GSST001s Photo Essay Trina R. by Trina Rodriguez

Feeling Othered

trodr068 — 2024-05-20 06:29:30 UTC

This was art that I drew during a dark time in my life. Like Gloria Anzaldua mentions in La conciencia de la mestiza, it was during a time where I did not feel accepted due to intersecting barriers that I faced. I was a woman, a person of color, I was poor, I was a drug addict, I was given up for adoption by my mother, I was not pretty enough, I was not gay enough. I felt like I did not belong anywhere. These intersecting barriers all layer upon one another, creating one unique experience for a person that feels "othered" like Anzaldua mentions.

Expressing My Masculinity

trodr068 — 2024-05-20 06:34:23 UTC

Here is a picture of my friend and I, both formerly incarcerated females. We are now both in sobriety and took this picture to express the masculinity that we both have inside of us that makes us feel strong. As West and Zimmerman mention in "Doing Gender" we express this in social settings to be acknowledged. As women we have felt the need to express masculinity in order to show strength, since expressing solely feminine ways appears weak, especially in the social setting of gang communities. That is where we come from. We now express ourselves in a different light, with a funny ironic twist of a coffee shop making a pun with art, but also us acting like we are gangsters to seem masculine, strong, when we are both strong because of our sobriety and strength of overcoming the past.

My straight Fiance is feminine

trodr068 — 2024-05-20 06:44:41 UTC

This picture shows my fiance and I, with a butterfly filter on our face, both having a soft, feminine expression on our faces while embracing eachother's presence. This relates to Emily Martin's article, "The Sperm and The Egg" because society tells us that the sperm, or the man, needs to be active and strong enough to face a journey. However, what attracted me to my partner was the fact that he always embraced his femininity and it never challenged the way he identified. That is one way we as a heterosexual couple fight against the gender stereotypes or norms that society places on us.

Affirming Haircut

trodr068 — 2024-05-20 06:47:17 UTC

My son loves his long hair. He agrees to have it trimmed only to maintain the health of his hair and fights against gender roles in his own way. He wants to have long hair because that is how he likes to express himself. His hair stylist does a great way of connecting with him and making his feelings feel validated. He does not have to cut his hair short because "he's a boy"

Stay At Home Dad

trodr068 — 2024-05-20 06:49:48 UTC

This picture shows my partners role which is to care for our children while I am away at school. This fights gender norms of the woman staying home while the man works. He enjoys being a full-time dad and I enjoy going to school to achieve my goals with the full support of my partner. This is a full circle moment of where I felt at the beginning of the slide show, lost in the darkness not belonging, while now I do belong and am loved.