INTRODUCTION:

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are at a higher risk of experiencing hostility, discrimination and physical harm due to their sexual preferences in comparison to those identifying as heterosexual. The root cause for such bigotry is homophobia - the hate or fear towards homosexuality. Widespread moral codes enforced by dominant groups have been some significant contributors perpetuating this negativity on transgressive sexuality issues. Despite attempts made worldwide advocating human rights regardless of gender orientation, several countries criminalize homosexual acts punishable with fines even up until execution after life imprisonment sentences.

Sexuality enchants diversely into both fixed and fluid forms experienced by people beyond traditional male/female dichotomies extended further through identification from transgender individuals. Hence assuming everyone follows heterosexuality would be an incorrect assumption called heterosexism that needs rectification urgently today; however advocates still struggle before universal acceptance continues spreading everywhere among different societies irrespective of any geographical limit since LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/ transgender) rights remain contentious while making way forward using Universal Declaration for Human Rights fully drafted out without including them back in 1948 when it got originally written down.

However, the declaration clearly states that "All individuals are entitled to enjoy all rights and freedoms without any discrimination based on their identity." With an increasing number of people openly expressing their sexual orientation, they have been organizing themselves and articulating demands for equal rights. Consequently, greater acceptance of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights worldwide has resulted from the tireless efforts of these groups as well as support from allies. Some countries' governments are already enacting laws in support of such anti-discrimination legislation. Prominent international human-rights organizations like Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch continue with ongoing effective campaigns regarding this matter. Despite progress made so far however global issues facing LGBT will include putting a stop persecution towards those who do not conform sexually; bolstering legal protection against hate crimes and propaganda whilst guaranteeing marriage privileges under common law partnerships along medical-decision making settings plus parenting adoption matters- thereby working alongside educating others about homophobia/ heterosexism tropes within society itself moving forward into future years ahead hitherto never before seen!

DISCUSSION:

If I was your Girl:

If I Was Your Girl, Meredith's debut novel, received widespread acclaim and numerous accolades upon its 2016 release. Southern Appalachia serves as the backdrop for both If I Was Your Girl and her subsequent work Birthday - two novels that tackle various topics including gender identity, sexuality, poverty, trauma and mental illness with a hopeful tone beneath their weightier themes. Beyond these works of fiction lie further pieces from Meredith; essays on the same subjects can be found in notable publications such as The New York Times and Elle while shorter stories surface across anthologies like Meet Cute or collections like (Don't) Call Me Crazy or Radical Hope: Letters of Love and Resistance in Dangerous Times which showcase beauty within all things despite difficult circumstances. A featured presence also appears prominently throughout Out Now: Queer We Go Again completing this author’s impressive range amidst inspired prose relevant to today’s modern world view allowing readers descriptive portrayals into an enriching reality. The author writes:

My hands shook as the bus lurched to a stop. I was the only passenger who stood up. The musician looked up from his magazine and nodded while I gathered my things. An older man with leathery skin and a sweat-stained work shirt scanned me from my feet to my neck without making eye contact. I stared straight ahead and pretended not to notice. (03)

The story line in this novel is a mixed plot. Before becoming Amanda, the character was a boy named Andrew.

When I was born my parents named me Andrew Hardy and the doctors wrote "male" on my birth certificate.” (Russo, 2016: 182) Amanda's feminine side has been seen since childhood where her favourite colour is purple. ... “except purple instead of red because purple was my favourite colour and also it was a time machine instead of a machine to go to magical worlds. (Russo 60)

Our young protagonist, Amanda, begins her journey in If I Was Your Girl by relocating to a new town to stay with her father and attend a different school. She had undergone the transition from being Andrew- a male back at home - but faced hostility from hateful southerners who could not accept it. “What if your son told you he was your daughter?” My mother was quiet for a moment. I thought of the words I wrote down for the counselor: I should have been a girl. (Russo 06)

It was discovered that following her transformation into Amanda, she made an attempt to end her own life and shortly after commencing the transitioning process, she suffered a physical assault within a communal washroom;

I left the bleachers and headed for the bathrooms. When I pushed open the door, the smell of paint and bleach invaded my nostrils, reminding me how much cleaner girls’ bathrooms were than boys’. The stalls were empty, and I let out the breath I’d been holding. Outside two female voices whispered back and forth, their words too soft to make out. One giggled. I washed up quickly and as I exited the bathroom, I found Bee and Chloe rounding the far corner. They stopped midstride. I froze with my still-damp hands mid-wipe on my thighs. Bee nodded in my direction. Chloe’s eyes widened. Her fingers curled and uncurled at her side. She kept her eyes locked on the field, never turning them to me. (Russo 15)

As result of these events, her divorced parents deemed it most prudent for their child to relocate somewhere unfamiliar where Andrew's previous identity would not be known. I apologize, but there's one thing I can't help mentioning even though it's a terrible joke. Throughout the entire book, I couldn't shake off my childhood memories of being called "A man, duh!" by other kids because of my name - Amanda - which they used to imply that I was really a boy and not a girl” (p 24).

