Gender as a Concept

In class and in the readings, we’ve been doing a lot of hardcore defining of gender, sex, and identity and how they all tie together. Considering how fluid the concept of gender is, I think it’s very difficult to really pinpoint the differences between people. As some people brought up in class, the idea that there are not solely two genders is growing and becoming more socially acceptable. I think that sometimes that can be scary for people, because accepting that gender is fluid and not set means that it becomes harder to rely on stereotypes and generalizations. And honestly, being able to rely on those things can make thinking about relationships a little easier for some people. But it’s important to realize that not everyone fits the molds society has laid out in terms of gender.

Self-identity and social identity are hugely important and very intertwined. When a person’s self-identity is rejected by society, their social identity may not reflect their true identity at all. I feel that the current social constructs of gender definitely propose some difficulties for many people whose self-identity doesn’t fit the molds. Overall, it’s important to realize that as much as it may feel comfortable to generalize about gender and sex, it can be harmful. As a society, we need to become more at ease with the fluidity of gender and sexuality.