Blog 1

Prompt 1(a)
Based on the reading “Gendered Bodies: Feminist Perspective” by Lorber and Moore, a new and upsetting idea was presented to me.
I have always been a supporter of equality and same-sex relationships/marriages, etc. To me everyone should be able to make their own decisions. However this article talked about how our genders that are stated right at birth do not allow us to be as diverse as we could be.
I have always noticed that gender is a huge role in our society and seems of such importance in our society. But I never really noticed the harmful effects of this classification. To me it helped with determining health issues, etc. But after reading this article and specifically this quote “Human bodies are not ‘natural’; they are socially produces under specific cultural circumstances. They are shaped by sociocultural ideals of what female and male bodies should look like and be capable of” (p. 2).
This idea was new to me. It was new to look at gender specifications in this way. Before I didn’t really see the harm in it, but this quote and article made me realize how shaped we are based on our gender. And I know that for some people picking a gender is not the easiest thing. For a job or doctor visit sure they may put what they were classified at birth, but what about how they feel, or which gender they were or want to be? It is a confusing and to me personally an unnecessary thing to focus so much of our time on. Our society shouldn’t classify everyone by gender.


Prompt 1(b)
The article titled “how do you Know?” by Green really made sense to me. The whole idea of femininity and masculinity being portrayed by women and men is something that irritates me so muc.h. Technically I would be classified as a heterosexual female. However I do not choose to take on many feminine roles. I do not like to act “like a lady” all the time. I do not want to put on my make up and do my hair everyday either. And because of this I shouldn’t have people judging me and saying I do not act like a lady or that I am not the ideal image of a woman.
There was one quote I could really relate too. The quote that hit me was “Or you might see a male person with feminine characteristics and assume he is gay, but he may very well be straight or bisexual. And he might think of himself as masculine, no matter what you might conclude from observing him” (p. 5). I know many people who identify as straight or see themselves as masculine, that are often classified by others as gay. Just because they may like something a little more “girly” or they are more sensitive people make their assumptions. It just makes me think of the saying you know what happens when you assume, it makes an ass out of you and me. Assuming does no one any good. And assuming something about someone you don’t even know makes no sense to me. Why does it even matter what gender or sex someone is? It makes me sad to realize that this idea is so important to our society and that we automatically judge people based on what we observe for a short period of time. People should be able to act how they want and not have people assuming who they are.


Prompt 1(a)
This article by Lorber “Night to his Day” related to the first one to me. It had the same message to me but something else popped out in this article to me.
Again this idea of gender being imprinted in our brains is a new concept for me. I can see that it is there, but it is something I never noticed or considered before. From birth we are classified, and like the first article by Lorber, we are shaped with this idea of gender. At such a young age we are put into a category and taught the “right way” to act based on that category.
This idea shocks me when you really think about it; because you will not truly feel free to explore or do what you think is fun if you are taught that may be the “wrong” way. The story in this article that really made me think was the story of the baby dressed in all white. Baseball cap and all white, so maybe a boy. But no it was a girl and it was made known because of the earrings and flowered shoes. The article goes onto tell that if we do not know the gender of a baby we get uncomfortable. The first question we ask is if it’s a boy or a girl. This has always seemed harmless to me, but after reading the article it seems so sad that we are all programmed that way. Why should we get uncomfortable if we don’t know the gender? Why is gender classification so important and our first question? When I truly looked at this idea, it really does get into the brains of the youth and restricts them from who they truly may be.


Prompt (1c)
The article titled, “A continuous Nonverbal Communication” by Riki Wilchins, was an article I found confusing. I just found the writing of the article confusing. I understood to some aspect what the author was proposing, but didn’t see the importance as he did.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am a supporter or equality, gender rights, etc, but I have never thought of fighting for gender civil rights or for taking this to a political standpoint. I see it as an important aspect that deserves a fight, but I do not think that political action will necessarily fix much. I would love to see more acceptance and understanding, but I know that just because something is politically recognized doesn’t mean people will agree with it.
Unfortunately some people are still racist; just as they are sexist. After reading the article I see now the importance of bringing this to a bigger fight and a political standpoint, but at first I was just confused. It would be great to see this fight being fought and won and accepted, but even if it is politically recognized doesn’t mean it is accepted by most. I guess I just see the importance in people truly changing and being open minded and accepted, I never looked at it in a civil rights movement kind of way, but now I do see the importance in it.




Prompt 2 (b)
The article that really stuck with me was “Gendered Bodies: Feminist Perspective” by Lorber and Moore. Like I stated earlier, gender is obviously everywhere in our society, but I had never looked at in a detrimental way until reading these articles.
These gender ideals make it hard for people to fully express and be themselves. But the reason I chose to expand on this article, was the quote that stated: “Similarly, because homosexuals are so devalued, gay men and women in the public eye may choose to look ‘straight’ in their appearance, even when they are open about their sexuality” (p. 1). This quote just automatically made me mad and sad. But it was relatable. I have many friends who are gay, and most of them put on the “straight” look and attitude around certain people. But to me they are so open and they truly know who they are inside. I was even more shocked to learn that our professor who I know is so open, puts on the “straight” look at the bars. It makes me so sad to hear this. I know all these people know who they are and are open for the most part, but they still hide certain aspects of their life because of the way our society has classified “normal and gender.”
I think people are not truly themselves at times because of all the pressure. Since birth we are told that there are men and women. Men do this and women do that. And if you do not act the way you are supposed to based on your gender then you are looked down upon. And although my friends and our professor are totally comfortable with their sexuality, they are still in some aspects not being true to themselves. And this may be for the benefit of others. The idea of being gay still scares some people. And I could see how those who still put on the “straight” mask may be doing that because it may not even be worth it to explain to people, or put up with their discomfort. That is the problem. People are so programmed to seeing gender and the “right way” it should be modeled that they are blind to who people really are.
So this article and the idea of gender really hit home for me. I have many friends who have to deal with this daily, and I just think it is so wrong.