Rosskam Summary

Society has a very black and white view of gender. If you have male genitalia you are a man and if you have female genitalia you are a girl. This view was harder on transgender people because they were either not accepted as whom they identified as or were degraded because of their sexuality. However, there are some transmen who transition after giving birth or are in the process and these views are the hardest on them. In Transparent Rosskam shows two different viewpoints of transmen that give birth: some who are completely unhappy and uncomfortable during their pregnancy and some who form a motherly bond with their children. I believe it is harder for transmen who are more feminine because society invalidates their masculinity. However, I

For example, Matthew who felt uncomfortable as a woman, felt more comfortable when he was pregnant. I think Rosskam chose Matthew because he was the one who described his pregnancy in a very positive light. The cisgender audience would not expect a male or someone who identifies as a male to enjoy such a female experience and so I think Matthew represented this unique viewpoint that even men can enjoy this experience and that it is not only limited to women. I think this gives hope to the transgender audience because they now have an example to relate to. Matthew also mentioned how he thought his family would not support him through this process and that his children might be taken from him but it was completely the opposite for him (Rosskam). Everyone was really accepting and so he could transition without caring about the society and what his new societal norms would be related to his children. Rosskam made a strong point by showing Matthew’s experience that there is this attainable place where you can be who you are and do what you want to do without caring about the society. The transgender audience could interpret that this goal is attainable with the right people and

He very casually said in the beginning that he was ‘Logan the transsexual’ that made me think that a lot of people questioned him not only about his sexual identity but also who he identified as. This point was supported when he mentioned he felt like his autistic son who was trapped in his body (Rosskam). Logan also mentions how he would never be 100% male and that he would never stop his children from calling him mommy (Rosskam). I think Logan was a good example of how he was so unhappy first but after having his children and transitioning, he is in a happy place and is where he wanted to be. Also, I believe he had this confidence because he finally believed in himself and found his right place even if it did not conform to societal norms. I think Rosskam put in Logan to show the cisgender audience that it is difficult to get to that place where you are certain of who you are even if it isn’t what people expect from you. I also think Logan’s situation is a bit different because he has a supporting partner and two kids that live with him and one of them is autistic. I feel like Logan has to be a bit more feminine because he has this motherly bond with his children and he wants them to know that they will always have a mother no matter who he identifies as. To a transgender audience it will be something they can understand because they know how hard it is to