Gender Identity and Sexuality in Adolescence

Gender Identity and Sexuality in Adolescence
Author’s Name
Institution of Affiliation
Course Name
Instructor’s Name
Date
Gender Identity and Sexuality in Adolescence
Since time immemorial, gender seems to be the benchmark for an individual's identity; therefore, somebody with XX chromosomes is considered a female and should have feminine qualities, while a person with an XY chromosome is described as male and should have masculine attributes. Personal sexuality is also determined by gender, meaning a man should fall in love with a woman and vice versa. Due to several debates over the years about sexual identity, numerous books, television series, and movies have been released to address this issue. This paper reflects on "Tomboy," a movie released in 2011 by French female director Celine Sciamma as it provides insights into sexual identity.
The film describes an adolescent girl named Laurie who desires to establish her identity and sexuality. The French film comprises various themes of sexuality as portrayed by characters, particularly Laurie. Laurie, an adolescent girl, covers herself up as a boy named Mikael after she relocates to a new neighborhood. As the narrative goes by, the audience begins to recognize curiosity as a constant theme in the entire film as they watch Laurie/Mikael's quest to understand who she is, depending on the interaction with her family and friends. The initial image demonstrates the back, which appears to be like a boy's slender with brown hair rustling in the wind.
During Laurie's adolescence, she spends much time learning tricks to act like a boy. For example, she creates a fake Play-Doh penis to position it in the swimming trunks. She fashioned herself from a girl's swimsuit and spat like her male friends when playing soccer. Furthermore, she embraces these habits to cover up her femininity and develop a character she can relate to as Mikael. On the other hand, she experiences numerous struggles. For instance, her physical appearance is impacted depending on certain activities depending on activities they engage in. On one occasion, she does not show up when her new friend goes swimming. She is not contented when she looks at herself in the mirror. Laurie worries about whether her friends will accept him, particularly after keeping them in the dark.
The experiences of Laurie in French culture add an extra layer of conflict. The French language offers little room for people to exist outside a gender, a critical issue Laurie has to tackle in the movie. For example, after Laurie's friends and family meets, they use masculine types of words, which play a vital role in demonstrating that Laurie's identities could exist together in the language. During this instance, gender dictates the French language, which is grouped into boxes of feminine and masculine. Although new strides have been made to offer space for individuals to present themselves with authenticity linguistically, "Tomboy" film demonstrates the need for a continued determined effort to embrace gender neutrality in the French language.
The film demonstrates that Laurie is shown support in her home. Back at home, there is extreme happiness and love. Moreover, Laurie's family is supportive as the parents ac...