Abstract

Gatekeeping, the idea of reinforcing norms and policing individuals to conform to societal ideology, has been a concept that has existed for so long. Because we are complex human beings, we embody different identities that influence our lives. When you find a group that resonates with you and/or your identity, and you become part of that said group, research says that the individual will find comfort, safety and security, and support from the group. When we develop/produce new words we attach meaning to those words. For instance, people attach meanings to their identities, and then other people use the same meanings, which leads to a continuous cycle. With these meanings, society has constructed labels that may or may not confine individuals into a specific “box”. Hence, when we break those rules and become “deviant”, we disrupt the norms in society, and we find solidarity in other groups. There are times, however, when the community we belong to, also, gatekeeps each other. In this case, I want to focus on how the transgender community gatekeeps each other (i.e. transition, gender expression, attitudes towards tucute and truscum).

Advisor

Nurse, Anne

Second Advisor

Thomas, Zareen

Department

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Gender and Sexuality | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Politics and Social Change | Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies

Keywords

tucute, truscum, transgender, trans, trans men, queer, studies, feminism, theory, goffman, west and zimmerman, butler, gender, gatekeeping, gatekeep, gatekeeper, social media, tumblr, passing, social change

Publication Date

2020

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2020 Kevin V. Ortiz