When reading the article “sex and gender 101” it’s obvious that sex, the anatomic that we are born with, and gender are completely two different overlapping developments. We take sex, and to some if not most a penis indicates the gender of man and vagina the gender of woman. If we are completely honest, we are groomed into the roles of which a penis and vagina imply. When I was born, seeing pictures of my nursery pastel pink, and “girly” and my brother who is a year younger than me, blue and “masculine”. As toddlers, we took ice skating lessons. Mine figure skating and my brother’s hockey. I wanted to play hockey but because I was a girl my father wouldn’t let me. We grow up with that being the role we take on. Then that turns into the way society treats us as individuals. It’s actually sad if you think of the opportunities, one has missed due to society forcing gender by sex. Perhaps if I played hockey, life could have taken a different direction. I guess we cannot get caught up in the what if’s. 

Bell Hooks delivers the message that feminism is for everybody and does bring up the division of sex and gender and the issues it causes. Feminism is the fight for sexism, oppression, humanity, and equality. This is where the gender teachings bring no help in the fight against these matters. I liked the snapshot carmen chose, showing a Budweiser ad from the 1960’s. On the left is portrays a man was out hard at work and the women was home keeping the house clean, having dinner ready and pouring her man a Budweiser to unwind after a hard day. On the right we have a woman alone, with take out food and pouring herself a Budweiser to unwind. It’s crazy to believe there was such a time that woman on the right would be looked down upon and women on the left is what was supposed to be. I feel even though we’ve come a very long way, women are still plagued with the questions of not having a husband, a child, why they are career driven. That’s why we need feminism and education on the limits of gender roles and the difference of anatomy at such a young age. Hopefully our world will begin to change if we could fight for the education from the beginning to make a difference in the end.

The readings have presented the ideas of sex and gender and the idea of feminism. When it comes to feminism, before learning about it and all, I used to believe anything people would tell me about it. For example, people would say how feminists are just going overboard with their demands. This would confuse me because when I thought of feminism, I thought it meant women supporting women, which was right. However, hearing how people would give vague descriptions on how women who were into feminism were red flags I was put in a tough spot, until I have done my own research. In the reading “Feminism politics: Where we stand” by bell hooks, hooks states “When I talk about the feminism I know – up close and personal- they willingly listen, although when our conversations end, they are quick to tell me I am different, not like the “real” feminists who hate men, who are angry”. This excerpt really shows how people, primarily white men, would ignorantly view feminism as a negative, however if people were to closely pay attention, feminists are only fighting in support of equality for women. The reason why I was so confused with the terms of feminism is because instead of going with my gut and trusting that feminism wasn’t a bad thing, I stood and listened to the complains of those who were ignorant. As the reading also stated “Males as a group have and do benefit the most from patriarchy, from the assumption that they are superior to females and should rule over us. But those benefits have come with a price. In return for all the goodies men receive from patriarchy, they are required to dominate women, to exploit and oppress us, using violence if they must keep patriarchy intact”. Being educated on feminism as a young woman feels like it needs to be necessary because women from a young age will face discrimination and should be taught how women feminist politics will benefit women.

            Growing up the idea of sex and gender for me was one. However, as I grew older and thanks to the experience of those around me, I became aware of how sex and gender are not one in the same. Sex can be defined as something biological, while on the other hand gender is a socially constructed self-being. In the reading it states that in sex it can be identified by their “sex chromosomes, sex hormones, sex organs, and external genitalia”. While males have XY chromosomes, females have XX sex chromosomes. Basically, from what I understood, sex is a biological characteristic of an individual and as the reading states, it is universal. This is because biological sex continuously remains the same throughout time periods. Gender refers to a cultural construct, that according to the article can shift through societies and time. What this means is that “Gender refers to the social and cultural roles that males and females are expected to subscribe based on their biological sex. Gender can be broken down into three main categories: gender assignment, gender identity, and gender expression”. Gender is not a continuous thing that will remain the same. On the contrast, gender can be changed. I grew up with the stereotype of girls where pink and act cute, while boys where blue and act rough. The sex of a person will determine what gender assignment was applied to them and they were told to follow these roles assigned to them, however now a days, the newer generations have begun to break that, and have no longer applied that old way of thinking. Nowadays, people can assign their gender assignment, gender identity and gender expression on their own and are not forced to be in one particular box.

