1. 04 March 2010 · 11:10 PM · 1 note

    Abstract 1

    Laura Delarato
    Abstract 1
    Due: March 8, 2010
    Prof. Wilder
    T.A. Sanja Trpkovic



    “Reading Gender Politics on The L Word The Moira/Max Transitions”
    By Jennifer Reed

    This article pertains to Daniela Sea’s character of Moira/Max on Showtime’s The L Word and the audience’s education on trans-identified development. The audience is first introduced to Moira as a female identified butch shifts identities as a queer trans boi — evoking the argument about the difference between being butch and being transgender. S/he’s progression is constantly defining and redefining the term butch, and how that plays in with different gender identities, as well as illustrating the process of transitioning. In the article, Reed identifies that education given to the mass amount of viewers to a variety of gender identities while providing a more articulate model of trans-identified lives; pointing out that female masculinity is not rewarded and the affects of losing the lesbian community for a female-to-male (FTM) person.  Reed used character analysis and historical eras in lesbian/trans/feminism history to support her research; she also pinpointed dialogue from specific episodes to prove her case. However, I do think more outside research should have been done with actual FTM people to see if the television transition from Moira to Max is accurate. Though, Reed does provides a great debate of how gender identities are shown on television by using a popular television character to show the fluctuation of identity and the emotions surrounding that change.

    Key terms: gender, transgender, trans-identified, butch, lesbian, transition, FTM

    Citation: Reading Gender Politics on The L Word: The Moira/Max Transitions. By: Reed, Jennifer. Journal of Popular Film & Television, Winter2009, Vol. 37 Issue 4,
    p169-178, 10p