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Summary: The Ideal American

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Far worse than rejection by society, some transgenders faced rejection by their families. One transgender woman hid her gender identity from her parents. She told her mother that her drag ball trophies were from men’s basketball games. When the transgender woman’s father found out the truth, he revealed the truth to the mother. The mother burnt all of the transgender woman’s clothing out of devastation and embarrassment. This story provided personal insight into the pain and hardship that transgenders faced within their families — a place meant to provide comfort and safety. Although the people could not control the way they were born, they were forced to deal with the unpredictable reactions of their loved ones. The circuit ball provided …show more content…
The landowners usually had a wife and children, which established the normality of heterosexuality in society. The characteristics of race, gender, and sexuality created strict expectations for people in society. When people started noticing that some citizens were not conforming to the expectations of an American, they categorized them as outcasts. Paris is Burning exhibited perspectives on the hardships that LGBT people faced as minorities. The race, class status, and gender of the subjects set them apart from people in mainstream society. The people found an accepting community through the Harlem ball circuit. Those who struggled to find acceptance developed support systems within their homes. Although at times the subjects felt unaccepted by society, they were embraced for who they were in the drag ball subculture. The balls allowed the transgender women and gay men to participate in an environment free of discrimination. Without the accepting community provided by the drag balls, many people would have felt lost in the world. A transgender woman in the film declared, “ If you have captured the great white way of living or looking or dressing or speaking, you is a marvel” (Paris is Burning). The participants of the drag balls hoped to make a statement with their actions. The balls had a tremendous impact on the lives of many people and provided acceptance for people who needed it

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