hi and so I’m going to talk to you today a little bit about a research project
a little bit about a research project
a little bit about a research project that I completed last summer at this
that I completed last summer at this
that I completed last summer at this university and the project has a lot of
university and the project has a lot of
university and the project has a lot of personal significance to me because the
personal significance to me because the
personal significance to me because the 4,000 pounds that I was paid to complete
4,000 pounds that I was paid to complete
4,000 pounds that I was paid to complete this project I used to fund hormone
this project I used to fund hormone
this project I used to fund hormone replacement therapy one year that the
replacement therapy one year that the
replacement therapy one year that the NHS system for trans people is difficult
NHS system for trans people is difficult
NHS system for trans people is difficult to say the least and in many cases
to say the least and in many cases
to say the least and in many cases there’s a waiting list of over a year
there’s a waiting list of over a year
there’s a waiting list of over a year but also on top of this when I first
but also on top of this when I first
but also on top of this when I first discovered the people I’m about to speak
discovered the people I’m about to speak
discovered the people I’m about to speak about they allowed me to think about
about they allowed me to think about
about they allowed me to think about gender nonconformity in a way that was I
gender nonconformity in a way that was I
gender nonconformity in a way that was I think permissible people always tend to
think permissible people always tend to
think permissible people always tend to ask me when I knew I was trans and like
ask me when I knew I was trans and like
ask me when I knew I was trans and like when I like I had these thoughts in my
when I like I had these thoughts in my
when I like I had these thoughts in my mind that made it feel like it was okay
mind that made it feel like it was okay
mind that made it feel like it was okay to transition and I think in general
to transition and I think in general
to transition and I think in general whenever we see gender non-conforming
whenever we see gender non-conforming
whenever we see gender non-conforming people in media in culture gender
people in media in culture gender
people in media in culture gender non-conforming people are monster fide I
non-conforming people are monster fide I
non-conforming people are monster fide I think the first um transition I ever saw
think the first um transition I ever saw
think the first um transition I ever saw and was a character in this with Britain
and was a character in this with Britain
and was a character in this with Britain um so yes that’s again so if I asked you
um so yes that’s again so if I asked you
um so yes that’s again so if I asked you to picture an image of ancient Egyptian
to picture an image of ancient Egyptian
to picture an image of ancient Egyptian kingship you would probably imagine
kingship you would probably imagine
kingship you would probably imagine something a little bit like this there
something a little bit like this there
something a little bit like this there are three statues and they all represent
are three statues and they all represent
are three statues and they all represent different people from different periods
different people from different periods
different people from different periods of ancient Egyptian history they’re all
of ancient Egyptian history they’re all
of ancient Egyptian history they’re all depicted in conventional masculine style
depicted in conventional masculine style
depicted in conventional masculine style their bodies are straight and they were
their bodies are straight and they were
their bodies are straight and they were the numbers headdress two of them were
the numbers headdress two of them were
the numbers headdress two of them were false beard and they were the Shem get
false beard and they were the Shem get
false beard and they were the Shem get killed and they’re carrying orbs so what
killed and they’re carrying orbs so what
killed and they’re carrying orbs so what if I told you that this statue on the
if I told you that this statue on the
if I told you that this statue on the far left actually represented a woman
far left actually represented a woman
far left actually represented a woman who depicted herself like this and like
who depicted herself like this and like
who depicted herself like this and like this and like this but also
this and like this but also
this and like this but also like this you can see the difference in
like this you can see the difference in
like this you can see the difference in body types
so pharaoh Hatshepsut was one of Egypt’s
so pharaoh Hatshepsut was one of Egypt’s longest reigning female pharaohs and she
longest reigning female pharaohs and she
longest reigning female pharaohs and she came to the throne initially as the
came to the throne initially as the
came to the throne initially as the regent for her step son tan Moses the
regent for her step son tan Moses the
regent for her step son tan Moses the third hardship suit depicted herself in
third hardship suit depicted herself in
third hardship suit depicted herself in the masculine regalia of kingship
the masculine regalia of kingship
the masculine regalia of kingship because in order to be the legitimate
because in order to be the legitimate
because in order to be the legitimate ruler of Egypt she had to look like the
ruler of Egypt she had to look like the
ruler of Egypt she had to look like the legitimate ruler of Egypt and being
legitimate ruler of Egypt and being
