Kai Myers
9-17-14
Professor Soyoung Park
Women's Studies

What is Gender?

     According to modern society, gender is divided into two separate categories: male and female. This, however, is not the case. Gender is much more fluid; people can express multiple genders regardless of biological features. In sum, genitalia does not determine gender. "...It is really impossible to speak of a fixed biological sex category outside of the sense that a culture makes of that category", (Shaw and Lee, 125).

    What is truly disturbing is that most people in the United States believe that the strong implications between masculinity and femininity (a result of the gender binary) is considered to be a natural state of human development instead of a social construction. Gender, in truth, cannot be categorized into two separate boxes. It is something that cannot fit in any box, any form. Gender is constantly fluctuating throughout a person's life. "...Gender is a process that involves multiple patterns of interaction and is created and re-created constantly in human interaction" (Shaw and Lee, 126).

    The strong distinction between masculinity and femininity and the genders that perform these actions form stereotypes. Males are categorized as active, powerful, aggressive, while females are passive, nurturing, and emotional. These notions behind physical males and females create limitations that ultimately leads to the barrier between the definition between masculinity and femininity. 

    Those who do not follow the narrow divisions constructed by the gender binary are considered to be gender deviant. Who are these types of people? Transgendered people, lesbians, gays, masculine women, effeminate men, and honestly anyone who has had felt annoyed that there are no unisex options or that they are judged for wearing or wanting whatever they choose. 

    The gender binary is a social system that has given additional power to the patriarchy's ideals. It enforces the strength of males and the delicacy of females without considering that it is human nature to not fit tightly into a singular category.