The trans boxer learning the many ways to be a man
Writer Thomas Page McBee spent years exploring masculinity and its relationship to violence. Itβs led him into the boxing ring at Madison Square Garden, and a full-on fight.
With only five and a half months of training, Thomas Page McBee became the first transgender man to box at the famous Madison Square Garden arena in New York City. He's an author and journalist by trade so this was quite a departure for him. His journey to that day wasnβt driven by dreams of record-breaking, instead, it was prompted by a desire to better understand the different ways to be a man and specifically the relationship between masculinity and violence. Thomas had grown up with an abusive step-father and he knew he wanted to be different. When he began transitioning from a female to a male body in adulthood he noticed a change in the way the world was treating him. Women were crossing the road when they encountered him walking late at night, rooms fell silent when his deep voice spoke up in conversations, and he was no longer encouraged to hug because βmen shake handsβ. So in an attempt to learn the many different ways to be a man Thomas set himself a challenge - a boxing match.
Picture: Thomas Page McBee
Credit: Amos Mac
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- Thu 10 Sep 2020 11:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Thu 10 Sep 2020 17:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Fri 11 Sep 2020 02:06GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service