Powerful Films

Recently in my Gender and Women's Studies class we watched a film entitled Ma Vie En Rose. It centers around the reactions of acquaintances, neighbors, and family members to a little boy who is convinced that he should really be a little girl and loves to dress up in girl's clothes. I actually found this movie quite affecting, because the reactions of those around the little boy were so powerfully fearful. Why be afraid of such a young child wanting to explore his gender identity? The fact is, even if you think homosexuality is wrong (which some of the people in the film brought up), the child is far too young to have sexual thoughts at all; his actions are limited to dressing in a certain way and not liking sports much. And the fact that the family was not at all supportive was discouraging. What is more important: the well-being of your child, or the opinion of your donkeyish neighbors? I really hope the film reached a wide audience (it's quite a few years old now) and made people think a little. I hope it encouraged people not to be silly.