The First Pregnant Man

Our gender identities form part of who we are. But who said that pink is for girls and blue is for boys? Who decided that we have to act in a certain way based on our genders? Transgendered people deal with this issue when they realize that their gender identities don’t match what society expects from them. They live their childhoods like any other kid but as they get older they find themselves in chains. While everybody else can start to make their own decisions, transgendered individuals are forced to hide what they feel because society does not accept their choice. Last week I was watching a program on Discovery Channel about the first pregnant man. Although it was something unusual to watch I learned that transgendered people are not any different from everybody else. At first I could not understand how is it possible for a man to be pregnant and give birth. Later I learned that the first pregnant man, Thomas Beatie, was born a female, named Tracy. Thomas Beatie underwent a sex change and married Nancy. After five years of living together the couple decided to have a baby. Beatie's wife was unable to conceive and Beatie decided to have a baby himself. Through artificial insemination using donor sperm and Beatie's own egg, Beatie was able to give birth to a baby girl, Susan. The couple faced the entire world when the story of the first pregnant man made the headlines. For many, Tomas Beatie is still considered a female for the fact that he retains his female organs. Beatie says that the reproductive organs of a person don’t define that person’s gender, that being able to give birth is a gift, not something that makes you a female. Transgendered people shouldn’t feel trapped; they should share the same feeling of freedom. Free to express their ideals and to be who they want to be. They should be given the same chance to be judged by their good and bad qualities, not by what gender they choose to be.