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What do you think of the gender binary?
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I hate it in every possible way for so many reasons, but I also have to recognize it was invented for imperialism/colonialism. So, even if it oppresses me in comparison to white cis people, my gender as a trans woman is valid because of the binary even as a non-binary woman. That's white privilege.
#burnittotheground
JSYK she/her pronouns!
So, uh. There's a WASP conservative opinion for your thread?
EDIT: To clarify, we agree that there's two different levels (software/hardware, whatever you want to call them). I'm trying to take pains to be careful with what I say here, because internet discussions always get weird unless everyone is careful.
Haven't ever met anyone IRL who was trans, or identified as the other gender - that being said, I think it'd bend my brain to have to call someone who clearly looks male 'her'. It's just a side of thinking I can't quite bring myself to comprehend - and I don't mean that in a bad way. I don't understand atheist thinking either, I see too many coincidences, too much in my life has kicked the 'right' way for me to just put it down to me being awesome/getting lucky. My hardware/software match, I guess, but I don't really even think I comprehend what software/hardware not matching would feel like/be like, so I stick to what I know. I'm a guy, hardware and all. So I identify others like that as well.
To me(not meaning any offense), you're either a 1, or a 0. I'm just the kinda guy that doesn't really deal well with anything in between, and that's not trying to take away from anyone who wants to be something other than a 1 or a 0. It's just my perception of things, you know? Some 1's and some 0's don't look like a traditional 1 or a 0, but it still is what it is.
Regardless of what I think about such things, I -also- think that people should, more or less, just be who they are and be happy in life, whatever others might think. I've been through some shit myself, and honestly, life's only about 80 or 90 years long if we get lucky, so better just to be happy while you're alive, I think. Not like, superficially happy, but happy inside. If that makes any sense.
I remember, involve me and I
learn.
-Benjamin Franklin
A cool indie woman/it/whatever (at the time I would have said chick) that was never interested in anyone the whole time I knew her. I regret not asking her more details, why etc.
I don't think that biology is any kind of universal truth, and this article points out reasons as to why our use of science still leads to "social constructs" as much as not using science. That is, sex is as mutable a concept as gender and both are constructs exclusive to society.
JSYK she/her pronouns!
JSYK she/her pronouns!
Abhorash says, "Ve'kahi has proved that even bastards can earn their place."
I don't know if I get this at all.
Anyway, here's my take. Sex and gender are hella complicated. A lot of folks think that there are two sexes, male and female, and that's the be-all, end-all of it. The fact is, there are so many different genetic and biological criteria to determine those categories. There's the chromosomes typically associated with sex, XX and XY, but some folks are born with XO or XXY. Some folks have XX chromosomes but testosterone levels that lead to the development of masculine sex characteristics (congenital adrenal hyperplasia); some folks have XY chromosomes but retain uteri and fallopian tubes, structures usually associated with femaleness (persistent müllerian duct syndrome). Then there's androgen insensitivity, wherein a person with XY chromosomes has a level of or response to androgens leaves them presenting phenotypically in a way most people would perceive as female.
So you can go beyond sex chromosomes and look at genitalia, but the fact of the matter is there is a huge amount of variety there, too. The Intersex Society of North America has some really great data about the frequency of births that are not easily categorized as male or female the way we conceptualize those categories here: http://www.isna.org/faq/frequency
And it's not as simple as sex hormones, of course, because those vary so widely, as well. For example, is a post-menopausal woman any less of a woman for her lower estrogen levels? Of course not.
If so-called "biological sex" is not a clear-cut 1 or 0, how the heck could gender be?
"The smell of dusty fur, sweet smoke, waiting and patience, a thing that time cannot kill. The moth that candles won't burn."
That said, gender is indeed socially constructed and there are other cultures that see it differently. Some indigenous cultures in Malaysia and Indonesia have three or more 'genders', as does Thai culture with it's concept of kathoeys.
The concept of binary gender is really just a product of our binary reproduction and a shallow understanding of human sexuality, but it's not uniquely western. There are plenty of other cultures that have binary gender (probably most really), and there are some that have conceptions of a 'third gender' as it's usually called. But it doesn't have anything to do with imperialism.
JSYK she/her pronouns!
I'm guessing Samp is referring to that aspect of imperialism/colonialisation, where it imports and entrenches patriarchy, which has historically (and perhaps even now) opposed to anything which contradicts a gender binary.
