Rainbows, Unicorns and the spectrum
People do not have to classify themselves. Human beings, especially in Western Society, have a penchant for wanting to classify themselves and everything around them. This often leads to trying to put things and people into categories that eliminate the possibility of being in another category. These are often phrased in an “or” question:
The list of either/or categories is incalculable and can crop up in every day conversation without anyone really noticing. Even a simple lunch meal can be complicated with an either/or question – would you like fries or onion rings? There is no law stating one can’t have both or neither.
These either/or questions make raising children easier because they fit nicely in a logical argument. Do you want grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly? When the child asks for macaroni and cheese, the parent can say, “That’s not one of the choices.” It makes the situation easy to control and works on adults, even if they deny that it does.
However, when it comes to human beings and life, simple either/or scenarios are not enough to contain the entirety of the human experience. No one is completely male or female. Everyone lives on a spectrum, and that spectrum is fluid. It changes from day to day, from hour to hour and from minute to minute. A man may exhibit the ultimate in masculine-assigned features one minute and in the next exhibit characteristics of a woman.
These assignations are not based on biology but rather on culture, and they do nothing but divide the roles in society so that people could find ways to live with one another while propagating the species. They are also no longer valid. It is okay for men to take on what are called traditional female roles just as it is okay for women to do the same for traditionally male roles – or at least, it should be. There is no longer any reason for men to be men and women to be women. Instead, people can choose to exhibit the traits that best suit them and to live the life that makes sense for them.
Sex, gender and gender expression all occur on a spectrum, and each person should choose for him or herself where he or she wants to be on the spectrum at any point in time. Rather than black and white, the world is a rainbow, and everyone should have the opportunity to express his or her preferences for whatever affinity he or she feels is right.
- Male or female?
- American or un-American?
- Smart or dumb?
- Man or machine?
- This or that?
The list of either/or categories is incalculable and can crop up in every day conversation without anyone really noticing. Even a simple lunch meal can be complicated with an either/or question – would you like fries or onion rings? There is no law stating one can’t have both or neither.
These either/or questions make raising children easier because they fit nicely in a logical argument. Do you want grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly? When the child asks for macaroni and cheese, the parent can say, “That’s not one of the choices.” It makes the situation easy to control and works on adults, even if they deny that it does.
However, when it comes to human beings and life, simple either/or scenarios are not enough to contain the entirety of the human experience. No one is completely male or female. Everyone lives on a spectrum, and that spectrum is fluid. It changes from day to day, from hour to hour and from minute to minute. A man may exhibit the ultimate in masculine-assigned features one minute and in the next exhibit characteristics of a woman.
These assignations are not based on biology but rather on culture, and they do nothing but divide the roles in society so that people could find ways to live with one another while propagating the species. They are also no longer valid. It is okay for men to take on what are called traditional female roles just as it is okay for women to do the same for traditionally male roles – or at least, it should be. There is no longer any reason for men to be men and women to be women. Instead, people can choose to exhibit the traits that best suit them and to live the life that makes sense for them.
Sex, gender and gender expression all occur on a spectrum, and each person should choose for him or herself where he or she wants to be on the spectrum at any point in time. Rather than black and white, the world is a rainbow, and everyone should have the opportunity to express his or her preferences for whatever affinity he or she feels is right.