Resistance, Resilience, and Acceptance in Meredith Russo’s If I Was Your Girl

Abstract

Gender identity may diverge from the sex assigned at birth. This journey often proves painful for
transgender individuals and their families. The resulting discrimination, the taunts, hurts and
haunts it brings with itself are immeasurable and devastating. Meredith Russo’s If I Was Your Girl
beautifully brings out the remarkable transformation of a transgender girl, Amanda Hardy. This
paper analyses her trans-ness and transgender experience. The psychological conflicts and the
chaos in the mind of Amanda and how she could face alienation, gender discrimination and
aversion to society are also analysed.