I found both readings super interesting and informative. “Sex and Gender 101” was one of my favorites as it talks about the main categories of Gender, such as gender assignment, gender identity, and gender expression. Gender assignment is how the gender of a person is identified whether masculine or feminine, which is based on their external genitalia. It’s crazy how men are expected to be tough, strong, messy, aggressive, not emotional, interested in cars, not romantics, etc. In comparison, women are expected to be girly, delicate, romantic, emotional, quiet, sensitive, and disinterested in sports and cars. In my opinion, I feel that this should not be like this, because I as a woman think that there is nothing wrong with a woman liking sports or cars. However, the fact of being a woman does not mean that we necessarily have to be romantic because just like men, we can also be non-romantics. Gender Identify is what a person thinks about themselves. Gender expression is the way a person shows their gender identity. For example, the way you dress, dance or walk.  Sexuality can change over the course of a person’s life. The other reading “Feminist Politics, where we stand” was also very interesting because Bell Hooks highlights the definition of feminism from her point of view. Hooks describes “Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression” (1). I agree with her that feminism does not mean that we must be anti-men, much less than men are our enemies.

I like the reading “Sex and Gender 101” by Kyl Myers because it explains the difference between gender and biological sex. We are categorized by a social construct from young. Boys are taught to be masculine, narrowing what they’re allowed to be interested in and do. Girls are taught to be feminine, also narrowing their interest because anything outside of liking pink and care taking does abide by societies unwritten rules. None of this is based on science, unlike biological sex that cannot change. Whats important to note is that gender assignment and gender identity don’t always match. I believe this is why society has trouble accepting the lGBTQ community. They cant grasp this concept and believe people should live with what they were assigned at birth.

Sexuality doesn’t stay stagnant, but instead can change overtime. From personal experience, people are usually more comfortable when women explore their sexuality, but are against men doing it. I believe its unfair for anyone to feel like they cant be flexible with who they are attracted to. Due to societies unwritten rules, yet again, men who are gay will identify with heterosexual to avoid backlash and to feel secure in their masculinity. Myers calls this a “Choose your own adventure” and I love that. Who we like, what we identify as, should not cause an uproar by society.

Bell Hooks explained feminism like no other. She differentiated real feminists from women who simply use the movement to hate men. We want to end sexism, oppression, and inequality. I believe if men understood our purpose, they won’t have a bad stigma around feminism. They may even want to join us In defeating the patriarchy and toxic standards society holds women to!

Both readings defiantly were an eye opener. For Sex and Gender 101, I learned that sex and gender are not the same thing as I thought it was. I knew about the basics, biological sex, which describes the appearance of the external genitalia. Theres male, female and intersex. However, I didn’t know about gender identity. I knew but not in depth. I never heard of cisgender or gender neutral pronouns. It’s amazing how there’s so many new terms and concepts about this. I don’t look at anyone different, I feel like we are all equal, we all came from the same place and that’s a woman so I don’t get why we get judged. One thing I do agree about the reading is that gender expression does change overtime and one should definatly explore. In the essay of Bell Hooks, I never knew exactly the definition of feminism. I thought it was a women movement to fight to have the same rights as men. I also thought it was anti-male. But reading this essay it opened my eyes because the media has portrayed this word like that. Hooks, has explained it amazingly, females can be sexist too! Men aren’t the enemy. She uses gender equalization, having the same rights. There is no greater of higher gender. We want to be able to be equal, and if a woman wants to go get an abortion, she shouldn’t get looked down at or punished for it. We want to have equal rights. Feminism is a movement to end sexism but praise it.

Sex and Gender are two distinct categories. Gender and sexual orientation are intertwined concepts in human life. Despite the fact that they sound similar, they are not interchangeable. Male and female are defined by their sexuality and gender is defined by the roles Sex’s are expected to play in society. Catalogs based on gender are now more common than those based on sex. A new type of transgender person has emerged, one who does not conform to the traditional gender roles. A person can be pansexual if they don’t care about their sex identity and are attracted to the personalities of people regardless of their sex.

Sex and Sexual orientation 101 was an eye opening article that i altogether delighted in. This article strengthens my conviction that people are multifaceted creatures. That we don’t take after a liner way which our character goes past skin deep. The ease of sex and sexual orientation is such a reviving concept in which we ought to all aspire to ace and understand so able to have a higher relationship with one another. When it came to clarifying the method in which Guys with XY chromosomes and Females with XX chromosomes and the changes that adolescence brings inside the two, I was cleared out pondering why the creator didn’t conversation around the menstrual cycle that a individual with XX chromosomes would involvement during puberty. I accept that’s as imperative as the many of the other changes say within the perusing. The menstrual cycle not as it were falls beneath the regenerative framework for somebody with the XX chromosomes but it too falls beneath the hormonal forms that individuals experience. The other perusing was as vital as the past one. The politicization of what it implies or what it is to be a Women’s activist may be a subject that numerous like to talk about but don’t completely get it. In my supposition it all ball down to not politicizing women’s rights to select, in any case the setting. The conclusion to sexual orientation separation and persecution in all perspectives of our regular life.

