Name: Denny Agassi
Major: Double Major in Mass Communication and Theatre, Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies
Class: Junior, Class of 2018
Favorite Halloween or Scary Film: Black Swan or Paranormal Activity 2
HC: What’s your favorite thing about this fall semester so far?
DA: “Well right now it’s October so it’s prime time for weather in my opinion. So far this semester, having Janet Mock come here was probably one of my favorite events in my college career. Having her personally come to my school and being able to personally spend time with her the whole day was awesome.”
HC: Are you excited for Halloween weekend? What are your costumes?
DA: Yes, absolutely! I’m gonna be a paratrooper and whatever I can pull of last minute.”
HC: Same Denny, same. During Halloween, girls usually get called out for their revealing costumes. Do you have an opinion on this?
DA: “I think there’s always this social bias when it comes to women because I don’t think guys or anyone who doesn’t identify as a woman get called out for their problematic costumes because they think it’s mostly funny. Usually when I see girls’ costumes I’m like Yassss! I think it’s great. I’ve noticed that women use Halloween to fully embrace themselves when knowing they could potentially receive some backlash. I think we need it to be an everyday thing, not just on Halloween, so that girls feel comfortable in being themselves.
HC: What stigma about women do you think needs to change?
DA: “I think gender stigma in general needs to disappear. But realistically speaking, women and feminine people are put more under a microscope than others.”
HC: Why is it important to be confident in your own skin?
DA “Because it’s your own skin, it wouldn’t make sense to be confident in someone else’s, if you know what I mean. Obviously there’s more layers to it (being confident). Being confident in what’s yours is the first step and then things will fall into place.”
HC: What advice do you have for girls or feminine individuals who struggle with insecurities?
DA: “To sit back and analyze why you are insecure in the first place and what outside pressures and systems have caused you to feel the way you feel… And then realize that it’s not your problem *laughs* and it’s their problem.”
HC: You created a blog that discusses more stigmas on women and how you address them.
DA: “I was inspired by Janet Mock’s Redefining Realness book. It helped me come into terms with being a woman of trans experience. But hers is written in her own narrative from about 20 years ago I want to say, and doing a blog on Tumblr in real time, I get to publish things as things are happening in my life. I have the ability to help trans people who are going through the same things as myself at the same time as I am. I write things and help people and get advice in return, so it’s very interactive. I talk about politics, transition, sex, and the dating life as a trans person, speaking from my experience at least. I got to connect with a lot of trans girls, which is cool and very rewarding. I went to a trans health conference this summer and I tried making friends with some other trans girls there and they were very hesitant to befriend me. I think this is because having a wall is one of the survival skills of being a trans woman. But recently I’ve been able to make a lot of friendships with girls like me through my blog. That’s probably the best thing I could ask for. #Sisterhood, honestly.”
You can read Denny’s empowering blog at decodingwomanhood.tumblr.com or follow her on Instagram @likethediner
HC XO,
Barbara Parsons