The Theme of Gender Identity in Bechdel’s “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”

The Theme of Gender Identity in Bechdel’s “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”

“Overview of Same-Sex Marriage in the United States”. Religion and Public Life, Pew Research Centre, 2012, https://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/07/overview-of-same-sex-marriage-in-the-united-states/

This article traces the various victories that the struggle for same-sex marriage has won over the years. As the article notes, a thin line has been drawn between the opponents and proponents of same-sex marriage. Those who support same-sex marriage argue that its legalization will enhance the equality of rights while those against say that it will undermine the most consecrated heterosexual marriage. The different views have led to the emergence of debates and court battles. Reference is given to the Defense of Marriage Acts (DOMAs), passed by over 40 states, that marriage can only be established by a man and a woman. However, same-sex marriage has gained momentum, and victories have been realized in states such as Maryland, Washington, and New York. The Supreme Court is set to review the DOMAs and other courts’ decisions to give a ruling on the course the US constitution should take. This source is crucial because it will provide background information regarding court battles that surround same-sex marriages. The resource is also vital because it offered more confessional court rulings and constitutional excerpts that will be used to argue why gender identity goes beyond the outer expression of an individual’s sex. I used to think that same-sex marriage is only a recent matter. However, this article places same-sex marriage as a highly controversial issue that has fought court battles since time immemorial. I will use this article to prove why children raised from same-sex marriages struggle with gender identity.

“Legislation Affecting LGBT Rights Across the Country”. American Civil Liberties Union, 2019, https://www.aclu.org/legislation-affecting-lgbt-rights-across-country#compprotection

This article highlights how LGBTQ people are discriminated in various ways. According to the article, most state laws have surfaced to support and protect the discrimination of people who are LGBTQ. There is a call for the protection and respect of the rights of such people across the country. The LGBTQ people are discriminated against in various sectors, such as housing, employment, and public accommodations. According to the article, the expansion of rights for LGBTQ people will help the state to ensure that they live harmoniously. LGBTQ people have the right to interact freely and participate fully in society. They should be given equal opportunity to housing and healthcare services like any other person. This article pulls information and data from credible sources such as the 2018 Session bills to support the claim that LGBTQ people are discriminated against. As shown from the data provided, most state bills are either suspended or referred for review. This balanced set of data confirms the discrimination that LGBTQ people face. Therefore, this resource will provide an understanding of Alison Bechdel’s social circle, growing up as a child of a bisexual father. Social structures and cultural expectations are some of the aspects that define a person’s gender. These aspects are evident in Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir, “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”. The world around Bechdel’s father discriminates him. Thus, the article will define the relationship between discrimination and the struggle for gender identity, which is a crucial part of the paper.

“Gender Identity Conflict”. McGill University Health Centre, 2011, https://muhc.ca/health-info/article/gender-identity-conflict

This article describes the nature and magnitude of the problem of gender identity conflict. According to the article, the issue of gender identity reveals itself when children turn adolescents. At this stage, the children are not able to have a personal conception of themselves as either male or female. Parents are tasked to ensure that there is a smooth transition towards helping children to understand their gender. However, most parents would want to observe this gradual process. The articles highlight various ways of transformation, among them, surgery and extensive treatment. The children undergo a lot of physical and emotional pain to have a distinction between sexuality and gender. People with gender identity conflict are discriminated against as the society does not accept them easily. However, there is a call to respect people for what they are, regardless of their gender. People are the same irrespective of their gender identity. This resource will be useful in understanding the gender identity issues that Bechdel highlights in her memoir, “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”. Bechdel’s father commits suicide because of being bisexual. The resource will also enhance the understanding of gender identity as a broader theme in the current society. The parents and the children who are discriminated against because of their physical appearance and individual sex are affected psychologically. This makes the process of healing and acceptance expensive to some of them. As such, this information makes the article a useful resource for use in the paper.

Hanımoğlu, Egemen. “The Role of School Psychologists in Addressing Challenges Facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Students.” Journal of Education and Training Studies 7.1 (2018): 23-29.

This article describes how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people are victims of discrimination in society. The study focuses on the kinds of discrimination that LGBT students face in schools and the impact this has caused in their lives. According to the article, it is the role of the school psychologist to ensure that all students are treated equally and that the rights of LGBT students are respected. Some students are pushed to commit suicide, while others drop out of school entirely. According to the article, the school administration has not put forth clear measures to protect the rights of LGBT students. As a result, such students have not understood their value and sexual orientation. Most have resolved to internal conflicts that have left them depressed and alienated. As the article highlights, a supportive school environment is that which enhances mutual respect for all people. Further, all people should be given equal educational opportunities to tackle diversity and cultural differences. The school psychologist is supposed to ensure that measures are in place to handle such aspects. This article will be useful in highlighting the impacts of discrimination on LGBT students. Among the effects mentioned in the article is depression. In “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”, Bechdel’s father committed suicide because of depression. As a reaction to her father’s death, she consciously decides to come out as a lesbian cartoonist. The article will enhance the understanding of Bechdel’s simultaneous realization and early struggle as a lesbian.