Trans Suffering & Cis Saviors & Media — Oh My!
Even when allies think they’re doing justice for trans people, there are many pitfalls which can cause quite the opposite effect.
Recently I felt forced to watch ‘Big Mouth’ with my father. Why did I feel forced? Well ‘Big Mouth’ isn’t a show I particularly enjoy, in fact it’s something I’d rather avoid if I could. But this new season of the show brings about a character named Natalie, a transgender identifying individual, and I felt I had to stick around and watch to ensure the show was educating its audience correctly. Natalie is a trans girl (she/her) who is returning to a camp full of peers she knew pre-transition. While the show hit the nail on the head in some aspects, there were others I felt could be majorly improved.
Before we really get into the meat of this and talk about the good, the bad, and the okay-ish media, let’s briefly cover what the pitfalls of writing trans characters can be.
What exactly is ‘Trans Suffering’ or a ‘Cis Savior’? These are terms I’ve used — and quite possibly made up — but they’re both real phenomena I’ve noticed in media in regards to trans characters. And they’re troubling.
‘Trans Suffering’
‘Trans Suffering’ is the suffering of trans characters based around their identities. Character’s family hates them? Let’s just give the character a plot revolving around that! Character hates themself because of their identity? Let’s reduce the character to a pool of self hatred. Trans suffering is when a character’s identity isn’t celebrated but rather seen as a curse they must bare.
‘Cis Savior’
‘Cis Savior’ is somewhat akin to Trans Suffering. A rude coworker who’s mean to the trans character? Why not have another character who’s cis step in and help? A Cis Savior is a cisgender character who, after seeing the trans character suffering from something they’ve been dealt, steps in to be the “savior.” Now, this isn’t me saying cis people can’t be helpful to trans people! Allies are extremely important. However, I’m talking about when this is seen as a positive more so for the cis character than for trans rights or the trans character. We see the cis character as a hero for whom the trans character should be grateful.
This isn’t to say trans characters can’t suffer because of their identity, or that cis people can’t help trans people. It’s just extremely annoying when these two tropes are often used as major plot points, especially for character development.
Lastly, one other important aspect for trans representation in media is if the trans character is played by a trans actor themselves. Yes, it’s called acting — but how do you expect trans viewers to actually feel seen if they aren’t played by actual trans people?
The Bad
Naughty Dog’s ‘The Last of Us II' really tried, I’m sure. But despite all its recent Game Awards, this game ends up on my naughty list this year. Not only did they easily fall into the ‘trans suffering’ trope, they also told a trans character’s story from a secondary source. Pro tip: You can’t tell someone else’s story for them, you can only tell your own. Also, you should never disclose someone else’s trans identity unless you have express permission from them.
Part of the game tells the story of Lev, a trans boy whose family rejects his identity completely; he chopped his hair off, which led to the cult he grew up in reacting violently. His entire character arc revolves around his escape from the community he’s so tied to.
The only saving grace to TLOU2 is that the character is at least voiced by a trans actor.
The Okay-ish
As much as I’m biased against ‘Big Mouth,’ I’ll give credit where credit is due. They explained really well how puberty can play into dysphoria. They even took a pro hormone blocker stance for trans kids, which I think is spectacular. But they did deadname the character (using someone’s pre-transition name), and they gave her a cis savior to make her ‘fit in’.
Oh, and spoilers… but she ends up miserable because a boy kissed her but made it out as a dirty secret because she is trans. Also the character is hardly seen.
BM at least explores some of the innerworkings of transness and lets the trans voice actress help with that. For that, I applaud them. I do think they did the character dirty by not giving her a more permanent role, however.
The Good
“…and then the game goes on. And that’s really important, because trans people are far more than just our trans identities.”
‘Fallout 76,’ an online multiplayer game based off the Fallout IP which is currently owned by Bethesda Game Studios has had an interesting time with non-player characters (or, initially, lack thereof). The following is a minor spoiler, so read on at your own discretion.
In the ‘Steel Dawn’ update of FO76, a character named Burke, who’s a nonbinary aligned individual using they/them pronouns, is introduced. As far as I’ve read (I haven’t quite played to the point of meeting them yet!) their identity isn’t their entire point of existence. You do find out they’re nonbinary through another character, but only do so if you pick up on them using they/them pronouns and ask about it. The other character doesn’t launch into saying Burke is nonbinary, mind you. Instead they simply say that Burke is more comfortable with those pronouns. And then the game goes on. And that’s really important, because trans people are far more than just our trans identities.
You want some media that explores a trans identity more in depth, though? Look no further than Dontnod’s game ‘Tell Me Why.’ This is one of the best pieces of media I’ve seen all year, and it features a trans main character! Dontnod partnered with GLAAD (alongside other organizations) while they made the game to ensure that their representation was spot on.
The character in question, Tyler, is on a trip back to his childhood hometown in Alaska after having been in a juvenile detention facility for most of his life. While he reconnects with his twin sister, they figure out together how to navigate through their past as well as how to move forward. There are moments of struggle here and there as Tyler must reintroduce himself to some, but it only serves to show how coming out is a process done throughout ones’ life, not simply once.
The verdict? Even through trans depictions aren’t always perfect, that doesn’t mean they won’t get better over time. These pieces of media I’ve listed have all come out in 2020, and there are many more beyond them out there.
‘Tell Me Why’ recently won a ‘Game for Impact’ award at the Game Awards. This isn’t to discount ‘The Last of Us II’s awards, of course. However, this award is to acknowledge the impact from the depiction of marginalized groups represented in ‘Tell Me Why,’ one of which is transgender people.
Sometimes it may seem like there isn’t much to look forward to, that the future is bleak. However, I think in times like this we should look at the present and see how far we’ve come. Ten years ago, my list of media might not have been able to be this long and would probably all be bad depictions. We deserve better, and over time, things are getting better.
