The True Meaning of Gender

The True Meaning of Gender

An Insight Into Transgender Oppression

By Amber Petty

DEFINITIONS

Biological SexBiological Sex- - the property of the property of

quality by which organisms are quality by which organisms are

classified as female or male on classified as female or male on

the basis of their reproductive the basis of their reproductive

organs and functionsorgans and functions

GenderGender- - the classification of the the classification of the

sex of a person into male, sex of a person into male,

female, or ambivalentfemale, or ambivalent

Notice the Notice the

difference!?difference!?

BIOLOGICAL SEXVS

GENDER

Biological sexBiological sex is determined by your reproductive organs, is determined by your reproductive organs,

hormones and genes.hormones and genes.

GenderGender is a is a sociallysocially constructed idea of how men and constructed idea of how men and

women should appear and behave. women should appear and behave.

While your biological sex is given to you at birth, your While your biological sex is given to you at birth, your

gender is determined by years of outside influences, gender is determined by years of outside influences,

transforming you in the stereotypical boy or girl.transforming you in the stereotypical boy or girl.

GENDER STEREOTYPES

MaleMale FemaleFemale• tough tough • strongstrong• independentindependent• does not crydoes not cry• masculinemasculine• intelligentintelligent• dominantdominant

• sensitivesensitive• weakweak• dependentdependent• cries a lotcries a lot• femininefeminine• stupid stupid • submissivesubmissive

And these are just a few I have mentioned. The list goes on And these are just a few I have mentioned. The list goes on

and on…..and on…..

CAN GENDER BE A CHOICE?

Since gender is an imaginary idea , created by society and Since gender is an imaginary idea , created by society and

reinforced by our community, then we DO have a choice as reinforced by our community, then we DO have a choice as

to what gender we decide to portray. to what gender we decide to portray.

The idea of GENDER The idea of GENDER does not does not

exist.exist.

Media portraying “stupid” Media portraying “stupid”

female stereotype through female stereotype through

advertising.advertising.

Media portraying dominant and Media portraying dominant and

masculin male roles through masculin male roles through

advertising.advertising.

WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR GENDER?

Now that you have learned you Now that you have learned you

do have a choice whether you do have a choice whether you

identify as a man or a women, identify as a man or a women,

would you change your gender would you change your gender

from the one assigned to you at from the one assigned to you at

birth? birth?

If YES, then you would be If YES, then you would be

considered considered

TRANSGENDERTRANSGENDER..

There are also many negative socially constructed stereotypes There are also many negative socially constructed stereotypes

that are associated with the transgender community. But what that are associated with the transgender community. But what

does transgender really mean?does transgender really mean?

DEFINITION

TransgenderTransgender- one who identifies with or expresses a - one who identifies with or expresses a

gender identity that differs from the one which gender identity that differs from the one which

corresponds to the person’s sex at birth.corresponds to the person’s sex at birth.

Try to imagine growing up knowing that you in the Try to imagine growing up knowing that you in the

wrong body, meant to be a male instead of a female or wrong body, meant to be a male instead of a female or

vise versa. vise versa.

TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS

Myth #1:Myth #1: Transgender people are Transgender people are

just confusedjust confused

People often think that transgender men and women are People often think that transgender men and women are

just confused or going through a temporary phase, when just confused or going through a temporary phase, when

in reality, they know exactly who they are.in reality, they know exactly who they are.

Just because someone may appear to be different from Just because someone may appear to be different from

the cultural norm, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who the cultural norm, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who

they are.they are.

TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS

Myth #2: Myth #2: Transgender people are gayTransgender people are gay

Truth is…sexual orientation has nothing to do with Truth is…sexual orientation has nothing to do with

someone’s gender identity.someone’s gender identity.

The transgender community is The transgender community is

usually associated along side the usually associated along side the

gay community, often confusing gay community, often confusing

others about what transgender others about what transgender

really means. They assume really means. They assume

transgender is just a different transgender is just a different

form of gay.form of gay.

TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS

Myth #3: Myth #3: Transgender people perform in drag Transgender people perform in drag

showsshows

When people are asked what a transgender person looks like, they usually picture When people are asked what a transgender person looks like, they usually picture

a drag queen performing on stage.a drag queen performing on stage.

Truth is, the majority of drag performances are done by non trans people. Truth is, the majority of drag performances are done by non trans people.

When transgender men and women dress in clothes associated with the opposite When transgender men and women dress in clothes associated with the opposite

sex, they are not cross dressing, but dressing in the clothes they identify with the sex, they are not cross dressing, but dressing in the clothes they identify with the

most.most.

TRANSGENDER MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS

Myth #4: Myth #4: Transgender people Transgender people

aren’t “real” men or womenaren’t “real” men or women

Just because they may identify with a gender different from Just because they may identify with a gender different from

the one assigned to them at birth, doesn’t make them any the one assigned to them at birth, doesn’t make them any

less human. less human.

This is one of the most well This is one of the most well

know transgender know transgender

stereotypes, as well as one of stereotypes, as well as one of

the most harmful.the most harmful.

TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &

VIOLENCE

In a study done in October of In a study done in October of

2012, research showed that2012, research showed that

““22- 38%22- 38% of trans people have of trans people have

been harassed by police, with been harassed by police, with

upwards of upwards of 15%15% experiencing experiencing

physical abuse and physical abuse and 7%7% being being

sexually assaulted by law sexually assaulted by law

enforcement.”enforcement.”

Police officers are meant to protect the community from harm, Police officers are meant to protect the community from harm,

yet they are physically and sexually abusing innocent human yet they are physically and sexually abusing innocent human

beings, just because they are transgender.beings, just because they are transgender.

TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &

VIOLENCE

In the same study, it also stated In the same study, it also stated

that that 26% 26% of trans people have of trans people have

experience physical assault from experience physical assault from

health care professionals, while health care professionals, while

10%10% have experienced sexual have experienced sexual

assault.assault.

The transgender community is experiencing oppression and The transgender community is experiencing oppression and

violence from people who are meant to help them. If they can’t violence from people who are meant to help them. If they can’t

trust police officers or doctors, then who can they trust?trust police officers or doctors, then who can they trust?

TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &

VIOLENCE

Violence against transgender men Violence against transgender men

and women is becoming more of a and women is becoming more of a

problem each day.problem each day.

About About 50%50% of transgender men of transgender men

and women have experienced and women have experienced

sexual violence in their lifetime sexual violence in their lifetime

and transgender women seem and transgender women seem

to experience more violence to experience more violence

than transgender men. than transgender men.

Why do you think this is?Why do you think this is?

TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &

VIOLENCE

Many straight, masculine Many straight, masculine

males tend to feel confused males tend to feel confused

about their own sexual about their own sexual

orientation, when they find orientation, when they find

themselves attracted to themselves attracted to

transgender women. transgender women.

They feel as if their masculinity They feel as if their masculinity

is being threatened and tend to is being threatened and tend to

act out violently towards these act out violently towards these

transgender women, in order to transgender women, in order to

prove their masculinity to others, prove their masculinity to others,

as well as themselves.as well as themselves.

TRANSGENDER OPPRESSION &

VIOLENCE

We need to put an end We need to put an end

to oppression and to oppression and

violence against the violence against the

transgender transgender

community.community.

If our society was better educated on the true meaning of If our society was better educated on the true meaning of

transgender and saw the transgender community as equals, transgender and saw the transgender community as equals,

then maybe this violence would finally stop. then maybe this violence would finally stop.

HOW WE CAN STOP TRANS OPPRESSION

One way that we can help One way that we can help

end the violence and end the violence and

oppression against the oppression against the

transgender community is transgender community is

through through the media.the media.

If the media portrayed transgender men and women as If the media portrayed transgender men and women as

“normal” and just like everybody else, then our society would “normal” and just like everybody else, then our society would

start to treat the transgender community as one of their own. start to treat the transgender community as one of their own.

We need to stop the confusion surrounding the trans We need to stop the confusion surrounding the trans

community and allow others to realize they are no different community and allow others to realize they are no different

from themselves. from themselves.

IN THE MEDIA TODAY

There are a couple influential television shows today that are There are a couple influential television shows today that are

challenging these transgender stereotypes and educating the challenging these transgender stereotypes and educating the

community on the truth about the trans lifestyle.community on the truth about the trans lifestyle.Laverne Cox in Laverne Cox in Orange is the New Orange is the New

BlackBlackJeffery Tambor in Jeffery Tambor in

TransparentTransparent

LAVERNE COXLaverne Cox, an advocate for Laverne Cox, an advocate for

transgender men and women, has made transgender men and women, has made

such a impact on the trans community such a impact on the trans community

through her role as Sophia in through her role as Sophia in Orange is Orange is

the New Black.the New Black.

Since her television debeu, Laverne has spoken Since her television debeu, Laverne has spoken

out many times about growing up as a trans out many times about growing up as a trans

women in our harsh society. She has helped women in our harsh society. She has helped

educate our society about transgender people, educate our society about transgender people,

and has made an huge impact on the fight for and has made an huge impact on the fight for

transgender equality.transgender equality.

LAVERNE COX

Click the link to listen to Laverne talk about her personal Click the link to listen to Laverne talk about her personal

story about being a transgender women. story about being a transgender women.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbNEP8vhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbNEP8vMvmwMvmw

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

One of the easiest ways anyone can help eliminate transgender One of the easiest ways anyone can help eliminate transgender

oppression in our society is by oppression in our society is by talkingtalking about it! about it!

Educate others around you Educate others around you

about transgender about transgender

oppression and help them oppression and help them

better understand the better understand the

transgender community.transgender community.

The more we are educated about the trans community, the closer The more we are educated about the trans community, the closer

we will be to equality.we will be to equality.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.comhttp://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transgenhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transgenderder

http://everydayfeminism.com/2012/08/myths-about-trhttp://everydayfeminism.com/2012/08/myths-about-transgender-people/ansgender-people/

http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/FAQ-10-http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/FAQ-10-

2012-rates-of-violence.pdf2012-rates-of-violence.pdf