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Gender is diverse. We can tell
that because of the other letters outside the of M (man) and W (woman).
Recently, I read an article about the addition in courtesy’s Mr (Mister, for
men); Ms (Miss, for unmarried woman); and Mrs (Mistress, for married woman).
Now there can be Mx or Mixed, for mixed genders. But then again, how will we
identify if someone should be called a Mr., Ms., or Mx.? (https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/insider/mx-did-the-times-adopt-a-new-transgender-courtesy-title.html ; http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/mx-a-new-gender-neutral-title)
Firstly, to identify our gender identity, we must first
define these two words, Gender and Identity. Gender “refers to the attitudes, feelings, roles and behaviors that
a given culture or society, associates with a person’s biological sex”. While Identity is “the distinguishing
character or personality of an individual.”
So
basically, Gender Identity, based on
definition, is the personal conception of oneself. Their own internal sense and
personal experience on gender.
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Plainly speaking, no one can
identify their gender identity except oneself. Many people identify themselves
as man or woman, but some people do not. People who don’t identify themselves
as man or woman may identify themselves as both genders, neither genders,
between genders, or not gendered at all-- hence the LGBTQIA+ community.
To make things easier, let’s
just ask ourselves, “Who am I?”
As per personal experience, it
was really hard for me to identify myself. Kids nowadays are lucky because
there is now an advance researches about gender and sexuality. It was just 2014
when I knew my identity (I was 16 back then). All I know before was to choose
between man and woman. But I know to myself that I want to be both. I want to
do what a man is doing, at the same time I want to do and experience being a
woman.
I think one factor of this is
the representation of media to being a man and a woman, then there’s this show
with a gay man dancing and a lesbian woman playing her guitars. I was so lost.
I don’t know if I am a man who likes sports and a very strong and tough, or a
woman who’s weak and always crying, or the gay man who’s super confident in
everything he/she do or say, or the lesbian who loves his/her guitar and almost
look like a man. That’s how I saw it on televisions.
Now that I am a part of an
LGBTQIA+ organization, PUP Kasarianlan, I learned that gender is a spectrum. I
can be who I want to be, without being boxed in a certain gender. I gained
confidence to spread my wings and explore what’s beyond my gender.
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I now identify myself as a
bisexual woman. Despite what other people snide comment or the oppressions from
the society and the rejection of Catholic Church, that is what I am and that’s what
I want to be identified.
Gender, also is fluid. It could change and goes on overtime, or it
could be anything you want to be. If the time comes that you don’t want to
conform to any gender, it’s fine.
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Amidst of the society where
identifying gender is a sensitive issue, I want us to start to identifying
ourselves, whether your straight or a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This is not a pressure in you
guys to out yourselves. There’s a time for coming out. What I want is to start
identifying yourselves because believe me when I say that not knowing what you
are and who you want to be is very disheartening. It’s like not knowing a part
of you.
Look within you and you’ll know. If you feel confused, look
for someone to talk to, ad enlighten you. It was hard, but all of us can make
it, because you and only you can decide for your gender identity.
This is a well written article. I too was enlightened. How would you pronounce "Mx"? Tell us in class tomorrow.
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