Research Essay Sample on Discrimination

Negative Instagram comments, online hate, and ruthless words being spread like wildfire through the public always seem to outnumber the good that is seen online, and in real life. Leyna Bloom, a transgender woman, never would have believed that she would be the first transgender person on the cover of a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine, and yet there she was, showing off her inner pride and beauty to the world. This sparked immediate attention from the public, and she received a great amount of hate from a society that claims it is trying to do better. The ideas of author, Margaret Atwood, and black abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, help to determine how enough is not being done to diminish discrimination and hatred towards those who don’t fit the “norm”. In Douglass’s speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?,” he suggests that freedom means equality and liberty for Black Americans, giving Black Americans the same rights as white people, while, in The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood claims that freedom is to be divided into two categories, “freedom from and freedom to.” These opposing views emphasize that discrimination comes in all forms and not enough is being done to stop it, especially for those who are considered “different,” and freedom also comes in a variety of forms, depending on who is asked. 

 The meaning of freedom is subjective, as seen by the differently focused views of Margaret Atwood and Frederick Douglass. Douglass recounts freedom in a more literal sense, being free in the eyes of the law and society, while Atwood takes a more complicated look at freedom, putting forward the idea of “freedom to and freedom from.” (24) In the eyes of Douglass, and the Constitution, freedom means that “all men are created equal; and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; and that, among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (5) Douglass proposes that freedom should be equal for everyone, regardless of color, and such factors. He also suggests that freedom in America is nothing but “shameless hypocrisy,” (4) and concealed by celebrations such as the 4th of July, which bring out the true colors of the nation, and the racism that hides beneath the surface. The purpose of his speech is to get people to do something, rather than simply supporting a movement. On the other hand, Atwood displays a deep level of complexity in her idea of freedom, where the main character in her book, Offred, calls the controlled, dystopian life she lives a “privilege,” while many would view it as an oppressive punishment. The Handmaids are being taught that they “are being given freedom from” (24) outside danger, rather than “freedom to'' lead their own lives, which was present during the former days of “anarchy.” The idea of having to choose between “freedom from and freedom to” demonstrates the “shameless hypocrisy” of the higher power in The Handmaid’s Tale. Freedom can be either of these things or both, but to determine that, it is necessary to look at both the ideas of Douglass and Atwood to link the idea of “hypocrisy,” to achieving freedom.

Transgender people have suffered immense amounts of discrimination and hatred for many years, causing them to hide, and fear the world around them. Activism is increasing and societal norms are shifting, giving members of the trans community a chance at self-expression, but not quite enough. Leyna Bloom tells Suyin Haynes in an interview that, “It is always going to be purpose over popularity,” and that she doesn’t want to be a “trend.” America is known to be very trend-oriented, where something is in one week and out the next. America is also known to be welcoming to all kinds of people, but it has been proven yet again that it is nothing more than “hypocrisy.” Leyna Bloom came out as transgender 8 years ago and suffered when she was just a child, trying to figure out who she was. The only thing she was safe from as a child was public discrimination towards her since she felt so forced to hide herself, due to the “hypocrisy” of the ever-present society that stands strong today. She was raped as a child and sexually fetishized, not truly free from the dangers of the world, but only free from criticism. Now she is free to be herself and live her life in confidence. But, at what cost? Every day Leyna is criticized after being front and center in the renowned sports magazine, Sports Illustrated. After being free from the version of herself she always wanted to escape, she is now no longer free from the prejudice she constantly receives. 

By gaining freedom of expression, Bloom has also lost a different kind of freedom, the “freedom from” outside danger and the “shameless hypocrisy” of the nation. She no longer has that barrier hiding her from the world, and as Jonathan Edwards states, “She hid her identity because she believed the world wasn’t ready and that someone might attack her.” Sacrificing one for the other was a difficult choice for her to make, but it is the choice she had to make. In today’s standards, you have to look, dress, and behave a certain way, otherwise, there is a likely chance you will be disapproved of. By being on the cover of such a famous magazine, she subjected herself to the “shameless hypocrisy” of Americans, critique, and even danger. In a society as harmful as today’s, people are taught to express themselves and show off their individuality, but instead, they receive more criticism than praise, which is what needs to be changed in this “hypocrisy,” and that is exactly what Leyna Bloom has been trying to do. She has endured all the pressure and abhorrence coming from the same people that preach peace and equality,  to shift norms and leave a mark on the highly discriminative culture that engulfs many. 

While Transgender discrimination remains a persistent issue, Leyna Bloom has found a way to use her new freedom and title to empower others, even though she is no longer free from the berating comments of America’s “hypocrisy.” She took the necessary but dangerous risk to put herself out there, achieved greatness despite the pressure and spotlight she was put under and gained a new sense of freedom that finally lifted the weight of being hidden, off her shoulders. Bloom’s decision to lose a part of her freedom so that she can follow her dreams and suppress societal norms displays her utmost courage, but it is only a small step towards minimizing discrimination and public hate, and more effort is constantly needed by the public to do so. Yet, a small victory remains a victory, and it is voices and actions like these that will help to defeat the strict society that takes place today, and give others the freedom they rightfully deserve, but might not possess, because they are “different."