The End of Gender?

NPR's website recently posted an article asking if we've reached "the end of gender," citing as examples a family that chose to raise their child, Storm, without assigning the child a gender at birth, and the numerous people who choose to live more androgynously or closer to the edges of gender nonconformity, including a model who walked in both male and female runway shows.  The article highlights the work of Dr. Leonard Sax, a psychologist and family physician who studies the impact of single gender educational institutions and their benefit for (perceived) females; Dr. Sax believes that gender is far from extinct and stated, "the determined lack of awareness of gender difference which you describe...puts both boys and girls at risk," making an argument that physical and "spiritual" injuries can result from creating spaces that are gender neutral, also stating, "Ignoring gender won't make it go away. On the contrary: Ignoring gender has the ironic consequence of exacerbating gender stereotypes."

I read this article shortly after attending the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, a lively and vibrant convention attended by over 2,000 transgender and gender nonconforming registrants and their allies, many of whom also presented workshops.  Over that weekend, as a cisgender-identified participant very much in the minority, I developed a new empathy for people who set their own gender boundaries, or choose to leave them undefined or malleable.  I had a glimpse of what it would be like not to be limited to only two checkboxes on most official documents, including the U.S. Census survey and the new TSA "enhanced security" questionnaire, and to be around peers who understand that pronouns, names and afffirmed gender identities are integral parts of who we are and how we navigate the world.  I agree with Dr. Sax on one point -- ignoring gender won't make it go away, and gender, like any other identity that can be perceived differently by others than by an individual (e.g., race, ethnicity, age, ability), can be used as a basis for discrimination, subjugation, and pre-judgment.  Gender can also be a cause for celebration and an opportunity to feel better, as was evidenced by the elation at name change ceremonies and the grateful tears shed by many participants who said, "I've never been in a group like this where I wasn't the only trans person in the room."

As long as oppression exists, gender will probably not become fully neutral; perceived girls will probably be dressed in pink and expected to do poorly in math, and perceived boys will probably be given cars to play with and expected to suppress their emotional expressions.  My hope is not for an "end" to gender but rather to any limiting expectations; an increased awareness of what meaning is invested into gender by the cisgender majority (those people who feel their gender identity is consistent and continue to identify with the gender assigned at birth), a closer look at how gender is constructed in society, and a closer questioning of who benefits from such a narrow view.

The disparities in education that Dr. Sax studies could be improved by what Dean Spade, an trans activist also quoted in the NPR article, calls "gender based affirmative action": developing policies to address gender discrimination with an "understanding that gender categories are high-stakes social constructions deployed in ways that endanger and harm socially determined groups."  People who identify as transgender or two-spirit have been in societies for centuries; it is only recently that parts of the U.S. have started discussing trans-affirmative legislation, and having dialogues about gender that go beyond M vs F. Pretending that gender typing doesn't exist won't make it go away, however acknowledging that it exists and addressing the harmful ways that policies and organizations, schools and families and peers can and do use gender typing to oppress, might. To my colleagues in the mental health and helping professions, who have an opportunity to be advocates, educate yourselves -- go to conferences, get supervision, start those challenging dialogues -- so you are better equipped to work with cisgender clients and within your families or communities.  If you want to work with trans clients, find the mentors, supervisors, agencies and resources that can help you develop the knowledge, awareness and skills you need.  Let's not kid oursleves into thinking we're ending gender; let's take a closer look at it, in all its facets and functions, and continue questioning its meaning and purpose.

For the original NPR post, follow this link: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/27/137342682/the-end-of-gender