“RCTA” stands for “race change to another.” This unusual new trend may not have completely taken over the internet but it’s definitely caught the attention of mainstream media who are, unapologetically, using it to give transgender people a bad name.
A Unique Method
Practitioners of RCTA, predominantly young White girls, hold the belief that their true racial identity doesn’t match the way they were born. They maintain that through dedicated effort they can manifest their authentic selves and transform into a different race. This isn’t achieved through medical procedures or surgery, but by engaging with “subliminals” – videos that combine calming music and white noise with images and affirmations that mirror the desired appearance of the viewer.
“Subliminals” on YouTube
A search on YouTube yields a plethora of such videos, which are often titled with phrases like “Look Korean Right Now.” The comment sections of these subliminal videos are filled with teenagers enthusiastically sharing how these materials have seemingly assisted them in achieving their desired appearance.
“Transracialism” Is Nothing New
This form of “transracialism” is currently a relatively niche phenomenon. Presently, RCTA seems confined to a small group of highly engaged online teenagers. However, this isn’t the first instance of individuals of one racial background pretending to belong to another group seemingly for attention. In recent years, the act of pretending to be a different race – often referred to as “race-faking” – has gained traction, especially in the USA.
The RCTA Trend Is a Bit Different
The RCTA trend differs from other forms of “transracialism” in that its participants are openly acknowledging their true origins. Interestingly, the RCTA movement has adopted a lot of the terminology and concepts that have been popularized by the transgender community. People talk about “transitioning” and claim that they felt like “a piece of them was missing” from a young age. They even document their transformations in a fashion reminiscent of transgender TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney and her “Days of Girlhood” series. This is unfortunate as it gives mainstream media more reasons to hate on transgender people.
Examples of “Transracial” Individuals
An influencer named Oli London was one of the earliest well-known examples of full-fledged “transracialism.” In 2021, London – a White man who has previously identified as non-binary – publicly declared himself to be South Korean. He even underwent multiple cosmetic procedures to adopt a more “Korean” appearance.
Transgender vs “Transracial”
Being transgender is widely recognized as a valid and legitimate experience. This recognition is built upon decades of research, medical expertise, and the lived experiences of transgender individuals who often face profound struggles. On the other hand, the concept of “transracialism” lacks similar empirical, historical, and social grounding. Race is a complex social construct, influenced by cultural, historical, and ancestral factors – and attempting to change one’s racial identity does not hold the same basis as the deeply ingrained understanding of gender dysphoria that underpins most transgender experiences.
Recognizing the Validity of Transgender Identities
Recognizing the validity of transgender identities is a matter of respecting the diverse ways in which people experience and express their true selves, whereas “transracialism” – due to its lack of a similar foundation and the risk of perpetuating harmful stereotypes – is often met with skepticism.
Online Commenters Had a Lot to Say
“Transracialism” has been discussed widely across social media and most people find it to be a horrifying concept. One person wrote: “This just seems like it’s downplaying the whole history of struggles different racial groups have been dealing with forever. You can’t just slap on a new racial identity and ignore all the very real stuff that comes with it.”
Others Shared Similar Views
A plethora of individuals echoed the aforementioned commenter. One person said: “Changing your race like it’s some kind of costume? That’s just offensive. At least bother to understand the actual history and culture behind it. Honestly, this is so gross.”
Borrowing an Identity for the Aesthetic
The criticism continued. “These people feel like they’re entitled to just borrow someone else’s racial identity for the aesthetic without actually experiencing the actual stuff they go through,” one person wrote. “I don’t understand how people are comparing this to being transgender. It’s entirely different. Gender identity has scientific backing,” another said.
Others Attacked the Transgender Community
Some commenters blamed transgender people. “Transgender people are responsible for this. Their disgusting and dangerous ideology was always going to end this way,” one individual wrote. “Trans people have nothing to do with it. Leave them alone,” another hit back.
These Are Children
Some commenters highlighted the fact that most “transracial” people are teenagers. “This is really gross and racist but, at the same time, these people are kids. We all did stupid stuff as kids. We were just lucky that we didn’t have social media to broadcast it to the world. I’m not downplaying the racism but it’s important to remember we’re mostly talking about children. Where are their parents? Maybe we should talk about them.”
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