I am constantly fascinated by the labels we will choose to identify ourselves with and then how we will use them to form teams and divide ourselves. We see this constantly in politics and religion. And certainly this is pervasive in the transgendered community when it comes to the label of gender identification.
My fascination comes in part by the often arbitrary nature of our labels and identifications. People are compelled to define everything around them, and perhaps in a desperate struggle to keep it simple stupid, we like to use the broadest labels we can.
Admittedly I can see logically that primitive humans would define a concept such as gender identification as nothing more than another way to say birth-sex. Thus it would be logical to say that there are two genders. However, it seems unlikely that humans that primitive would be capable of making such social distinctions.
So when we take a deeper look at social interaction and personal identification within a culture, it becames plainly obvious that real life is far more complex than black/white, good/evil, male/female. And if we are identifying gender as a mental-emotional identifier and not as a sex identifier, then it seems absurd to suggest that there are only two genders. Maybe two extreme polar opposites, but not much exists in the extremes.
However, if we are sticking by the dictionary definition, as it relates to human sex, then there indeed only two.
But somehow I thought there was a revolution of spirit happening here, at Susan's, in the transgendered community at large. I was under the impression we were breaking down the walls of cultural stereotyping, bias, and bigotry.
And as such I voted for "How many do you want there to be!"
Karen's examples of how other cultures, outside of western culture have incorporated this idea into their way of life demonstrates that this is not a new concept. RebeccaFog makes a beautiful metaphor in that each human is unique in all ways, not just regarding gender identification. I obviously agree with Julie-Marie's statment that gender, like many labels, exist to make everyday life easier to comprehend, but as I already indicated, that rarely shows the whole picture. As some mentioned, by a prescriptive definition of gender, there are only two, but that definition indicates sex, and to keep things simple would likely indicate birth-sex, which really makes it difficult for transexuals to make claim to being another gender beyond their birth-sex. Yes, the "sliding scale" might be our invention, but I think when you really get down to it, most things exist on a spectrum. There are birds, and there are bluejays, robins, cardinals, hawks, and tweeties. I may be male, but what
kind of male am I? Maybe you were born a seagull but you know in your heart you are an eagle.
We are using a word that has various definitions to slide things around to make ourselves (the transgendered et al) feel better about our personal situations. In the context of this recurring conversation, I must point out that gender is described alternatively as being, "The condition of being male or female, sex," and ,"Sexual identity especially as it relates to society or culture." And not necessarily in the same order of importance/relevance, depending on which source you choose to consult.
As such, this recurring discussion seems to serve little purpose beyond divisiveness, unless it is made very clear what we are talking about. For me I assume we are discussing gender as it relates to sexual identity, beings that every participant here did not start out with the gender assignment they relate to. Yes, some of you will eventually match up both definitions, but this is not the case for every transgendered person, either by choice or circumstances beyond their control.
Therefore I suggest that for the transgendered person, of any flavor, to assert one definition over the other, does little for the community, and at worst negates the real mental-emotional-spiritual issues we are all here dealing with.
Oh and hello Steph. Long time no chat, I'm sorry I've been away so long.
