spectrum

I also have begun to think of gender/sex as a spectrum as opposed to separate categories of male and female. However, as displayed by our readings and discussions, its going to be a while before this notion is accepted, if ever.

 

I found it interesting the emphasis that was placed on the importance of the parent’s comfort towards their child’s gender. Countless cases, including that of Joan/John display some sub-conscious knowledge on the part of the individual of their maleness/femaleness. Clearly the child’s comfort is not a top priority of the doctors who are choosing to perform these operations directly following birth. I believe that to be very problematic.

 

As we have seen throughout this course, the very idea of what makes a “man” male what a woman “female” is very hard to define. We so desperately seek to put these ideas in boxes and categories but too man “anomalies” exist. Just think about how many women you know, who are completely “female” in the sense of having female genitalia etc, but are very “masculine” in their likes/dislikes and appearance. Every one of us probably knows at least one or two women who fall in this category. If we gathered all those women in a room, whose to say they are the not-normal ones. They are all “women” so why do their traits have to be defined as “masculine” if they’re clearly exhibited by so many humans who are not male?

 

I reassert my statement of my last post, the feminist movement, the homosexual/bisexual/lesbian communities, and the intersex/transgender/transsexual communities should join forces. There is no problem with a lack of communication in our world today, the vehicles are out there, its not hard to get ones voice heard and point across as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort.