Before reading ” beyond the gender binary” by Alok void-Menon, I thought I had a good understanding of the difficulties and struggles of gender fluidity, but there is much more to it. This reading was eye-opening and gave you a first-person point of the discrimination they face. Apart from the changes in social events, restaurants, and workplaces, acknowledgment is huge. Alok spoke about not having the luxury of being instead of being seen as just pretending or acting. Their gender is nothing more than just something they can take off. this is something that I didn’t think about before. I knew that people could discriminate and treat others unfairly. Still, society acts as if their choice is nothing more than makeup they can take off. doing this takes away the seriousness of the matter and pushes us away from accepting change. While reading, I’ve also learned that” changes ” also play a big factor in accepting gender fluidity. Alok talks about how discrimination against gender non-conforming people happens because the system rewards conformity and not creativity. Society fears most is chance, when people step up and try to do anything that isn’t the norm. When speaking about how to change and what is considered the norm, Alok gives multiple examples of how society tries to downplay the lack of acceptance and transform today’s world. Examples include dismissal and saying that it’s common sense that there are only two genders. Inconvenience, rather than trying to understand, people will just try to tolerate it. Biology, whatever science says, is correct and is the answer to everything. Finally, the slippery slope, that is, gender fluidity, becomes the norm, which will lead to only bad results. After reading through the book, I’ve learned more about the hardships that gender non-conforming community goes through and the reasons why people discriminate, along with my understanding of the topic

In the reading of “Beyond the Gender Binary,” Alok expresses how wrong it is that “Our existence is made into a matter of opinion as if our genders are debatable and not just who we are” (pg.14). This really sets it all up; nonbinary people are not asking permission to be themselves and identify as they please. They are fighting for their right to be treated equally. The discrimination they face constantly is outrageous; the unemployment rates for nonbinary people are three times higher than those who identify as a man or woman. It’s common for them to be harassed anywhere they go, and it needs to stop. It starts with society and how it imposes gender on us all every day, the same way we were taught about gender before, we can learn how to be accepting now. In the video, Alok mentions being nonbinary is not “new”. There just hasn’t been enough representation in the past. I think they did such a fantastic job at expressing the injustice they face every day in their writing. And I really enjoyed the breakdown of the book in the video. It was extremely educational and as the viewer, I felt more connected to what they were saying because they explained it more personally. I really appreciate Alok’s words because they are very big on wanting everyone to feel safe and end suffering. They deeply believe in manifesting a world and life that we deserve to live as a free version of ourselves and who we want to be. 

Stereotypes are generalized pictures of individuals within a culture. Gender stereotypes are preconceived notions in which men and women are assigned qualities and roles that are determined and constrained by their gender.

Gender stereotypes frequently take one of two forms. One expects that all members of a category (such as a profession) share the same gender, such as all business directors are males and all secretaries are women. The other is presuming that all members of a gender share a trait, such as believing that all women enjoy shopping or that “boys don’t weep.” There is a clear message in Alok Vaid-book Menon’s “Beyond The Gender Binary” for all families, parents, and people in general to cease criticizing, bullying, demeaning, and discriminating against non-binary persons. Folks should think that these people exist in the real world. The distinction between them and other people is that they have different feelings. That does not make them nasty or insane; it is only their personal preference. Non-binary persons, according to Alok, have existed for many years, but many were too terrified to be authentic to themselves. It was difficult to comprehend that there are persons who are neither men nor women.

Although I do not share all the arguments of Alok Vaid-Menon in his book “Beyond the Gender Binary” I liked it a lot because you teach us a new perspective of binaries and non-binaries.  The importance of speaking and teaching what genders are, that it is not about men and women.  As these social problems were created by the lack of knowledge and by cataloging the pardons in lines when we all deserve respect.  I share what Alok mentions when he says that by breaking the norms created by society regarding gender and stereotypes, it is possible to achieve greater acceptance of all and more peace between binary and non-binary.  The catalogs that have been created in society for years about what a woman has to do as she should dress to be identified as a woman and what a man should do, all this comes from the lack of knowledge due to the taboo that people had pigeonholing and discriminating others for thinking differently from their beliefs.  Like when a girl is judged for dressing in the clothes that she is supposed to be for men.  I always say that your physique or your way of dressing does not define who you are.

IMANE CHAABA READING REFLECTION 2

In Alok Vaid-Menon’s book “Beyond The Gender Binary”, there is a clear message for all the families, parents, and people, in general, to stop judging, bullying, disrespecting and discriminating against non-binary people. People should believe that these people exist in life. The difference between them and other people is that their emotions are different. That doesn’t make them bad or crazy, but it’s just their personal preference. For Alok, non-binary people has been existing years and years ago, but people were too afraid to stay true to themselves. It was too hard to accept the idea that there are people who are neither a woman or men. Nonbinary people get a lot of judgments because of them being insecure about their identities. But recently, things changed with social media, movies, and books where people finally feel free to express their true feelings. There are a lot of arguments against non-conforming people that are well forced such as calling them not normal or people who are just looking for attention. While in the other hand, non-binary people are looking for acceptance. They want to be respected and accepted by society. Biology is another argument that people talk about when they want to justify their opinions. I am honestly one of them, but I try my best to think emotionally and to try to understand how they feel and think instead of thinking just about science. This chapter of Alok’s book was very interesting to read and an eye-opener to this subject.

