The DISCLOSURE film is a groundbreaking, eye-opening exploration of transgender representations in movies; demonstrating how Hollywood both reflects and manufactures our innermost fears about gender. What emerges is an enthralling narrative about the dynamic interplay between trans depiction on television, societal ideals, and the reality of trans existence. The embodiment of this time for transgender individuals and their representation is shown in DISCLOSURE. 

The growing visibility of transgender persons is exciting and signifies the start of constructive social change. Nonetheless, violence against trans individuals remains, as does an increase in efforts to limit transgender civil rights. There is an attempt to legislate trans individuals out of mainstream society, ranging from current bathroom laws that portray trans women as male predators to a potential military ban on trans service. DISCLOSURE investigates this anxiety by using history to illuminate the present.

One thing I took away from DISCLOSURE is that Trans people are often underrepresented or misrepresented because of the negative connotation of being Transgender.

Trans representation is important because the media’s portrayal of certain groups of individuals can reflect and influence society’s (perhaps stereotyped) attitudes of those individuals. In the media, the transgender community is frequently misrepresented. The transgender population as a whole experience a lot of prejudice in American society, and current media portrayals of transgender people have the capacity to reinforce negative preconceptions. 

Growing up, I didn’t realize transgender individuals or the Lgbtq+ community existed until I was in late elementary/early middle school. When I was younger, I did not consider being trans to be a terrible thing, but children are easily influenced at that age. However,  If I were to turn on the television at age eleven and saw that the Trans community was being poorly depicted, I would consider being Trans to be a terrible thing.

Since trans individuals are frequently portrayed in films as victims, murderers, or villains, and they frequently play the role of sex workers. Clearly, this is not the most positive look for the trans community, and part of society still views being trans as a negative or shameful thing. 

Furthermore, many individuals would be outraged if they discovered that their group or culture was being poorly depicted, especially on television or social media.

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When looking through the snapshots, one that stood out to me was posted by Lizbeth. The individuals are portrayed in a favorable manner rather than in a negative light. The attached article also discusses Trans visibility and why it is so important in so many different fields, from journalism to sports. 

Overall, how trans individuals are depicted is important, especially considering the state of the debate around gender. Trans individuals, in my opinion, should be more extensively represented, particularly in Hollywood, but in a positive light. It is necessary that our youth learn and comprehend that being trans is not such a negative thing and that we as a society should become more accepting.

An Abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It uses medication or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus. The procedure is done by a licensed health care professional. The decision to end a pregnancy is very personal. For many women, having access to an Abortion is important because it is a key component of women’s comprehensive health care. The ability to choose if, when, and how to give birth is linked to women’s economic success, educational attainment, and general health and well-being.

There were many testimonies of women who chose to have an abortion and those who refused to have one in The Abortion Divide. Through their experiences, I also learned why some women decided to keep their pregnancies and why others do not. Shahara was one of the few women in the video who chose to go through with an abortion. She did that because she felt she couldn’t afford to bring another child into the world, especially because she already has four children and is financially struggling to care for them. Shahara is grateful for the option to get an abortion because if she didn’t, her situation would be much worse and she would be at a loss for what to do.

While Shahara opted to have an abortion, many women, like Rosie, did not because she did not believe in abortion, especially growing up in a large family like hers. Despite her reluctance for having several children, she believes that terminating the pregnancy is wrong and that babies are a “blessing.” Brittany is another woman who opted to have her baby after previously considering an abortion. She ended up having her daughter when she just couldn’t go through terminating her pregnancy.

When looking through the snapshots, one that had stood out to me was posted by Keona Malcolm. The woman in Keona’s Snapshot is pregnant and in shock as she is dragged away by a priest or a powerful figure in the church.

Referring back to the film The Abortion Divide, there was a scene in which a woman desired to get an abortion but was advised that her baby would suffer if she did. This instilled enough worry and anxiety in the mother because she believed her baby would suffer pain and went on to give birth to her child.

Dr. George Isajiw (a member of the Catholic Medical Association) felt compelled to explain to women why they should carry their pregnancies to term, and that abortions are just wrong and sinful. Now, if women are behaving out of fear, especially because of the church, they will undoubtedly carry their pregnancy to term.

