Remember, Hallie made a big deal on entry to the house about not being treated like a child cos 'insert the threats from VT'.
Except, Hallie has then has proceeded to demonstrate that perhaps they need DO need to be treated as more vulnerable and more immature than others in the house.
Yet, here we have a poster saying we should cut them more slack because they are particularly immature and the youngest in the house. Is that going exactly against what Hallie wants? Hallie wanted to be treated as one of The Grown Ups. Yet Hallie is definitely falling into the role of one of the House Children who need looking after.
What is it, viewers are supposed to do here? Ignore the fact that its (surprise surprise) being demonstrated that Hallie is perhaps a little immature / young to be in the house.
As roles in the house go, thats a point, but theres also a context too.
The elephant in the room, which I've mentioned previously is the fact that they are trans IS a big deal because of the moment in time the programme is being made. And if Hallie is particularly immature then their trans status matters in this context because of ITV's duty of care stuff.
It is INEVITABLE that conversations about Hallie and Trans will happen. BECAUSE THATS WHY HALLIE WAS GIVEN A PLACE ON THE SHOW. THIS IS WHAT THE PRODUCERS WANT - CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HALLIE BEING TRANS.
We can pretend this isn't the case, but thats the bottom line. We can argue about whether Hallie is aware of this and fine about it or whether Hallie is oblivious to this due to immaturity and naivity or whether the producers are being deeply cynical and using Hallie.
And there's a really big point at the heart of this which applies to the audience: Hallie in being on TV in this way is a role model to other trans teens. Hallie is actively demonstrating a huge amount of immaturity which frankly we need to think about in terms of someone who is making potentially huge life changing decisions. Hallie is going on the show to try and raise money for surgery. Hallie has stated this on the show. The audience are watching and voting to decide who is most deserving to win (get the money) or at least stay on the show for longer (and get a better media deal after). Do the audience want Hallie to win - and get the money?
If Hallie is doing it to get surgery, then the audience are in effect being asked to take that into consideration to a degree. I do think that matters. Why?
Nadia was post surgery and had been trans for a considerable amount of time whereas Hallie is an 18 year old who hasn't had surgery and hasn't lived any of their life as an adult. The audience didn't participate in transitioning Nadia.
I feel is that Nadia was about being accepted as a transwoman, having lived for years as a transwoman. And I think the audience were fine about that. The trouble is the public conversation has also moved on somewhat and the audience is being accept to accept Hallie, not just as trans, but as woman just because Hallie identifies as one. Where it fundamentally differs is in how Nadia was accepted perhaps as a transwomen and thats fine but everyone still knew she wasn't a woman and that was also fine. In 2023 there isn't the space for that difference; we apparently have to go the whole hog and say Hallie is a woman.
And most crucially, the audience is being actively asked to potentially actively partipate in facilitating surgery.
We SHOULD be having LOTS of conversations about this. This ISN'T an ordinary teenage who might blow their money on crap. They are actively stating they want to blow it on life changing surgery with a massive complication rate and is being put on TV as a role model. Afterall 18 year olds getting tattoos has a high rate of not ending well... And there's a bad track record of after care for reality tv stars, especially some of the younger/more vulnerable ones.
And the series is throwing up some really important points:
Do you think Hallie has demonstrated a huge amount of resilience so far? Do you think affirm only is a good thing or would it result in a lack of resilence? This actually matters, way beyond Hallie.
Not only that but the lacking in self awareness is relevant if we have a contestent who is expecting all the other housemates to constantly be aware of their emotional needs. We need to be honest here even if people don't want to admit this - being trans impacts on the lives of others, in a way that other identity issues don't. Seeing a personality trait of an individual totally lacking is self awareness when you have a whole public conversations about transwomen lacking in awareness of the rights and dignity and concerns of women generally IS an issue. Lets not sugar coat this, its demonstrating a point that is either a stereotype or representative of a wider problem - either explanation is somewhat problematic in its own way.
We have issues with women being told they can't get sterilised because they aren't mature enough and might change their minds, yet we've got some kid on TV raising money for this, whilst proving they are incredibly immature.
THINK ABOUT IT.
What are you ACTUALLY saying if you say we shouldn't be talking about any of this?
The trans stuff IS important because of the reason why Hallie is doing the show.
If its irrelevant why is Hallie even on the show?
If Hallie IS like any other 18 year old, who does stupid shit and incredibly lacking in maturity, we SHOULD care. Do you feel confident that Hallie is mature enough to say that in ten years time, they won't regret having had surgery off the back of doing Big Brother on the basis of Hallie's current behaviour on the show? I have no idea.
Anyone who gives a shit about Hallie / transpeople needs to be really considering whether being blind to Hallie being trans is a good thing too. (Hint: blindness to this and an affirmation only mentality carries its own inherent risks which have the potential to add up to negligence. For reference see The Tavistock).
Is Hallie demonstrating they are just like any other 18 year old woman either? No not really. Lots of reasons why.
And the point is, that for Hallie to be in the house and for BB to be responsible Hallie SHOULD be mature way beyond their years BECAUSE TRANS to ensure that ITV aren't putting Hallie in a position which might be harmful to them cos yeah when they get out everyone will have an opinion about Hallie which they won't about all the other housemates.
I don't think it necessarily transphobic either - its about not being able to escape who you are and where you come from and the audience commenting on whether that reflects a stereotype or seeing something that challenges that stereotype. Comments about ALL the other housemates reflect on this in some way to a greater or lesser extent. Some of which probably aren't particularly charitable. Look through this thread, there are plenty of comments which don't tick the 'approved politically correct' box about other housemates. Many of which no one bats an eyelid at (and possibly should do - is it ok to imply that Yinrun is an overly ambitious, intelligent Asian woman with a taste for older men? See page 31 of this thread).