The readings provided this week defined terms and explained how gender and sex is seen throughout the structure of our society and what being a feminist means by “Bell Hooks”. The first reading broke down the meaning of every term tied to gender and sex identity and gave us an insight of how they can affect one’s life. The term Gender is explained in Sex and Gender 101 as who we identify ourselves as and being authentic and true to how we identify ourselves. Sex is explained to be identified at birth which is the biological features we are borne with that tell us apart, masculine, or feminine.  A major part of sex is our chromosomes and hormones. Bell Hooks define Feminism as “A movement to end sexism, sexiest exploitation and oppression. Bell hooks generalize that statement to not only focus on women but men. She recognizes that there are issues that men suffers from because of sexism well because most of the ideas around feminism is that it is anti-men and that has been perpetrated by mainstream media. She spoke about reform being gender equalized, having the same opportunities as men and revolutionary, making a change in system so that all will have a fair chance in equity in our society. All should have equal rights to justice, equity, and inclusion. Bell Hooks believes that gender inequality is a major oppression in our society today. Bell hooks allowed every reader to understand that feminism is a movement to end sexism.

There are difference between Sex and Gender Between Gender and sexual orientation. Even thought they might sound alike they do not mean the same even though they are relate. Sex refers to the anatomy and physiology a person is born while gender is cultural constructed base on the roles Sex’s should gave in society. Now you are more catalogues base on gender rather than sex. Now we have case where a person does not fit with the gender rules and so they identify as transgender. Which can actually be the case of Pansexual where a person does not like the opposite sex neither the same sex but rather likes a person personalities regardless of sex identity.

First and foremost, I’d like to state that before reading these papers, I knew very little about the issues that were discussed. I used to believe that sex and gender were interchangeable terms. According to Kyl Myers’ article “Sex and Gender 101,” these two constructs are not the same. When the author mentions sex, he or she is referring to anatomy and physiology. The appearance of a person’s external genitalia is used to identify biological sex. Male, female, and intersex are terms used to describe biological sex. Of course, I was aware that a male has XY chromosomes and a female has XX chromosomes. When they mentioned intersex, I had some knowledge of what they were referring to. What was new to me was that intersex people can have a number of distinct sex chromosomal variants. As we know, sex refers to your anatomy, so what does gender refer to? I’m still a little confused about the definition of gender, but what I gather from the reading is that gender refers to the social and cultural roles that men and women are expected to play depending on their biological sex. At a young age, we are taught that boys shouldn’t like the color pink, play with girls’ toys, show no emotions, and so on. Girls were taught to like make-up, dress-up, like the color pink, be emotional, caretakers, and so on. Growing up, I wasn’t your typical girl. Instead of doing all the girly things most girls would do, I was playing sports, getting dirty, and always hanging with the boys. I was what people consider a tomboy. Sex orientation is a topic that I hope we will cover in greater depth in the department.They are some sex orientations that I don’t know the meaning of.

“Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks writes about the real meaning of being a feminist. I knew the movement was about fighting for women’s equal rights. What I heard the most about the movement was people’s (mostly men’s) negative reactions to it. Things that were being said about those who took part in this movement were that they hated men, were angry, why did they want more rights, were crazy, and the list continues. The question is, if sexism wasn’t introduced to the world, would the feminist movement be part of this world? According to Hooks, sexism is the problem, but is it the only problem? At a young age, we are taught that this is a man’s world. With that kind of power comes benefits. Of course, these are to be let go. That is why a man would do anything in their power to not let that go. A long time ago, I learned that people can’t accept change. Most of us are what one would like to call passive supporters, which means that they understand the change that is happening but are inactive. Most of the time, the thing that’s stopping us from being active supporters is our fear of the unknown. What surprised me in the reading is that she waited 20 years for a book like this one to appear, but it never happened. Before this book appeared, we knew so little about the concept of being a feminist and the movement. People should be more willing to help with this movement now that they have this book.

Sex and Gender 101 was an eye opening article that i thoroughly enjoyed. This article reinforces my belief that humans are multifaceted beings. That we do not follow a liner path and that our identity goes beyond skin deep. The fluidity of sex and gender is such a refreshing concept in which we should all aspire to master and understand so we can have a better relationship with one another.

When it came to explaining the process in which Males with XY chromosomes and Females with XX chromosomes and the changes that puberty brings within the two, I was left wondering why the author didn’t talk about the menstrual cycle that a person with XX chromosomes would experience during puberty. I believe that is as important as the many of the other changes mention in the reading. The menstrual cycle not only falls under the reproductive system for someone with the XX chromosomes but it also falls under the hormonal processes that people experience.

The other reading was as important as the previous one. The politicization of what it means or what it is to be a Feminist is a topic that many like to discuss but don’t fully understand. In my opinion it all ball down to not politicizing women’s rights to choose, regardless the venue. The end to gender discrimination and oppression in all aspects of our everyday life.