Transgender Womens Health: Genre Analysis

Transgender Womens Health: Genre Analysis Typography and Iconography

Clementina Canava
The University of Texas at El Paso
RWS 1302

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Introduction
There are many different issues that concern women and health. What has recently come
into mainstream news is the health and healthcare issues of transgender women. The definition of
transphobia is prejudice or unfair treatment of transgender people. Unfortunately transgender
women are discriminated against and this had led to acts of violence. This type of discrimination
can also carry through to healthcare. Thirty to forty percent of transgender women do not have a
regular physician. There are a lot of different variables that make up this conclusion, which are
discrimination, lack of research and knowledge, as well as the lack of understanding. In most
cases transphobia is usually at a higher level with trans women of color, because racism becomes
a big factor in the matter. These components can make doctors offices very uncomfortable for
trans women. Unfortunately this is a social issue as well as a health issue, which makes it
difficult to find a solution.
Audience and Purpose
Both of these genres appealed to the transgender community as well as people with HIV
because of the article selected. However, these genres do not only appeal to those specific
communities but as well as to the general public because both these genres where giving a lot of
information about transgender health care. This will hopefully generate awareness and
knowledge about the subject. Since there is very little research concerning transgender health and
since it has barely come to mainstream news there might be a lot that the audience may not
know. Just being informed about these issues can make a positive impact on this issue. It will
make a positive impact especially with transgender women and health providers because both of

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these groups do not have very much information on this issue, even though it seems like they
would be. As stated in the video many health care providers do not know how to do proper
checkups on transgender people. It can vary depending on the procedures that have been done.
Rhetorical Issues: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
The type of genres being used are typography and iconography. The first genre is
iconography and is a video of an interview called Health Matters: Transgender Womens
Health, which was found on the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) TV YouTube
channel. This channel provides different information on many different topics. This particular
video was conducted by Dr. Connie Webster and Dr. Ayana Elliott. The second genre is
typography and is an article in a magazine. The name of the article is called Why Transgender
Women Have the Countrys Highest HIV Rates by Sunnivie Brydum, and can be found in
hivplusmag.com.
Each source shares the struggle of getting health care as a transgender woman, and talks
about discrimination on a daily basis. Transgender women are leading in numbers of people with
HIV. Like I mentioned earlier this has to do with a number of reasons. One in particular is the
discrimination in the work force which leaves these women without jobs. In order to provide for
themselves most women go into the sex workforce.
Considering that these genres are dealing with health care there is statistics and research
that comes along with the topic naturally. The problem is there is not a lot of research being done
which creates lack of knowledge. This causes a domino effect because without knowledge in the
transgender community as well as health care providers and the general public, there is not going
to be a solution. There over all need to be more research being done on this issue and then having

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this knowledge distributed to most importantly transgender women and health care providers, but
also to the general public. However, there is progress being made since this issue has made more
mainstream news, and hopefully it continues to grow so that thee women can be provided with
what they need.
Structure
The difference between the two genres is the way that the information is being presented.
The video is formatted in an interview newscast type of setting, where both women are in
professional clothing. The article is also a professionally written article that provides
information. The article appeals more to transgender women than the general public. The article
still provides information. The video seems more professional than the text because we now have
the visual impact of the video. In the typography genre there was one picture in the article and
that made it more professional. However, in the video the vocabulary made an impression as well
as the way they were dressed. This contributes to the genre and the topic. Since the topic is a
very informative one it is necessary for each genre to have a sense of professionalism.
Conclusion
The iconography is more effective because of the visual aspect when someone is getting
lectured. Being able to see who was providing the information and the way that it was presented
was very well done especially for the topic at hand. When it comes to healthcare issues people
seem to feel more comfortable getting advice when it is visual. It was mentioned in the video to
make the patient more comfortable, and while that was happening the reader felt comfortable
with the information at hand. With more information and research being provided in mainstream

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media, this issue will hopefully not be a problem in healthcare. Which will also mean that all the
various variables that cause this issue will be declining.

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Work Cited
Webster, C., Elliott, A., (2013, January 5). Health Matters: Transgender Womens Health.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyg3EBbR5c0
Brydum, S., (2015, April 2). Why Transgender Women Have the Countrys Highest HIV
Rates. Retrieved from http://www.hivplusmag.com/case-studies/2013/04/08/invisible-womenwhy-transgender-women-are-hit-so-hard-hiv