legitimate ruler of Egypt and being Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh there was no uniform and for women so
there was no uniform and for women so
there was no uniform and for women so here had Shepherd represents herself I’m
here had Shepherd represents herself I’m
here had Shepherd represents herself I’m on a carving from a temple with the
on a carving from a temple with the
on a carving from a temple with the goddess Hathor and you can see the stark
goddess Hathor and you can see the stark
goddess Hathor and you can see the stark contrast between the way in which Hathor
contrast between the way in which Hathor
contrast between the way in which Hathor is depicted and the way in which HUD
is depicted and the way in which HUD
is depicted and the way in which HUD shops it is depicted so hardships it
shops it is depicted so hardships it
shops it is depicted so hardships it essentially exploited her gender
essentially exploited her gender
essentially exploited her gender presentation and for political benefit
presentation and for political benefit
presentation and for political benefit so the next person I want to talk to you
so the next person I want to talk to you
so the next person I want to talk to you about is Pharaoh Akhenaten Akhenaten is
about is Pharaoh Akhenaten Akhenaten is
about is Pharaoh Akhenaten Akhenaten is most known for breaking with thousands
most known for breaking with thousands
most known for breaking with thousands of years of Egyptian religious tradition
of years of Egyptian religious tradition
of years of Egyptian religious tradition and establishing the solar art and deity
and establishing the solar art and deity
and establishing the solar art and deity as supreme above all so I can Anton
as supreme above all so I can Anton
as supreme above all so I can Anton basically is one of the earliest people
basically is one of the earliest people
basically is one of the earliest people to come up with a kind of monotheism so
to come up with a kind of monotheism so
to come up with a kind of monotheism so if you remember this image of the three
if you remember this image of the three
if you remember this image of the three Egyptian kings you can see again the
Egyptian kings you can see again the
Egyptian kings you can see again the differences in presentation the
differences in presentation the
differences in presentation the Akhenaten was trying to essentially
Akhenaten was trying to essentially
Akhenaten was trying to essentially embody the solar art and deity that he
embody the solar art and deity that he
embody the solar art and deity that he was trying to elevate a supreme and in
was trying to elevate a supreme and in
was trying to elevate a supreme and in like polytheistic religious systems
like polytheistic religious systems
like polytheistic religious systems there are typically a supreme masculine
there are typically a supreme masculine
there are typically a supreme masculine figure and a supreme feminine figure so
figure and a supreme feminine figure so
figure and a supreme feminine figure so in trying to establish a monotheism this
in trying to establish a monotheism this
in trying to establish a monotheism this deity had to embody both principles and
deity had to embody both principles and
deity had to embody both principles and so the king who
so the king who
so the king who the deities representative also had to
the deities representative also had to
the deities representative also had to embody these principles so you can see
embody these principles so you can see
embody these principles so you can see here that I cannot and presents himself
here that I cannot and presents himself
here that I cannot and presents himself with breasts and a pregnant ish looking
with breasts and a pregnant ish looking
with breasts and a pregnant ish looking belly
belly
belly I cannot him said in the hymn to the
I cannot him said in the hymn to the
I cannot him said in the hymn to the great art and deity that the Artem was
great art and deity that the Artem was
great art and deity that the Artem was the mother and father of all mankind and
the mother and father of all mankind and
the mother and father of all mankind and that’s represented here in the statue of
that’s represented here in the statue of
that’s represented here in the statue of Akhenaten which has been named as the
Akhenaten which has been named as the
Akhenaten which has been named as the sexless Colossus in which Akhenaten is
sexless Colossus in which Akhenaten is
sexless Colossus in which Akhenaten is depicted with no genitals very clearly
now this statue in particular hasn’t
now this statue in particular hasn’t always been received very well by
always been received very well by
always been received very well by historians and by art historians in 1973
historians and by art historians in 1973
historians and by art historians in 1973 JD swales for The Lancet said I cannot
JD swales for The Lancet said I cannot
JD swales for The Lancet said I cannot in is represented in such a grotesque
in is represented in such a grotesque
in is represented in such a grotesque and effeminate form the diagnosis of
and effeminate form the diagnosis of
and effeminate form the diagnosis of Freilich syndrome has been entertained
Freilich syndrome has been entertained
Freilich syndrome has been entertained even more warning for the retrospective
even more warning for the retrospective
even more warning for the retrospective diagnostician members of Akhenaten’s
diagnostician members of Akhenaten’s
diagnostician members of Akhenaten’s entourage are also shown as having
entourage are also shown as having
entourage are also shown as having female breast development
female breast development
