Photos by: Justin Clay
Faces of Feminism is a student organization, that wants to celebrate black trans identity by deconstructing social standards and stigmas about the trans community.
Building a Community
Dandy Prinsloo, is a part of the Leadership board for Faces of Feminism, who want to create a place where students can feel welcome and accepted. By bridging the gap between stereotypes and stigmatism, Prinsloo, wants to see a community where students can freely express their identity on campus.
“I don’t feel comfortable being around main campus, I feel comfortable in the Alliance room or in the library by myself,” Prinsloo said. “Black trans adults do exist, and there’s power in our existence.”
Georgia State students can help increase the awareness of black trans life, by making the campus more accepting to all types of people and identities. The biggest challenge will be getting rid of preconceived ideas about the LGBT community, and especially the trans community.
“Faces of Feminism as an organization that [wants] to extend a better understanding of what feminism is and what it can be,” Prinsloo said. “ By challenging common stereotypes, and social stigmas that affect other groups of people.”
The organization focuses on understanding the lives of all humans despite class, gender, race and sexuality. Instead of focusing on just one social group Faces of Feminism wants to make others aware of marginalized people that stand outside of social norms.
“Feminism is intersexuall, it includeds both men and women, because it’s deconstructing the patriarchy and toxic masculinity,”Prinsloo said. “Along with being human, comes a lot of toxic social standards and norms, and so you end up with a group of marginalized people that end up on the boundaries, and don’t get a lot of attention.
Raising Awareness
Black trans women are an underrepresented community, which means they undergo a lot of stigmatism. Prinsloo describes tran misogynoir as a rising social issues that is henders positive views on the black trans community. Misogynoir is both racism and sexism that black trans women experience within society.
“Misogynoir is the intersection of both gender and race that’s committed against black women in general,” Prinsloo said. “Transphobia, rasisum [and] sexisum, all of the stigmas that apply to those three groups apply to trans women, and so they’re seen as not human.”
Georgia State is home to various campus organizations that cater to a wide assortment of hobbies, activism, social groups and more. One group in particular is Faces of Feminism, Black Trans Lives Matter is a four day event geared towards breaking down social standards by celebrating all women.
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Events
-The opening event, Group Action, took place on Monday Nov. 2, at 4:30 p.m. in the library plaza. This event focused on trans women who have lost their lives from murder and suicide. The organization performed demonstrations, by chanting and taking a moment of silence to respect the black trans women that lost their lives. As a kick start to the week of events Faces of Feminism hopes to welcome the trans community by making them feel more comfortable and accepted on campus.
“We’re going to come together and be real black, real trans and be real unapologetic about it.” Prinsloo said. “ I’m hoping it attracts and makes the black trans community on campus feel welcomed.”
-The following day, Nov. 3, is the Bail Fund Bake/ Kitchen sale and cypher also located in Library plaza at 4:30 p.m.
-Wednesday, Nov. 4, documentary screening and discussion in the Troy Moore Library, located at 25 park place, at 4:30 p.m.
-Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. , is the community panel, with guest speakers and activist from the trans community. Featured speakers include Micky Bee, HIV/AID awareness and social justice advocate. Raquel Willis, leader and voice for the trans community and more.