This two reading talk about really controversial topics that is gender and gender inequality in the workforce and in other aspect as well. The first reading is about sex and gender 101 it really talk about different concepts of biological gender. Biological sex usually refers to the appearance of an individuals external genitalia. Many interesting things has been said in this article because it talks about many things that many people don’t understand and are still confused with gender and sexuality, this article really talks about a topic that usually really confusing to many people including me as well and it’s basically what is a intersex person? According to the article “sex and gender 101” an intersex person is somebody that has female sex chromosomes and female internal reproductive organs but has external genitals that appears male this really made me understand more about sex and gender and sometime biology can be different for every individual. Biological sex is universal because most male go through similar puberty process. Gender is best describe as the social and cultural roles for female and male and how you are supposed to behave depending on your gender. “Gender is basically broken down into three main categories: gender assignment,gender identity, and gender expression”(sex and gender)” in many cultures boys are taught and expected to be strong and aggressive and to not show emotions but on the hand girls are expected to be the opposite of all that, girls are supposed to be soft,emotional, submissive. Gender plays an important role because based on your gender you are expected to act a certain way and it can also make you not have certain things. I can personally relate to gender and how for being a girl i was expected to do certain that were “only” for girls like helped my mom with the house and how i wasn’t allow to play outside because only boys could do that. Overall gender can be describe as the role you are supposed to play based on your biological sex. The second article “feminist politics where we stand” is a article i really enjoyed reading because is a topic i have been really passionate about because this article talk about how many people don’t understand sexism and many believe that is only about women being equal to men but is more than that. They main focus is that women wants women equality equal payment more jobs opportunity to give them the same chance to be successful and not only in the professional environment women also want equality when it comes to house chores and taking care of the children. Feminism is for women to have the choice to decide on things that only concern women like abortion, to be lesbians. Women are becoming more open to discuss this type of topics that can be really controversial. I honestly believe all this decision should be make by women and men shouldn’t be telling women what they can or can’t do with their bodies. Women were also expected to be behind the men and following man. Overall women wanted to change “ to bring an end to patriarchy and sexism”*(where we stand,page 4) this means they wanted to put an end to men being on control and make things more equal in every aspect.

This week’s course content has given me more insight on sex, gender and feminism. I am a proud feminist and I love learning more and more about it. The article Sex and Gender 101 by Kyl Myers explains the basics of biological sex, referring to anatomy and external genitalia. While gender refers to the social and cultural roles implied throughout someone’s life. In this article I learned the three main categories; gender assignment, gender identity and gender expression. Myers implies that sex and gender are not the same thing, which is something tons of people mix up. In the reading by Bell Hooks, Feminism is for Everybody pages 1-6, we get an extensive concept of feminism, from a feminist theorist herself. “Mostly they think feminism is a bunch of angry women who want to be like men. They do not even think about feminism as being about rights- about women gaining equal rights.” states Hooks. She goes in depth of the real meaning of feminism, feminism movements, politics and difficulties that have occurred throughout.

Gender norms have been applied into many children’s minds from the moment they step into the world. Young boys feel as if it’s their obligation to become strong, emotionless, hard-working men. Meanwhile girls feel that their responsibilities are to cook, clean, caretake, be weak and emotional. In my Snapshot 1, I mentioned how I had a friend whose father never let him attend dance classes or sing along to songs by female artists. This caused him to feel afraid to show his true self to the world. Many people are frightened of others who behave a way outside the society-traditional gender norms. They are so brainwashed.. a boy can’t wear pink or play with dolls or he’ll be categorized as “too girly”. Young girls can’t wear baggy pants or join the baseball team because it is considered “too manly”. This puts so much pressure since they will not be able to freely find their true identity in expressing themselves.

This behavior can play a role into their future lives, making this cycle of gender norms. (or even toxic-masculinity or gender questioning) I related to my classmate Jasmin H’s snapshot where they mention that in their Hispanic household, their mother would teach Jasmin to cook at a young age for her “future husband.” Jasmin mentions that they disagree with their mother’s beliefs, that they’d only be cooking for themselves. I resonated with this because I also grew up in a Hispanic household where my mother would make me do the cleaning, dishes, and never bothered to ask any of my two older brothers to help around. When I’d question her motives, she’d say “it’s because you’re a girl so you do it better than these two boys!” They’re around their 30’s and were never raised to clean up after themselves or do any domestic work. Sometimes they even “jokingly” tell me to make them a sandwich, which shows how my mother’s enabling created this sexism. I also read Shavoya Easy’s snapshot where they had the opposite situation; growing up, their household had no gender roles, both brother and sister did housework, which I am so jealous of!! I wish my parents raised me this way but they are close-minded and a bit sexist. My mother got pregnant and became a stay at home mom while my father would be at work everyday or out with friends. I guess it’s a double ended sword, because at a young age, this behavior made it clear for me how toxic, harmful and sexist gender norms can be and how I should never feed into them.