It makes me wonder if the author purposely named her Trans protagonist Amanda in reference to this common teasing tactic. Either way, it just goes to show how words from our past experiences stay with us forever. Upon Amanda's arrival at her new school, she was readily embraced by a clique of female companions and caught the attention of lustful male students:

More than a dozen students sat in groups of three or four, talking so loudly I could hear them in the hall. The room fell quiet as I entered. The girls looked at me and then away again quickly, but a few guys stared for a second longer, their expressions unreadable. As I moved to find a seat, one face was still turned my way: a tall, lean boy with dark, sharp eyes and wavy black hair. Our eyes caught, and I felt a lurch in my stomach. He sat with another boy, this one tall and bulky with short light hair and a nose that looked like it had been broken before, a half-lidded, sarcastic expression pointed at me. (07)

Fortunately for her, having undergone transition prior to reaching full puberty enabled her to exude feminine qualities in all conventional aspects imaginable. In her book's concluding remarks, the writer discusses this premature change. While I was unsettled by Amanda receiving hormone treatments and surgical procedures at such a young age, Russo chose to explore their legality and likelihood in order to create an authentically feminine persona for her character. As she writes:

It’s not that hard,” I lied, remembering the countless nights I had spent at my mom’s kitchen table, trying to get the rice to stick together. When the stress of transitioning had become too much, my doctors insisted I take some time off. The year at home had seemed fun at first, like an extended summer break, but eventually boredom kicked in. I had started to feel like I was just standing still; like life was passing me by outside and I would be forever trapped in our house with nowhere to go and no one to talk to. I had to occupy myself somehow. (08)

Altering these components appears justifiable as it renders Amanda into someone who resonates with everyone without offending them. Upon her recent enrolment at a new school, Grant reaches out to introduce himself on behalf of Parker who has taken an interest in her. Despite being flattered, she declines any advances due to the potential for complications and going against her father's wishes. However, now she finds herself unable to shake thoughts about Grant and his charmingly asymmetrical grin. “For the record”—Grant rubbed the back of his neck—“I told Parker this would go better if he came by himself. But he’s my buddy, you know? So I had to try. He’s a horse’s ass, though, and you probably think I am too now.” (Russo 08)

Amanda receives an invitation to a party and reunites with Grant, where they connect instantly. They leave the gathering early as he confides in her about his former best friend's suicide. Later on, they decide to take a dip in their undergarments before sharing a brief kiss. Upon Amanda's return home for the night, she learns from her intoxicated father that he loves her – perhaps the first time expressing such sentiment ever uttered by him. The following day, Anna reached out to Amanda and implored her to come along with her family for church. “I don’t actually go to church anymore.” I felt a stab of guilt remembering how long it had been since I had gone to church, though I hoped God would understand why. “I used to go to Calvary Baptist, though, down near Atlanta.” (Russo 10)

While religiosity is widespread in this town, the strain that Anna's folks follow falls under the "Old Testament" category that represents an intense southern/Midwestern US stereotype; one that most Americans wish not be associated with. Amanda is right to feel uneasy when her family arrives in a van adorned with bumper stickers that proclaim their adamant opposition to homosexuality.

Not once or twice she gets rough treatment from her environment. Almost everyone in the neighborhood treats Amanda the same. Despite all the ill- treatment Amanda has experienced, she has a dream to continue her studies. She really wants to be able to realize these dreams. That way she feels she can go from her place of origin and can meet new people who might be able to accept it. She recalled how people used to commit an act of violence against her just because they didn't like it. Amanda always experiences conflicts with her previous environment. I remembered all the times guys had hit and kicked me because they didn't like me, but decided it was best not to mention those (Russo 156). Amanda has been kicked by boys just because they don't like it. She opts to keep a low profile and conceal her secrets from Anna, while also avoiding causing any conflicts within the friend circle. She has discovered some individuals at school who share more open-minded views with whom she can feel at ease around; like Bee her last period companion. As Amanda manages multiple relationships simultaneously, her relationship with Grant flourishes and they are now an official couple.

The excerpt below explains Amanda's true condition. She revealed that she was indeed born a male. She has male body parts. She also acknowledged that her mistakes were not God's faults, but hers, because she was indeed a man.

My birth certificate says I’m a boy,” my chest felt tight. The room, despite its high ceilings, felt suddenly cramped. “I have a . . . I have a boy parts. I have boy chromosomes. God doesn’t make mistakes. So I’m a boy. Scientifically, logically, spiritually, I’m a boy. (Russo 29)

The sociological elements of the main character with her parents are also featured in the novel. Amanda's relationship with her father wasn't too close; she had not seen each other for a long time. Even to just hug and kiss Amanda is very rarely done by her father. That was why Amanda felt comfortable when her father hugged and kissed her.

