Male or Female?

     Gender. Brings to mind male or female and boy or girl right? Some kind of distinction comes to mind. This is how the vast majority thinks reality is. What if you were told that gender is a continuum behaviors that range from very feminine to very masculine? In not so many words people are neither male nor female but fall somewhere between a feminine and masculine identity. Sounds pretty fishy right? Might make you uncomfortable and I’d venture to say most people would reject the idea. I think this rejection stems from the fact that gender is not a cultural or social invention, but was designed with a purpose. I was not there when people came around, so I’ll have to take someone else’s word for it. Moses writes in the book of Genesis “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”. Later Moses writes “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man”. Clearly these texts declare that gender is a binary fact and not on some obscure continuum.

     Now I know what some of your thoughts are like what about hermaphrodites or people who declare they are a different gender than what their body is. Some people would say that that is proof gender is on a continuum even if it sounds weird. Later Moses writes about the Fall of Man. Basically Adam and Eve disobeyed God and in doing so allowed all kinds of death, decay, and perversion of what was initially created. This would explain the variations we see in the world today. Now I am NOT saying those who don’t fall under normal gender guidelines are more cursed and subsequently lesser than those who fall under the norm. Everything was effected by the Fall of Man but that is another topic for another day. All I am really trying to say is that the idea that gender is on a continuum rightly does not make since because that is not how gender was designed.

     Now while gender is not something that can be quantified, masculine and feminine characteristics can be. Not trying to get into the nurture versus nature argument too heavily I believe we are born with some traits and learn others. As far as who we learn from varies upon stages of life. Family has its first go as parents teach their kids. As we get to schooling age authority figures (especially teachers), friends, and media have an increasing level of effect as the years go by. We pick up on our surroundings and walk the fine line of acceptance and individuality. Sadly, as a culture, we tend to reject or look down upon those outside the norm. The labels we give those individuals are usually not so flattering. Guys who act more feminine are sissies, pussies, pansies or gay and girls that act more masculine are tomboys, butch, or lesbians. It’s a terrible reality that both genders face. In general I would say society scrutinizes feminine acting males more than a masculine acting female. As a general statement masculine traits more desirable in society. So when females act more masculine it’s accepted because they are displaying a desired trait that males are expected to have and are looked down upon when not displayed. I’m NOT saying that it’s right that this happens but merely stating an observation that is generally true in society.

     So what do we do? Gender is a fact of life. Its trait seem to be a little more ambiguous. I think, as a culture, we need to start focusing on good and bad characteristics that we can celebrate or abstain from as people, not a genders. We need to realize we are all different to serve a purpose and respect that purpose.

 “It: Good or Bad?”

     A Canadian couple has decided to raise their children “liberated” from gender. They have recently had a baby, Storm, and refuse to release its gender even going through the lengths of having their other two children be sworn to secrecy. Storm is now three years old and there seems to be no indication of its gender. Storm’s older siblings are both announced boys but are treated gender neutrally. The oldest, Jazz, is reported to ask to be referred to as a boy or a girl at different times displaying his gender freedom. All kids are “unschooled” at home which is a non-traditional style of homeschooling focused on education stimulated by the curiosity of the child.

     This is a very complex situation. The parents claim their actions are “a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation” in an email sent after Storm’s birth. While they may be limiting common gender stereotypes they are opening the door for two huge problems. Bullying would probably be the biggest concern. Kids are pretty cruel to people who are outside of the social norm and not holding certain gender norms would bring a lot of negative attention to any child. I am NOT saying the kid should be bullied nor am I justifying bullying. I am being realistic in recognition of a problem in our society in saying that bullying should be taken into account when child rearing technique is in question. My second biggest concern with this is that the child did not have a choice in whether it wanted to be part of some gender experiment. The current actions of the parents are going to have severe consequences that will affect the rest of their child’s life. In short, the solution to one problem, ie gender stereotypes, has the potential to cause many more.

     Honestly the idea of raising a child in a gender neutral environment is unsettling. Males and females are different in more ways than just their stereotypes. It is quite literally in our genes. To take away gender is to take away part of someone’s identity and that doesn’t sound very liberating at all. How much of our gender is nature over nurture? It’s a question that would be hard to answer seeing as gender plays such a large role in culture extreme isolation would be the only way to tell. It would have to mean isolation from any bias; even from a parent bent on not having bias. Seeing this as the only solution, it is impossible to truly raise a child in a gender neutral environment. Even if it was, what would society gain from its possibility? 

“Born This Way”

     Privilege is something you have to live with. It’s kind of like a name in two ways; it is stuck with you whether you like it or not, and it is an identifying trait. I cannot change the fact that I am a white male as much as I cannot change that Jeremiah is on my birth certificate. Now the fact that I am a white male brings me many privileges that I don’t think about. The fact that I cannot help it that I have these privileges does not make it necessarily wrong but neither does it make it right. It’s just an excuse that I find myself leaning on.

     I say one of the hardest privileges I have had to face is that non-privileged people all around me are still taken advantage of. Whenever people talk about racism I would quickly think that “that doesn’t happen anymore”, or that “racism is history”. Same thing would happen when talking about women’s rights. I distinctly remember during the last Presidential election Mrs. Romney giving a speech about equal pay for women in the work place. I thought “she must be living in the past” and “that surely this was a hot topic from her youth and its fixed now.” That was a privilege to think these thoughts. It was a privilege to be able to ignore and deny that discrimination, racism, and sexism were real things that impact others every day.

     I’m not going to lie and say now I am conscious of all non-privileged peoples. I still find it hard to cope with the idea not everyone is treated fairly and with respect. As an educator I need to learn to recognize any kind of double standard that’s for or against non-privileged people. I can have a safe environment in which I can discuss the modern issues of racism, sexism, and discrimination. That way I can help raise a generation that can fight the problem because they can recognize it.  

“What do You Mean You People?”

     Racism. It is such an ugly word that stands for something far worse than it sounds. Even hinting at this is so taboo. And why is that? Our country’s history was tainted with this injustice from the beginning. Most people would automatically think of slavery when reflecting on our country’s history. It was a terrible institution that I do not want to down play. Sadly, this is only part of the struggle, proving racism to be a more complex issue. I find it so comical that Americans, who were all immigrants at one time, tried so hard to alienate any immigrant that came later in our country’s history. After slavery was abolished the world was a different place. Immigrants started pouring in from across the globe seeking the “American Dream”. Most came from China and Europe and were meet with extreme hostility. They took whatever was available for survival’s sake. Think about actual legislation being passed that limited rights of Blacks, Asians, and Whites. Yes I said it, racism is not just white vs. black like so many are taught. It was a larger problem that oppressed Chinese, Irish, most Eastern Europeans, and Blacks.

     The first step in abolishing racism is truly understanding its complexity. Racism can take many forms today as it has in the past and educators need to teach all sides of it. If we teach its complexity than we can work as a unified people. Teaching about racism is not the solution. That comes with initiating conversation that gets people thinking about their role. Educating can be a passive action that discussions can change it to being active.

     History is a good foundation, but to really see change we have to keep current. As educators we should engage students in current issues of racism that are seen worldwide, in media, and close to home. This can start with simple conversation of student observation but can have a greater effect of allowing racism to be seen as it truly is.