In the 2019 TV series Years and Years, a young girl dissatisfied with her life reveals to her parents she is trans. Her parents readily express their acceptance and support for their daughters supposed desire to have a sex change. But then she tells them she is not transgender but transhuman, and wishes to leave her physical body behind to become data. Her parents are shocked and then furious.
As this scene shows, although technological advances may offer new ways for people to lead their lives, they can also create new prejudices. A growing awareness of trans issues both transgender and transhuman is stimulating general debate. But we should not assume that discussion of bodily changes necessarily means progression towards a more equal society.
The human body comes in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours, yet people outside the perceived norm have often been seen as threatening, ridiculous or hateful. For example, the Hijra, an Indian transgender community dating back 4,000 years, may have achieved legal recognition in 2014 but faces renewed discrimination today.
The possibilities for physical change have never been greater. From tattoos to cosmetic surgery, gender reassignment procedures to bionic implants, people have an increasing number of ways to alter their appearance and the way they live.
As Years and Years hints at, technological progress doesnt only affect gender identity. While prosthetics and implants for medical purposes have been around for years, a whole new range of elective body augmentations are becoming possible. The term transhumanism describes the evolution of the human race beyond its current state, particularly through the implantation of technology in the body.
This bio-hacking blurs the line between human and non-human. For example, Professor Kevin Warwick, often referred to as Captain Cyborg, had a microchip implanted that enabled him to control the lights and doors in his lab. He then had further surgery to connect an electrode array with his nervous system, which allowed him to control a robotic arm with his mind.
While transgender people have been around for thousands of years, they are offered new possibilities through technology. In contrast, transhumanism is only possible because of technology. In either case, the increase in body modification and gender reassignment procedures suggests now is a good time to reconsider our notions of gender and identity more generally, especially as we live in such an interconnected world. The ability to decide how our body appears and performs in society is transferring more power to the individual, and diverse lifestyle choices are proliferating.
But the increase in alternative ways of living also gives rise to more and different types of discrimination. There has been a sharp rise in transgender hate crimes in the UK, and even an alleged assault in France linked to transhuman discrimination. In this case, staff members in a fast-food restaurant tried to forcibly remove a mans augmented reality headset, as they thought he was filming them, but it was attached to his skull.
Fiction, in literature, film and TV, plays an important role in showing alternative ways of living. Such stories reflect and foster an awareness and experience of current issues in society. So it is not surprising that a variety of fictional transhuman and transgender protagonists have emerged over recent years. They also can help us to anticipate possible avenues of discrimination.
Two very recent examples of transgender and transhuman matters in British fiction are Jeanette Wintersons latest book, Frankissstein, and the previously mentioned series Years and Years, created by Russell T Davies. Both of these works depict alternative modes of gender and identity in an increasingly tech-dominated world, showing how technological advances can offer increased choices for people but also create new prejudices.
In Franskissstein, the human body is subjected to radical changes in a contemporary world of cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The characters, including a transgender doctor, a Welsh sex-bot entrepreneur and an AI professor, collectively push at the boundaries of what it means to be human. Gender reassignment, sexual relations with robots, and the transfer of the mind to digital form are all depicted. Each of these new ways of living are met with resistance and intolerance by others in the book.
Meanwhile, in Years and Years, the character Daniels status as a gay man is unquestioningly accepted by his family and friends. By contrast, the desire of his niece, Bethany, to become transhuman through tech implants and bio-hacking is met with anger, fear, and revulsion. 30 years on from the groundbreaking, and at the time shocking to many, presentation of a gay relationship on Eastenders, the portrayal of Daniel shows how far the acceptance of same-sex relationships on TV has come. This also suggests that the desire to become transhuman may take many years to become more widely tolerated.
In real life, as in fiction, the expanding range of lifestyle choices available now and in the future will not simply lead to increased tolerance of difference. Although transgender and transhuman issues are becoming increasingly visible, new forms of discrimination will arise as people move further away from traditional modes of living.
But if the end-goal of transhumanism is to leave our biological origins entirely behind us, then a posthuman world would also be a postgender world. In which case, so much of the discrimination that focuses on the body would become extinct.
Read the original:
Transgender, transhuman: technological advances offer increased choices ...
