Oprah's Super Soul Super Soul Special: Janet Mock: Redefining Realness
Jun 12, 2024
Janet Mock, a transgender advocate and author, shares her journey of self-discovery and the importance of embracing one's true self. She discusses redefining realness beyond LGBTQ+ communities, navigating gender norms in childhood, and the significance of acceptance, family, and spirituality in her transformation.
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Early Gender Identity Conflict
- At five years old, Janet felt a strong desire to put her shoes in the girls' cubby rather than the boys'.
- She struggled with internalized societal messages telling her that crossing that line was wrong.
Father's Lesson on Masculinity
- Janet's father forced her to join a roughhouse football game to prove she was not a "sissy" boy.
- Despite getting hurt, Janet's father felt proud because she did what boys were "supposed" to do.
Childhood Expression and Punishment
- At six, Janet was dared to wear a dress and run outside, which led to punishment from her grandmother and a lecture from her mother.
- Wearing the dress felt like presenting as her true self for the first time, though the expression was suppressed for years.