Adding on:
Something interesting to think about - Centuries back, these indigenous cultures in Indonesia celebrating trans/third genders were prevalent before Islam and colonialism, and were a big part of their way of life. Third/trans gendered people were (as I understand it) seen as something like being gifted by the Gods. They took on the privileged roles of ritualists/shamans and were spiritual guides to the people in the same way you would see class of priests as revered and privileged. They had a unique place in society and were treated with respect and awe, not ostracision. When you showed signs of being trans/third gendered, you were sent off to serve a greater calling, and provide a divine service to your people.
That's a very stark contrast to how trans/third gendered people are seen today. And it makes you wonder how the world would be like today if different people had the power, and shaped it differently.
I have to remind myself it's not always useful or healthy to step in the middle of it. I'm also just returning to Aet, and I've always been an errant brat looking for a fight. I'm invested in avoiding that behavior this go around. When I realize I don't have nice words to make my point, I'm wanting to step away from the conversation. (Don't worry, I'll get riled up again in no time!)
@Ingram FWIW, gender theory is my jam and I can do this convo all day long so long as I know me and the other folks involved are excited and into it. If it's something you ever wanted to chat about, PM me!
/my only humble post ever
JSYK she/her pronouns!
Really, the connection between imperialism and colonialism in this case seem tenuous even in the best of scenario. You'll have to make a more convincing argument than that one for me.
JSYK she/her pronouns!
JSYK she/her pronouns!
In regards to the rest, I think it is easy to harp on imperialism, however it is a -human- practice of defining statuses and things, giving them names to identify them by - and while this often does become a larger tool of 'us vs them' (which taps into our base instincts to have an 'other' and protect our smaller clusters, which goes back to tribal warfare and territory and preservation, not just imperialism) - is not something the white man alone has done. I feel that it is a cop out to utilize the very argument that is being contested, and ignores the complexities and facets of one subject to address the complexities and facets of another.
It's sometimes referred to as "Hitchens' Razor" after the late Christopher Hitchens, though the concept of the burden of proof being on the claim maker predates him. If you've actually got some convincing evidence it would be interesting to hear it, rather than an assertion that I'm As for the rest, the Iroquois system of political governance was complex, and though women held much more power than they did in European societies, they still were not the ones ultimately in power. I'd suggest reading about the Iroquois Confederacy, also called the Iroquois League, which was without a doubt controlled by the chiefs of the tribe, who were of course, male. The Iroquois also did plenty of conquering themselves, particularly against the Algonquians and were definitely not a particularly peaceful bunch.
However, if your assertion is actually correct that the Iroquois were non-patriarchal, it undermines arguments about imperialism being inherently patriarchal.
Gender as binary is really a hard sell with western views on gender roles to begin with. I had ...we'll call it a gender crisis when I was a younger teenager. I was legitimately worried I might be a lesbian or Trans because of my nature. I am not girly. Now, I very much identify as female, but many of my core personality traits are viewed as masculine by my society. I am aggressive, loud, practical, logical, and generally dominant in any public situation. We regularly joke about me being the dude in my relationships because I'm the ultra logical, solve the problems one. I am also the primary breadwinner and always have been. Making myself ultra cute has never been something I was good at. Oh man, I tried.
With the vocabulary I had at the time, I translated this as dyke. I was super upset because I also liked boys. I was feeling like I was being pulled towards a thing and would be required to give ups parts of myself to achieve an actualized me.
At the time, the gay community was pretty harsh towards the idea of bisexuality. I grew up hearing bad things about bi people. That didn't seem like a possibility.
Gender and sensuality are linked in a way they really shouldn't be, I think. Who you fall in love with, who you are attracted to is only minimally informed by how you feel about your gender.
I've been watching my two oldest daughters sort through these things. They are moving through their early teens years where this really starts to hit home. Where you begin to work out who you are attracted to and begin to learn who you are. Many of their friends are in some form of flux. They are comfortable with non-traditional terms for gender and sexual identity. A few of my kids friends identify as gender fluid. My middle daughter has always been a tomboy who is currently rocking a shaved head. She identifies as a girl but challenges daily social assumptions of what 'girl' is and should be. She is aware of the pressure, aware of possibilities, in a way that I never was at her age. It has been interesting to watch these kids sort through it with expanded awareness and vocabulary.
I think we'll see a very different landscape as these kids become adults.