The title of this note is from a great quote: "The real gender-determining region is between the ears, not between the legs." - M. Hengstchläger
I bet you think you know what this note is going to be about, based on what I've already said, but you're wrong. I'm not here to discuss gays rights - not right now, at least. I'm here to discuss a lecture that a really neat GSU professor gave as one of his last lectures before he moved to a different school. He was a sociology professor who taught classes about sexual orientations and gender identities. I really wish I had gotten the chance to take that class, but I'm glad I at least got to hear this guy give a neat lecture, and I even got to speak with him afterwards. He actually helped with a really weird turning point in my life, but anyway, I won't get into all that. The point is, he, among other people, have raised the question about how many genders there really are. Some people say there are more than 2 genders. That's interesting, because obviously most cultures only recognize two genders based on biology. However, these days, a lot of people are saying that sex is determined by biology, but that gender is determined by the person and what he/she considers his/her gender identity. That sounds reasonable, right?
Even if we're going by biology, there may be more than 2 genders. Think about it. We base gender off of the types of chromosomes we have: XY vs. XX. Females have XX chromosomes, and males have XY chromosomes. But did you know that sometimes there are people born with XXY chromosomes and others with XYY chromosomes? What do we call them? Sometimes these people don't even know their chromosomal situation. Also, sometimes, for instance, some people are born with XY chromosomes (and therefore are considered to be male) but do not respond to testosterone, and therefore, they develop breasts and vaginas sometimes, instead of testes and a penis. And what about hermaphrodites? They have both reproductive organs, and their chromosomes vary.
Now, if we're going by gender identity (the way a person sees oneself,) which I highly recommend that we do, then there are people who identify themselves as straight males, and there are people who identify themselves as straight females. But also, there are people who identify themselves as gay males & gay females. Some people identify with their biological genders, and some do not. Does that make the ones who do not a different gender? Maybe, or maybe not. However, there are some people who identify themselves with the opposite sex better. Some even have gender reassignment surgeries, so that they can be formally apart of the gender with which they identify.
So should we recognize 6 genders: straight males, straight females, gay males, gay females, biological males who identify themselves as females, and biological females who identify themselves as males? Maybe. It's a perspective thing. And even if we were open to these 6 different genders, this would still exclude all kinds of other people out there. There are even non-binary people who don't identify with either the male nor female sex.
Here's the way I really think people should look at it. Sexuality is a spectrum. There are extremely straight people on one end of the spectrum, and there are extremely gay people on the other end. In between, there are tons and tons of people. Some people are smack in the middle and identify themselves as bisexuals, pansexuals, asexuals, etc. Bisexuals are attracted to males and females. Pansexuals are attracted to any kind of person, whether it be male, female, transgender, hermaphrodite, etc. Asexuals are not attracted to anyone. (By the way, someone told me one time that the great thing about bisexuals and pansexuals is that they are not discriminatory in any way. They see everyone as equal and do not choose their sexual partners based on gender. Everyone is equally attractive in their eyes, and they base who they like on the factors that really matter, which excludes gender. I thought that was beautiful.) There are also other kinds of people, and you'll have to look up more about them if you're interested. There are all kinds of people out there who consider themselves all kinds of unique sexualities and genders, such as third-gender, intersex, androgynous, etc. If you want some definitions for a whole bunch of gender identity terms, check out this website: http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2013/01/a-comprehensive-list-of-lgbtq-term-definitions/. I'm pretty sure there are more terms out there for the way some people identify themselves, but at least this page gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. Anyway, I think most people are sprinkled throughout the spectrum. There are all kinds of girls and guys who identify themselves as "bi curious," which means they don't want to date someone of the same sex, but they might enjoy a sexual experience with someone of the same sex. Some people say that anyone who would swing that way, even out of curiosity, is either gay or bi. Well, honestly, after hearing testimonies from all kinds of different people, I really do think that there are some people who just want the experience once or twice but would never be interested in dating someone of the same sex. This proves even more my case about the existence of the spectrum. I think this is why some people, in the midst of their time in which they figure out who they are, experiment or jump back and forth between dating guys and girls. I think it's why some people think they're straight, and then they decide they're gay, and then they realize they really are straight (or any variation of that.) It's because there's a spectrum, and some people are just somewhere in the middle.
But here's what I REALLY think: We should let everyone decide their own gender identity and stop counting how many genders there might be. We should also stop telling people they're wrong in thinking there are more than 2 genders. If a biological man wants to be treated as a female and identifies himself as a female, then start referring to him as "she" and "her." If this person wants to be called Christina, instead of Christopher, then by golly, call her Christina. Does it really matter anyway? How would you feel if you felt like you were born in the wrong body, and everyone around you told you you were wrong when you told them who and what you are? You are who and what you say you are. And it shouldn't matter either way. It's no one's business but your own. So do I believe in more than 2 genders? Sure, why not? It depends on how you want to define the word. But I do think that the real gender-determining organ is your brain, not your genitals or chromosomes. So be who you want to be. Go for it.
Even if we're going by biology, there may be more than 2 genders. Think about it. We base gender off of the types of chromosomes we have: XY vs. XX. Females have XX chromosomes, and males have XY chromosomes. But did you know that sometimes there are people born with XXY chromosomes and others with XYY chromosomes? What do we call them? Sometimes these people don't even know their chromosomal situation. Also, sometimes, for instance, some people are born with XY chromosomes (and therefore are considered to be male) but do not respond to testosterone, and therefore, they develop breasts and vaginas sometimes, instead of testes and a penis. And what about hermaphrodites? They have both reproductive organs, and their chromosomes vary.
Now, if we're going by gender identity (the way a person sees oneself,) which I highly recommend that we do, then there are people who identify themselves as straight males, and there are people who identify themselves as straight females. But also, there are people who identify themselves as gay males & gay females. Some people identify with their biological genders, and some do not. Does that make the ones who do not a different gender? Maybe, or maybe not. However, there are some people who identify themselves with the opposite sex better. Some even have gender reassignment surgeries, so that they can be formally apart of the gender with which they identify.
So should we recognize 6 genders: straight males, straight females, gay males, gay females, biological males who identify themselves as females, and biological females who identify themselves as males? Maybe. It's a perspective thing. And even if we were open to these 6 different genders, this would still exclude all kinds of other people out there. There are even non-binary people who don't identify with either the male nor female sex.
Here's the way I really think people should look at it. Sexuality is a spectrum. There are extremely straight people on one end of the spectrum, and there are extremely gay people on the other end. In between, there are tons and tons of people. Some people are smack in the middle and identify themselves as bisexuals, pansexuals, asexuals, etc. Bisexuals are attracted to males and females. Pansexuals are attracted to any kind of person, whether it be male, female, transgender, hermaphrodite, etc. Asexuals are not attracted to anyone. (By the way, someone told me one time that the great thing about bisexuals and pansexuals is that they are not discriminatory in any way. They see everyone as equal and do not choose their sexual partners based on gender. Everyone is equally attractive in their eyes, and they base who they like on the factors that really matter, which excludes gender. I thought that was beautiful.) There are also other kinds of people, and you'll have to look up more about them if you're interested. There are all kinds of people out there who consider themselves all kinds of unique sexualities and genders, such as third-gender, intersex, androgynous, etc. If you want some definitions for a whole bunch of gender identity terms, check out this website: http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2013/01/a-comprehensive-list-of-lgbtq-term-definitions/. I'm pretty sure there are more terms out there for the way some people identify themselves, but at least this page gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. Anyway, I think most people are sprinkled throughout the spectrum. There are all kinds of girls and guys who identify themselves as "bi curious," which means they don't want to date someone of the same sex, but they might enjoy a sexual experience with someone of the same sex. Some people say that anyone who would swing that way, even out of curiosity, is either gay or bi. Well, honestly, after hearing testimonies from all kinds of different people, I really do think that there are some people who just want the experience once or twice but would never be interested in dating someone of the same sex. This proves even more my case about the existence of the spectrum. I think this is why some people, in the midst of their time in which they figure out who they are, experiment or jump back and forth between dating guys and girls. I think it's why some people think they're straight, and then they decide they're gay, and then they realize they really are straight (or any variation of that.) It's because there's a spectrum, and some people are just somewhere in the middle.
But here's what I REALLY think: We should let everyone decide their own gender identity and stop counting how many genders there might be. We should also stop telling people they're wrong in thinking there are more than 2 genders. If a biological man wants to be treated as a female and identifies himself as a female, then start referring to him as "she" and "her." If this person wants to be called Christina, instead of Christopher, then by golly, call her Christina. Does it really matter anyway? How would you feel if you felt like you were born in the wrong body, and everyone around you told you you were wrong when you told them who and what you are? You are who and what you say you are. And it shouldn't matter either way. It's no one's business but your own. So do I believe in more than 2 genders? Sure, why not? It depends on how you want to define the word. But I do think that the real gender-determining organ is your brain, not your genitals or chromosomes. So be who you want to be. Go for it.
Check out this link, so you can actually read this picture: http://www.askipedia.com/5-places-that-recognize-more-than-2-genders/.
I just think this is funny and kind of neat. It's a painting called "The Third Gender" by Petre Alina-Veronica.
This is a growing belief.
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