Gender Identity And Sexuality In Fun Home By Bechdel

Throughout history, gender identity and sexuality has been few of the many issues’ people face around the world. Some may identify as having a different gender identity than the one they were given at birth while others may not. People that are attracted to the same gender as themselves are viewed as an outsider. In Fun Home, Bechdel demonstrates what people face in order to discover freedom and self-expression. The graphic novel begins the first scene with the protagonist, (Alison) and her father (Bruce) playing “airplane”; she connects her relationship with her father as the Greek mythology of Icarus and Daedalus. Her story is mainly focused on her parents, mainly her father. Alison discovers that she is attracted to women and comes out at

He was an odd person and secretive husband and father to his family. The only time he interacts with his kids is when he requires help furnishing a closet or when he needs them to do chores. One of the many scenes shows Bruce’s three children sitting in front of a Christmas tree and him being in the background shadow, Alison says, "Sometimes, when things were going well, I think my father actually enjoyed having a family. Or at least, the air of authenticity we leant to his exhibit. A sort of still life with children." (Bechdel 13). Bruce lacks the ideal father look; he is never seen interacting with his kids. He was not pleasant with his life and at times he was violent and aggressive towards his family. As Alison continues to figure out the death of her father, she gets to the center of the maze: his homosexuality. Bruce’s family was an illusion of what society wants to see. Society expects him to be a role model for his children by being ‘the man of the house’ but his image in that particular scene happens to be in a shadow because he feels like he could not run away from the darkness that he is hiding. Bruce could not have the courage to come out as a homosexual; He is too embarrassed and ashamed to show his attractions towards other men. In the reading, The Social Construction of Gender, “Men dominate the positions of authority and leadership in government, the military, and the

Bruce forces Alison to dress up more in a feminine way like he always wanted to do for himself. At times he forces her to wear a clothing or jewelries that were more feminine. “What’re you afraid of? Being beautiful? PUT IT ON, GODDAMN IT!” (Bechdel 99). She feels forced to follow her father’s orders yet she still did it. Bruce is harsh on his daughter because as a kid he wanted to dress up like a girl and so by deciding what Alison should wear, he is reliving his childhood. In the reading, Bodies and Bathroom, same idea is addressed “…, in which a 10-year-old biologically male student wanted to be known by a female name and dress like a girl. The school, he said, ultimately agreed” (Frosch 245). Although, Bruce feels frightened by the idea of announcing his identity, based on Alison, they could have accepted who he was as a person and a father. If only Bruce has shown his identity and sexual desires, then he could have enjoyed his life and escape the darkness he was living in. While Alison was able to over come her shame while Bruce died with his secret.

To conclude, Ones sexuality or gender identity does not make them less of a person nor does it define who they are as a character. Our society does not provide the equality people still strive to have however, change happens slowly and not only is change needed from society but also from ones