Introduction
Being transgender requires ethical and moral knowledge not to hurt people’s feelings. In this regard, Jackson Bird dedicated his TED Talk to educating people about communicating with transgender people. The experience of transgender people is unique and requires an original approach to understanding and awareness. The information presented in the video is helpful for people, as it can help them learn about their feelings better and, therefore, avoid awkward situations when meeting.
Personal Significance of the Speaker’s Experience
The speaker’s experience made me realize how important it is to study information about transgender people due to their complex experiences. Jackson Bird is a transgender man who shared his experience of coming out and his transgender transition with his loved ones (Bird, 2017). For me, the information he shared revealed how difficult it is for many individuals to accept a transgender decision and how society resists listening to transgender people (Bird, 2017).
I can say that the speaker’s experience plays a key role in helping people learn more about this topic. In addition, I realized that it is necessary to understand how to communicate with transgender people without hurting their feelings. Acceptance and support are something that a person can teach based on their experience in this topic.
Recent Real-Life Events Related to the TED Talk
Recent events related to this entry include the transgender-unpalatable laws introduced in the United States and increased incidents of violence and discrimination. Several Republican-run states have begun to develop legislation to restrict the rights of transgender people actively (Crary, 2023). This is directly related to the theme of the video, as it talks about the importance of understanding the feelings of transgender people, while in these states, they are not perceived.
Another related development is the United States Supreme Court in Bostock v. Clayton County (Gillen, 2021). This ruling means that employers do not have the right to refuse people a job based on their gender, identity, or orientation.
Psychological Theories Connected to the TED Talk
Some different psychological theories may be associated with speech. Social learning theory can be related to video in that it clarifies that people tend to adopt behavioral patterns (Deming & Johnson, 2019). This can positively affect the comfort of trans people, as society will treat them with understanding.
Cognitive dissonance theory may also be relevant to the theme of the video, as it suggests that people may feel uncomfortable holding on to contradictions (Vaidis & Bran, 2019). This can help explain why some people have a negative attitude towards transgender people and do not accept them. Cognitive dissonance, however, can be reduced if people are more willing to learn about transgender people.
In addition, it is worth noting that people’s behavior largely depends on their environment. Social identity theory explains how people can form their behavioral habits in the context of belonging to certain groups (Scheepers & Ellemers, 2019). Self-determination theory also relates to the podcast, explaining that each person needs autonomy, kinship, and fulfillment (Ryan & Deci, 2020). The contact hypothesis suggests positive communication with marginalized groups can reduce stigma (Zhou et al., 2019; Paluck et al., 2019). This means society must gain more knowledge to interact with transgender people properly.
Key Lessons Learned from the TED Talk
From the speech, I learned a lot of helpful information to improve communication with transgender people. In addition, much attention in the video is paid to why transgender people need support and understanding from society. Communication is one of the main aspects that can reduce the impact of stigma (Chen et al., 2020).
The topic of autonomy was touched upon several times in the video, making it clear how important it is when people can choose their occupations. At the same time, it was possible to learn that it is tough for transgender people to achieve career growth, for example, due to various prejudices in society (Bird, 2017). Thus, understanding the importance of people’s self-identification is one of the main knowledge promoted in the video.
Impact on Daily Thinking and Opportunities for Future Growth
Watching videos can significantly impact my daily thinking, interactions, and actions. By learning more about the issues that transgender people face, I will be able to be sympathetic to them and try to alleviate their experiences.
Based on the five theories discussed earlier, three main areas in life can become opportunities for future growth. For example, talking to people more to support them can help me think more positively. The second area is to actively explore the topic of transgenderness to understand more about it. Another area for improvement is studying and revising one’s beliefs and identities to become more aware of one’s self-identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transgender people need understanding from society, as they have been marginalized and stigmatized for a long time. Therefore, it is essential to consider the elephants they may have encountered. This is essential for a tolerant and democratic society in which inclusiveness and mutual understanding are highly valued. In this way, it can be made much more pleasant for most people.
References
Bird, J. (2017). How to talk (and listen) to transgender people [Video]. TED. Web.
Chen, E. C., Boyd, D. M., & Cunningham, C. A. (2020). Demarginalizing stigmatized identities of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals through affirmative group therapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 70(4), 552-578. Web.
Crary, D. (2023). A wave of anti-transgender bills in Republican-led states divides U.S. faith leaders. PBS News Hour. Web.
Deming, P., & Johnson, L. L. (2019). An application of Bandura’s social learning theory: A new approach to deafblind support groups. JADARA, 42(4), 5. Web.
Gillen, J. (2021). Striking the Balance of Fairness and Inclusion: The Future of Women’s Sports After the Supreme Court’s Landmark Decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, GA. Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports LJ, 28, 415. Web.
Paluck, E. L., Green, S. A., & Green, D. P. (2019). The contact hypothesis was re-evaluated. Behavioural Public Policy, 3(2), 129-158. Web.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions. Contemporary educational psychology, 61. Web.
Scheepers, D., & Ellemers, N. (2019). Social identity theory. Social psychology in action: Evidence-based interventions from theory to practice, 129-143. Web.
Vaidis, D. C., & Bran, A. (2019). Respectable challenges to respectable theory: Cognitive dissonance theory requires conceptualization clarification and operational tools. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1189. Web.
Zhou, S., Page-Gould, E., Aron, A., Moyer, A., & Hewstone, M. (2019). The extended contact hypothesis: A meta-analysis on 20 years of research. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 23(2), 132-160. Web.