Saoirse’s Oral History

Description

Saoirse is a white trans woman who was 21 at the time of recording. She talks about growing up in New York City, wealthy, and as an eldest sibling with lots of pressure on her to succeed. Saoirse discusses feeling burnout and overwhelmed from a young age often going straight home after school with little friends. She used video games as a multisensory escape that led to deeper understandings of herself. Saoirse discusses being diagnosed with a depressive disorder and how that affected her parents' high standards for academic success. She candidly talks about not really questioning her gender because she barely had energy to do anything. Saoirse covers the importance of online queer communities to her gender realization while recognizing the harm done. She talks about the importance of video games like 'Cultist Simulator' to her understanding of self pleasure; that she was able to enjoy things and feel pleasure. Saorise discusses the importance of Lesbian community as a space to unmask, meet other trans Lesbians, and what Lesbian joy means to her.