Frankissstein

One of the main characters of Frankissstein, Ry, is a transgender man, having been assigned female at birth and since transitioned to living as a man. Ry is a controversial figure, both in the text and in the broader discussion of trans-representation, as he sees himself as a “hybrid.” Because the transgender community is not a monolith, and thus cannot be assumed to have a specific, distinct outlook on trans representation, it is difficult to decipher the controversial elements of Ry’s character. Most trans individuals do not identity as “hybrids,” instead aligning themselves with one side of the gender binary of masculine or feminine. The notion that transgender people are “hybrids” is often rooted in the anti-trans notion that trans men are not really men and trans women are not really women. Many trans people, however, identify as non-binary, meaning they do not align with either, or align with both, sides of the gender binary. Ry, in the novel, identifies explicitly as a man, problematizing the novel’s use of “hybrid” to describe him. This issue is resolved through the acknowledgement that different trans individuals identify in different ways depending on how they feel and understand themselves. In the text, Ry exuberantly expresses gender euphoria, as he consistently reflects on how happy he is with his body and identity, even as it makes aspects of his life more difficult.

Outside of Ry’s experience, Winterson also presents characters with differing views on Ry’s identity. Ron, for example, is obsessed with Ry’s genitalia, while the reality is that only about 5% of transgender men undergo surgery to augment their genitalia to align with male genitals. Claire, on the other hand, thinks augmenting one’s body through gender affirming care goes against God. Victor, though he does not express negativity toward Ry’s body or identity, fetishizes Ry by hyper focusing on Ry as a “hybrid” to continue to assure himself that he is not gay for being attracted to a conventionally masculine man. Each of these are examples of transphobia, which is a prejudice against transgender people. Additionally, Ry faces an attempted sexual assault in the novel, which aligns, as well, with the reality that transgender individuals face higher rates of assault and sexual assault due to the way others perceive them as “different” or “abnormal.” Transphobia is currently a serious issue facing modern society, and the novel seeks to explore the different ways in which Ry can express himself as a trans man and the ways other people seek to belittle or harm Ry as a trans man.