Gender is a social construction

[Whitacre_Girl]

I have a class that is really starting to get to me. I’ll spare you the painful details and skip to the one thing that I am having a lot of trouble ignoring, and am really biting my tongue on.

This is the idea of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender roles in regards to social justice - particularly in the classroom.

Here’s the thing, the teacher is saying that gender is a social construction (not tied to biological sex in the slightest) and for us to be good teachers, we need to know that just because someone is born male, their gender is not male.

I don’t know how much longer I can keep silent on the issue. I mean, as a ccatholic I obviously believe that gender and sex is synonymous. How can I keep my mouth shut so I don’t mess up my G.P.A. or, what can I say to this teacher? Should I say anyhting? How should I say it? I feel so conflicted.

Just FYI- this is a required class for my certification… I can’t drop it and school transfer isn’t an option (lest I want to drive 6 hours a day to the other nearest school). I just have to get through this.

 

[joe_cool]

Your prof will win. There is no chance of you changing their minds - all that will come of any challenge… is negative.

My vote is to keep quiet.

 

[edwest2]

Still going, eh? I remember my first encounter with a “same sex” barber shop. What? A boy is a girl is a boy?

This sort of Leftist nonsense has been around for years. I hope God will guide you in this.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Nec5]

Keep quiet, put up with the pablum, and let some of that anger fortify your resolve once you escape this type of indoctrination. Never forget the clever and unrelenting brainwashing you had to go through.

 

[Lutheranteach]

One’s sex is what it biologically is. One’s gender is a social construct, hence the term “gender roles.” “Effeminate” is an adjective describing one’s gender, not one’s sex —*such things may be what this person’s instructors are getting at.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

One’s sex is what it biologically is. One’s gender is a social construct, hence the term “gender roles.” “Effeminate” is an adjective describing one’s gender, not one’s sex —*such things may be what this person’s instructors are getting at.

no, I’ll explain a little more.

The idea is that we are either boiologically male or female. This is determined solely by genitals and hormones. However, gender is socially constructed. Most people who are biologically female identify their gender as female and vice versa for males. However, this is based off social concepts of gender, and there are those out there who are biologically male who identify with a female gender. Hence, their sex is male while their gender is female.

We are discussing this in light of showing acceptance to transgendered people and the fact that how we are made (sex) does not determine our identity (gender).

Gender roles is a whole different ball game (effeminate males, “butch” females, etc…)…

 

[snowlake]

Maybe you could use some humor to make a few points in a good hearted way.
If your name is, say, “Amy”, when the professor calls on you say “I prefer to be called Amos”. Or “Bob”.

You could even ask if the professor is a “he” or a “she” ( because you don’t want to be disrespectful and refer to him/her in the wrong gender.)

Or you could say “My cat thinks it’s a dog. I don’t know if I should buy Kibbles and Bits
or Friskies.”

On second thought all of this might get you into trouble. How about praying for the prof and all of the students? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and everyone involved.
The professor’s teachings are very unreasonable.Unless all of the other students are completely devoid of their humanness, logic and Natural Law will prompt many of them to see the error.

Although the jokes wouldn’t be good for the Prof, they might have a good effect on the students before or after class. It might have an evangelizing effect, and you might make a few friends there.

I don’t mean to make light of this psychological disorder. The people who have it must suffer terribly. However, it is just that: a psychological disorder.

 

[VetA]

Your prof will win. There is no chance of you changing their minds - all that will come of any challenge… is negative.

My vote is to keep quiet.

id say keep quiet unless he attacks you personally

 

[Lutheranteach]

no, I’ll explain a little more.

The idea is that we are either boiologically male or female. This is determined solely by genitals and hormones. However, gender is socially constructed. Most people who are biologically female identify their gender as female and vice versa for males. However, this is based off social concepts of gender, and there are those out there who are biologically male who identify with a female gender. Hence, their sex is male while their gender is female.

We are discussing this in light of showing acceptance to transgendered people and the fact that how we are made (sex) does not determine our identity (gender).

Gender roles is a whole different ball game (effeminate males, “butch” females, etc…)…

Yes. Precisely. And while this may seem like some convoluted abstract it can play a serious role in your life. IF you are a teacher, will you be like one of my 7th grade teachers and just happen to always be out of the room so a gang can beat the **** out of the effeminate boy at least once a week? Or will you take the position that that is who he is and he doesn’t deserve to be tormented and have school turned into a living hell? You will find gender roles can vary widely from culture to culture

 

[awatkins69]

This is serious foolishness. The male is the gender which produces the y-chromosome gamete. The female is the one which produces the x-chromosome gamete. This is the definition. If your professor wants to make his/her own definitions of male and female that is fine. But the fact of the matter is that male and female are biologically different. They have natural tendencies to do certain things. Because a female has breasts, she is more likely to be feeding the baby. They have to produce children, so they have greater pain tolerance. Males are typically bigger, have a different muscular build, and so forth. Because of this, the men were typically the hunters in tribes, and now they typically are the main workers. There are exceptions to all of this of course, as I have been alluding to. But generally speaking, you get the point.

If you don’t want to fail, I can’t blame you. Maybe pray your rosary or some chotki silently while your teacher goes on and on. Maybe talk to your teacher personally.

 

[snowlake]

Have you ever seen the musical “Mame”? The character Vera sang:"The man on the moon is a lady…a lady with perfume and curls…the cow that jumped over cried’Jumpin’ Jehovah! I guess it’s just one of the girls!’ "

I guess this idea has been around for a while!

