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.