ABSTRACT
DEBORA TAMBUNAN. C0309018. Identity Construction Of The Female to Male (FTM) Transgender Observed From The Aggressives (LGBT Film Documentary – 2005). Thesis. English Department, Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts, Sebelas Maret University. Surakarta. 2015.
This research intends to describe how identity of female to male is constructed in a film entitled The Aggressives (LGBT Film Documentary) produced in 2005. It is also followed by analyzing construction of director’s message which is delivered in the film.
This research is a descriptive qualitative research which is done under the framework of American Studies limited to Gender Studies as one of areas of its study. This research takes The Aggressives (LGBT Film Documentary – 2005) as source of data. Some forms of its dialogues, words, images are taken as primary data. This inquiry is completed also with supporting data in the form of words, images and dialogues of two others films, Paris is Burning and Brokeback Mountain, and any relevant information from a black online magazine.
From the analysis, it can be suggested that transgender is not as a way of having sex but as the way to find real self-identity which constructs sexual and gender identity. Being a transgender is purely driven by the masculine domination within soul. Representation of each character in this film documentary displays representation of masculinity. It also can be seen from their roles in their relationships in which they play dominant figures who take over all control. Transgender has no correlation with mental health problem. They accomplish female to male transgender consciously and intentionally, in a forceful way that they call themselves as aggressive women. The director also shows how their closest people respond and accept their choice as transgender, they can live peacefully without being harassed and insulted. This acceptance also leads to social and moral support which serves as a way to strengthen their identity. Representation of New York City as the setting of place of this movie suggest the idea that anyone regardless of sex and gender can choose their desire identity and they are welcomed to be who they are. This movie was publicly launched in 2005 which signifies the rise of many scholars and transgender communities to fight for transgender protection.
Keywords: construction, identity, female to male transgender