Gender Identity

Gender Identity

            The topic of gender identity can sometimes be difficult to discuss and an uncomfortable subject for many people.  One’s gender identity refers to how he or she identifies in relation to a male or female.  The continuum of gender identity supports a wide range of varying gender identities between the stereotypical male and female markers on each end of the spectrum.  It is interesting to consider how each individual falls somewhere on the spectrum and how uniquely each person identifies. 

Most cisgender males and females still enjoy a handful of activities that are stereotypically matched with the opposite sex.  For example, although I am a cisgender female, I enjoy being outdoors, hiking, and occasionally fishing with my boyfriend.  Outdoor activities and fishing are often categorized as being male activities.  The fact that I occasionally enjoy these activities does not change who I am or how I identify.  There seem to be socially constructed norms of what is accepted and what is not.  Typically, no one judges me for going hiking on a Saturday afternoon.  I do not feel that me engaging in this activity causes anyone to question my gender identity.  But, on the other hand, if a male decided to go get a full body massage on a Saturday afternoon, his gender identity might be questioned.  I do not necessarily support these social constructed norms, but they seem to cause common misconceptions and controversy concerning gender identity. 

When I think of gender identity, my thoughts are quickly connected to the topic of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons because LGBT persons’ gender identities often do not match their sexual orientation.  These persons are often categorized as being “at risk” and are overall more likely than others to experience physical and emotional harm throughout their lives (Biegel, 2010, p. 118).  Many support groups and programs, including support groups for LGBT Youth, safety zones within the schools, and understanding educators have recently been developed to help reach the needs and desires of LGBT and transgender persons.  Social stratification and the hierarchical structure of dominant and minority groups also seems to be relevant to the discussion of gender identity.  The dominant group, including cisgender males and females, tends to have more access to resources within society.  In contrast, the minority group, composed of LGBT persons, tends to have less and often inadequate access to resources within society (Sensory and DiAngelo, 2012, p. 41).  On a larger scale, the minority group of society can be composed of transgender, genderqueer, and women, when men constitute the primary dominant group (Sensory and DiAngelo, 2012, p. 42).  Social stratification and dominant and minority groups prevent an equal distribution of power, privileges, and resources among all people. 

Being a cisgender female whose sexual orientation and gender identity match, I have never given the topic of gender identity much thought.  I have never considered that transgender individuals have an inadequate and lack of resources within society.  I feel that it is becoming more and more common to witness same sex couples interacting and holding hands in public.  Personally, I feel that males who identify as the opposite sex suffer more than females who identify as males.  I feel that it is more socially acceptable for a female to dress in baggy clothing, have short hair, and engage in masculine activities.  Males have been constrained to a very masculine set of social norms and when or if they try to stretch the boundaries, I feel that they are more quickly judged.  I feel that society has constructed more rigid and strict boundaries for males than for females.  Females seem to have a more fluid and wide range of guidelines that can be stretched without as much harsh feedback from society. 

While growing up, I always had a baby doll on my hip.  I loved to pan family and I enjoyed packing and re-packing a diaper bag and pushing my babies around in strollers.  It has never been a question for me as to how I would identify, because I have always presented as being very feminine, which matches my sexual orientation.  While I also enjoyed being outside with my dad, helping him in his building, and riding the four-wheeler with my dad, no one has ever questioned my identity due to those activities.  More so than loving the idea of getting dirty, I just always enjoyed hanging out with my dad on Saturdays and when my mom had to work late.  My parents, family, and friends primarily influenced my gender identity.  No one in my family has presented as an LGBT person, and therefore, while growing up I never had significant interaction with a transgender individual.  I also feel that my teachers and society as a whole has somewhat influenced my gender identity.  Growing up I was very prone to mimic behaviors of family members and friends, but I have never been as tempted to copy the behaviors of people that I did not know as well or did not spend as much time with. 

