Here's Why Transracial is Likely to be the Next Big Thing

Remember the peculiar case of Ja Du, the white transgender woman from New Orleans who claims to be a Filipino. As you might have noticed, her story became viral. Although no one questions her gender identity, people criticized her claims of being a Filipino. It is quite ironic considering she has no evidence proving her “supposed” nationality.

In an interview, she was quoted:

Whenever I’m around the music, around the food, I feel like I’m on my own skin. I’d watch the history channel sometimes for hours you know whenever it came to that and you know nothing else intrigued me more but things about Filipino culture.

She was even filmed riding a tricycle, which is a primary means of transportation in the Philippines. Apparently, she called it “tuk-tuk,” a term for tricycles in Thailand.

Interestingly, Ja Du is not the first person to insist that she belongs to another race or culture. Take for example Vicky Waldrips, who is better known as WhoahVicky. She basically came to terms with her so-called “whiteness.” Add to this is Martina Big, who believes that she is black.

But perhaps the most interesting among them is none other than Rachel Dolezal. Her story sparked outrage after she lied about her heritage, pretending to an African-American. In reality, though, she is of Caucasian background.

She argued her case, nonetheless, just like Ja Du. That her situation was very much like the infamous Caitlyn Jenner. Her claims – like others’ – poses the question: “Can the concept of being transracial be equated with the debate for gender identity?”

For model Munroe Bergdorf, Dolezel’s case for “racial fluidity” is absolute crap. The transgender model, who also happens to be a person of color, believes that it is only dragging the entire trans-community into a senseless argument.

Munroe was quoted saying,

Race and gender are two completely different things and that's why it's dangerous for trans people as well. For someone who isn't trans the two may seem interchangeable but it's blurring gender when it has nothing to do with it. You can be one gender but that doesn't mean your parents have to be the same gender as you.

She added:

Gender identity is not about sex - which is your genetic makeup - it is how you see yourself. But people's race is a lineage, it is your whole family, your ancestry, where you come from, and your genetic makeup. For Rachel Dolezel to come out and say 'if transgender people can be accepted and transracial people can be accepted' it: A) cheapens the struggle trans people go through and B) brings gender in an argument where it doesn't need to be.

Her belief is significantly reaffirmed by Dr. Michell Chresfield, a lecturer in the field of race, sexuality, and gender at the University of Birmingham. For her, the cases of the aforementioned people are “inherently different experiences.” That “dominant” gender-normative communities, in one way or another, are not entirely harmed by the presence of people who do not conform to gender norms. And although these individuals think they are under threat, when, in reality, they are not.

Dr. Chresfield argues, however:

The perceived notion of being transracial is harmful, to the community whose identity is being appropriated, so it makes sense that as a community you want to gatekeep the culture and those who can be out there representing you.

She believes that gender expression, contrary to popular belief, is something people acquire from culture. And, in a sense, is “the denial of a kind of biology.”

She adds that it is somehow insulting for any individual of color to see or hear a white person who possesses all privileges but none of the social stigma. That he/she does not even know what it is like to have another person’s culture appropriated.

Let us take Rachel Dolezal’s case in applying Dr. Chresfield’s “appropriation.” Clearly, one cannot understand why Rachel claims to be black when her parents are obviously white. It is even insulting to think that she sees being black as an option. That it is something a person can decide just because he/she feels the need to do so.

Throughout the years, humanity has learned to accept the oddest of things. So, it is not surprising really if “transracial” will become a thing in the next few years or so. And while it may be hard to grasp right now, no one can ever say that it will not be accepted in the future.