Calm down, doctor.
Calm down yourself, [insert witticism here].
She did. Fags, high heels in the showers, raucous laughter, screeching temper, obsession with body parts, ‘sluttish’ behaviour.
None of this separates her from any other Big Brother contestant, and many of these characteristics could equally be ascribed to her nationality (the cliched "Mediterranean temperament") or the exhibitionism that's generally attributed to anyone entering the show.
I'm talking about the central 'bloke in a dress' caricature, as seen in adverts for kitchen roll, breakfast cereal, etc. I think Nadia transcended the cliche in that she was thought of as 'she', even by those housemates who privately derided her appearance.
Most of Nadia’s behaviour and act was centred around her SECRET transformation – a big in-joke with the British public, that, in my opinion, she knew would be a winner.
I'd disagree. I don't think she "knew" she'd win at all. But then, perhaps I'm refusing to see her cunning g*mepl*n...
And despite claiming to be a virgin, actually, no – this aspect is central in fact, she portrayed herself almost exclusively within a sexual framework – someone to have fun with sexually - and this is ultimately limiting the public’s understanding of what a transexual is, can be, might want to be thought off etc.
Again, I disagree. I think she portrayed herself as someone to have fun with, but her interactions with the Harem, in particular, were notable for their relative sexlessness. Sure, they were sexual in the way that Big Brother is generally sexual (full of buffer-than-average twentysomethings who strip off and wrestle at the earliest opportunity) but I don't think Nadia stood out in that regard. She pushed glamour, certainly, but I don't think that necessarily maps onto "almost exclusively within a sexual framework" in a straightforward sense.
Limiting to transsexuals? Well, pretty much any single individual is going to prove limiting if they're charged with representing the entirety of a particular subgroup, particularly on Big Brother. As I say, she's unlikely to shatter stereotypes, but I think having become acquainted with her onscreen will, ultimately, have eroded more stereotypes than it'll have perpetuated.
I think not. Too much credit is being given to the average punter by the more than average
And I think you're undercrediting the "average punter". I'd hazard that neither of us has an empathic hotline to the Authentic Voice Of The Man On The Street, but I've certainly talked to a lot of transsexuals, their relatives and friends about the attitudes which are voiced toward them. That's what I'm basing my speculation on - that and the usual meedja browsing.
To most people, if someone choses to define themselves solely by their sexuality, which could be a fair assessment of Nadia (as well as in-yer-face gayboys, uber-dykes and muscled, soft-brained lads, and laddettes etc.), then that is how they will be viewed, assessed, remembered, considered – and to be honest, it sickens a lot of people, rightly or wrongly.
And, as I've said, I don't think that's necessarily an accurate assessment of Nadia. I think it's fairer to say she defines herself strongly in terms of the female gender (which is, perhaps, understandable in someone a matter of months post-GRS) and this overlaps with her sexuality - but I think we also saw plenty of Nadia when her mode wasn't 'sexy': when she was happy, sullen, stroppy, miserable, lairy, etc., etc.
So, like many of your points on this forum, while highly entertaining and beautifully rendered, is based on assumptions which are neither here nor there until you test them outside Barbelith.
Kinda like your assumptions, then? As I say, my own speculations are, in part, based on the recounted experiences of a large number of transgendered individuals (some of whom may even use public transport) and those who know them - and the stuff on stigma and stereotyping from the ol' psychology textbooks.
Like down the Brazen Head or something.
That'd be a pub, would it? Mmmm... gritty... |
