I found this reading very interesting because it teaches us about gender binary norms and non-conforming norms as a whole. As I wrote before, I don’t consider myself fully following gender norms because I just wear what I like and feel comfortable. I wear whatever I want, and only now am I learning how to be acceptable in my own body and wear things I’ve always wanted to wear before without feeling uncomfortable. I’ve seen a lot of people in my classes who consider themselves as they/them pronouns. To society, they seem to dress in a feminine or masculine fashion, when in reality they only wear what they want, yet what they identify as is something completely different, which is fine. I noted a lot of the quotes Alok would use, and in honesty, I was just as naive and ignorant back then. Not disrespectful; I just didn’t understand it. But now that I am taking this class and reading these articles, I learn a lot more, which is better. I think that one of the reasons gender became such a big topic is the way these norms were forced upon us. I don’t care about the way people want to represent themselves, as long as we’re all respectful to each other in the long run and are happy. I feel like that’s what I learned from Alok’s book, and it was very inspiring and understanding. It’s a simple concept, but people overcomplicate it. It takes time learn, but it’s worth understanding.

The reading Beyond the Gender Binary by Alox Vaid Manon was an easy informative read. After reading the excerpts from the book taught that people in society have no knowledge when it comes to gender non-conforming or non-binary people and when people do have the knowledge it is not accurate information. I felt like Alox just wanted people/society to become more informed about gender non-conforming or non-binary. In my opinion, people that are gender non-conforming or non-binary are humans too that deserve that same amount of respect and rights that anyone else gets. The fact that Alox states that gender non-conforming workers are not protected by civil rights laws really has me thinking about what is this world coming to. I also can not believe that such big departments in the United States like the Department of Justice, Center of Disease Control and prevention, or even the Department of Health and Human Services are all against people that are gender non-conforming and non-binary. If major departments like these are against them what do they expect society is going to be. How could people in this world be singling out others because of their preference for identity is. I find it really troubling and sad that people are really going through this. At the end of the day we are all humans, so people need to start at least respecting other people’s wishes regardless of their personal opinions. In the future before you state your opinions just have some knowledge of what the individuals are going through.

After reading excerpts from Alok Vaid-Menon’s Beyond the Gender Binary, I was overwhelmed with a sense of comfort in knowing that books like these exist and are accessible for people looking to learn, and also searching for something to inspire them to be themselves. Their true, authentic selves. Consuming works made by trans/nonbinary creators is very important to me.

I was thrilled when Alok mentioned one of the dismissive strategies that people love to use: referring to gender-nonconformity as an “internet fad,” because it’s something I’ve heard one too many times. Not only is it used by older generations, but it’s also commonly used by bigoted teens and young adults nowadays, as well. I had known that the gender binary was a pretty Western concept, but I hadn’t been able to name exact groups which included people living outside of the gender binary – until I read on! It was very exciting to learn the precise cultures and societies that were free from the pinks and the blues, even if there were only a few examples. I also love the acknowledgement of the fact that pink was once considered a masculine color in the Western world, too – something I love to point out to people when the situation calls for it! Things are always changing.

Something that I was pleasantly surprised with was also the mention of “needing gender dysphoria to be trans.” I’m very glad that Alok chose to include it. It’s a common thought that many people – some who call themselves trans allies, and some others who even are trans – can argue. However, everyone is different, and dysphoria is not a requirement. Like Alok said, there is no one way to be trans. Everyone deserves to be their true self.

After reading only twenty pages from “Beyond the Gender Binary” I learned so much that I was pretty amazed that I could gain that much information from such a small excerpt. There was also a lot of shocking information “Take, for instance when the Department of Justice announced that trans and gender nonconforming workers are not protected by civil rights law. Or when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention censored the word transgender” (Alok 15). I had no knowledge of these incidents until reading the text. There were other occurences as well, “we have seen an onslaught of legislation…targeting gender non-conforming people by…banning us from public accomodations, denying us access to legal protections at work, and barring our access to healthcare” (Alok 14).

Alok also brought to my attention that as a society there are so many inescapable aspects of gender that are pushed onto us even before we’re born. These aspects are found in gender reveal parties for babies, on our drivers license and IDs, the colors we associate, how we speak, act and react, even our clothing and how we present ourselves. Just like the text refers, these things become invisible as we implement them to every aspect of our lives, it didn’t really hit me how much gender plays a big role until I read that all listed out. When I think of gender I think of the assigned bathrooms, or seperate college dormitories. But gender is so much more complex and a gender conformity completely more restricting than we as a society choose to acknowledge.

It was extremely humbling to read the excerpts from Alok Vaid Manon’s book Beyond the Gender Binary. One line in particular that was truly an eye opener to the ignorance surrounding non-binary and gender non-conforming people is the following: “The assumption is that being a masculine man or feminine woman is normal and that being us is an accessory.” Honestly, this excerpt was an eye opener because I cannot imagine what it is like to deal with this sort of judgment. To be regarded as though not a real person with a real identity must be traumatizing. It is disheartening to come to terms with all of the kind of bigotry and intolerance faced by gender non-conforming people (those that diligently resist what society understands a man or woman to be) and non-binary people (individuals who are not man or woman entirely). As I was reading the excerpts, I also came to realize just how unaware I was regarding laws for trans and gender non-conforming people. I, for one did not know that the Department of Justice had expressed that trans and gender non-conforming workers are not guarded by civil rights law. Additionally, I was shocked by how cruel all of the negative and hurtful comments in Alok’s book were. It seems as though there is more concern surrounding what people are doing rather than accepting others the way we would want to be accepted. It’s overwhelming to know that these problems are occurring in these times and it makes me want to support because there is no need to be so concerned with how others choose to live their lives.

