I’ll begin with a few quotes from Bowman’s article that exemplify why I find the issue of gender so fascinating, frustrating, and quixotic:
“What is interesting in class discussions are the girls’ comments that they like a man who can cry, share personal feelings, and break through the ‘macho’ image, while the boys admire women who succeed and demonstrate strength” (p. 87).
“…what we must do is try to get boys to read literature and write about it more as the girls do, and at the same time encourage even further development in the girls’ work” (p. 88).
“…I need to encourage the boys to respond more like the girls in their learning logs as well as class discussions…” (p. 91).
When I read ideas like these, I begin to wonder whether we’re uncomfortable with differences between genders. Are there some beliefs, behaviors, actions, feelings that are inherently masculine or inherently feminine? Or are the concepts of masculinity and femininity purely social constructs? Can genders be different but equal? And then there’s Ariel Levy—she’s on to something (although I should point out, since the publication of her book, a set of Guys Gone Wild DVDs has hit the market and met with huge success). I would argue that men now face the same social imperative of sexiness that women have always faced.
*****
I chose to read Luna (2004) by Julie Ann Peters. Luna is narrated by Regan O’Neill, a 15 year-old girl who is experiencing the typical angst and melodrama that one would expect a 15 year-old girl to face…popularity issues, tough classes in school, finding a boyfriend, parents who don’t “get it,” etc. But Regan does have a rather unique issue in her life—her 17 year-old genius brother Liam identifies as a girl (Luna) and has confided that secret only to Regan. Liam/Luna has decided to transition (from male to female), and Liam/Luna’s struggle for a genuine gender identity on her own terms is the ostensible focus of this novel.
Peters certainly captures the diction and style of adolescent speech, and she’s very in touch with the rhythms of adolescent life. Regan is a well-developed, interesting, likeable, and believable character. This feat of authorial creation, however, causes Peters some problems. Regan is such an articulate narrator, such a strong character, so sympathetic, that it’s hard to consider anyone else as the protagonist of this novel. In fact, a pretty convincing argument could be made that the book is more about Regan’s search for an identity (apart from Liam/Luna, whom she sees as monopolizing her time and affecting every aspect of her social identity) and that Liam/Luna’s search for a gender identity is only tangential to the main plot line (until the novel’s resolution, when it’s thrust into focus again). Utilizing a first-person narrator in a novel whose protagonist is not the narrator is a rather challenging feat (Yes, Fitzgerald did it in The Great Gatsby, but Peters is not Fitzgerald). Perhaps because of this choice in narrative perspective, the character of Liam/Luna comes across as rather flat. Liam/Luna says everything you’d expect an adolescent who’s struggling with his/her gender identity to say, and Liam/Luna struggles for acceptance and dignity just as you’d expect, but Peters never really fleshes out the character—Liam/Luna always feels like a supporting player in her own story.
As a teacher, I would have a difficult time figuring out how to use Luna in the classroom. Its literary imperfections would create some pedagogical problems, but it’s one of the few YA novels that actually focuses on a transgender character and treats the issue with respect and sensitivity.
“What is interesting in class discussions are the girls’ comments that they like a man who can cry, share personal feelings, and break through the ‘macho’ image, while the boys admire women who succeed and demonstrate strength” (p. 87).
“…what we must do is try to get boys to read literature and write about it more as the girls do, and at the same time encourage even further development in the girls’ work” (p. 88).
“…I need to encourage the boys to respond more like the girls in their learning logs as well as class discussions…” (p. 91).
When I read ideas like these, I begin to wonder whether we’re uncomfortable with differences between genders. Are there some beliefs, behaviors, actions, feelings that are inherently masculine or inherently feminine? Or are the concepts of masculinity and femininity purely social constructs? Can genders be different but equal? And then there’s Ariel Levy—she’s on to something (although I should point out, since the publication of her book, a set of Guys Gone Wild DVDs has hit the market and met with huge success). I would argue that men now face the same social imperative of sexiness that women have always faced.
*****
I chose to read Luna (2004) by Julie Ann Peters. Luna is narrated by Regan O’Neill, a 15 year-old girl who is experiencing the typical angst and melodrama that one would expect a 15 year-old girl to face…popularity issues, tough classes in school, finding a boyfriend, parents who don’t “get it,” etc. But Regan does have a rather unique issue in her life—her 17 year-old genius brother Liam identifies as a girl (Luna) and has confided that secret only to Regan. Liam/Luna has decided to transition (from male to female), and Liam/Luna’s struggle for a genuine gender identity on her own terms is the ostensible focus of this novel.
Peters certainly captures the diction and style of adolescent speech, and she’s very in touch with the rhythms of adolescent life. Regan is a well-developed, interesting, likeable, and believable character. This feat of authorial creation, however, causes Peters some problems. Regan is such an articulate narrator, such a strong character, so sympathetic, that it’s hard to consider anyone else as the protagonist of this novel. In fact, a pretty convincing argument could be made that the book is more about Regan’s search for an identity (apart from Liam/Luna, whom she sees as monopolizing her time and affecting every aspect of her social identity) and that Liam/Luna’s search for a gender identity is only tangential to the main plot line (until the novel’s resolution, when it’s thrust into focus again). Utilizing a first-person narrator in a novel whose protagonist is not the narrator is a rather challenging feat (Yes, Fitzgerald did it in The Great Gatsby, but Peters is not Fitzgerald). Perhaps because of this choice in narrative perspective, the character of Liam/Luna comes across as rather flat. Liam/Luna says everything you’d expect an adolescent who’s struggling with his/her gender identity to say, and Liam/Luna struggles for acceptance and dignity just as you’d expect, but Peters never really fleshes out the character—Liam/Luna always feels like a supporting player in her own story.
As a teacher, I would have a difficult time figuring out how to use Luna in the classroom. Its literary imperfections would create some pedagogical problems, but it’s one of the few YA novels that actually focuses on a transgender character and treats the issue with respect and sensitivity.
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