Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon, was very interesting and detailed. I’ll be honest growing up I only thought there was only male and female. I honestly didn’t know that non-binary and non-conforming people were to different type of people. Non-conforming can be used to describe people by actions, dress, ideas and yet you could be non-binary.
What I learned from Alok Vaid-Menon is that there are more than one gender. With that being said Vaid-Menon also mentions banning them to healthcare, some outings, and I didn’t even know they banned them from donating blood. I feel that at a young and mature age children should know the difference and understand all gender roles. People will always have an opinion for everything and will pick you apart no matter what, that is just life.
How does my gender identification differs from the gender norm ? I like to dress comfortable in baggy/men’s clothing. Which means I’m not a very big fan of dressing girly, or wearing makeup often. Even for events I’d prefer to wear dress pants rather than a skirt and some say I don’t dress like a female should or I’m too masculine. I like the way I am, I’m not too feminine nor too tomboy or masculine.
Another way I go against the norm is I’m very straight-forward about what I want or don’t want and what I like and don’t many have told me I come off as an asshole or too demanding but I’m not. Yet, if this was vice versa and a man has the same characteristics he’s confident, bold, and some may even say attractive.
Hi Jazmine, I agree when I was growing up I was taught about male and female but now as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that’s not the case.Even how everyone uses pronouns based on what they identify themselves by.
Hi Jazmin, I too was not aware that there were multiple genders. Growing up as far as I know there was only the box to check “men” or “women”. I love that society is introducing more gender names, I just think they expect so much from society. For instance, if you called a person “her” and they are a “them” they should not get upset with you. Simply just explain your pronouns. Everyone makes silly mistakes and if you look like a female can you really be upset?
Hi Jazmine ,
When I was younger I also believed that there was only two genders due to the fact I grew up in a religious household. However while growing up i’ve learned a lot and will always remember this one video I saw of someone explaining gender and sex and they said ” there are two sexes but multiple different genders ” in which now that i’m older I understand. I relate to how you believe goes against the gender norms because i’ve been judged by many people that I wear too much black and that black is a boys color and that I wear too many baggy clothes when I should be dressing in tighter fitting clothes and dresses that shows off a “woman’s body” .
Hi Jazmine,
Growing up I also thought there was only two gender due to the fact I grew up in a Dominican household where my parents were close minded until I went to junior high school and started witnessing some of my friends liking opposite sex and dressing different from what their gender is. Some days I like to dress girly some days I like to dress like a tomboy but that doesn’t define who I am as a person because of the way I dress or express myself. Everyone should do whatever makes them happy.