Beyond 2 sex / 2 gender: Gender Identity and Expression

Gender

• in a nutshell, refers to the socially constructed meaning we give to different groups of people

• ends up being about how our society constructs differences

Sex

• in a nutshell, refers to the biological attributes, primarily associated with physical and physiological features

Gynandromorph

an organism that displays both male and female sex characteristics

• Rose-breasted grosbeak example in class (pink for male, yellow for female)

The S-x Spectrum: Kobedai Fish

• Switch from male to female (not gynandromorph)

• 10-year old female becomes a male after several months of transformation

• “Theres simply more diversity in fishes: thanks to evolutionary radiation, they are among the more widely adapted to a broad range of environmental niches. And where you get variation, you get diversity in all sorts of ways, including how they reproduce.”

• “The capacity to switch s-x is highly adaptive. If an individual fish can reproduce as a female for the first portion of its life, then continue breeding as a male for the rest, it effectively doubles up on its reproductive output. Being able to switch s-x maximises the chances of passing on genes if environmental or social circumstances should change.”

S-x Spectrum: Humans

• body wise we are a dimorphic species, but our understanding of s-x and gender is evolving (example of s-x being more of a spectrum than a binary)

• Also intersex bodies that don’t fit into either category

The Gender Spectrum

• refers to an array of possibilities

• a — — model/approach o gender makes room for anyone whose experiences do not narrowly fit into binary choices such as man/woman or feminine/masculine

• “descriptors for gender identities are rapidly expanding; youth and young adults today no longer feel bound to identify strictly with one of two genders, but are instead establishing a growing vocabulary for gender”

3 important pieces of data from the stats canada survey

• 1 in 300 Canadians are transgender or non-binary

• “Gender diversity was highest among those aged 20-24, almost 1 in 100 of whom were transgender or non-binary”

• In comparison, 1 in 700 were trans or non-binary among people aged 65 and older

2 things to consider

• we see a generational difference (but does not imply that gender diversity is a new idea)

• Gender is first and foremost a private experience (and someones whos gender identity fits within our society’s 2 s-x/2 gender system is going to have a different public experience than someone who’s gender is beyond the 2 s-x/2 gender system

Transgender

• this category includes persons who’s reported gender does not correspond to their reported s-x at birth. It includes transgender (trans) men and women. Non-binary persons are excluded

• includes Dysphoria,

Gender Dysphoria vs Body Dysmorphia

• gender dysphoria is not the same thing as body dysmorphia

• body dysmorphia is recognized as an anxiety disorder (in the obsessive-compulsive)

• those with body dysphoria have a distorted view of how they look, while those with gender dysphoria suffer no distortion

Gender Congruence

The feeling of harmony in our gender

• experiencing comfort in our body as it relates to our gender

• naming of our gender that adequately corresponds with our internal sense of who we are

• expressing ourselves through clothing, mannerisms, interests, and activities

• being seen consistently by others as we see ourselves

A person can seek harmony in many ways

• social measures, hormonal measures, surgical measures, legal measures

Transition: Transitioning

refers to a host of activities hat people may pursue in order to affirm their gender identity

• the — is taking place, but it is often other people (parents/employers/family) who are transitioning in how they see the individuals gender, and not the person themselves. For these people, changes are less of a transition and more of an evolution (pursuing congruence measures)

Gender Identity

our internal experience and naming of our gender. Our deeply held, internal sense of self as masculine, feminine, a blend of both, neither, or something else. It can correspond to or differ from the s-x we were assigned at birth

• any traits can be present in people of any gender or gender expression. Gender expression may or may not match biological s-x

Gender Expression

this is our “public” gender. How we present our gender in the world and how society, culture, community, and family perceive, interact with, and try to shape our gender

• how someone performs/presents their gender; the external behaviours and characteristics (speech, clothes, mannerisms) that someone uses to express themselves

Non-binary

term used by some people who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the categories of man and woman

Cisgender

someone that identifies as their s-x assigned at birth

• derived from latin word meaning “on the same side”

Drag

• performance art that plays on gender stereotypes. Performers act out gender roles

• exaggerated, theatrical, and/or performative presentation that usually plays with gender

