QFA does seem to be going ahead now. There was a related ‘Queer(ing) Femininities’ workshop at Goldsmiths college in London last week (check the tweet stream for more on this); and the further "call for papers" at Feral Feminisms deadlines at the end of June. After that, I guess the editors (Alexa and Vikki) will put it all together, though it'll probably be quite a while yet before QFA finally appears – for one thing, that was CFP #8 and the published issues of FF have only reached #5 so far.
In the meantime I've been offered the chance to contribute to two other planned anthologies: one on crossdreaming and stuff; and another about “living life with a non-binary gender”, focusing on “relatable storytelling from a personal standpoint”. But I'm finding it hard. I've had the second proposal for several months and still have the figurative blank sheet in front of me. Because, what is there for me to say, at least that I haven't already said? My gender "issues" (such as they are) are mostly internal, and my actual life is arranged so that they hardly impact on me at all. Working from home, sitting at the computer (editing and suchlike), I have no work-related problems; while in the wider world, outside the front door, my gender is read as male, with all its associated advantages. My gender expression, while somewhat femme, is not so outré that it causes me any trouble. In fact, people mostly just say nice things.
For instance, this is about as femme as anything I wear:
To my eyes that coat is pretty damn femme – one of my friends told me outright that it was “effeminate” (which of course made me happy) – and it does get serious stares sometimes, as if whoever can't quite believe it. Purple suede, furry cuffs and trim, cut short at the waist, it's clearly not a "man's coat". All the same, it is still just a coat. It's not a skirt. It's not a pretty frock. Nobody is sufficiently disturbed by it to give me grief; and I'm certainly not going to complain about that.
On the other hand, it does all mean that there's nothing much for me to say. I can't write about the difficulties day to day of living life with a non-normative gender, because I don't really have any. (There's privilege for you and then some.) No interesting, amusing, moving, inspiring, or even ordinary tales to tell. Nada.
So I'm stuck. Not writing.
Any suggestions? :/
Could you write about your experiences in being on the fringes? Not far enough 'out' to draw flack, but not far enough 'in' to be truly under the radar?
ReplyDeleteWhen do people react to you and how do they react? Is it positive or negative? Is it one type of person, or it is seemingly at random?
Would you go further, as it where, or are you happy were you are? Why don't you feel the need to go further along the route?
Do you bother with make-up. If so, why, and conversely, if not: why not?
That'll be 100 quid please ;-)
Lynn
x
Yay, suggestions :)
ReplyDeleteFringes: Well, I'm certainly on those. That might be a possibility, if I can think of a positive way to spin it (as opposed to a whining "oh, poor me" type thing).
Reactions: Generally people just say nice things. Sometimes they want to stroke my coat(s) as well, and sometimes they do that without asking first. The only other reaction I've had more than once is: Stop, stare, mouth open – mostly from kids, of course, who haven't yet learnt that staring is rude ;)
Further: On the route to where though? Well, I'd probably "up my femme" (on occasion) if I felt I could get away with it (and possibly I could), but otherwise my journeys are mostly just internal (as documented in the ‘Border Territories’ and ‘Non-binary’ posts).
Make-up: Apart from concealer (which I use all the time), I don't bother with make-up. Have you ever read Charles Anders' book “The Lazy Crossdresser”? I thought that might be just the thing, but it turned out he's nowhere near lazy enough for me.
Anyway, thanks for giving me things to think about. No fee though, sorry ;)
Being on the edge of things isn't always a bad thing. You can always define your own labels and culture. Well, unless it goes horribly wrong and you fall out with yourself ;-)
ReplyDeleteJust food for thought really and I'd be interested to see where those questions take you. No rush, tho... and no fee :-)