Personally, I believe that women should be allowed to do anything they choose with their pregnancy. Terminating the pregnancy or keeping the pregnancy should both be fine, and women should not feel obligated to continue or get rid of their pregnancy because of others. After all, it is her body, hence she should have the final say.

Black feminism is a concept centered on the belief that Black women are naturally valued, and that a Black woman’s independence is necessary not as an auxiliary to someone else’s, but because of our desire for individuality as human beings. 

Black feminism is important because it focuses on Black women’s experiences, comprehending their situation in connection to race, sexism, and class discrimination, as well as other social and political characteristics. 

In 1977, THE COMBAHEE RIVER COLLECTIVE STATEMENT by Combahee River Collective quite states, “During our years together as a Black feminist collective we have experienced success and defeat, joy and pain, victory and failure. We have found that it is very difficult to organize around Black feminist issues, difficult even to announce in certain contexts that we are Black feminists.” 

This is important for years, black women have been barred from mainstream feminism because of their ethnicity, while black liberation organizations have rejected them because of their gender. Black feminism emphasizes and engages with the numerous facets of identity that women have, which was essential since it allowed them to discuss being black with gender inequity. Despite prejudice and discrimination, Black women have been and continue to be vital to black emancipation and gender equality.

Ida B. Wells, for example, was a well-known journalist, activist, and researcher. She had to deal with sexism, racism, and cruelty throughout her life. Wells-Barnett was a gifted writer who also used her journalistic skills to draw attention to the plight of African Americans across the South. 

Wells built the first black kindergarten, organized black women, and helped elect the city’s first black councilman, to mention a few of her many accomplishments. I believe she felt compelled to advocate for black women and other people of color since no one else would. 

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Allison’s photo snapshot is one that stood out to me. In 1969, a group of black protestors captured in this photograph was marching for the freedom of women’s rights. They also supported black liberation in order to reclaim justice and freedom.

This is due to fact that black women have attempted to confront oppression on several occasions. 

In addition, black women also lack the racial, sexual, heterosexual, or economic privileges that other groups have, as well as the rudimentary access to resources and power that these groups enjoy.

Being a black woman has an emotional cost, as well as hurdles in terms of political knowledge and action.

In the 1950s and 1960s, many women stayed at home and did not work, especially if they were married and had children; instead, they stayed at home to support their children and maintain the house in order. In all matters about the household, including mortgages, legal documents, and more. On the other hand, men were regarded as the head of the family. The husband’s role as the main provider for the family gave men a lot of influence in their households and contributed to masculine superiority ideas. Instead, the man could work and keep the family out of poverty. In the mid-1950s, many men would head out to work, ready to return home to the wife’s dinner. A snapshot that stood out to me was Genawangs’, in which a woman is hanging laundry and a towel or sheet behind her says, “End gender inequality in the home.” This is significant since women handled the majority of the housework, whether it was cleaning or preparing meals for their families. In The Feminine Mystique (excerpts) By Betty Friedan, it states “Experts told them how to catch a man and keep him, how to breastfeed children and handle their toilet training, how to cope with sibling rivalry and adolescent rebellion; how to buy a dishwasher, bake bread, cook gourmet snails, and more.” This is important because it wasn’t uncommon for women to drop out of school and go straight to work till they married. Cooking, home management, darning, sewing, and even how to iron a shirt properly were all taught in secondary schools – to prepare ladies for this life. Girls were taught how to care for their husbands, children, and the home. From personal experience, I was frequently told that if I did not always cook and clean, I would not be able to have or keep a spouse. I was also advised that I would have to stay at home and look after my children. As I got older, I used to think to myself, I could cook, clean, and do more for my home, but I could also get a job and earn something of myself instead of having to stay at home.

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For many years, society has taught us that cooking and cleaning are women’s jobs, not men’s. Instead, I believe families must work together to maintain their homes or keep their spaces clean, rather than women handling the majority of the task. It is also important that we teach future generations about gender roles and that anybody can clean, cook, shop for their family, and do a variety of other activities.