- The Myth of a 'Stolen Legacy | Transhuman Cosmic Conscious ... [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Infrared News from the Transhuman Underground - OMNI Reboot [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- - transhumanism - Article Archives - Vigilant Citizen [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- The Rise of Techno-Gods: The Merging of Transhumanism and ... [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Transhumanism? [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2013]
- bioethics.com ยป Transhumanism [Last Updated On: January 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 2nd, 2014]
- End Times News! Transhumanism; GMO Cloned Babies, Luciferian ... [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2014]
- The National Intelligence Council Predicts a Very Transhuman ... [Last Updated On: January 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2014]
- Futurist Transhuman News Blog - Eugenics [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2014]
- Dangerous Ideas - Transhumanist and Futurist News, Philosophy ... [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2014]
- Transhumanism - News & Rumors | ExtremeTech [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2014]
- Transhuman News - Comics Alliance [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2014]
- NEWS OF THE WORLD TRANSHUMANIST ASSOCIATION January 27 [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2014]
- Transhumanism News - Thats Really Possible [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2014]
- Is Transhumanism The Greatest Threat To Humanity? | ABC ... [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2014]
- Transhumanism: The Scientific Pursuit of The Supernatural ... [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2015]
- A New Way To Be Human: The Plan Is To Replace Existing ... [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2015]
- Transhumanism | DouglasHamp.com | Page 2 [Last Updated On: March 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 14th, 2015]
- Transhumanism: An Attempt To Use Technology To Turn Men ... [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2015]
- Transhumanism:Attempt To Use Technology To Turn Men Into ... [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2015]
- Transhuman Space: Teralogos News [Last Updated On: May 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 31st, 2015]
- Transhumanism and law :: The Patriots [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2015]
- Transhumanist FAQ - Humanity Plus [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2015]
- Why Christians Should Embrace Transhumanism [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2015]
- Transhumanism Archives - h+ Mediah+ Media [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2015]
- Transhumanism race against humanity theme in "Hybrid World ... [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2015]
- Artificial Intelligence Robots Transhumanism Cyborgs 2015 ... [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2015]
- The Trials of Transhumanism: Androgyny and the Antichrist [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2015]
- Transhumanism The Final Religion? - disinformation [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2015]
- Transhumanism news, articles and information: [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2015]
- Transhumanism - Energetic Synthesis [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2015]
- 10 Signs of a Transhuman Future - Zen Gardner [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2015]
- 2014 August Breaking News Mixing Human DNA with Animal DNA ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2015]
- Transhuman Design | Come with us if you want to play! [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2015]
- Christian Transhumanism [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2015]
- Genetic Armageddon - John McTernan's Insights [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2016]
- Natasha Vita-More | Transhuman Art [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2016]
- Transhuman Policy Center Guidelines [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2016]
- Transhumanisten | Communicamus, - ergo sum.. [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2016]
- Transhuman Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Technocracy News [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2016] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2016]
- The Coming Hive Mind: Man/Machine Merger and the Global ... [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2016]
- Demon Archives - Comic Archive [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2016] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2016]
- Transhuman Debate 2.0 in SF East Bay | KurzweilAI [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2016] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2016]
- The Futurist: The Top Ten Transhumanist Technologies [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2016]
- Latest News | GamerNet.net [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2016] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2016]
- Prison Planet.com Alex Jones Depicted as Transhuman ... [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2016]
- Alex Jones Depicted as Transhuman Terrorist in New Video ... [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Transhuman Archives - Page 3 of 8 - Technocracy News [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2016]
- Transhuman (album) - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2016]
- Nano-Bots, Mind Control & Trans-Humanism - The Future of ... [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2016]
- Ground Zero Breaking News [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2017]
- Library - Transhuman-Shoud 5 [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Warren Ellis resets the WildStorm universe with The Wild Storm #1, check out a preview here - Flickering Myth (blog) [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- 5 Comics You Need To Read Before Seeing The 'Valerian' Movie - moviepilot.com [Last Updated On: April 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 5th, 2017]
- Is Neuroscience Rediscovering The Soul? - WBAA [Last Updated On: April 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 5th, 2017]
- This dad is a genius biohacker. But he could lose his kids because of it. - Fusion [Last Updated On: April 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 5th, 2017]
- Is neuroscience rediscovering the soul? | Minnesota Public Radio ... - Minnesota Public Radio News [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2017]
- Reel FX Explores Alternate History in Animated Trailer for 'Prey' - Animation World Network (press release) (registration) (blog) [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2017]
- D*Hub | news, interviews, articles about design [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2017]
- Twin Peaks recap: 'The Return: Part 8' - EW.com [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2017]
- The Trouble with Transhumanism The Center for Bioethics ... [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- Transhumanism just another religion in which man seeks ... [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- Cradle on Steam [Last Updated On: July 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 9th, 2017]
- On Transhumanism and Why Technology Is Our Silicon Nervous ... [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2017]
- 'Saand ki Aankh' Casting Misses the Bulls Eye - The Wire [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2019]
- Inside the Beltway: Voters now leery of media obsession with impeachment - Washington Times [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2019]
- No death and an enhanced life: Is the future transhuman ... [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2020]
- Conscious Evolution | Futurist Transhuman News Blog [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2020]
- Kriya Therapeutics announces $80 million Series A financing to advance gene therapies for highly prevalent serious diseases - PRNewswire [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2020]
- Transhumanism: Meet the cyborgs and biohackers redefining beauty - CNN [Last Updated On: May 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 29th, 2020]
- Years and Years - News24 [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2020]
- It's A Sin cast: meet the unknowns behind 2021's first TV hit - NME.com [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2021]
- Herder crisis: Not impossible that non-Nigerian elements are involved - Fayemi - Nairametrics [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Insecurity: Nigeria working towards amendment of ECOWAS Protocols - Guardian [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2021]
- Falana-led Coalition Urges FG to Ban Foreign Armed Herders - THISDAY Newspapers [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2021]
- El-Rufai: Clerics can negotiate with bandits -- that's not our job - TheCable [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2021]
- Will New COVID Vaccine Make You Transhuman? - The Vaccine ... [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2021]
- Will New COVID Vaccine Make You Transhuman? (You Need to ... [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2021]
- Twenty years covering people, politics, and protests - rabble.ca [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2021]
- Mother Lands is a tabletop RPG free of slavery and colonialism - Polygon [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2021]