(no subject)

[alexseanchai]

Very pleased with Monstrous Regiment. Not clear on whether Jackrum is trans...

Comments

[fred_mouse]

Not sure how far through you are, but there is quite a lot of character development for Jackrum towards the end of the book that I think you will find quite satisfying (I know I did).

[alexseanchai]

No, I finished, that's why I'm confused! XD

[fred_mouse]

Ah.

I've now discussed this with some other people, and the general consensus was that either Jackrum is lying when saying 'I am not a dishonest man' or that Jackrum does not identify as male, just performs masculinity competently and without consideration of it -- that it doesn't bother him to be male, and that he uses male pronouns.

[alexseanchai]

Yeah, I can see both of those possibilities. :)

[fred_mouse]

:}

[madgastronomer]

When given the opportunity to freely and safely present as female, Jackrum chooses to continue to present male. I'm going with trans.

[fred_mouse]

That was absolutely my thought as well. (previous note above was more circumspect, in order to avoid spoilers).

[alexseanchai]

:)

[alatefeline]

I think I agree. Though my initial reaction was "Jackrum is JACKRUM!" But, yeah. He'll be the BEST granddad, too.

I really like Maladict. Does anyone else read Maladict as possibly genderqueer?

[alexseanchai]

I'm not sure. The book makes such a point of These Are Women, but also I kind of have the impression Pratchett wouldn't have known what "transgender" meant, never mind "genderqueer". So while I'm happy to read Maladict as genderqueer...

[fred_mouse]

I actually thought that the point was that 'these are people with women's classified-as-female bodies' genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics, which is why the whole 'dressing as women to infiltrate the keep' managed such dark humour -- the gatekeeping on gender expression and identity.

[alexseanchai]

Might the phrase you're looking for be "ovarian-morph"? :)

[fred_mouse]

probably not - the assumption could be that these people have ovaries, but if we consider something like XY complete androgen insensitivity, those are people with all the external 'female' bits, but they may not have any of the internal or organs. They will look female externally, but aren't female at the genetic level or at the reproductive level.

[alexseanchai]

Right, point.

[fred_mouse]

Language, why is it so imprecise :-{

[alexseanchai]

That is true.

Though it didn't occur to Jackrum personally--it occurred to Polly.

[madgastronomer]

Still clearly shown as an option open to him, and his reaction is the opposite of the regiment's, and many of the "little lads".

[alexseanchai]

True, yes