Jhulio Vargas Discussion 2

Sex Gender Sexuality Interlace

After reading and analyzing each gender diagram, I think that the best description explaining gender and sex is “Sex, Gender, Sexuality Interlace.” In this diagram, we can visualize the three main categories in which people can experience self-identity or define their own identity. This diagram is precise and detailed about each group, which made it very straight forward for me to understand well enough to teach others. For example, the chart explained that sex could be explored or perceive through your biological, anatomical, and physiological characteristics, which is the standard way in which babies are identified at their birth moment. This can be recognized by society as your destined sex. This view neglects to represent human intercession. We, as people, need to understand that we affect the social courses of action of society. That’s when socio-cultural, psychological, and personal identity comes into place. We all impact this because, through our communication, we affect how others perceive gender, which is attached to masculinity, femininity, and androgyny. For example, in some cultures, it is normal for women to wash the laundry and wash the dishes because “that’s what women do. The men take out the garbage because “that’s what boys do.” These are stereotypes that help form the identity of an individual. Sometimes we are not aware, but it does affect us all. However, when it comes to sexuality, society tends to have a binary gender perspective. It assumes that only men and women exist, not considering gender diversity and not considering the presence of people who do not identify as men or women. Gender, sexuality is neither binary nor fixed. There are straight individuals and gay individuals, yet individuals, bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, queer, and heteroflexible. That is how the Sex, Gender, Sexuality Interlace” diagram depicts sex and gender.

Furthermore, it is incredible how a simple diagram can help you be more conscious of the many ways you identify yourself and how things you do help others define your sex and gender. For example, while writing this entry, I started thinking that the list I put together without my gender or sex could be perceived differently by different people. It automatically reminded me of how sex and gender can be created in our heads and view by the values and norms attached to our heads. Your identity is also significantly impacted by your family and friends because most of the things you do where a result of that close circle you are where surrounded most of the time. For example, in society, we tend to see parents telling their kids that a boy has to dress like a man, with hats, dark neutral colors, that pink is for girls and blue for boys. Yet those are standers and requirements created by society and is delivered by how we communicate. In reality, what you wear does not define who you are or your gender. That is why it has to be very clear that sex and gender are determined by what you feel like and not as others perceive you. The way others see you is full of personal perception and stereotypes. That was the most important lesson learned from doing my diagram.

Gender is far beyond the sex that you are assigned during childbirth. Sexual orientation is appended to your personality and the things that make you who you are today, and it is also affected by society.