female breast development so essentially swales was so disgusted
so essentially swales was so disgusted
so essentially swales was so disgusted by this image that he feels first of all
by this image that he feels first of all
by this image that he feels first of all they need to follow gize it and and and
they need to follow gize it and and and
they need to follow gize it and and and also the need to insult it it’s kind of
also the need to insult it it’s kind of
also the need to insult it it’s kind of familiar
familiar
familiar um so the main thing i think that i took
um so the main thing i think that i took
um so the main thing i think that i took from this quotation is the word
from this quotation is the word
from this quotation is the word grotesque and so thinking about
grotesque and so thinking about
grotesque and so thinking about transition is only in life and it took
transition is only in life and it took
transition is only in life and it took me approximately 30 seconds to google
me approximately 30 seconds to google
me approximately 30 seconds to google caitlyn jenner followed by the word
caitlyn jenner followed by the word
caitlyn jenner followed by the word grotesque in order to see this so this
grotesque in order to see this so this
grotesque in order to see this so this article by Robert Paul raised I’m not
article by Robert Paul raised I’m not
article by Robert Paul raised I’m not quite sure what the website it’s called
quite sure what the website it’s called
quite sure what the website it’s called but um says Caitlyn Jenner looked
but um says Caitlyn Jenner looked
but um says Caitlyn Jenner looked absolutely grotesque and it says I don’t
absolutely grotesque and it says I don’t
absolutely grotesque and it says I don’t know if you how well you can see this
know if you how well you can see this
know if you how well you can see this but um the article says please be kind
but um the article says please be kind
but um the article says please be kind to me I’m new at this
to me I’m new at this
to me I’m new at this Caitlyn Jenner said in her masculine
Caitlyn Jenner said in her masculine
Caitlyn Jenner said in her masculine voice that she stepped up to the podium
voice that she stepped up to the podium
voice that she stepped up to the podium to accept the ESP Y Arthur Ashe award
to accept the ESP Y Arthur Ashe award
to accept the ESP Y Arthur Ashe award for courage
for courage
for courage and then after describing what Caitlin’s
and then after describing what Caitlin’s
and then after describing what Caitlin’s wearing the writer of this piece goes on
wearing the writer of this piece goes on
wearing the writer of this piece goes on to say but 65 year-old Caitlyn like
to say but 65 year-old Caitlyn like
to say but 65 year-old Caitlyn like tediously grotesque not even a designer
tediously grotesque not even a designer
tediously grotesque not even a designer dress worth thousands and diamonds worth
dress worth thousands and diamonds worth
dress worth thousands and diamonds worth of fortune contend the athlete / reality
of fortune contend the athlete / reality
of fortune contend the athlete / reality star formerly known as Bruce into a
star formerly known as Bruce into a
star formerly known as Bruce into a beautiful woman the writer then
beautiful woman the writer then
beautiful woman the writer then continues that Caitlyn looks deformed
continues that Caitlyn looks deformed
continues that Caitlyn looks deformed has wrinkled hands and huge feet and
has wrinkled hands and huge feet and
has wrinkled hands and huge feet and gives the writer nightmares the writer
gives the writer nightmares the writer
gives the writer nightmares the writer says if one more person describes
says if one more person describes
says if one more person describes Caitlyn Jenner is beautiful that they
Caitlyn Jenner is beautiful that they
Caitlyn Jenner is beautiful that they are going to kill themselves and
are going to kill themselves and
are going to kill themselves and honestly people have said very similar
honestly people have said very similar
honestly people have said very similar things to my face on multiple occasions
things to my face on multiple occasions
things to my face on multiple occasions usually people that I don’t know at all
usually people that I don’t know at all
usually people that I don’t know at all um and so I suppose the significance of
um and so I suppose the significance of
um and so I suppose the significance of this project for me personally is that
this project for me personally is that
this project for me personally is that I’ve been able to find a great deal of
I’ve been able to find a great deal of
I’ve been able to find a great deal of comfort in the fact that I cannot in HAP
comfort in the fact that I cannot in HAP
comfort in the fact that I cannot in HAP shed suit were trying to present
shed suit were trying to present
shed suit were trying to present themselves as gods and they were trying
themselves as gods and they were trying
themselves as gods and they were trying to present themselves as divine and
to present themselves as divine and
to present themselves as divine and beyond the constraints it’s particularly
beyond the constraints it’s particularly
beyond the constraints it’s particularly an Akhenaten’s case with the art in
an Akhenaten’s case with the art in
an Akhenaten’s case with the art in dating and the elevation of the art into
dating and the elevation of the art into
dating and the elevation of the art into supreme power this like will to power
supreme power this like will to power
supreme power this like will to power through presentation I find very
through presentation I find very
through presentation I find very inspiring and I think most importantly
