The Wyvern's Lair - Katherine Wyvern's Blog: Transgender Tales

When I started looking for books and authors to host on my blog this month in my Transgender themed series, J. K. Pendragon was the very first person I contacted. And I was truly delighted to get their reply,and their contribution, because, aside from their lovely books, there is so much I can relate to in their blog. So much of what they have to say here is so relevant to me as a person, and as the author of my recent release!

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Trans Gender and the Presentation Dilemma

J.K. Pendragon for the Wyvern's Lair

Hi there!

My name is Jes, and I write romance novels under the penname J.K. Pendragon. I'm genderqueer, and I've written a few different novels and short stories with trans characters. Since Katherine's new book is a transgender romance, she's asked for some blog posts by transgender authors, and I'm happy to contribute!

What I want to talk about today is something with also seems to be a theme in Katy's book: the idea that no two trans experiences are exactly the same. There's a huge problem with transgender representation in mainstream media, where trans people are presented as very binary "women in mens' bodies" or "girls who always knew they were really a boy." Trans women always have to have played with dolls as a child, and trans men must have been tomboys growing up. If you go by the media, the defining trait of trans people is that they want to fit in and pass as the perfect stereotypical example of their gender. In real life, there are some trans people that fit this narrative, but this is only one way to experience being trans. The reality is often messier, more complicated, and much more unique.

As a non-binary person, there are aspects of both masculinity and femininity I embrace, and aspects that I reject. As someone who doesn't consider themself to be male or female, there are a lot of things that I like, but can recognize as being completely arbitrary to gender, despite them being heavily coded as one way or the other by society. Things like make-up, sports, fashion… These are things that can be enjoyed by anyone. Young people often grow up liking things that are considered "for the opposite gender," and that includes trans people.

The problem comes when a person realizes they are transgender, and decides to take steps to be recognized by the outside world as who they really are. For some trans people, this doesn't matter, and they continue to dress and act however they want. But for a lot of us, there's pressure to conform to gender roles, partly so that people will "believe" that we're really trans, but also just so that we can be recognized easily as our gender. Things like hair, fashion and make-up can be a shorthand for getting people to recognize us for who we are, which can save us from the grief of being misgendered, bullied, and ostracized.

Being transgender is a very personal thing, the basis of which is a trans person's relationship with their body, their identity, and the steps they take to become more comfortable with themself. But in our strictly regulated, gendered society, being transgender comes with the requirement of performing gender, which is exhausting, and especially for someone who is neither male or female, frustrating and confusing. There is no "shorthand" for androgyny, and always there is the conflict between dressing and presenting in a way you enjoy, and presenting in a way that will allow you to pass as your gender. And for those of us who identify as neither male or female, "passing" is a tightrope of stylistic choices that leaves little to no room for personal expression.

The relationship between trans people and gender presentation is complicated, and every trans person approaches it differently. There is no wrong way to be trans; no one should feel pressured to conform to gender stereotypes, or to reject them. Unfortunately, most of us face those pressures every day, and there's no clear solution to the issue. All we can do is encourage and accept the individuality of every trans person's journey, and recognize that we are all beautiful, unique and important.

I hope this has been some food for thought, and I hope that you will check out Katy's new book, Woman as a Foreign Language, as well as my own at my website: www.jkpendragon.com

Thank you for reading!

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Rather thank you for writing, such a thoutful and thought-provoking post! :)

Some of Jes' books featuring wonderfully queer characters:

To Summon Nightmares

Three years ago, Cohen Brandwein was "Ireland's Favorite Daughter", a popular teenage author and internet celebrity. But ever since he came out publicly as trans, the media's treatment of him has been less than golden, and these days, Cohen is desperate for escape.

When he inherits an old house in the country, Cohen sees it as a perfect opportunity to escape the press and work on his new book. What he doesn't count on is becoming embroiled in a small town murder mystery and falling for the primary suspect, a man whose reality makes Cohen's fantasy books seem like child's play...

Dowload a sample on Amazon

Sea Lover

Ian is happy with his life in a remote Canadian fishing town, where he has only the sea and his fishing crew for company. People say being alone is terrible, but he's never had any problems with it.

Then his peaceful life is thrown into upheaval when he finds an injured merman washed up on the shore. With no idea what else to do, Ian takes the merman home and nurses him back to health.

But as he helps S'mika heal, a bond begins to form, and Ian starts to wonder if maybe there is more to life than being alone…

Download a sample on Amazon

Witch, Cat, and Cobb

Destined for an arranged marriage she wants nothing to do with, Princess Breanwynne decides that the only option for escape is to run away. Upon the announcement of this plan, her trusted pet cat reveals he can talk by asking that she take him along. Listening to his suggestion to venture into the lair of the Swamp Witch proves to be a very bad idea, but Breanwynne would rather face a witch any day than be forced to marry a prince.

Dowload a sample on Amazon

See all of Jes' books on Goodreads

About Jes

J.K Pendragon is a Canadian author with a love of all things romantic and fantastical. They first came to the queer fiction community through m/m romance, but soon began to branch off into writing all kinds of queer fiction. As a bisexual and genderqueer person, J.K. is dedicated to producing diverse, entertaining fiction that showcases characters across the rainbow spectrum, and provides queer characters with the happy endings they are so often denied.