Building a tolerance

There are many ways to help build such a tolerance. The first thing we must do is begin to educate the public and those around us about transsexuals. This is one of the keys to creating tolerance because many of us get the wrong idea about transsexuals. One reason that certain transsexuals become what they are is not because they are trying to hurt anybody in any way. For some women, becoming a man gives them a boost in social status. (6) On the other hand, "RuPaul, says that the warm attention he receives when dressed as 'a goddess' vanishes when he's an ordinary black American man -- 'the bottom of society's social ladder.'" For many transsexuals, cross-dressing is just a way to feel better about themselves or receive credit in society. If you take a broad look at America in general, you will see that it is made up of many different types of people. According to the article, Were All Drag Queens, "Along with symbolizing self empowerment, cross-dressers can also remind us that sex roles and costumes are fictional. Men wear pants because American society tells them to; in Scotland, men can wear Kilts. Even wigs were once fashionable for men. What is considered cross-dressing in the United States, may not be cross-dressing elsewhere. In this way, dressing and cross-dressing fall into the same category, or crafting illusion." (4) This is what society doesn't understand. This is why education is a very important building block in the development of tolerance.

Laws which prevent and discourage name calling and other forms of harassment would also be very effective in creating a tolerance. This will help certain individuals think more about their actions before they do something. Such laws will encourage people to go about their own business.


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