The modern concept of sexual transformation through reassignment surgery has only become popular in the last few decades. Previously, transsexual people and those willing to change gender lived in denial as society disapproved of the practice. The film “The Danish Girl” portrays the problems that such people endured in the 1920s (Toledo and Dornelas 849). Throughout the film, the dialogue between different individuals reveals the use of specific sexed, gendered, and sexuality-based terms in describing Wegener as he transforms from a male to a woman.
Wegener is considered a normal male citizen who also marries Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander). Therefore, other people in society, including his wife, referring to him as “he” (Toledo and Dornelas 849). The possessive form of “his wife” is used to describe Gerda Wegener in reference to her relationship with Einar Wegener. Nevertheless, he experiences an internal conflict because he feels that he would be comfortable living as a woman.
People in his society address Wegener as “a man” because he is assumed to be a male even though this is not the reality. His society expects him to assume the roles assigned to males. Therefore, he eventually marries and assumes the roles of a husband (Toledo and Dornelas 849). The film shows that his wife assumes that he is a man and refers to him as “my husband.” Wegener’s friends and colleagues believe he is a man and refers to him as such. However, when Wegener meets Dr. Kurt Warnekros, he realizes that he has another gender known as “transman” or “transsexual”. The physician uses these terms in reference to his gender, telling him that it is a congenital condition that affects many people.
The two terms, “he” and “man,” inadequately describe his character. As the audience can see, Wegener is not satisfied with his gender identity as he feels that he should be a woman (Toledo and Dornelas 849). He feels that he is forced by the society in which he grew to live like a man and behave accordingly. Consequently, the terms “transsexual” and “transgender” that Dr. Kurt Warnekros uses adequately describe Wegener’s character because they reflect his actual gender and behavior.
Work Cited
Toledo, Eliza Teixeira de, and Isabela de Oliveira Dornelas. “Gender identity, sexuality, and therapeutic interventions in The danish girl (2015).” História, Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos 24.3 (2017): 848-852.