What is the Gender Argument Really About?
By Dani
The heart of the issue lies not in the words' man' and 'woman' but in the historically oppressive social norms imposed on both genders. Confusing these societal constructs with the fundamental existence of man and woman only muddies the discourse.
I've always been puzzled by the argument that "sex and gender are different" put forth by gender identity ideology activists. Their own use of sex and gender, their own demands, link the two as synonymous. For example, if being a man doesn't necessarily mean being male, and being a woman doesn't necessarily mean being female, then why insist on changing the sex identifier on official documents? If a male identifies as a woman, according to gender identity ideology, that man is a woman. Why, then, do gender identity activists insist that there must be a way for a man identifying as a woman to change their sex marker on official documents from male to female? If female doesn't equate to woman, then why must the sex identifier acknowledge the male as female to validate their womanly "identity"?
According to this logic put forth by gender identity ideology, to validly “identify" as a woman, one must be female, correct? Following this logic, a male can never truly be a woman, as they can never be a member of the female sex. So, do you believe that the female sex is intrinsically linked to womanhood or not?
Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize that genitalia are not the sole determinant of sex. Our bones and every cell in our body inherently reveal our sex, and that can never be altered. This renders the notion of a "sex change" and other validating procedures null. So, I ask again, what is the argument?
These gender identity beliefs extend to the idea of being a man or woman as a "social construct," a "myth," and a "role."
While it is true that societal roles have been imposed on men and women, these roles were constructed to maintain a certain order, rooted in ego, and, sadly, often misogyny, stemming from the physiological differences between male and female — man and woman.
The heart of the issue lies not in the words' man' and 'woman' but in the historically oppressive social norms imposed on both genders. Confusing these societal constructs with the fundamental existence of man and woman only muddies the discourse.
'Man' is a descriptor for male—an adult human male. 'Boy' denotes a male child. Similarly, 'woman' describes an adult human female, while 'girl' refers to a female child.
The beliefs and arguments of gender identity ideology appear to be entangled, not only because gender identity activists conflate imposed gender roles with the existence of men and women but also because their stance disregards the very existence they’re advocating for. If these “identities” don't concretely exist, how can one identify as them or attempt to emulate their existence?
Allow me to share my beliefs, as I seldom have the opportunity to express them amidst the constant inundation of others' convictions:
I believe that femininity and masculinity are expressions open to all sexes. Defying stereotypes doesn't diminish one's existence as a man or a woman—it merely affirms their authenticity.
I believe that we don't need contrived identities to accommodate individuals who defy stereotypes and traditional gender roles. These individuals should be permitted to exist comfortably as men and women without unfair treatment compelling them to adopt a different identity to find their place in society.
I believe femininity and masculinity don't define one's womanhood or manhood; they are aspects of a larger, complex individual.
I believe preferences, hobbies, interests, and the unique traits that make us who we are aren't confined to a specific sex. These facets of our identity remain unchanged, just as they do not change one’s sex.
While it is true that societal roles have been imposed on men and women, these roles were constructed to maintain a certain order, rooted in ego, and, sadly, often misogyny, stemming from the physiological differences between male and female — man and woman.
Sex and the defining words for sex are an objective, tangible reality. Acknowledging this doesn't bind us to rigid stereotypes and roles that limit our pursuits and expressions.
As men and women, we possess the agency to be the individuals we choose to be without it undermining our core identities and existence. We shouldn't be coerced into believing otherwise.
I yearn for a world where these sentiments spoken aloud are more commonplace. While I recognize that we may not be there yet, I remain optimistic that we will one day reach that point.
Excellent articulation!
It's a "flap doodle" bait and switch conjuring trick, playing on the ambiguity of a word like gender which can have different meanings in different contexts. In one context it has been used interchangeably to refer to sex, in another context it's used to describe social roles deemed appropriate for a human being according to which sex a person may be. Gender ideology arguments switch the context in the background argument whilst retaining the same word in the foreground argument so suddenly a person with the body of a man can claim that his real "sex" is that of a woman, simply because he feels more comfortable with or more attracted to having the gender role society normally ascribes to women. Leading to absurdities, confusion and outlandishly impossible psuedo metaphysical ideas such as it being possible for a human being to be "born in the wrong body".
Gender ideologues insist that we should all take care not to conflate sex and gender - ironically because they are ones who doing so more than anyone.