The relationship between Amanda and her father is actually not harmonious. The disharmony between them was based on Amanda's decision. That is why her father did not want to discuss the events experienced by Amanda. Events related to changes in Amanda. This is because her father never liked and agreed with Amanda's decision.

“Did she tell you about what happened sophomore year? When I … was in the hospital?” his knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. He stared ahead silently as we passed an old brick building with a tarnished steeple. Wasn’t sure what I could say,” he said. “It’s been hard coming to terms with … everything.” “Have you come to terms now that you’ve seen me?” “Give me time, kiddo.” His lips puckered as they formed the last word, so unusually informal for him. “I guess I’m just old-fashioned.” (Russo 06)

The above quote proves the conflict between Amanda and her father, which had started since Amanda was a child. However, due to deep-rooted self-doubt, she worries that he may be attracted solely to the masculine attributes remaining from her previous identity as Andrew. This fear haunts Amanda despite their growing bond; “So when you wrote ‘I should have been a girl,’ did you mean that you’re afraid to come out as gay, or embarrassed that you want to wear women’s clothes? Your mother said you’re Baptists; do you think the way you feel is wrong from a religious perspective?” (Russo 14)

Despite her worries, she invites Grant to come over to her dad's house while he is away. However, things take a turn when the father unexpectedly returns home and finds them there;

Daddy? I said softly, unafraid to use the word this once because I knew he wouldn’t hear me. “I’m home.” He grunted and his eyes fluttered. He looked at me for a long moment with half-lidded, bleary eyes, and sounded far off when he spoke…. I remembered how angry he had sounded when he told me that lives like mine weren’t good, couldn’t possibly be good. I felt the scar above my ear and thought about how warm and tingly my lips still felt from Grant’s kisses. (Russo 30)

Although they were not engaged in any inappropriate behaviour, the situation unsettles him so much that he ejects Grant from his premises before resorting to drinking heavily. Her father voices his reasonable concern that if these Christians or teenage boys from the South learn about her being transgender, they would harm her. He simply desires for her to remain secure until completing high school and shifting to a more embracing place. I concur with him on this matter; she is exposed to danger. Although it may not be fair or justifiable, speaking out against it won't eliminate the fact that there exists an authentic fear at present times.

Grant intends to reveal his life to Amanda and welcome her into it by bringing her home with him. The small trailer he lives in includes himself, his mother, and sisters whom he provides for through after-school employment. Observing Grant's hard-working nature, loyalty towards family and loving character unfold before her eyes during this experience causes Amanda's feelings of admiration for him grow even stronger.

CONCLUSION:

Russo's tale fulfils a desire many trans-individuals, both young and old, have longed for: an authentic love story that instils hope while avoiding excessive saccharinity or tragedy. Tension arises as Amanda faces the fear bred from her own violent experiences alongside gender-related hazards not experienced by most males; however, Russo avoids penning yet another horror narrative forcing readers into protagonist-like states of suffering. Confusion pervades throughout along with teen-standard awkwardness and levity in this beautifully crafted saga which also portrays inner tumult within Amanda herself. Her friend/mentor Virginia remarks on how incredibly well-suited she is to passing but then notes predetermined physical traits rendering them both too vulnerable - one example among several highlighting conflicting realities resonating with similar-minded members entrenched currently amid a fearful atmosphere shrouded potentially in violence/hostility toward those identifiable only through perfect alignment between physique/gender identity-precise requirements spoken aloud more frequently nowadays than before now possible due mostly thanks specifically towards greater acceptance surrounding these issues our society has undergone quite recently indeed. Most importantly, it is a vital and all-encompassing account of coping with discrimination and ostracism that exudes affection, positivity, captivating prose, and authenticity.

A straightforward YA tale, If I Was Your Girl follows a teenage girl as she navigates the typical challenges of attending a new school. She must discover trustworthy friends, determine her own identity and aspirations, and find ways to date despite disapproval from her father - all while contending with the usual perils of high school life.

Amanda's sole distinctive trait among the girls in her recently enrolled school is that she was originally Andrew. The author of the book clarifies through a note at its conclusion that Amanda, without any exceptionality otherwise, possesses an unconventional medical past. However, it would be unlikely for inhabitants of rural southern US to have such perception upon uncovering her undisclosed truth.

REFERENCES:

1. Russo, Meredith, If I Was Your Girl. EBook ed., Usborne Publishing Ltd., 2016.

2. Russo, Meredith, Birthday: New Delhi,21 May 2019

3. http://www.writtenbymom.com

4. http://goodreaders.com>show

5. http://en.m.wikipedia.org>wiki

6. http://blog.whsmith.co.uk>zbc10

Received on 02.01.2024 Modified on 22.01.2024

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2024;15(1)31-35.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5828.2024.00006