Discussion Provocation #3: Where is the Grey Area?

It all began when binaries became a way to represent people’s gender identity.  The thought that you can either be a man or woman and that is all.  Gender identity is seen as black and white.  Where is the grey area though?  Supposedly, what you are classified as at birth whether it is female or male, is what you are “expected” to be throughout all your life.  At least that is what society portrays it to seem like.  There are so many more genders that exist other than just female and male.  Thankfully, I would like to think our society is evolving in a way and that more people are understanding the fact that there are more than just two gender types.  But with that being said, I also believe it is nowhere near where it should be and our society has a lot more work to do in order for everyone to be accepted in the world and by others.  Men are seen to be tall, strong, and brave people whereas women are seen as more polite, shy, and weak.  This “expectation” of males and females comes from colonial ways of thinking with binaries. 

For me, I have figured out that I identify myself as a female and will for the rest of my life.  That does not mean in any way that I have to follow the expectation of how a female is supposed to act, dress, etc.  I don’t like to wear makeup and dress up nice all of the time even though when you think of a female, that is usually how you think of one.  I am happy being comfortable in my own style of clothes whether that is sweats, jeans, hoodies, etc.  I do like to dress up and look nice, but not because I feel obligated to follow through with the expected appearance of a female.

One should be encouraged to be who they are and express themselves in a way that makes them happy and the most comfortable.  There should not have to be fear behind expressing who you are. The colonial narrative makes it seem that way and “socially unacceptable”.  Education is the key to removing gender binaries and making our society a more welcoming place to all genders.  My experience on learning about this topic is minimal until it came to this class.  But why?  Why shouldn’t it be something in the curriculum that everyone needs to learn about? Is it not important enough?