As far as
"sex" and "gender" go, I tend to see at least SEVEN different
domains, some
of which overlap with each other or inform or help define each other. These
domains I call:
1. Biological Sex.
2. Gender Assigment.
3. Gender
Identity.
4. Gender Presentation.
5. Gender Preference.
6. Sexual
Preference.
7. Sexual Identity.
1. BIOLOGICAL SEX is
usually determined by genitals and/or genes. The relevant terms here are
MALE, FEMALE, INTERSEX.
2. GENDER ASSIGNMENT is whether
one identifies with the gender role which corresponds to the sex assigned at
birth. relevant terms here are TRANSGENDER, CISGENDER (A cisgendered person
is one who identifies with the corresponding gender with the sex one is
assigned at birth; in other words, anyone who is not trans).
3.
GENDER IDENTITY is usually deduced by others on the basis of
cues from primary and secondary sex characteristics AND Gender Presentation:
appearance, vocal inflections, body language, etc. Relevant terms here are
MAN, WOMAN, GENDERQUEER, THIRD GENDER, IN-BETWEEN.
4. GENDER
PRESENTATION is how one embodies the degrees of various
characteristics which are stereotypically associated with gendered
archetypes, regardless of their gender identity. Gender Presentation
includes four categories: "Feminine," "Masculine," "Androgynous," and
"Neuter" as determined by subjective evaluations along two different continua.
Instead of
viewing Masculinity and Femininity as opposite ends of one
spectrum,
I regard
them as two separate spectra:
Placing high on the masculinity continuum and low in femininity =
"Masculine"
Placing low on the masculinity continuum and high in femininity =
"Feminine"
Placing high on the masculinity continuum and high in femininity =
"Androgynous"
Placing low on the masculinity continuum and low in femininity =
"Neuter"
For example, most infants in diapers appear "Neuter" which is why some
people dress them in 'gender appropriate' clothing so that others can deduce
their gender identities. Another example: being 'masculine' alone does not
make one a 'man.' Being perceived by others as a 'man' means being able to
pass for what society considers to be within the normal range of acceptable characteristics for 'men.' One can be perceived as a 'man' and also as
'feminine' or 'androgynous.' A big, muscular male in a dress, makeup and wig
is usually going to be perceived as a 'man in drag' not as a 'woman.' For
some people, their gender presentation is FIXED or stable. For others, it is
FLUID or mutable.
5. GENDER PREFERENCE involves the
degrees of attraction to stereotypical gender characteristics in other
people. Gender Preference is rated the same way that Gender Presentation is
with the four categories and the two separate continua for 'Masculinity' and
'Femininity'.
For example, when a M4M personal ad reads that a guy is seeking a
'straight-acting'
man what he means is that he is looking for a male who scores high on the
masculinity
continuum and low in femininity. As with Gender Presentation, some people
are more
FIXED in what they find attractive and some people are more FLUID. Also,
for some
people, Gender Preference depends on the Gender Identity of the person they
are attracted to.
For example, someone may be attracted to masculinity in men, but not in
women. A bisexual person might be attracted to the same qualities in both
sexes or different qualities in different sexes.
For some people, it depends on the individual they are attracted
to.
6. SEXUAL PREFERENCE is marked by the Kinsey Scale
which defines attraction
to others on the basis of one's genitals and the
genitals of the person that one is attracted to. Relevant terms are
HETEROSEXUAL, BISEXUAL, HOMOSEXUAL.
As with Gender Preference, for some
people Sexual Preference changes over the course of their lifetime (FLUID)
and/or can be relatively stable and unchanging (FIXED).
7. SEXUAL
IDENTITY is one's public persona. This may or may not correspond
with one's Sexual Preference depending on how out/closeted a person is.
Relevant terms: GAY, STRAIGHT, BISEXUAL, QUEER, QUESTIONING
Most
people usually identify themselves primarily with their Gender Identity and
Sexual Identity.
Some of the categories have "defaults", in other words,
it's commonly assumed that most people are heterosexual and cisgendered
unless there are cues that indicate differently.
To rate myself along
these Seven Domains, I would say that I am:
1. Biological Sex: FEMALE
2.
Gender Assignment: CISGENDER
3. Gender Identity: WOMAN
4. Gender
Presentation: FEMININE (but don't expect to see me in make-up)
5. Gender Preference FLUID FEMININE (I'm attracted to FEMININITY, but I want her to speak "car").
6.
Sexual Preference: KINSEY 6X
7. Sexual Identity: Lesbian/Gay
An Important Message About Bullying
This is making the rounds of Facebook, so it is quite possible that you've seen it, already.
But it IS Very IMPORTANT, so a little repetition won't hurt - and the bullying does hurt. Help spread this around, please.
Posted by Kate on October 02, 2010 in Consciousness, Current Affairs, Death & Dying, GLBTQ, Social Commentary - Mine & Others', Videos - Great, for one reason or another... | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
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