"Gender Outlaw" was in interesting and short read. She basically talked about how she views herself in terms of her gender and how society views her. Then she explains how uncomfortable she felt prior to her sex change and gives a number of examples of how it affected her life.
Bornstein had eight points she discussed.
1. There are only two genders (male and female)
2. One's gender is "invariant" or does not change
3. Your biological makeup dictates your gender
4. A mixture of both genders is not taken seriously
5. There are no transfers from one to another unless it's ceremonial
6. Everyone MUST classified in one or the other
7. "Male and Female dichotomy is a 'natural one'"
8. Membership in a gender is natural
Early on in the article, Bornstein talked about how "people act out gender." This goes hand in with what we discussed in class. Let's talk about why this happens in our society.
Since Bornstein's article is well organized by the eight points mentioned above let's tear this sucker down section by section. Which point's do you agree with and which do you not. I personally agree with a few but I think are incorrect or just don't coincide with what we discuss in our lectures.
Three interesting concepts are brought up toward the end of the article that requires discussion and thought.
o Male energy
o Gender ambiguity
o & Gender fluidity
The Candace West article was a lot lengthier but really focused. Doing Gender was basically about gender roles and how they're enforced. I feel like West went in a different direction from Kate Bornstein's article especially when it comes to the impact of sex vs gender.
Some key points West mentioned is that, sex is ascribed biologically while gender is an achieved status. West added that these statuses are "fixed" because the, "doing" of gender is undertaken by women and men whose competence as members of society is hostage to its production." Therefore gender identification is "socially guided."
Some interesting terms West brought up are
o Gender marked roles (female doctor & male nurses)
o & Role conflict
I'd like to discuss the concept of Gender Fluidity for a start, as it stood out to me the most in the readings. I sure at some point most people have felt out of place in their gender and often times shame is accompanied with these sort of sentiments. The author of "Gender Outlaw" admits to feeling this way during the transition from "man" to "woman". But when we begin to consider Gender Fluidity we start to touch on a much more freeing way of viewing gender. Although a person may identify as male, female or intersexed there is still the freedom from rigidly obeying the roles that go along with it. In a society that strictly categorizes humans, the idea of "Separate but Equal" with never truly exist. What would we do if we no longer looked to a person's genitalia to decide their proper place in life? In my opinion it sounds like a very nice world to live in.
However, it is unlikely that we will soon see the day when gender is an ignored concept. So how does a person who sees the injustice and damage of gender roles raise their children? I'm certain it can be done but it would probably take on certain challenges. If you don't want to determine your child's gender for them, how do you go about teaching/raising them when our society dichotomizes the majority of names, toys, clothes, cartoons, etc.?
I though about one way to break the first gender law. Remember during my reading performed by Lorber Judith in his Depolarizing the Categories of before, Sexuality and Gender before. It is about limitations of conventional gender categories. It is said that it maybe exist addition of sexual orientation categories --gays and lesbians.
Going off the discussion points Ty brought up I would like to address the concept of "male energy". This is something that Bornstien was told, even after her gender reassignment surgery, could not be done away with. Bare with me while I sort this out. Physically she looks like a woman. She is observably a women. She was born male. She understands peoples unwillingness to accept her opinions that she is a true women, but she considers her self a woman same as any other female that was that way from birth, regardless of her genetic make up. From my understanding of the article Bornstien disagreed with the rules she presented for the most part.
But when she address her "male energy" and how it offended her that others said she would never be a true female, I feel she dismisses her life before the reassignment surgery. Male privilege, tying into previous class topics, is something all men have. If you are a white male you experience things as a white female would not. It doesn't matter your sexual orientation. Unless you are walking around shouting it. Even if she dress as a female when she was still a man, she would still have certain benefits over the true female. I understand that people may look at her weird for dressing that way, but understanding her story she didn't dress like a woman her entire life. Meaning she as a young boy was treated as though he would grow up to be a man. We all know what I am trying to get at, as to the experience of a young boy versus a young girl. So I guess as a woman I almost feel insulted that a trans-gender female would say that she is a true woman, because she removed her penis. There are times in your life that have experiences that are crucial to ones development and thought, your gender during those times drives the influences you are exposed to whether you want to or not.I can respect her decision to live her life the way she has, and I have no problem with her saying she is a women, but I feel she has no ground to stand on by saying she is a true woman. Her "male energy" is her male privilege she was exposed to as a child.
You're right about breaking the first gender law. for the most part gender is black and white as it relates to male and female but we can't forget those who aren't categorized on the ends of the gender spectrum. Some people identify as trans-gender and have traits of both categories.
Okay!!! Erin's over here dropping knowledge bombs. I see exactly what you're saying and it makes sense. I'm just throwing this out there so I can offer another example and better relate. Lets say you could undergo a "race changing" operation. An individual is born a white male and decides to have the operation around 18 years old because he identifies better with people of color. I would be very insulted for that individual to claim being proud to be a proud Black man because he didn't go through the things I went through. There are different experiences on the road to being a White male compared to being a Black male i.e. white privilege. The same goes for the process of maturing from a girl to a woman. Great point. I hope my example makes sense.
It's very interesting to think of a way to raise children with out pushing them in a certain direction which influences their gender choice. It's hard to comprehend because I it probably happens in rare instances.
One thing I think about is that it's so much bigger than the parents themselves because even if they do their part they have no control over what happens in kindergarten with the kids' friends or anytime they're not with their children. When you go through a drivethru and order a happy meal, a popular follow-up question is, "Is that a boy or girl?" I also feel that outsiders will be quick to comment over why a boy is playing with a barbie or why a girl has a tonka set. But the thought itself is very intriguing.
Check this video out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvVhE-QP8L4&feature=fvwrel
The child rearing aspect does raise an interesting point. I agree that it is bigger than the parents, unless the child is raised in the home until they can some how prove that they are completely satisfied in their own version of gender. This seems a rare instance indeed! Also being isolated for that long I sure would bring it's own host of issues and problems. It is funny that you mention the happy meal thing because I remember when Ii was 7 or 8 I was at a McDonalds with my family and with my meal came either an M&M or Britney Spears CD (times have drastically changed). I asked for the Britney one (no defense)and the male cashier gave me a very wierd look and then said "You only want it because you think she's hot right?" I remember being confused and just agreeing because I felt uncomfortable. Yet another example of gender being ever present.