Boy’s Don’t Cry Essay Example

like singing. She didn't feel like she could surpass her current state.

John, Tom, and Lana’s Mom all referred to Brandon as a freak and called him "it" and a pervert upon discovering that Brandon was assigned female at birth. Additionally, there were minor characters who labeled Brandon as a fagot and a dyke when they discovered that he was actually a she. The whole group was also labeled as "wall people" and skanks due to their lower working-class backgrounds. Unfortunately, the movie depicted more negative labeling than positive ones.

There were few instances of formal labeling, except one at the police station when Brandon was asked about his relationships and the assault. Brandon questioned why it was relevant, and the cop explained that he wanted to understand the motive behind the assault. This suggested that the assault was a result of Brandon being transgender and somehow his fault. However, I don't believe that anyone who experiences such a crime should be held responsible.

The text explores how individuals often hold themselves responsible for their own hardships, believing that if they were "typical," unfortunate events would not have occurred. It emphasizes the detrimental consequences of categorizing people, specifically Brandon and the gay and lesbian community. Brandon felt obligated to hide his authentic sexual orientation and assume a heterosexual persona in order to conform to society's distorted view of him. He knew that unveiling his truth would result in rejection of the lifestyle he had embraced.

Upon being arrested for grand theft auto without appearing in court, while still identifying as Teena Brandon, he was inevitably housed in the women's unit. When Lana came to visit him there, he

couldn't confess the truth and instead opted to continue deceiving her. He justified his presence in the women's cell by stating that the jail was overcrowded and they had no alternative. As Lana probed deeper, he asserted that he was a hermaphrodite, providing some connection to his male identity.

Brandon's self-esteem suffered due to the derogatory labels of "pervert" and "it" that people like John and Tom assigned to him, leaving him feeling abnormal. Moreover, when Brandon was attacked by John and Tom, he internalized the blame for the assault. The movie's portrayal of diversity aligns with an exceptionalistic viewpoint that highlights individual differences and perceives gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals as having personal flaws. According to this perspective outlined by Koppelman (2011), individual solutions are required to address these issues within each person.

John, Tom, and other characters in the movie lacked empathy for Brandon's feelings. They saw his emotions as a problem to be quickly eliminated instead of attempting to understand his point of view. In their own initiative, they expelled Brandon from society. Nevertheless, this course of action did not effectively address the root issue; it merely provided a temporary disguise, as noted by Koppelman. The film emphasizes these characters' unyielding convictions, which may stem from their upbringing and conformity to societal standards.

Since they were young, they have been taught the conventional expectations of men and women marrying and having kids. Any departure from this norm, like Brandon's unconventional lifestyle, confuses them. Traditional beliefs did not encompass homosexuality, lesbianism, or transgender identities. Therefore, encountering these diverse experiences leaves them uncertain about how to comprehend and respond to this new information. This lack of comprehension

often leads to a dislike for the change or an inability to understand the viewpoint of someone perceived as "abnormal" and unlike themselves.

The movie illustrates how prejudice was formed for Brandon, with John and Tom being major contributors. Their prejudice stemmed from uncertainty and elitism, as they believed they had the right to rape Brandon after discovering that she was a girl. This attitude led to conflict among the characters and created issues of sexism and abuse against women in the United States. Prejudice and discrimination were prevalent themes in this film.

The characters John and Tom exhibited prejudice through their evident hatred, while Lana's mom didn't display any hatred towards Brandon but didn't approve of her daughter associating with him either. The major forms of prejudice depicted in the movie were sexism and discrimination based on sexual orientation. Brandon was subjected to rape and assault by John and Tom, who believed they could mistreat her because she was physically female, considering her weaker and "abnormal". One conversation illustrating prejudice against Brandon occurred between Brandon, John, and Lana's mom. John accused Brandon of lying and referred to her as a pervert, questioning her gender identity. Lana's mom blamed Brandon for exposing her daughter to what she deemed an illness. The conversation escalated, with John threatening violence and Lana's mom demanding answers about Brandon's identity. Eventually, John and Tom forcefully stripped Brandon in a bathroom to examine her genitals.

When John and Tom discovered that Brandon had female genitalia, they physically attacked him and took him to an isolated location where they continued their assault. John demanded Brandon to remove his shirt, blaming him for the situation. Both

John and Tom proceeded to sexually assault and beat Brandon after removing his pants. Afterwards, they acted as if nothing had happened, disregarding the gravity of their actions. This interaction demonstrates both avoidance and an attempt to resolve the issue. John and Tom believed that they were addressing the problem by subjecting Brandon to physical and sexual violence, ultimately resulting in his death.

The avoidance of the problem is evident in beating, raping, or killing someone, which does not address the issue of prejudice. The fact that Brandon felt and behaved a certain way was disregarded. The only effective approach to solving a problem is confronting it directly and developing empathy for the experiences of others. With a growing population of individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, or transgender, John and Tom's misguided handling of what they perceived as a problem will not work on others like Brandon. Their conversation reflects victim-blaming rationalizations.

Every member of that group except Lana believed they did not need to make any changes. It was Brandon and others like him who needed to change because they considered being gay or transgender abnormal. They viewed the minority group, specifically transgenders, as the issue and believed it was their responsibility to fix it. Koppelman illustrates this mindset with an example of victim-blaming, such as suggesting rape victims are responsible for the assault due to their attire or advising them to carry pepper spray for self-protection (2011).

This paragraph discusses the lasting impact of a comment made by John to Brandon, reflecting flawed thinking still prevalent in society. The author acknowledges their own growth in understanding and relates it to their experience of watching the

movie, which further changed their perspective.

My viewpoint on transgender individuals and their quest for happiness has undergone a substantial transformation. Previously, I had no knowledge of the difficulties they encounter in establishing relationships and seeking love. It takes an exceptional individual, such as Lana, to disregard societal norms and acknowledge the person beneath it all. Furthermore, I am deeply disturbed by the instances of sexual assault and rape because I strongly believe that nobody should endure such mistreatment. In my everyday life, I make an effort to understand others' feelings and contemplate how I would like to be treated if I were in their position.

I don't want anyone to experience the trauma of rape because they are innocent and don't understand. Brandon didn't choose his differences, but he made the most of his situation. I empathized with him because he had to deceive others to pursue his desires, which is not right. I have never held any prejudice against homosexuals, lesbians, or transgender individuals; however, I admit that I didn't fully comprehend their experiences either. The world I grew up in didn't have a clear way to classify them, but my lack of understanding didn't lead to dislike; it just meant that I needed more knowledge.