A VIRTUAL WORLD WHERE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE CAN EXPERIMENT

Article appeared in Polare 91, April 2012

Laura Seabrook explains that the virtual world of Second Life, with its immersive environment and avatars, can be a very useful resource for transgender people to experiment with body image, clothes and interacting with other people through their similarly personalised avatars ...

AMENDING THE PAPER TRAIL FOR TRANSGENDER AND INTERSEX PEOPLE

Article appeared in Polare 76, July 2008

For transgender and intersex people, there can be a range of identity documents that you may want to change so that they properly reflect your gender and name. Here are some of the most common areas where people may want to amend their documents ...

VICTIMISATION AND THE ILLUSION OF LEGAL PROTECTION

Article appeared in Polare 29, February 1999

Discrimination and victimisation are illegal in Australia, everyone is protected by laws covering such areas. But realistically is it just a grand illusion? Does the law protect all people equally, or are there small or even big weaknesses in this ideal? ...

THE INDIFFERENCE OF FEMINISM IN THE EXPERIENCE OF TRANSWOMEN IN PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTEXTS

Article appeared in Polare 80, July 2009

Catherine Wilson presents a paper about transwomen's dealings with health professionals, having become aware that transwomen weren't already included as a matter of course among other women, and needed to be represented when studies on women's issues were undertaken ... 

EVERYTHING IS ABOUT TO CHANGE

Article appeared in Polare 63, May 2005

This is the story of a transgender teenager in crisis, as seen through the eyes of her younger sister. At the outset we meet Luna, a woman by night, naming herself for the moon, but forced to be the academically brilliant but hopelessly unmasculine Liam by day ...

A SOLID 'STARTING-OFF' POINT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN SUCH PURSUITS

Article appeared in Polare 60, November 2004

There are men and there are women. There are men who want to become women and women who want to become men. There are also people who are still wearing acid-washed jeans, but we're not gonna talk about them. They're freaky. So you wanna have a sex change? ... 

INVESTING IN A QUALITY SPORT BRA

Article appeared in Polare 47, August 2002

Everything one needs to know about sports bras including the basic design factors that should be considered when choosing a sports bra based on overall structure and fit and that support and sizing should be the major considerations. Appearance should be secondary ... 

THE FETISHISATION OF THE VAGINA

Article appeared in Polare 50, February 2003

Is it necessary for a penis to exist in order for a person to be a man and for a vagina to exist if a person were to claim to be female? Clare Cahill takes the view that it is not the presence or absence of specific anatomical organs (or neo-organs) which create gender ... 

WHO WOULD BE A WOMAN IF THEY HAD A CHOICE?

Article appeared in Polare 33, October 1999

Would you like to lead a whole new life? Would you like to achieve your dreams?What does a woman feel like? Ruth Farmer providers readers with a nuts and bolts, warts and all look into the process of male-to-female transitioning and puts paid to any unrealistic dreams and ambitions of the would-be transitioner ...

BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE ILL

Article appeared in Polare 91, April 2012

Evie Belle, a transgendered woman, has received a private ruling from the Australian Taxation Office which allows her to claim a tax deduction for medical expenses such as hair removal; the cost of a wig and its maintenance; breast augmentation and facial feminisation ... 

... IS NOW HOPEFULLY LARGELY IN THE PAST

Article appeared in Polare 82, January 2010

Many older transgenders had to battle with a very structured system. It seems however that they may be beginning to listen to what we have to say rather than prescribing a solution based on misconceptions drawn from the available, but often misguided, expert literature ... 

BREE OSBORNE: UPTIGHT TELEMARKETER AND ALL-ROUND CONSERVATIVE TRANSGENDER WOMAN

Article appeared in Polare 66, January 2006

Felicity Huffman scored the role of Transamerica's Bree Osborne, uptight telemarketer and all-around conservative transgender woman, before Desperate Housewiveshad premiered and largely because writer-director Duncan Tucker had seen her work on the off-Broadway stage ...