I really enjoyed reading Alok’s work that was assigned to us. I feel like it works as an amazing and interesting eye-opener to everyone. I honestly feel like I have learned about gender binary norms as well as non-binary norms. I don’t follow gender binary norms when it comes down to clothes or the way I express myself. Yes, I enjoy wearing skirts, colorful clothes or as a society sometimes says “dress like a girly girl”. Yet at the same time, I also enjoy dressing comfortably. I like to wear ‘boy’ clothes as well. I feel like when it comes down to clothes, there shouldn’t really be ‘girl’ clothes and ‘boy’ clothes. What simply makes that piece of clothing either a girl or boy clothing is what society makes it to be as well as marketing. Why is a pink shirt meant to be for simply girls? Or the most common thing that I have seen recently, why is it that only girls can wear crop tops and boys can’t because if they do, they will be made fun of. A person should be able to dress any way they want and express themselves however they want to. It shouldn’t bother nor matter to anyone else. Why? Well, it’s their own body. They should decide how they want to express and show themselves to society. Society should not be the one to decide for us. Whether someone wants to look feminine or masculine. It shouldn’t be up to anyone else.

The basis of Society’s term, of what gender should be categorized has distorted the beauty in diversity. From the readings before, we gain knowledge on what society considers to be the correct and actual genders. What you should do and how you should behave on account of that classification. However, here is the situation where gender non-conforming people, trans individual condemn those values, traditions and norms that has been put forth and passed down from generation to generation. In the past, in certain tribes, it was actually forbidden or a taboo to do certain things “the other gender” was mandated to do. It was an insult would be punishable set regulations. One thing I put in mind is, our predecessors and human beings were those that made these rules and we can unmake them. We have to be just and considerate, and most importantly not temper with information. It all contributes to misrepresentation. In a way, I feel like those who can help these situations are aware of these but would prefer to do nothing. According to the reading, there are some states that have enforced laws which in every way does not favor gender nonbinary, non-conforming people. It is very dehumanizing. Nothing justifies dragging someone, stripping them of their clothes or hitting individuals because they are not “dressed the way they are supposed to”. Some people go beyond that by recording what they do. They post their videos, and they get commended for dehumanizing someone. Regardless of how a person acts or dresses, he or she does not deserve the kind of humiliation that is endure on numerous encounters. 

Reading “Beyond the Gender Binary” by Alok Vaid-Menon was a very eye opening experience. Alok discusses many important topics related to gender but also the social and political aspects that contribute to them. I was unaware that issues of gender were being poorly handled in the justice system causing discrimination based on gender to pretty much me allowed/encouraged. To hear the first-hand experience of someone who cannot freely be their authentic self gave me a better understanding of this social issue. Especially knowing that this is a shared experience by many, amplified by political prosecution and the thereat of violence as far as murder. Gaining this insight gave me a better understanding of how serious gender discrimination is and the harm it is causing. However, Alok uses sharing this information as an opportunity to express their hope for positive change as well. Explaining that breaking away from gender norms and stereotypes and teaching acceptance can make a huge difference in how society view and treat nonconforming people.

This book is a great read! I think everyone could benefit from reading it and become more informed about gender and gender related issues. Even if you don’t relate to the gender issues Alok talks about, you could gain more knowledge and compassion for others. I think learning about others experiences, is a great way for others to gain compassion and understanding. Just like me before reading these excerpts, I’m sure many people are oblivious to many social issues. So, “Beyond the Gender Binary” by Alok can serve as a tool to teach and inspire.    

After reading excerpts from Beyond the Gender Non-binary, I liked the way Alok summarized the whole concept of gender identity. There was a lot of infiltration that I didn’t know before reading these excerpts. For instance, there was a part of the book where they mentioned cultures outside the western culture that are more accepting and had people where they were considered leaders if they were out of the gender norm. 

I didn’t know this and this intrigued me to learn more about how different cultures accept people outside of gender normality. I feel like this has also given me an insight into how we follow gender rules in our everyday lives and we don’t even realize it. It starts even before we are born. 

I also learned that a lot of people who are trans or non-binary go through a lot of discrimination throughout their daily lives. Even some are murdered simply for expressing themselves. This is horrible and is something that many people don’t know or don’t take seriously. Countless transgender and non-binary POC are harassed and are more likely to be murdered.

I feel like this book is something a lot of people should read so that they can have a clearer understanding of gender identity. It can be hard to wrap your head around these types of stuff because they can be confusing for first-timers. But as you further educate yourself you can have a better understanding of how these people feel. It’s not a disease nor is it something they do to seek attention, it is simply their identity. 

After reading Alok’s Beyond the Gender Binary, I am amazed by how Alok can wrap things up and disclosure things so well by such short paragraphs. It was a good book also the writing is smooth, but I feel empathy with them. I have multiple friends are non-binary and I believe Alok’s experience must happen to them, but it is still crazy because people must face with so much harassment just because they choose to accept the true self and be themselves in public.

Through Alok’s argument and I agree with them. How people define binary norms and who define them? People who define binary norms are the one who has power or let’s say at least have power of the right of speech. What Alok writing this is because taking over of the right of speech, speaking for themselves especially non-binary people speaking their own experiences instead of gender binary people speaking for them.

It is not just beneficial for gender non-binary people but also a good chance for society to re-educate themselves. As Alok’s classmate who bullied him at school and turned out he is bisexual, and he was jealous by how free Alok can express themselves. For people like that it matters too. Because everyone shouldn’t be shame about the true selves and the more pressure they have from the society, the more tragedies would be.

Knowing ourselves is always difficult and life is about a whole life study thing. I believe people are starting to waking up and our next generation would be more comfortable about it.