• — queens usually identify as men when are not ‘performing femininity’

• — kings usually identify as women, when not ‘performing masculinity’

Inters-x/Differences of s-xual development

• refers to a person whos biological/anatomical s-x is outside conventional classifications of male or female. This may be due to genetic, hormonal and/or anatomical variations. This word replaces the out-dated and disparaging term ‘hermaphrodite’

• intersex is not interchangeable with transgender

The ‘typical’ 3-part alignment of the male and female body

Either

1. genetic / s-x chromosomes = XY

2. gonad (internal) = test-s

3. external genital-a = pen-s, scrot-m

OR

1. genetic / s-x chromosomes = XX

2. gonad (internal) = ovari-s

3. external genital-a = labi-a

Main categories of intersex conditions

• Gonadal inters-x

• Congenit-l Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

  • XX(genetic female) + ovaries + male external genital-a

• Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

  • XY (genetic male) + test-s + female external genital-a

Ovotesti-s

Ovarian tissue with testicula-r tissue wrapped around it

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

XY (genetic male) + test-s + female external genital-a

• Congenit-l Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

• XX(genetic female) + ovaries + male external genital-a

Genit-l normalizing Surgeries

• mainly done because genital-a should match societal standard

Caster Semenya

• south african runner who has been at the center of a gender identity conflict with the governing body for track and field

• nature doesn’t draw a line on s-x, we draw a line on nature

How common are inters-x conditions?

• best estimate seems to be 1-2%

• “up to 2% of all live births are considered non-dimorphic”

• makes inters-x about as common as having red hair

Maria Patino

• Spains top womens hurdler in the 1980’s

• s-x testing of women in elite athletic events started in 1966

• 1988 olymics, she forgot her ‘certificate of femininity’

• failed because she has Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome

  • XY + test-s + female external genital-a

• was allowed to compete after she challenged the ban

Complete AIS (androgen insensitivity syndrome)

• breas-s develop, female body develops, no menstruation, appearance is female/gender identity is female/feminine

Two-Spirit

We have very few actual interviews with historical two-spirit → don’t really know how they would have described them selves

• meant someone who holds both feminine and masculine energy or spirit

• about gender identity beyond 2 genders

• important component is the spirituality

• the role they play in their communities is also important (mediator, middle gender, filler, keeper of ceremonies)

Testable video: Myra talking about two spirit

• cannot be defined

• 7 orbs of light

• gift to see the world with 2 sights, 2 feelings of the heart

• neither male nor female but both, complex

‘Male Gender Variant’

s-x assigned at birth is male, but individuals lived as an alternate gender; found in 110 to 150 historical societies

Woman-man traits

• not identified in society as a man or woman, but as an alternate gender

• engages in womens work

• dresses in womens clothes

• no surgeries/transformation of the physical body

‘Female Gender Variant’

s-x assigned at birth is female, but individual lived as an alternate gender; found in 35 to 75 historical societies

Man-woman traits:

• not identified in society as a man or woman, but as an alternate gender

• engage in mens work

• dresses in mens clothes

• no surgeries/transformation of the body

Albania Sworn Virgins (Burrnesha)

• an identity in northern albania where women take on the social role of men

• could become one at any age, had to take an oath of celibacy

• from then on lived as men (appearance, job, public activities, accepted as men by society)

• traces back at least several centuries to a set of traditional laws called the Kanun

• no surgeries/medical transition

WHY DO IT?

• social reasons, men control society so she decided to make the oath to provide for family

• individual freedom

Bacha Posh

• Afghanistan

• some female children (+ sometimes individuals past puberty) dress as males and live as social males

1. Aspects of identity:

• Hukmina @ radia free europe

• Jack @ Bacha Posh movie

2. Aspects of independence

• desire for independence associated with the male social role

3. Aspect of parental decisions which is influenced by life in a patriarchal society

• having sons is considered more valuable than having daughters

Take home points: Albanian sworn virgins and Bacha Posh

• the cross-cultural perspective reminds us that s-x/gender systems are cultural constructions

• cross-cultural diversity reminds us that gender diversity is an ancient idea in many societies around the world

• the conversation might be a new one for some of canadian society, but the idea of gender diversity is an old one