Australian men

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.

David (2002). Australia Men, Torque, 2(4).

page updated 27 December 2010