen. When Gwen returned to the house the guys asked Gwen to expose her genitals. Alternatively, it was exposed that Gwen was really a boy and the guys acted violently. Gwen was beated to death by the boys and buried into a shallow grave. "After Gwen's mutilated body was recovered from her shallow grave, she became an instant martyr. Almost a thousand mourners turned out for Gwen's funeral." (Moser, B, p. 9)

The Gwen Araujo story was an extreme case of gender identity. Also, I think that Gwen Araujo was a good example of someone born gay or someone that identifies with an opposite sex. Moreover, people tried to change Gwen but it didn't work. Gwen knew that she identified with women and eventually her family accepted her choice. But, it wasn't that easy for society to deal with Gwen living as a transsexual. It's really hard for society to understand when a person identifies as an opposite sex. Society believes that a person can only be boy or girl so gender identity contradicts this theory. Also, it's against the norm to be anything but heterosexual. Transgender people can be born male or female but identify as the opposite sex. Moreover, transgender people believe that their brain doesn't match their body because they really believe they are the opposite gender.

Unfortunately, transgender people are the leading people that are killed by hate crimes. There are many reasons why this happen and the reasons don't justify the crimes. There are some transgender people that are not honest with partners and these guys act out in rage. In contrast, there are some guys that are aware that they are having sex with a transgender person. The guy is so angry and ashamed about his own behavior that he takes it out on his transgender partner. People are scare to be their true identity because they are afraid of being ostracized in society. There is this imaginary list of behaviors for boys and girls to follow. It's really hard to be different or stand out in a crowd. Furthermore, it would be great to live in a society where everyone could identify as any sex so that senseless hate crimes could be prevented from happening to people that has gender identity disorder. Bibliography

Ghosh, Shuvo MD.Sexuality: Gender Identity.http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2789.htm

Gillon, E. (2007, December). Gender differences in help seeking. Therapy Today, 18(10), 13-16.Retrieved February 21, 2008, from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection database.

Rochman, S. (2008, February). Transgender Teens.Human Sexuality Supplement, 34(6), 1-4.Retrieved February 21, 2008, from MasterFile Premier database.

Moser, B. (2005, February 24). The Murder of a Boy Named Gwen.Rolling Stone, Retrieved February 21, 2008, from MAS Ultra-School Edition database.

Fernandez, L. (2007, march 10). Telling transgender's tale:Filmmaker identifies with teeb's suffering. San Jose mercury News (CA), Retriebed February 21, 2008, from Newspaper Source database.