Fun Home - as an Illustration of Formation of Gender Identity

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Fun Home, As an Illustration of Formation of Gender Identity

Fun Home: A family Tragicomic is a graphic memoir written by Alison Bechdel and was published officially in 2006. It focuses on Alison’s parents, Bruce, her father and Helen, her mother. It as well explores the relationship between Alison and her parents, more so her father so that it can shade light on matters gender and the very complex dynamics of any family life. These themes are explored throughout the narration about Alison’s father, Bruce, literature as well as life. Gender identity however is one clear theme that is so conspicuous throughout this literature piece. The expression this gender takes, how it is modified and repressed are some of the key issues in the theme of gender. In this essay, we would look at how this piece of literature is an illustration on how gender is formed.

This book displays how Alison and her father had many things in common. Both of them were odd, in that they love reading and art despite Alison’s father being honest, married and closeted to her wife. Both Alison and her father wishes that they were born the opposite sex. Bruce, Alison’s father never formed a strong bond relationship with anyone at his time because of his reserved character and other people’s opposing views on gender affiliations. Bruce seems to express feministic traits while Alison on the other hand admits to her buff of masculinity. As much as these two people have common traits, their conflicting views on gender alignments build tension between them. Alison’s father tries to prevent her from expressing her masculinity which makes Alison view this as a ‘war of cross purposes”. This further builds tension between Bruce and her daughter. Alison uses images too in her memoir to express her father’s feminine presence as well as her masculinity. Through these images, we are able to see Bruce engaging in feminine like activities. Alison’s efforts of expressing her masculinity as well as her father’s feministic traits, clearly identifies the sexual orientation of these two individuals. The way they express themselves, completely different from their physical sex orientation shows how their gender identity is formed. The feministic attributes of Bruce, Alison’s father and the masculinity that Alison often expresses, forms their gender identification. Alison is thus referred to as a man because of her trait while her father is referred to as a woman because of his character as well. They have identified themselves as of a different gender.

Bruce was born in a community, which considered homosexuality a disgrace, therefore Bruce grows up to be of temperamental nature as well as reserved. Through this memoir, it is suggested that the death of Bruce is because of his reserved nature, her wife request for them to be divorced and the ability of Alison to live openly as a lesbian are the issues, which led Bruce to commit suicide. Because of her father’s death, Alison is prompted to express her father’s life through this memoir while at the same time come to an understanding about the relationship she had with her father. The gender identity of Bruce was repressed during his time. A homosexual was a disgrace to the community and therefore Bruce did not have the opportunity to clearly show his sexual orientation. His gender identity was repressed to great lengths. The extent of this shows how Bruce’s gender identity was formed and expressed at a gradual pace not like Alison where she comes out about her sexual orientation. This perhaps frightens him as he sees his daughter living a normal life despite her being a lesbian. The gender identification of Bruce at his time was repressed to a greater deal.