Society’s assumptions of feminism are seen as a negative trait. To me, it’s the bare minimum to be a feminist, because everybody should be one! No matter your age, sex or gender! I absolutely loved Bell Hook’s definition of feminism; “Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression.” When Hooks tells people she is a feminist theorist, they misinterpret the concept, thinking every feminist is just a man-hater.” The feminist movement is not about being anti-male. It’s clear that the problem is sexism.” I believe the reason many people interpret feminism as being anti-male is because they feed into the patriarchy and are afraid to rebel against it. “Most men find it difficult to be patriarchs. But they fear letting go of the benefits. So they find it easier to passively support male domination even when they know in their hearts and minds that they are wrong. If men knew more about feminism, they’d no longer fear it, releasement from patriarchy bondage.” says Hooks. I like how she used the word bondage because it symbolizes the inner fear that many people, not just men, have on feminism. They are too scared to learn more about it, so they cage themselves in this white supremacist capitalist patriarchy and enable sexist behavior. This reminds me of Emely D’s snapshot where they say, “We are not asking to be better than anyone else nor are we trying to belittle anyone else, all we are asking for is to get the same opportunities and be able to be free within our society.” And it includes a picture of how society sees feminism; a woman hitting a man towards the ground. It’s 2021 and so many people still believe that feminism is only about trying to be better than men, overpowering them, or being able to hit men. It’s far more than that. Women face an insane amount of discrimination and oppression based on their sex. Us feminists just want full equality for all women, regardless of age, race, sexuality, class, and disability. I just wish feminism wasn’t seen as taboo, it should never be a forbidden discussion.

We have been embedded with this idea of things being “black or white” . We see this in the notion of gender. When it comes to gender, society has created its own set of standards and expectations for gender. Even before one is born they are immediately labeled based on one’s genitalia.From the moment one is placed that label of boy or girl, sets one life to specific expectations and standards on how they must dress, act, talk, work , eat,ect. According to society one gender can never dabble in things that are expected of the other gender.  A girl should not be seen being rough, though, or how dare they wait to have a family just for their career. Just as a boy should not be wearing dresses or makeup or be seen cooking, cleaning around the house.,But the thing is that we did this, as a society we embed these ideas and norms, these did not exist before us, we are the ones who created them and continue to follow.

In my life I have had many moments where I have said “ I wish I was a guy at this very moment”. This is because females are dealt the short end of the stick. We have to work twice as hard. I never saw my brother even lift a finger in my household. My mom spoiled him all his life. Meanwhile my sister and I had to grow up learning to be caregivers for our future children and husband. That was one thing that always bothered me , my mom saying she was teaching me to cook for my future husband. No mom, teach me to cook so when I live on my own I can feed myself. When I learned to properly clean around the house , it was all so that my future mother in law would be impressed. No mother, I learn to clean so I don’t live in my own filth. This is what I mean where this generation is more aware of the constructs around us. Our parents just relay what was thought and embedded in them to us. But because we know different things then we will do different things. Challenge and change the stigma for now and future generations. 

I think this generation is very aware of everything around them. They are breaking apart the social construct that has been followed for way too long. We are aware of this idea that boys should be tough, should be responsible for the family, and females should stay home and cook and clean . We took those ideas and said “I don’t accept that ”. We fight against it. We want that black and white way of thinking to disappear, because it is not true. Everything is not  as simple as black and white. Not when you have multiple identities, cultures, races, ect ..colliding. Within all the older generations I can assure that you will find many who would jump at the chance to fight back against these antiquated nations constructed by our own society.

Coming from a Hispanic background, this is something I hope many individuals from my culture learn to adapt- to be able to live without gender roles and stereotyping to get in the way. In our culture, it is common ground for women to tend to every one of their husband’s needs. These needs are simple things that men don’t need the assistance of a woman to do but is seen as normal such as serving them a plate of food, laying out and washing their husband’s clothing, and depending on the men to provide financially while they take care of the kids at home. I am glad to see this change, at least in mainstream America because it signifies how far we have come from the classic gender roles and stereotyping many of us are still accustomed to. The excerpt from “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks takes a stand to demonstrate how male domination in society victimizes, exploits, and oppresses women in every way shape and form.

This would be an example of how women are gaining more sovereignty over their lives as the woman in the picture now doesn’t have to cook and doesn’t have a man looming over her pressuring her to fit into the gender stereotype. The article states that women were bound to work service jobs or be housewives or otherwise be discriminated against in the workplace, a way of thinking I see that my culture has yet to let go of. Although women are being more recognized for their strength and power, their sovereignty remains in danger as they allow for the men to be the sole providers of the house while they stay at home and tend to their husband’s every need to make them happy. Relationships in general should be equal and a two-way road for respect and treating women as if they are objects goes against that and turns it into a one way street.

