Betty Paërl

Betty Paërl (1935 – 2022) She pursued an education in mathematics and subsequently earned her PhD in 1968, becoming a university lecturer at the University of Amsterdam.

Career before transition (1968–1978) Paërl became increasingly involved in Provo, a Dutch anarchist protest movement. This political activism led her to identify as a communist, a conviction she shared with her wife. The couple served together on the Suriname Committee, an entity established in 1970 to campaign for Suriname's independence from the Netherlands and to show solidarity with the Surinamese people affected by neocolonialism. and conducting lectures and training sessions.

Paërl authored four books under her former name about this: "Nederlandse Macht in de Derde Wereld" (Dutch Power in the Third World), "Klassenstrijd in Suriname" (Class Struggle in Suriname), and "Nationalisme of Klassenstrijd" (Nationalism or Class Struggle) (1973). She also served as an editor for "De Uitbuiting van Suriname" (The Exploitation of Suriname).

In the aftermath of Suriname's independence in 1975, Paërl critiqued the status quo. She asserted that independence should mark the beginning of decolonisation. She argued that significant foreign companies were exploiting Suriname's resources, and until this practice ceased, the country's independence would remain hollow for its people. It featured a ship as a metaphor for Dutch companies. These works were connected to real political actions and protests in the Netherlands. Paërl has stated that she had been cross-dressing her entire life before she transitioned; however, the desire to fully embody a "feminine persona" did not arise until after she divorced her wife. She also found a newfound enjoyment in sexually charged performances and began going to cabarets in the Rembrandtplein area, where she bought a wig for performances.

She wrote about sadomasochism, advocated for pornography, and worked to eliminate prejudices regarding transgender people, sex work, and sexual pleasure. She advocated for talks about kinks and dildos, and received national attention for her work on the radio, in newspapers, TV, and journals. For instance, she recognized a connection between BDSM and transgender people and held the belief that investigating these roles through SM could assist in making a decision regarding whether or not to transition. After her contract was not renewed at the University of Amsterdam, she went on to pursue a career as a journalist and dominatrix, while continuing mathematics.

In 1986, she helped raise money for the gay monument in Amsterdam by offering her escort services.

Selection of works

Books

Kross M., Megens E., Paërl B., Willems L., eds., 1970. De Uitbuiting van Suriname. Nijmegen: Sun Paërl B., 1971. Nederlandse Macht in de Derde Wereld: Een Inventarisatie van Economische Belangen. Amsterdam: Nederlandse Praktijk van Gennep Paërl B., 1972. Klassenstrijd in Suriname. Nijmegen: Sun Paërl B., 1973. Nationalisme of Klassenstrijd . Leiden: Nesbic-bulletin Paërl B., 1980a. Geluidsfilm Handboek. Amsterdam: Focus Unbehaun K., 1978. Perfecte Filmtrucs. Tr. Paërl B. Amsterdam: Focus.

Journal and newspaper articles

Paërl B., 1984. Betty Paërl over transsexualiteit: de hermafroditische oplossing. Prothese (1984) 20, p. 8-9. Paërl B., 1987. Billen. Sek, 17 (1987) 5 (mei), p. 32. Paërl B., 1985. Fetisjisme: fetisjistiese aspekten van kleding. Slechte Meiden (1985) 4 (sep), p. 8-11. Paërl B., 1980b. Transsexuelen vaak miskend. de Volkskrant, 5 December, p. 13 Paërl B., 1981. Transsexuelen. De Waarheid, 4 May, p. 6 Paërl B., 1984a. Een pleidooi voor de werkers in de seksindustrie. De Waarheid, 7 July, p. 4 Paërl B., 1984b. SM is een vorm van seksuele rebellie: het pervers-feminisme van Pat Califia. Homologie, 6(5), pp. 5–7 Paërl B., Califia P., Arnone J., 1984. Vrouw-zijn is een maatschappelijke constructie. Prothese, 23 October, pp. 6–7

Films

Brokopondo, 1973. Film. Directed by B. Paërl and H. Paërl. NL. Mariënburg maakt zich vrij, 1973. Film. Directed by B. Paërl and H. Paërl. NL. Rietkappers, 1973. Film. Directed by B. Paërl and H. Paërl. NL.

These films premiered at Cinestud in 1973 in Amsterdam.

Translations

Califia P., 1983. Zij imiteren precies de hetero's: spelen met rollen en omkeringen. Tr. Paërl B. Slechte Meiden. (nov), p. 2-7. Unbehaun K., 1978. Perfecte Filmtrucs. Tr. Paërl B. Amsterdam: Focus.