Overall, I try to be open and understanding of other’s decisions.  While I do not agree with and do not support the habits of LGBT persons, I do respect them and recognize that their needs and desires should be met.  I will not treat anyone disrespectfully who chooses to identify as the oppose sex.  I feel that my friends and I are polite to all people and will treat everyone as equal regardless of their gender identity.  Gender identity can be a difficult topic to discuss and a daily challenge within the school system.  As future educator, it is imperative that I practice treating everyone with equality and not discriminating for any reason.  It will be my responsibility to make my classroom a positive, comfortable, and safe environment for all students.

References

Biegel, S. (2010). The right to be out. Minneapolis, MN: Uiniversity of Minnesota Press.

Sensoy, O., & DiAngelo, R. (2012). Is everyone really equal? New York, NY: Teachers College

Press. 

Bechdel Test

Bechdel Test

I chose to watch an episode from Grey’s Anatomy and I will discuss the female representation and the idea of gender bias in regards to the Bechdel Test.  Three main criteria are considered when determining if a movie or television show passes the test.  Passing the Bechdel test requires that there are at least two women characters, the women characters must talk to each other, and they must talk about something other than a man. 

On Grey’s Anatomy, there are several main characters that are women, they all talk to each other, and they discuss things other than men.  The specific episode that I watched, which was episode five of season nine, as well as the television show as a whole, pass the Bechdel Test.  Even though it passes the test, the show can still be analyzed in relation to concepts such as gender and stereotypes.  Meredith and Yang, two main female characters, are best friends and talk to each other about a wide variety of topics.  The two characters do engage in conversation about men very often.  Although they perform surgeries together and consult each other concerning treatment plans for patients, a significant amount of their conversations and their time together is spend talking about a man, or multiple male characters. 

Thinking about the Bechdel Test is relevant to conversations about gender in the media because it tests the representation and significance of female characters.  The test suggests that female characters are under represented and that if they are present and are given speaking roles, that their concerns should only be heard if they are regarding a man.  The television show Grey’s Anatomy seems to reinforce some stereotypes, while tearing down and questioning other stereotypes that are expressed throughout media sources.  For example, the media in general seems to sell the idea that men are successful and power figures within the home and workplace.  Women, in contrast, are expected to be appealing to the eye, domestic, and able to multi-task.  Within this media, females are often talking about men, concerned with how they are perceived by men, and are willing to be submissive to them by being on their time and schedule.  But, the males also often talk about female characters and about their feelings toward them.  Sometimes the male characters present with authoritative personality traits and raise their voice toward females.  This often occurs in the operating room, but it occurs in some relationships outside of the hospital as well. 

A common stereotype that can be witnessed both on television and throughout day-to-day life is the variation in how an authoritative male is perceived in contrast to a female who is in a position of power.  If a man holds a high-ranking position within his work place, he is often described as being motivated, proficient, and successful.  Oppositely, women who hold authority within their workplace are often described negatively.  Women of power are often described as being bossy, feisty, and pushy.  This is depicted in Grey’s Anatomy through Dr. Bailey, the Chief Resident.  She is collectively referred to as the “Nazi” due to her high expectations and unwavering demands.  The Chief of Surgery, who is a male surgeon, demonstrates the same strict demeanor and projects orders without negotiation.  Although Chief Hunt (male) and Dr. Bailey (female) share similar authoritative personalities and both demonstrate high expectations, Chief Hunt is never called a “Nazi” or downgraded due to his constant expectations.  The same characteristics and traits cause the female doctor to be ridiculed, while the male doctor continues to gain respect from peers and colleagues within the hospital.   

In contrast to many perceptions that are portrayed in other television shows and movies, Grey’s Anatomy has almost an even balance of male and female characters.  Surprisingly, female characters hold high-ranking positions within the hospital and have authority in many situations.  The board members of the hospital are composed of both male and female characters, and both seem to have adequate talk time and all are able to voice their opinions and concerns.  It is significant to note that the show itself was named after a woman surgeon, Ellis Grey, and her legacy was passed down to her daughter, Meredith Grey.  This explains how some common stereotypes are questioned and torn down within this media source. 