“Sex and gender 101” by Kyl Myers states that, as a society, because we view the difference of one chromosome to be so important that we even raise the different genders to act and behave differently as well. Myers states that “… boys are taught and expected to be tough, risk-taking, rowdy, athletic, strong, aggressive…uninterested in domestic chores and care-taking, unromantic…” while girls are taught to be “…soft, submissive, cautious, delicate, graceful, prissy, pretty, interested in domestic chores and care-taking, romantic…” when these are qualities that shouldn’t be assigned in the first place. Everyone grows up differently and are interested in different things and to assign someone to act a certain way is to strip them of their free will and sovereignty. As a society, we should strive to be like this poster, straying away from the classic gender roles and stereotypes and allowing women to be freer with their choices without limiting them to certain duties or occupations. Living in a society where the patriarchy has all the power is toxic and unhealthy because it does not allow for everyone to live the way they please, only in the way that pleases the men in power, and I believe that is something that should be changed moving forward.  

Same as Jasmin, I grew up in a Hispanic household. I am the oldest of three, and like Jasmin, I had many responsibilities around the house. In my home, things such as sexuality and gender were never discussed. It was instead a more taboo topic that was never to be brought up and something my parents had no interest in trying to understand. To take it farther almost my whole life, I had gone to Catholic school, which just further led to my misunderstandings and lack of knowledge. It was not until I was in about my senior year did I really begin to learn the difference between sex and gender.

“Gender is a cultural construct that shifts between societies and across time” (Myers, 2018). Growing up in a Catholic school, just like most schools, we had a strict dress code that always seemed more rigid on the girls. All of the usual dress code rules where skirts were measured, no exposed shoulders, etc. While the boy’s soccer team got brand new jerseys for the season, we received the same hand-me-downs from the year’s past teams. The worst class was religion, where it is nothing against the religion itself; instead, it is the way the teachers would paint the woman as Myers described to be “soft, submissive, quiet” while the men were “strong, aggressive, tough, loud.” For a tomboy with a big mouth and never able to shut up as a child, this was always crazy to wrap my head around, especially when I was constantly being told to lower my voice because I was speaking too loud, even when boys are shouting at each other on the other end of the room. As Shavoya mentioned in her response that I thought was so true was parents play a significant role in who their child turns out to be. Growing up with parents who would not talk about sex and gender in a school that only encouraged not discussing self-discovery was difficult. Myers, however, puts it in a way I think is what should be taught at a young age which is that gender expression can change over time and sexual orientation can fluctuate over time. If I had been taught that at a younger age, I do think I would have felt more confident in my clothing choices.

Like Jasmin, I too preferred to dress on the more tomboy side when I was younger and still do most days now, which was the complete opposite of my very girly younger sister. Myers describes gender expression as “how a person shows their gender identity,” but I do not know if they always do align. For example, when I was a child getting into a dress was like pulling teeth. I felt awkward and out of place in dresses. Today I usually do like to wear pants and shorts, but sometimes I also enjoy wearing a dress or skirt depending on my mood. Some days I wear no makeup, and others, I love to wear a new full-faced look I practiced. I dress how I feel most comfortable that day and although I identify as female some days, my clothing may be described as being more masc. I believe that speaks to society’s idea that goes back to the blue for boys and pink for girls. In my snapshot, I mentioned they are marketed one way for girls being a lot of pinks, barbie, tiny kitchens, and one way for boys, a lot of blue, dinosaurs, monster trucks. Society had decided to put a label on clothing making a boy who wants to wear traditionally female clothes or a girl who wants to wear traditionally male clothes question their identity. Even the term “tomboy” when one goes, oh, they are just a tomboy to imply they are more masculine when that is just how they feel most comfortable dressing. I believe that establishing that sex and gender are not the same thing is an essential step in making progress.

Feminism IS for everybody. It’s disheartening that Feminism gets a such a bad rep, because it benefits everyone when it is intersectional. The truth of the matter is that patriarchy doesn’t just harm girls/women/females, it harms everyone to some degree. The understanding of sex and gender is very important to highlight when speaking about feminism, because these topics are inherently intertwined. 

