June 29 2025
Discussion question relating to the class viewing of Different for Girls (1997) in my Women in Literature class at University of Nevada, Reno.
How is Kim for much of the film an example of Yoshino’s idea of “covering”? How is her personal life received by her workplace? How is her personal life affected by her concerns with passing and “covering”?
Covering is a way to blend in by hiding your true self behind mannerisms and characteristics expected by the dominant groups in society. As I read about Yoshino’s idea of covering in Lecture 1, I kept thinking of “masking”. I understand they are different, but as a neurodivergent person and being a part of the community, we mask at times to blend in, to not stand out. We cover our true self so that we are accepted into the group. I find this a fascinating thread of similarity. I wonder if anyone has written a paper comparing these.
Kim is terrified of being noticed by others, of standing out. She seems to want to blend in, and not have her identity cause problems, or get her into trouble. She maneuverers each day doing what society expects her to do, dressing and behaving in the way society dictates that women dress and behave. Kim’s personal life is perceived as a mystery to her co-workers. They gossip about her, and make assumptions about her home life and love life. No matter how hard Kim tries, they still see her as “other”, not one of them and she is excluded from their gossip. I connect these women to the journalist, Sophie, in Trumpet. She views Joss as a freak, an oddity, someone that needs to be uncovered and exposed, even after death. Kim and Joss are in different situations, but Sophie’s attitude is similar to many of the characters in Different for Girls.
She seems to keep a routine, lives alone (so no worries about having to cover with a flatmate), she writes the type of cheesy greetings that are expected of her, and keeps hidden that she secretly writes non-conforming poetry/greetings. Kim also keeps her identification and all necessary documents with her at all times, for fear of having her identity challenged. She is worried about getting in trouble with the cops and having them send her into a cell with men.
I find this heartbreaking. Even though the film is dated, we still have people who have to cover, who live in fear. Especially now. MAGA has successfully run a propaganda campaign vilifying the transgender community, othering them, calling them pedophiles. It’s vile and disgusting. I have a loved one who is non-binary so I am passionate about this.
