My heart cracks open as I read your words. The tender and gorgeous weaving of humanity into embodied experiences of woman and trans woman that are so often shut out as a trans person. It is deeply meaningful to me to see your vulnerability and growth with your friend.going through transition is an initiation. Many people follow away. Many people come closer. What a blessing to you, Rose. And what a blessing from you, Rose.
Thank you for this vulnerable and poignant share. Such a beautiful invitation to continue to peel back the layers we’ve built up around our hearts and truly connect 💖💖💖
Your workplace comments are sadly too commonplace. Some companies try to be better and have some success, though ugly pockets still remain. Too many companies don't even try. I've had the pleasure to work with excellent women leaders and they approach things very differently than their male colleagues. The best ones are approachable and supportive while the worst offer a different variant on poor male leadership. The goal is for companies to strive to be better and support the women coming up. In my own near future science fiction writing there's a large number of women in leadership positions and I've been asked about this. My answer is simple demographics. Look who is graduating from college and who is earning advanced degrees. Women are far outnumbering men and have been for a while. With luck a woman will be our next president!
Bruce, it is so encouraging to hear from you - a person who knows these workplaces and scenarios firsthand.
Indeed, there are good and bad leaders - both male and female. That highlights the fact that there is nothing inherently wrong with ‘men’ - rather, there ‘is’ something inherently wrong with an environment that doesn’t know how to embrace diversity.
I’m THRILLED to hear you writing about women in leadership positions - that is exciting! Thank you for creating these characters; fiction can be a powerful way to demonstrate truths that the real world is still trying to figure out 💛
As Elle's father, I am extremely touched by this piece, Rose. We have always known what a wonderful person Elle is, and every day she continues to inform, educate, and shine light and love on us and others. Thank you for writing this beautiful piece. 🙏❤️
.....and as Elle's mother I too am extremely touched by this piece. I love how inspired you are by Elle finding so much joy as a woman and how you are taking that joy for yourself. A beautiful piece of writing, thank you!
Rose, thank you so much for this piece. The way that you illustrate that trans joy is in fact beneficial (and perhaps healing) for all of us is such an important idea. While my experience with womanhood is undoubtedly different from yours, I see your pain and I now also experience how this world tries to make us so small. That being said, we are everything. There would be no life without us. We are divine and beautiful and strong and intelligent -- we have to reclaim our sacred spaces as women, in all of our various feminine forms. Thank you again for this piece and for engaging in such enlightening conversations with me. <3 :)
"That being said, we are everything. There would be no life without us. We are divine and beautiful and strong and intelligent -- we have to reclaim our sacred spaces as women, in all of our various feminine forms."
💗💗💗💗💗💗 (yessss... and still not enough hearts for this! 🫶🏼)
I wonder if the differences in our respective experiences of womanhood that you mention are precisely what will help us to prevail? Abrasive stereotypes that seek to constrain us to narrow, pre-defined definitions are exposed as the absurdity that they are when we stand together in all of our beautiful variety!
And yes, I think there is something about trans-joy that speaks to some core foundational humanness... which means it can be medicine! Thank YOU for sharing your story with the world and for all the insightful musings and conversation too. 💛
Rose what a mesmerizing author you are. Your heart searing talent for writing pierces my own. This is among your best I’ve read of yours. It is so full of truth, feeling and healing. Thank you so much for giving this reader a journey into the realness of life. ❤️🌼
An earlier draft of this article had the following explanation appended. In the end I decided this didn’t feel necessary to include, but I’ll share it here in the comments because I want you to be clear on the impact of what you and Robin C have built. Thank you, truly.
—-
Dear Friends,
If you’ve read any of my work at all, you know that I’ve thrashed against the effects of non-inclusive spaces in my workplaces for years. While I’ve considered myself reasonably knowledgeable on such topics, an unsettling realization has come to light.
It has occurred to me that even though I was fighting for diversity, the fact remained that I was still spending the majority of my waking hours “sheltered” from almost any diversity at all.
I interacted almost exclusively with white, cis-males, often even all within a roughly narrow age band. I have worked with some small, tight groups of pretty kick-ass women as well, and I’m thankful for that. But that isn’t enough.
The real shit of it is that when spending such long periods of continuous time in spaces like that, we can completely miss the experience of being immersed in all the vivid hues of humanity that we were fighting for in the first place.
As such, I am incredibly thankful for the recent opportunity to volunteer over at SmallStack, a new-ish publication geared towards serving newer writers or writers with smaller subscriber bases. The founder, Robin Taylor (he/him) has built an amazingly diverse volunteer team, which is where I also had the opportunity to meet elle kennedy fell.
Elle’s publication, secrets from a trans girl (who has yet to see it all)shares her journey and transition story. She has also been kind enough to engage with me in some wonderfully open and thoughtful discussions about gender. (Bonus: she has a degree in Gender Studies and is incredibly knowledgeable on many things that I am not.)
It is from those discussions that this poem, and this glimpse of healing, was birthed.
Beautifully written, Rose - and what a great insight you’ve drawn from knowing Elle, about being a woman as a good thing, despite all of the drawbacks and painful experiences you’ve had. ♥️
My heart cracks open as I read your words. The tender and gorgeous weaving of humanity into embodied experiences of woman and trans woman that are so often shut out as a trans person. It is deeply meaningful to me to see your vulnerability and growth with your friend.going through transition is an initiation. Many people follow away. Many people come closer. What a blessing to you, Rose. And what a blessing from you, Rose.
Pavini, it means a lot to me to hear how this resonated with you, thank you for sharing your reflections.
