The Cross-Dresser and Transsexual Essay -- Some Like it Hot Gender Rol

The Cross-Dresser and Transsexual Attitudes towards cross-dressing, transvestitism and transsexuality have changed greatly since the conformity of the 1950s. Today, the drag queen RuPaul sells cosmetics and a female part with a penis can become a sympathetic addition to a prime time drama such as Ally McBeal. These transgressions from normative gender roles are frequently employed by filmmakers to examine the complexity and fluidity of modern masculinity and femininity. The roots of these explorations can be seen as far-off back as 1959s Some Like it Hot, but only in the 1990s were directors able to use these sliding identities to their fullest extent. By examining Billy manics, Neil Jordans and Kimberley Peirces use of external gender signs, gender roles, sex and sexuality in Some Like it Hot, The Crying Game and Boys fall apartt Cry, respectively, we may see the progression of gender blending from comedic device towards accepted identity. While none of these films entirely emp owers its transgendered characters, and masculinity is privileged as the more plastic identity, the latter two films nevertheless make strides towards a society where limited definitions of gender and identity do non exist.External gender signs such as costume, hair length and voice are the spectators first indication that a crossing has taken place. In Some Like it Hot, this cross-dressing has a purpose and is parodied throughout, while in The Crying Game and Boys Dont Cry, the main characters transvestitism is down-to-earth and treated with more sympathy. As our society is swamp with film images, we are comfortable with the picture of Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dressed as women for the film Some Like it Hot. But one must remember that gen... ... and Boys Dont Cry, on the other hand, show a move towards a society that is more willing to embrace these alternative identities. Both films use realistic disguise, behaviours and sexuality to help audiences identify with their trans gendered characters. Furthermore, sex is shown to be of little consequence when it comes to a persons true gender. Unfortunately, the portrayals of transsexuals in these two films are not yet fully liberating. The Crying Game stumbles into stereotype and limits Dils sexual behaviour, and even the most progressive of the three, Boys Dont Cry, shows Brandon dying a wretched death. However, Peirces film has come a long way in open-mindedness since the antics of Joe and Jerry in Some Like it Hot. Perhaps in the coming years a filmmaker will finally dare to portray a happy and realistic transgendered character and also let him/her live.