Do you view gender as something other than binary?

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   icountthetimesposted 13 years ago

   I've noticed that some people nowadays do not view gender in a binary sense. By that I don't mean that they are transgendered, but instead they do not see things strictly in terms of male and female. Of course the vast majority of us by birth are either male or female, but do you think the societal aspects to what gender is deemed to be as important or relevant?

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      Eranofuposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Biologically there are 5sexes - male, female, male with some female 'parts', female with some male 'parts' and hard to tell which 'parts' are more dominant so androgene.

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   BizGenGirlposted 13 years ago

   My view is that we all have Masculine and Feminine energies, and that we are usually more strongly guided by one of those forces, regardless of what is or isn't between the legs.

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      Cardisaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I like your answer.

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      icountthetimesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That's a really interesting answer BizGenGirl. Thanks very much for contributing.

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   anonimuzzposted 13 years ago

   In a strictly biological sense, obviously, in general, we are either male or female. But socially, we should not be imposed a certain standard of behavior and beliefs just because of that. So, I guess my answer is no. However, I do think that men and women are not equal. They are complementary, not identical, so it's understandable that, to some extent, things can't be exactly the same for both of them, even if they can share several traits. Historical context also plays a part in here (but please, extreme feminists, don't become what you hate. The over-the-top male bashing, as in "I'm so insecure that I need to put them down just to feel better about myself", is just stupid)

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      Cardisaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I totally agree with you. I am just enjoying this forum since I know little on the subject except I do know that, in terms of gender, God did not create male and female with the same biological make up and he did create Eve to complement Adam.

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      icountthetimesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I guess we all slip into roles that are deemed to match up with own biological gender. Left to our own volition we'd likely be rather different. Of course, we're also quite tribal though, so common themes would likely develop in how the sexes act, but perhpas less so than in an environment that is hostile to people expressing themselves in ways that are culturally not deemed to match up with their biological gender.

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   leahleflerposted 13 years ago

   I think there is a spectrum of gender - some people identify as more feminine and some identify as more masculine. There is the biological sex of the person, and then the gender identity - which can vary dependent on a number of things. The amount of testosterone a baby is exposed to in the womb, genetics, environment, personality, etc. all affect gender identification.
   
   I know that the commercial sector still views gender as binary - we tried to find a play kitchen for our sons and they were all pink and purple, with little girls on the front. It took us a lot of time to find a gender neutral set. The same thing happened when we were looking for butterfly nets (all pink, with Barbie emblazoned on the handle). The marketing company obviously determined that "butterfly chasing" was a girl activity, and labeled the product as such.

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      icountthetimesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I hadn't thought of the comcerial aspect. I guess we get in the habit of solely attributing certain toys or activities to boys and girls. Like in your eample with the toys. Interetsingly enough, I believe that pink used to be seen as a male colour many years and not something particulalry feminine. It's interesting how we take everything as it is now as a given or something that has always been that way.

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   hildredposted 13 years ago

   First, as some other people have pointed out, gender and sex are not the same thing/interchangeable. Sex usually refers to the biological aspect, what the doctor says "It's a __" when you are born (and there are many intersexed individuals as well, who are not necessarily either). Gender is the cultural attributes and expectations thrust upon you and how you react to them.
   
   Since the title says "gender", I'll respond to that. Of course gender is not completely binary. Heck, two cultures are rarely going to even agree on what gender attributes to give "man" and "woman". As an example, in America where I'm from most young men wouldn't be caught dead with Hello Kitty backpacks or touching most of their male friends in affectionate ways, because they are raised to think ofthose things as feminine and beneath them (in most western societies it is considered a noble effort for everyone to strive for "masculine" traits while shunning the "feminine"). Here in Japan where I live now, things are very different. Young men often have sparkly, pink, and yes, Hello Kitty schoolbags and often hug and sit on each other just because they want to. They aren't considered any less of their attributed gender.
   
   Personally, I can only go with what "feels right" for me. I am a cissexual female, but I do not care much for either feminine or masculine. Some days I feel more masculine and some days I feel more feminine. Most if it is affected by my environment: what I am doing, where I am going, who I am seeing, and what I am doing with them. I feed off other people's identities as well. If I am with somebody who is very feminine I tend to act and feel more masculine, and if I am with somebody very masculine I tend to sometimes emulate them and sometimes act more feminine (depending on my comfort levels with them.) And even what I consider to be these masculine and feminine feelings may not even match up with somebody else's from my same culture.
   
   Sorry for the really long reply. But in short, yes, gender is more than the binary presented to us as fact.

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   SanXuaryposted 13 years ago

   There is no doubt in my mind that men and women are different in every way. Anyone can learn or add the qualities of either sex but none of it is the same. Add all the other personalities that exist and we become more different by the minute. We have been on this everyone fits one shoe idea way to long. The fact that everyone is different and we must accept that, makes better sense. I have nothing against same sex people but have no idea why I would be expected to understand it for instance. My entire life is removed from the life style and I have no incentive or desire to change something that is unchangeable. I do not believe that its my fault that I can not think like the opposite sex. If I could it would make my life a hell of a lot easier.

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      psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      So you clearly do see it as very binary--despite being in a a world with people who are hermaphrodite, intersex, asexual, genderqueer, transexual, transgender, cross-dressing, butch, femme and otherwise fabulous.

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   SanXuaryposted 13 years ago

   I absolutely believe that and I am not trying to call it different but it is. If you our a man and decided you our a girl I am more then happy to treat you like one. I am not discriminating but there is no chance for some person in this capacity who could equal or act like a real woman at the same level. They are more then capable of becoming the best at whatever it is that they wish to be. The thought process is different but not the same. In sexual terms there is no possibility that it would work. If I am so picky that it takes a specific kind of woman to get my interest how would someone this different have a chance? This is not discrimination its about choices. Even someone who has chosen this path is looking for something specific. My brain has not been washed its already created and can not be changed from noticing the difference. This does not mean I hate anyone it simply means that I do not understand and have no interest in this life style. I am not making a point, such a person could talk to me all day and even be a friend but beyond that I have no ability to understand such a life style. Even trying to understand it would only make it worst. Privacy has a place and is no ones business but their own.

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   SanXuaryposted 13 years ago

   Yes I do understand that there are people born with both or extra body parts and I also know that testosterone and estrogen levels are in question in dealing with human sexuality and development. I also know its difficult to discuss this subject based on human behaviour and choice verses possible medical or mental issues.

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      psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      So you know some people are genetically and anatomically not purely male or purely female?
      
      And yet you still have a binary perception of gender?

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         SanXuaryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I am not confused by my sexuality and intend to live by it. If others our confused then they should seek help or knowledge to determine or help research in finding out the correct answer. If a woman came to me and told me she was a woman but born as a hermaphrodite and in my knowledge I knew she was I would not tell her that she was not. If she herself decided that she was based on that persons knowledge of oneself why would I believe anything different. In my desire to find the right person I would know what I could live with. Still it is no ones business what my personal life and decisions our and I would never tell anyone to accept my life style.

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