Connection, love, and traveling together - for the win. 💖
Thank you for this vulnerable and poignant share. Such a beautiful invitation to continue to peel back the layers we’ve built up around our hearts and truly connect 💖💖💖
Thanks for sharing your tender reflections, Catherine. I like that imagery of the layers peeling back. 💓
Your workplace comments are sadly too commonplace. Some companies try to be better and have some success, though ugly pockets still remain. Too many companies don't even try. I've had the pleasure to work with excellent women leaders and they approach things very differently than their male colleagues. The best ones are approachable and supportive while the worst offer a different variant on poor male leadership. The goal is for companies to strive to be better and support the women coming up. In my own near future science fiction writing there's a large number of women in leadership positions and I've been asked about this. My answer is simple demographics. Look who is graduating from college and who is earning advanced degrees. Women are far outnumbering men and have been for a while. With luck a woman will be our next president!
Bruce, it is so encouraging to hear from you - a person who knows these workplaces and scenarios firsthand.
Indeed, there are good and bad leaders - both male and female. That highlights the fact that there is nothing inherently wrong with ‘men’ - rather, there ‘is’ something inherently wrong with an environment that doesn’t know how to embrace diversity.
I’m THRILLED to hear you writing about women in leadership positions - that is exciting! Thank you for creating these characters; fiction can be a powerful way to demonstrate truths that the real world is still trying to figure out 💛
I come from a family of accomplished brainiac women. My characters reflect reality and they are fun to write!
Love it!! 😊
As Elle's father, I am extremely touched by this piece, Rose. We have always known what a wonderful person Elle is, and every day she continues to inform, educate, and shine light and love on us and others. Thank you for writing this beautiful piece. 🙏❤️
.....and as Elle's mother I too am extremely touched by this piece. I love how inspired you are by Elle finding so much joy as a woman and how you are taking that joy for yourself. A beautiful piece of writing, thank you!
Micheal and Rosalind, I’m so honored to meet you. Thanks so much for reading and saying hello!
Elle is a beautiful, caring soul. (And damn smart!) Thank you for sharing her with us, I am so grateful to know her. 🫶 💛
❤️
Rose and elle, I have tears in my eyes. This is so sad and beautiful and heartfelt… and hopeful, too. Joy is how we heal, together.
We aren’t meant to walk our journeys alone, that’s for sure. 💜
Rose, thank you so much for this piece. The way that you illustrate that trans joy is in fact beneficial (and perhaps healing) for all of us is such an important idea. While my experience with womanhood is undoubtedly different from yours, I see your pain and I now also experience how this world tries to make us so small. That being said, we are everything. There would be no life without us. We are divine and beautiful and strong and intelligent -- we have to reclaim our sacred spaces as women, in all of our various feminine forms. Thank you again for this piece and for engaging in such enlightening conversations with me. <3 :)
"That being said, we are everything. There would be no life without us. We are divine and beautiful and strong and intelligent -- we have to reclaim our sacred spaces as women, in all of our various feminine forms."
💗💗💗💗💗💗 (yessss... and still not enough hearts for this! 🫶🏼)
I wonder if the differences in our respective experiences of womanhood that you mention are precisely what will help us to prevail? Abrasive stereotypes that seek to constrain us to narrow, pre-defined definitions are exposed as the absurdity that they are when we stand together in all of our beautiful variety!
And yes, I think there is something about trans-joy that speaks to some core foundational humanness... which means it can be medicine! Thank YOU for sharing your story with the world and for all the insightful musings and conversation too. 💛
Rose what a mesmerizing author you are. Your heart searing talent for writing pierces my own. This is among your best I’ve read of yours. It is so full of truth, feeling and healing. Thank you so much for giving this reader a journey into the realness of life. ❤️🌼
Kathy, thanks for your encouraging words - and for walking this journey alongside me. 💜
Rose, I'm stunned by this. It's heart-breaking and heart-repairing at the same time. So beautifully done.
Thanks for your kind reflection Robin.
An earlier draft of this article had the following explanation appended. In the end I decided this didn’t feel necessary to include, but I’ll share it here in the comments because I want you to be clear on the impact of what you and Robin C have built. Thank you, truly.
—-
Dear Friends,
If you’ve read any of my work at all, you know that I’ve thrashed against the effects of non-inclusive spaces in my workplaces for years. While I’ve considered myself reasonably knowledgeable on such topics, an unsettling realization has come to light.
It has occurred to me that even though I was fighting for diversity, the fact remained that I was still spending the majority of my waking hours “sheltered” from almost any diversity at all.
I interacted almost exclusively with white, cis-males, often even all within a roughly narrow age band. I have worked with some small, tight groups of pretty kick-ass women as well, and I’m thankful for that. But that isn’t enough.
The real shit of it is that when spending such long periods of continuous time in spaces like that, we can completely miss the experience of being immersed in all the vivid hues of humanity that we were fighting for in the first place.
As such, I am incredibly thankful for the recent opportunity to volunteer over at SmallStack, a new-ish publication geared towards serving newer writers or writers with smaller subscriber bases. The founder, Robin Taylor (he/him) has built an amazingly diverse volunteer team, which is where I also had the opportunity to meet elle kennedy fell.
Elle’s publication, secrets from a trans girl (who has yet to see it all)shares her journey and transition story. She has also been kind enough to engage with me in some wonderfully open and thoughtful discussions about gender. (Bonus: she has a degree in Gender Studies and is incredibly knowledgeable on many things that I am not.)
It is from those discussions that this poem, and this glimpse of healing, was birthed.
~ Rose
Beautifully written, Rose - and what a great insight you’ve drawn from knowing Elle, about being a woman as a good thing, despite all of the drawbacks and painful experiences you’ve had. ♥️
Thanks Karen. I’m thankful for how the correlation made itself apparent, and grateful to Elle for being open to exploring it with me. 💛