Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Reply to comment

jrizzo's picture

Frankenstein

I'd like to begin by saying that reading Susan Stryker's work, especially "My Words to Victor Frankenstein" was an illuminating and very powerful experience for me.  As a member of a group that has been villified and covered in shadow largely through the use of symbols, images, dark mystery that keeps the transsexual unexplained, misunderstood, hence frightening to many, I think Stryker does a brave and neccesary thing by taking the label of "monster," reclaiming it, and articulating the power the name allows her to wield. 

I was struck by one phrase in particular.  She writes, "the Nature you bedevil me with is a lie."  I feel there might be a number of meanings embedded in this statement, and I would be interested in hearing Stryker discuss this more.  Does she mean that non-transsexuals cannot use their "natural" bodies as a justification for dennouncing the transsexual?  Is this just a plea against using our notions of "natural" as tools of oppression, or is she making a stronger claim about nature?  Is "nature" a misleading term?  Must it always be questioned?  According to Stryker, does it exist? 

Reply

To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
6 + 8 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.