I seriously loved reading this snippet of Beyond The Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon. Alok posed questions and statements throughout each excerpt that I have definitely heard and seen before. They then proceed to explain in detail why this is incorrect or even offensive, and the differences between what is normal and being normative. When I first was introduced to gender non-conforming people, and the terms non-binary and transgender, I was definitely uncomfortable- but not scared of it. It was something new that like anything else, I would grow to learn and understand- that is one of the reasons why I appreciate readings like this. I rarely see news headlines or social media coverage about gender fluidity, unless it is an infographic and made by a content creator. It frustrates me that when the media does include non-binary and transgender people, it is narrated by someone who does not define as such. The fact that the United States denies non-binary people basic human rights, stripping them of access to healthcare and participation in sports, among many other things, is pure oppression. It is also the control and power people want to have over the human biological makeup- which has nothing to do with achieving normative heterosexual goals. Although I feel that I am well versed in this topic… I realized that I am not, and that is okay. It is a privilege to define yourself as heterosexual because there lies no scrutiny behind it. My outlook on acceptance and making room for non-binary and trans people has grown immensely.

Reflection 2

After reading the chapter of Alox Vaid Menon’s book “Beyond the Gender Binary”, and watching the short video on youtube. I have better clarification on Gender Binary. There are certain statements that the author speaks about that I agree with and did not agree with. When Alox stated what moving on beyond the Gender Binary is he states that “Manhood and Womanhood should not be defined in opposites and he says he views it “as 2 stars and a galaxy” I didn’t really understand that phrase. I was raised to believe that in this world there are only two genders males and females. Growing up in church the chapter of the bible there is only one woman and one man. In this world we live in people make the decision to be the gender they’d like to be but not who in reality they really are. We all have different opinions and beliefs with it comes to gender and sexuality but to me, my belief is the reality.  In aloxs belief, he will make what he believes known and wants us to also believe his truth and opinions. I also believe that if you personally aren’t in that galaxy alox claims there is you wouldn’t really see what he sees. Some people might agree with me and some people might disagree with me. The truth is nobody is right. people have the right to believe and think what they want. That’s why he made this book and video, for people to be more open-minded about the binary world. Everyone deserves to see the bigger picture of every situation.

I must admit after reading the chapter that I read out of Alok Vaid Menon book “Beyond the Gender Binary”, and watching the short video offered to us. My interest in understanding what Gender Binary is has increased. There are some things that Alok Vaid explains that I agree with and some things that I question and really don’t agree with. When Alok was explaining what moving on beyond the Gender Binary is he states word for word “Manhood and Womanhood should not be defined in opposites which I found reasonable but when he claims he sees it “as 2 stars and a galaxy” I disagree. I’ll be honest in my head / life there are only 2 genders, men and women.  The 2 stars are Adam and Eve. The galaxy is the real world we live in where there are only men and women being who they want and making decisions that they want, still at the end they are either boy or girl. I know who’s reading this is like duh that common sense, but it almost feels like Alok forgot that.  I understand Alok is pushing the agenda that being non-Binary is Endless. It’s basically a Galaxy to him. Opposite to the video the reading was more about the injustice and discrimination that nonbinary   go through. Just because I disagree with Alok’s statement in the video, doesn’t mean that at the end People who consider themselves non-Binary shouldn’t get support or treated with equal respect. Nothing is wrong with a person that considers themselves Nonbinary, the book tries to address that a person who doesn’t want to commit to gender conformity isn’t strange but special and has the right to do so and uplift it. Many events and scenarios are spoke about in the excerpt that have to do with that. In conclusion, in order to support nonbinary people, I would have to accept being opened to gender non confirming people.

Wow, reading the excerpts from Alox Vaid Manon’s book Beyond the Gender Binary really put me in my place concerning the many learned behaviors we are systematically taught growing up about the binary gender (male and female) misconception. It is an unlearning experience that I feel I need to be completely open to if I am to truly believe I am accepting, supportive, and loving towards all of my earthly siblings. I felt alot of shame reading about all the injustice and discrimination that nonbinary (those that are neither exclusively male or female) and gender nonconforming (those that actively defy society’s portrayal of man and woman) people continue to endure and hold my own misinformation that I have allowed to guide my beliefs out of convenience accountable. I considered myself to be an accepting human being but truthfully, I feel disgusted in thinking about the power that I’ve chosen to believe in just because I fit the “accepted” normality when in fact so many humans experience daily scrutiny over their gender and the point is that it cannot be ignored! Gender non-conforming individuals need everyone’s support because we are not any better just because we fail to grasp that there are more than just two genders. We should all come together in this idea to support our gender nonconforming siblings so that society can really begin to move in a direction where all of our daily routines and lives are seen as equal and not just keep a certain category of people in power just because it is what has been done and taught for as long as anyone can remember.