inspiring and I think most importantly
inspiring and I think most importantly these figures show that the relationship
these figures show that the relationship
these figures show that the relationship between a biological sex and gender
between a biological sex and gender
between a biological sex and gender presentation has been negotiable for
presentation has been negotiable for
presentation has been negotiable for well since the second millennium BCE and
well since the second millennium BCE and
well since the second millennium BCE and that trans is not new and it’s not a
that trans is not new and it’s not a
that trans is not new and it’s not a trend and it’s not something that’s
trend and it’s not something that’s
trend and it’s not something that’s irreligious per se um and I think also
irreligious per se um and I think also
irreligious per se um and I think also there’s inherent irony in the fact that
there’s inherent irony in the fact that
there’s inherent irony in the fact that I just spent however long describing to
I just spent however long describing to
I just spent however long describing to you what these figures are doing and why
you what these figures are doing and why
you what these figures are doing and why they’re doing it because I don’t think
they’re doing it because I don’t think
they’re doing it because I don’t think it really needs an explanation and I
it really needs an explanation and I
it really needs an explanation and I think it’s justified in the sense that
think it’s justified in the sense that
think it’s justified in the sense that these historical figures and by looking
these historical figures and by looking
these historical figures and by looking at what their statues show in these
at what their statues show in these
at what their statues show in these public bodies
public bodies
public bodies we can read things about other aspects
we can read things about other aspects
we can read things about other aspects of ancient Egyptian history and we can
of ancient Egyptian history and we can
of ancient Egyptian history and we can trace trends but I think the problem too
trace trends but I think the problem too
trace trends but I think the problem too often with trans and gender
often with trans and gender
often with trans and gender non-conforming people is that people
non-conforming people is that people
non-conforming people is that people think that an explanation is always
think that an explanation is always
think that an explanation is always required and people think that an
required and people think that an
required and people think that an explanation is um justified people to
explanation is um justified people to
explanation is um justified people to seek and you know quotes like this are
seek and you know quotes like this are
seek and you know quotes like this are reflected in the way that trans people
reflected in the way that trans people
reflected in the way that trans people are diagnosed in medical systems and you
are diagnosed in medical systems and you
are diagnosed in medical systems and you know it goes on but I think the final
know it goes on but I think the final
know it goes on but I think the final thing that I’ve learned from looking at
thing that I’ve learned from looking at
thing that I’ve learned from looking at these figures is that there can be a
these figures is that there can be a
these figures is that there can be a danger with trans people and gender
danger with trans people and gender
danger with trans people and gender non-conforming people to see this as the
non-conforming people to see this as the
non-conforming people to see this as the only aspect of our identities and you
only aspect of our identities and you
only aspect of our identities and you know Akhenaten was one of the most
know Akhenaten was one of the most
know Akhenaten was one of the most controversial Egyptian pharaohs ever who
controversial Egyptian pharaohs ever who
controversial Egyptian pharaohs ever who completely broke his religion and and
completely broke his religion and and
completely broke his religion and and the artwork as well and hatshepsut LED
the artwork as well and hatshepsut LED
the artwork as well and hatshepsut LED like incredible campaigns and built
like incredible campaigns and built
like incredible campaigns and built incredible buildings and was one of
incredible buildings and was one of
incredible buildings and was one of Egypt’s most successful fairies . and
Egypt’s most successful fairies . and
Egypt’s most successful fairies . and yet people are most interested most of
yet people are most interested most of
yet people are most interested most of the time in the way that they present
the time in the way that they present
the time in the way that they present themselves because they see well this
themselves because they see well this
themselves because they see well this and feel like they need an explanation
and feel like they need an explanation
and feel like they need an explanation um so I think in general it would
um so I think in general it would
um so I think in general it would probably um be better if we could just
probably um be better if we could just
probably um be better if we could just let these people speak for themselves
let these people speak for themselves
let these people speak for themselves and appreciate that presentation is
and appreciate that presentation is
and appreciate that presentation is something that’s um interesting and
something that’s um interesting and
something that’s um interesting and beautiful but um nothing more thank
beautiful but um nothing more thank
beautiful but um nothing more thank [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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