 

[snowlake]

[Here’s the thing, the teacher is saying that gender is a social construction (not tied to biological sex in the slightest) and for us to be good teachers, we need to know that just because someone is born male, their gender is not male. ] end quote.

His gender is still male. He just doesn;t think it is, or just doesn’t “feel” that way. This is a misuse (and probably an intentional misuse) of language. The word gender has been re-defined to mean what the proponents of this idea want it to.

It is a shame that the teacher proposes this idea as fact. Varying ideas on the subject should be offered. This is very intolerant. All viewpoints should end up at the same point as far as education is concerned: we must treat the students who have this condition w/ loving kindness. And they should be protected from cruelty and violence.

As to the origin of the problem, there are different viewpoints. The teacher shouldn’t push his/her “religion” on everyone.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Whitacre_Girl;6816040:

[Here’s the thing, the teacher is saying that gender is a social construction (not tied to biological sex in the slightest) and for us to be good teachers, we need to know that just because someone is born male, their gender is not male. ] end quote.

His gender is still male. He just doesn;t think it is, or just doesn’t “feel” that way. This is a misuse (and probably an intentional misuse) of language. The word gender has been re-defined to mean what the proponents of this idea want it to.

It is a shame that the teacher proposes this idea as fact. Varying ideas on the subject should be offered. This is very intolerant. All viewpoints should end up at the same point as far as education is concerned: we must treat the students who have this condition w/ loving kindness. And they should be protected from cruelty and violence.

As to the origin of the problem, there are different viewpoints. The teacher shouldn’t push his/her “religion” on everyone.

You hit the nail on the head. They are intentionally stating that gender is how you feel about yourself, and sex is your plumbing. Just because someone has male genitalia, that doesn’t make them male in a gender sense. It just means that he has male genitalia.

I agree that all viewpoints should be presented, but she is puuting this forward as hand and fast fact. Just as much of a fact as Earth revolving around the sun. Indisputable truth.

I am just so irritated.

 

[agbasinger]

The modern teacher should teach you what the running thoughts of the day are. It’s your job to sift the meaning and the implications from those and take what you can from them.

And yes, it is annoying.

 

[Kaninchen]

no, I’ll explain a little more.

The idea is that we are either boiologically male or female. This is determined solely by genitals and hormones. However, gender is socially constructed. Most people who are biologically female identify their gender as female and vice versa for males. However, this is based off social concepts of gender, and there are those out there who are biologically male who identify with a female gender. Hence, their sex is male while their gender is female.

We are discussing this in light of showing acceptance to transgendered people and the fact that how we are made (sex) does not determine our identity (gender).

Gender roles is a whole different ball game (effeminate males, “butch” females, etc…)…

The problem has been that perceptions of gender have determined gender rôles and ‘de-constructing’ the idea of ‘gender’ is one way of laying bare the whole business of how much of our lives are ‘constructed’ by society, culture and language rather than being a reflection of any ‘natural’ difference.

 

[edwest2]

no, I’ll explain a little more.

The idea is that we are either boiologically male or female. This is determined solely by genitals and hormones. However, gender is socially constructed. Most people who are biologically female identify their gender as female and vice versa for males. However, this is based off social concepts of gender, and there are those out there who are biologically male who identify with a female gender. Hence, their sex is male while their gender is female.

We are discussing this in light of showing acceptance to transgendered people and the fact that how we are made (sex) does not determine our identity (gender).

Gender roles is a whole different ball game (effeminate males, “butch” females, etc…)…

This is simply not true. Behavior is under the control of each person. Society does not invent gender identities from which we pick and choose. The idea that gender is a social construct does not identify who or what group creates gender identity.

The term transgendered is relatively new and undefined for most people who hear it. It requires a definition.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

This is simply not true. Behavior is under the control of each person. Society does not invent gender identities from which we pick and choose. The idea that gender is a social construct does not identify who or what group creates gender identity.

The term transgendered is relatively new and undefined for most people who hear it. It requires a definition.

God bless,
Ed

In this case, transgendered refers to (in the context of this class) those who are born physically male or female, but essentially believed that they are trapped in the wrong body because in every other way they are the opposite gender.

 

[edwest2]

In this case, transgendered refers to (in the context of this class) those who are born physically male or female, but essentially believed that they are trapped in the wrong body because in every other way they are the opposite gender.

Then it is a psychological condition? What is usually done about this?

God bless,
Ed

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Then it is a psychological condition? What is usually done about this?

God bless,
Ed

In these cases, because they have constructed their identity as a member of the opposite sex, many will seek sex change operations or hormonal treatments to “be in the right bosy” as it were. They will dress like the opposite gender, and call themselves the opposite gender. To call them the sex they were born with would be like coming up to me (a female) and calling me male in their eyes.

The challnge this class is putting forward is how to respect them in the room. Ways of doing this includes not using gender specific words such as “hey you guys” or “ladies and gents” and so on since gender is no longer a binary concept. (male and female)

Needless to say, I am having a hard time with “gender is not binary” idea. I believe you are male or female depending on your sex (gender and sex is the same thing) where gender roles are what changes. There is no rule that women HAVE to dress and act a certain way. Same for men. Femininty and masculinity mean so much more than dress and decorum.

I dunno. I just want to hear thoughts from good christian people on this. It helps to bolster my opinions and correct errors.

 

[agbasinger]

How did the gender rules come about? Perhaps at one point they were just understood?