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Although transgenderism has been widely recognized by Western society due in part to celebrities’ support, it is still a taboo topic in East Asia. In the past, people were reluctant to accept transgendered people, and they were classified as deviants. However, as the media empowers the voices of the transgender and LGBTQ+ community, accepting members of this community has become a new normal. Regardless of the support from other nations in the West, China is still reluctant to hold the same progressive views about transgenderism.
Nick G, one of the coordinators of the AISG LGBTQ+ club, the GSA (gay-straight alliance), has commented on transgenderism in East Asia and Western society. He said, “I do think there is more freedom to be yourself and be transgender (trans) in the U.S. right now. People are just more open about it. Whereas in [China], it might just be quieter, there are more people who know about trans people, but [may] just not talk about them.”
Esther Z., the AISG High School Secretary, expressed her opinion on transgenderism in China. When asked what her thoughts were, she responded, “…if someone I know as the friend or [in] my family had experienced [being transgender] will make me feel sad. [Still] I will value their choices. I would think about what kind of changes that made them think of this, and I will [feel] sorry for that changes.” Esther believes that people should respect each other’s differences. However, it would be challenging for her to accept it. This might be a signal that in China, the conversation about what it means to be transgender is still in its early stages.
Despite all the criticism from the public, one celebrity named Jin Xin has revealed her identity as a transgender woman publicly in China. Before undergoing sex reassignment surgery, Jin Xin was already known for a career in modern dance and was a colonel in the Chinese army. Although her transition was very high profile, the Chinese government did nothing to keep it confidential. This could be interpreted as tacit permission for Jin Xin’s transition. Even though she had many opportunities to pursue reassignment surgery in the U.S. or U.K. where there are more advanced medical facilities, she chose to obtain it in China (themarysue.com). This shows Jin Xin’s effort to change the perspective of the Chinese toward LGBTQ+, where transgenderism in the media is generally regarded as an off-limits topic. Jin Xin realized her gender identity when she was a teenager. According to a BBC interview, she said, “When I became a teenager, that time I started to have doubt about myself. I said: Maybe I’m homosexual” (bbc.com). While she was studying modern dance in America, Jin Xin decided to find her identity as a woman.
Jin Xin’s personal beliefs about gender roles have drawn interest and criticism from some, with critics claiming that she supports male chauvinism. She is currently appearing on a few Chinese talk shows; the most famous one among them is a dating show where parents decide who their son can date. The Chinese parents in the show have judged women based on their intelligence, age, and family finances. A woman who isn’t intelligent, young, or wealthy will be rejected as their son’s girlfriend. Due to this content, many critics believed that Jin Xin has a conservative view toward women’s role in society. In fact, she claimed that the show was only to illustrate the problematic reality in current Chinese society, where marriage is decided by the parents, sometimes for the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, she agrees with the fact that society is still dominated by men, and although she may not make a habit of rallying supporters to fight this reality, her own life is evidence that such dominance need not be accepted calmly. Jin Xin said, “You cannot deny it—society is still dominated by a male mentality. So that’s a fact. It’s still there. Some people still tell me ‘you support male chauvinism’. And I say—no no, nothing to do with me. Look what I’ve done by myself'” (bbc.com).
Although there is a significant transgender population in China, they tend to avoid the public eye more than their Western counterparts. Thus, Jin Xin’s debut in the Chinese media is surprising and shocking to many. As the first outspoken transgender celebrity in China, she has brought much-needed attention and visibility to a group that should not have to hide, and is promoting more widespread acceptance of transgender people in this part of the world.
AISG Gay-Straight Alliance Club:
Recently, many organizations have raised their voices for transgender people and their integration into society. One of the ways that we, as members of the AISG community, can help, is to support the AISG Gay-Straight Alliance Club. The AISG GSA is a community service group started in 2017. According to the members of GSA, their efforts are sometimes met with ignorance and even malicious comments from anonymous students. As members of this community, it is important to show respect towards all individuals’ identities and beliefs.
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