The parental teaching of adherence to gender roles (re: rules of patriarchy) is often the first and foundational exposure to patriarchy and sexism.  In my classmate Shavoya’s snapshot 1 post, they said their mother raised them without adherence to sexist rules. I applaud Shavoya’s mother because my mother did the exact opposite. My younger brother wasn’t even born yet, yet my family was rejoicing that a boy was to be born. When he was old enough to do chores, he was never assigned any. My mother only gave household responsibilities to my sister and I and we were beaten if we rebelled against them, which highlights the point bell hooks makes in Feminism is for Everybody, that “…males were not the only group in society who supported sexist thinking and behavior –that females could be sexist as well…”. The anger, frustration and resentment I felt from being victimized by my mother’s sexism and internalized misogyny is what made me a feminist. A feminist who prioritizes the importance of unlearning patriarchal thinking and behaviors, that is why I like bell hooks definition of feminism which states that “feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression.”, because in a patriarchal society, no one is immune to the mental conditioning of sexism.

Now, let’s talk sex, gender and its effects on the genders individually and on relationships between the genders. Even before birth, you’re assigned a gender based on your predicted genitalia; you were likely given pink clothes if you were female, and had your interests dictated visually by toys before you could even form sentences. Expectations of how to perform masculinity and femininity were taught to us by parents/guardians, mass media and school, we were all socialized to view gender in a binary. Kyl Myers talks about this in the article Sex and Gender 101, “In America boys are taught and expected to be tough…athletic, strong, aggressive…not emotional…” and “…girls are taught and expected to be soft, submissive, …weak, passive, emotional…”. Masculinity and femininity are presented as opposing rigid concepts that must be adhered to. A man isn’t supposed to present femininity, or he’ll be labeled gay, his manhood would be revoked, he is a threat to masculinity and some of his male peers might feel compelled to “eliminate the threat”; gender rules breed homophobia and transphobia. Many little boys are often told not to cry or express emotionally vulnerability because it’s a sign of weakness, they are only allowed to openly express anger, this breeds a society of emotionally damaged, abusive, borderline sociopathic men. Furthermore, if boys are taught to be forceful and dominant and girls are taught to be passive and submissive, we are teaching boys to be abusive and girls to accept abuse. Gender norms create real world violence and harm and we’re going to have to let go of them if we want to build a safer society. 

I want us as a society to evolve, but that starts with education, accountability and the willingness to change. 

Caitlyn Howel posted a snapshot with the quote, “Feminism is Genderless”. This statement resonates with me and relates to much of what Bell Hooks was writing about in her book, “Feminism is for Everybody”. Hooks writes, “Simply put, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression” (Hooks, 1). There is nothing gendered about that definition of feminism. The word “feminism” evokes discomfort across the gender spectrum. 

            Some men are so afraid of being associated with anything feminine that they would never want to self-identify as feminists. Others are ignorant to the fact that men can be feminists too. Some women associate feminism with hatred of men. Hooks writes of her encounters with women who are anti-feminist when she writes, “When I talk about the feminism I know – up close and personal- they willingly listen, although when our conversations end, they are quick to tell me I am different, not like the “real” feminists who hate men, who are angry.” (Hooks, viii). 

            Oftentimes the need for people to disassociate themselves with feminism stems from ignorance. Feminism is not anti-masculinism. The major goals of feminism are for women to be afforded the same respect and opportunities as their male counterparts. There is a backlash against feminism due to some men feeling attacked. People are so immersed in living in a patriarchal world that they’re unable to recognize its existence. It’s all they’ve ever known.

           In response to Jasmin H’s post about being a “tomboy” and not being “confined to society’s norms as to what a girl should be doing and wearing,” I can relate. Growing up I also identified as a tomboy and people would always call me one. I took pride in the label because to me it symbolized my identity. I grew up hanging out with boys, gravitating towards “boys” toys, and being repelled by pink princess dolls. As I grew older, I learned that there were things I liked that were more traditionally feminine and grew comfortable embracing whatever it was that I was into regardless of which gender it was associated with. 

The article “Sex and Gender 101” by Kyl Myers deals with the difference between sex and gender. Myers does a great job explaining sex and gender as a spectrum rather than a binary by writing, “No two people have identical genitalia or hormonal levels.” I’m thankful that as a society people are starting to move away from placing expectations of gender upon children and even babies. Allena McKenzie brought attention to people “raising their children without gender until they are old enough to tell them themselves.” I also wonder if this will become more common, or if referring to a child with “They” pronouns is effectively choosing a non-binary gender expression for them rather than choosing “She” or “He” pronouns. I also wonder how much more commonplace “They” pronouns will become, since most people don’t identify 100% on either side of the gender spectrum. Will most people use “They” pronouns in the future? It feels like the conversation is still being shaped, but we are making progress in the right direction.