We All Wear Masks

     There has been something that has recently come to my attention lately when it comes to so-called "standards" and "gender roles" or even "identities." It is not the fact that such terms exist; I mean, everybody finds a way to put a spin or a label on things. It is not even the fact that such terms even need to be there. It is the fact that people, regardless of whether they like it or not, are going to be judged by these labels as society seems fit. This type of behavior extends even into media.

     One such trope found in the media is Eddie Redmayne's character in "The Danish Girl," a story about a man who transitions from male to female in a time when such activities were unknown and/or unheard of-the 1920s. One could say that it follows under the gender and sexuality trope of "wrong genetic sex" as the character in the movie is physically a man, but emotionally a woman as the film reveals. It could also fly under the gender dynamic of "dismissed gender" as his character certainly does not follow typical male behavioral patterns as he undergoes the stress of having an identity crisis with his gender.

     Although not entirely played out as it is explained, one could make a case for the trope of "old friend, new gender" due to the shock and surprise that I am sure went through people's minds when learning about the transition as well as "lady looks like a dude" when people mistake Einar Wegener as a male when she has already made the switch. There is also the gender dynamic of "men don't cry" since it is safe for men to say to each other that crying is not allowed when going through difficult times.

     In terms of whether it works or not and if it leaves a lasting impact on people, I would argue and say that while the film does succeed in bringing to the table a rather sensitive topic that is becoming more and more prevalent as people become continually more accepting about it, it could be said that the film probably captures transgender people in a negative light as Wegener in the film is socially ostracized due to him not following traditional gender norms related to men, but this is probably not what the movie was going for. Relating this to "The Mask We Live In," there are always those select group of people who will be quick to point out the flaws in people and deem them unsuitable to carry on as they wish in however masculine or feminine they identify themselves by, and this could be due to the fact that those people are just trying to hide behind a mask that is their own insecurities, and they do not know any other way to cope with a burden that they have.

     It is rather sad that discussions like this still need to be addressed in 2019, but hopefully, with a little bit of luck, we can help smash these expectations of traditionalism to smithereens before it is too late. After all, no matter how successful or prosperous we are or get, at the end of the day, we all still wear masks.