The television show Grey’s Anatomy passes the Bechdel test and it both supports and questions common stereotypes and ideas concerning gender.  It is interesting to discuss how one media source can send multiple signals both directly and indirectly to its viewers.  Engaging in discussions in class about these topics has helped to open my eyes and forced me to pay attention to the many signals that can be interpreted through social media and readily available media sources.  I have enjoyed learning about and becoming aware of common stereotypes and how they are portrayed through everyday media sources. 

References

Rhimes, S. (Writer), & Cragg, S. (Director). (2005- ). Beautiful doom [Television series

episode]. Grey’s Anatomy. USA: American Broadcasting Company.

Raising a Baby in a Genderless Environment

Raising a baby in a genderless environment is a controversial issue that I have never given much thought.  Before taking any education classes, I had briefly heard of topics and issues such as this, but I never stopped to consider varying perspectives of the issues.  The education classes that I have taken at the University of North Georgia have definitely helped to open my eyes and my awareness to differing ideas and lifestyle patterns, such as this topic.  Being raised in a small town and in a Southern Baptist family, I have grown up not knowing anything different than having gender revel parties and lavishing the newborn baby with either pink or blue outfits.  Some parents choose to wait until their baby is born to find out the sex.  I have always wondered how the parents are able to adequately prepare the room and buy appropriate outfits for the baby if they do not find out the sex before he or she is born.  For me to entertain this thought process, it solidifies the idea that I have never considered the idea of trying to raise a baby in a genderless environment. 

I am doing my best to keep any open mind and to accept the opinions of others, but I feel that it would be negative to the child if he or she were raised in a genderless environment.  I understand that some parents have chosen to raise their children in this manner, and I recognize that they are doing it so that their children have the opportunity to choose how they want to identify.  On the counter side, I do not feel that trying to raise a child in a genderless environment would yield positive effects.  Instead of this giving the child freedom in his or her expression, I feel that it would primarily lead to great confusion.  As the child grows, matures, and develops, he or she will desire the acceptance of peers and will want to feel welcomed into a friend group.  Even if the child is unschooled or homeschooled and surrounded by family who try their best to provide a genderless environment, the child will eventually learn if he or she is male or female.  While the male or female may not understand what it means to be a girl or boy, he or she will still go through puberty and eventually have to decide how he or she wants to identify. 

One’s gender can be defined by how he or she identifies himself or herself, while one’s sex is defined by his or her physical characteristics.  Gender can be chosen, but sex is almost always predetermined.  Most people categorize themselves as being cisgender, which means that their gender identify matches their sexual orientation.  Others identify as being transgender, which means that the way that they identify themselves does not match their sex.  My concern is that children who are raised in a genderless environment have a greater possibility of being confused about their sex and gender identify.  But, others would argue that those children would have the advantage of having freedom within their gender identity.  As a disclaimer, this is solely my opinion. 

Throughout this post, I have included the word “try” when considering the idea of raising a baby in a genderless environment.  I have included that word in the phrase because I do not feel that it is entirely possible to raise a child without the constructs of gender.  It might be possible to eliminate the factor of gender for the first couple of years of a child’s life, but I do not feel that it is possible to contain the child in a genderless environment for more than the early years of his or her life.  Parents cannot shelter their children forever, and I do not feel that they should try.  Parents should do their best to raise their children in the best way that they know how, but at some point the children must enter the world and begin to experience things for themselves. 

This topic has provoked my thought processes and forced me to think critically about this scenario.  Although I do not support the idea and I do not feel that it will result in positive outcomes, I will not discriminate against parents who choose this for their children.  Within my future classroom, I will treat all students equally regardless of their gender identity.  When I am a professional and within my workplace, I will demonstrate professional behavior and will accept all children and parents.  This is an interesting topic and I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to write about my opinions and gain a greater understanding of others and their decisions.