Last year I had a job working for
Foxtel knocking doors. This was a real
education for me as a transman. I met many
different types of families and men in
particular.
While I was filling out their forms or
checking out their house whilst signing them up,
it gave me a kind of private window into
Australian family life.
I have to say that there are so many kinds of
families and I saw many men that contributed to
the upbringing of their kids and did many
traditionally female tasks. I saw many men who
were looking after their kids while their wives
were at work. I saw a fair few men that didn't
fit the traditional male role that we all think
of (ie the beer swilling sports watching man).
Many were extremely articulate, thoughtful and
considerate. Perhaps they were putting on a good
show, but it was their home so they didn't
really have to.
Of course I saw a few pigs as well, and had
some nasty experiences, but all in all the men I
saw were really different to the mate 'model'
that we as Australians define men as a rule. So
I was quite surprised.
I think as FTMs or transmen or males or
whatever we are, we can be what we want, as I
didn't see those men stopping themselves from
being what they wanted either. I saw a lot of
tenderness towards children, a lot of men doing
traditionally women's work.
I think things have changed. I think we don't
always get an opportunity to see it unless we go
to the homes of the Australian men. I guess I
was just lucky I got to for a while. It really
helped me.
