http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo7o2LYATDc&feature=related
This is an interesting take on the meaning and origin of expressed gender. It looks like a good discussion starter, anyhow.
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Comments
We don't know ourselves.
It's odd to me that the words gay, or lesbian seem to refer to sexual preference. I wonder why the selection of sexual partners seems so important to most people? I have observed, casting sexual preference aside, that gays and lesbians are generally very different people from the general population. On gay friend I have is definitely not like males I know. Gee, he has a new car and had never had the hood open until I asked him to do it. So, does that bring my own gender into question?
I know lesbian women who are extremely feminine, but just like girls, and I know them that seem pressed to prove they can drive a truck as good as any man. In either case, sexual preference seems to not actually be the issue, but normals seem to think it is the only important one.
Where is this going? I forgot.
Gwendolyn
Where are we going?
I'm getting that same vibe.
And I agree. Sexual preference and gender identity are two very different things. Still, since most people at least nominally identify with their physical gender, and are attracted to the opposite sex, they are going to mentally lump deviations from that majority ('norm') together. I'll be charitable and say that, in most cases, it is probably a result of not giving the subject much thought.
One thing that struck me at the beginning of the video was that I couldn't really tell if the speaker was male or female. More to the point, was she attempting to present as male or female?
I think GBLT is about genetics
I think it is all about genetics, and the pain comes from our closed thinking on gender roles, not the worth of the person in spite of the lack of compliance to established, comfortable role models. I am extremely comfortable as a very feminine woman, and it gets me into trouble if I try to use my electrical/engineering/handyman (oops handywoman) skills. I have finally come to the conclusion that I should probably just be what others are comfortable with as long as the shoe does not pinch too much. After all, I already did that arky sparky, electrical, plumbery, carpenteretic, tree monkey, rapid floating gig and should just be happy with the idea that it is in the past. Besides my body will last much longer if I abandon that hyperactive, male juice driven, super macho, self destructive, senseless conduct. :)
G
What we do
While electronic/plumbing/building activities are more prevalent in men, I have never seen it as restricted to men. If you want to avoid all the geeky stuff because you are no longer interested, that's up to you. Letting someone's preconceptions change your mind is a different story.
I have to admit that I am not fond of plumbing or scooting around in the crawl space under a house or climbing a tree. I have never liked getting sweaty and dirty, anyhow. Of course, I would still climb trees if I could without hurting myself.
It's the physical part that I don't like. I'll happily diagnose or design things like cars and other machinery, but I'm just not that fond of getting my hands greasy. On the other hand, I recently bought a brand new oscilloscope (how technology has changed!) and prefer building my own computer. Also, I find that as my depression issues start to go away, I'm getting a lot more of the old spark back.
I guess what I'm saying that things like enjoying technology, enjoying working with your hands, enjoying sports, nurturing, and other general likes/dislikes may have some correlation to one's physical or mental gender, but they don't define it.
But I'm kind of curious. Did you do all of that stuff because it was a way to make money, because you thought that was something that a man should do, because you genuinely enjoy it, because it gave you a feeling of accomplishment, because others admired your ability to do it, or some combination of all of them?
How do you feel about it now? Would you enjoy the physical aspects of it if you had a younger or more fit body? Are you still proud of (or happy to have) your ability/knowledge?
If one of the stories you read on this site came true for you and you suddenly found yourself to be a high school student, what career path would you pursue?
Another video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swcXk-uqqLk&feature=related
she's interesting, and funny
I like her.
My comment...
500 characters can be a bit limiting, so I attempted to condense my usual discourse on the subject into that limit:
As for sexuality, I'd say their behaviour is just as variable regardless of who your preferred partner is. While there is stereotypical behaviour associated with people of homosexual inclination (e.g. campness - although of course with those in the media spotlight, what we see may be deliberately exaggerated for effect), it certainly doesn't apply to all.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Performative Fiction and Gender
I think a lot of the fiction here explores the performative nature of the cultural aspects of gender without ignoring the innateness of some gender feelings. It's an interesting juxtaposition and seeing a woman who bends the bars constraining her own gender expression talking about this was very interesting.
Ray's second video was also to this point.
What is gender? Gender may mean the social expression of cultural roles assigned to different sexes by tradition, reinforced by socialization and validated or invalidated by personal predisposition, experience and choice.
What is transgender fiction? Transgender fiction can be made up of narratives that explore, define and redefine the ways in which gender norms are transgressed, overturned, and redeemed by the feelings, actions and thoughts of people in this web of social expectation.
Hugs to all,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.