Sex: M is for misfit

[justben]

Gender’s been on my mind a bit for the last year or so. It’s always been a bit of an awkward topic for me, but lately I’ve been spending some think-time trying to analyze why. I think the narrative of how it’s surfaced is interesting in its own right, but I’ve tried to write that once or twice now, and it always seems to get bogged down and

Comments

[akiko_kalla]

Suggestion...stop looking for models and go with what your heart tells you. ^_^ No one can tell you what is black, white, or grey. And regardless of how you grew up--unhappiness is something that affects everyone and can be just as significant for a white upper middle class male. I know you know, but I will say it anyway: Happiness comes from within. Consequently if someone is unhappy it is regardless of gender, status, age, race, etc. (In other words, don't downplay your reality because it was real to you and in the end, that is all that matters.)

Most people have curiosity at some point about the opposite gender. As I understand it, someone who is transsexual feels wrong with the gender they have been raised. To the point they seek escape because they don't want to pretend to be someone they are not. When filling out a form it feels wrong to select their current "physical gender" because it is so different from what they feel inside. At least this is how it was described to me. Whipping Girl by Julia Serano might

[justben]

Hm. I suspect perhaps I didn’t spend enough keystrokes qualifying that I’m trying to examine sex and gender separately for the moment. Sorry I didn’t clarify that well enough

[akiko_kalla]

Please define Gender vs Sex Identities? Are you saying the idea of physical gender vs. the concept of gender roles? While they are two different things they often get put together because they are so closely entwined in society and for a lot of people. Not that one view is right or that the tradition shouldn't be tested. In fact that is the exact reason I feel more masculine than some males--I am fulfilling a "male" role despite feeling very confident in my femininity. I added the part about orientation because 1. it often comes up when someone is questioning gender/gender roles (although not always) and 2. to explain my point more clearly. Although me and explaining are sometimes not good friends. :P

[justben]

The distinction of sex from gender was introduced in the 50s and popularized in the field of feminist theory around the 70s. The difference is commonly simplified as: “Sex is what’s between your legs; gender is what’s between your ears.” Less reductionistically, sex is about biology and body and body image, while gender is about roles that people fill in society, linked perhaps partially to sex-linked biology but also so social expectations and to personal identity formation within these roles. The distinction between sex (male/female/etc) and gender (masculine/feminine/etc) provides a handy vocabulary for people to talk about, for instance, sex/body dysphoria irrespective of gender roles, or individuals’ gender presentation and identity irrespective of their sex. While the two are generally closely linked for most of the population, their variations and differences can be interesting in the minority for whom they’re not

[akiko_kalla]

Okay. Then from your question at the end of your original post...as far as I know the answer is yes. :P