Transgender: a Definition
The World Book Advanced online dictionary defines the word "transgender" as
an adjective which means "a term for individuals whose identity or
self-expression does not match their assigned gender," which, as opposed
to the word "cisgender" (meaning being born and raised as the gender
you actually are), rather involves identifying as a non-birth gender. These can
involve transitions such as female-to-male (FTM), male-to-female (MTF),
female-to-genderfluid (FTGf), etc.
Transgender: a History
The earliest example of a transgender
person in recorded American history originates from a Virginia colony in the
1620s, "who claimed to be both a man and a woman and, at different times,
adopted the traditional roles and clothing of men and women and variously went
by the names of Thomas and Thomasine Hall," (Transgender History in the United States, page 3). After confusion amongst the local
citizens rose too high, "the court ordered Hall in 1629 to wear both a
man’s breeches and a woman’s apron and cap" (Ibid, page 3). This memorialized Thomas(ine)
Hall as the first transgender person in
American history.
Meanwhile, 1952 marked a historical moment
for trans people worldwide. Christine Jorgensen became one of the first people
to medically transition, and though not truly the first, "Jorgensen's fame
allowed many people to learn about trans lives for the first time" (Timeline: A Look Back at the History of Transgender Visibility). This was vital because it opened the gates for people to learn more about a topic which many had never even heard of prior. The timeline below provides more helpful information
about the history of trans people worldwide.
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Transgender Visibility Timeline (Click link for full size)
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Works Cited:
Beemyn, Genny.
"Transgender." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2015.
Web. 28 Aug. 2015.
---. Transgender
History in the United States. Ed. Laura Erickson-Schroth. U of
Massachusetts Amherst, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.
Townsend, Megan.
"Timeline: A Look Back at the History of Transgender Visibility." GLAAD.
GLAAD, 19 Nov. 2012. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.
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