Reproducing and Transgressing Masculinity: A Rhetorical Analysis of Women Interacting With Digital Photographs of Thomas Beatie

Abstract

This article rhetorically analyzes the interaction between American women of childbearing age and digital photographs of Thomas Beatie. I argue that these ideological, emotional, and physical interactions reproduced and transgressed traditional masculinity, as well as reproduced a “pregnant (transgender) man” and “happy family,” in part through the digital photographic processes of cropping, circulating, and conversing. This study differs from existing feminist scholarship that suggests images of pregnant men propagate patriarchal control over procreation and overlook reproduction by women.

Keywords:

• audience studies
• digital media
• pregnancy
• transgender
• visual rhetoric

Acknowledgments

Another version of this essay was presented at the 2010 National Communication Association convention and adapted from a chapter of the author's dissertation, which was completed earlier that year at the University of Georgia.

The author wishes to thank her doctoral dissertation advisor Celeste Condit, as well as Claire Sisco King, John A. Lynch, and the editor and reviewers of this journal who provided thoughtful feedback on versions of this essay. The author is also grateful for Thomas Beatie's courage and permission to reprint digital photographs. This project was supported in part by funding from a Keene State College faculty development grant.

Notes

In addition, the “The Pregnant Man” episode on The Oprah Winfrey Show garnered a 45% boost in ratings for the already highly watched talk show (“Oprah's Pregnant Man Bump,” 2008).

It is important to emphasize that my use of the terms men, women, male, female, transgender, etc., throughout this article are imperfect, and I am sensitive to the violence that they can do. However, I agree with Gayle Rubin (2006) when she claims, “The fact that categories invariably leak and can never contain all relevant ‘existing things’ does not render them useless, only limited… . Instead of fighting for immaculate classifications and impenetrable boundaries, let us strive to maintain a community that understands diversity as a gift, sees anomalies as precious, and treats all basic principles with a hefty dose of skepticism” (p. 479).

People who are medically deemed ambiguous in sex at birth are often categorized as “intersex,” and intersex individuals often do not identify as “transgender” or “queer.” I acknowledge the rich controversy among scholars and activists about whether intersexuality should be grouped along with transgender or queer terminology.

The interviews lasted one hour and took place throughout July and the beginning of August 2009 in a high-technology classroom at a large public Southern university. Participants received a $50 cash honorarium for transportation and child care costs, and were audiotaped and videotaped. I later transcribed the audiotapes of the interviews. I also assigned pseudonyms and removed any other identifying information to maintain confidentiality for my participants.