I was watching the Today Show this morning and they had a segment called, "An inside look at the blurring of gender lines". As I watched it, I was a bit confused. I was wondering what made people in American think gender is fluid? Gender is a word that means either of the two sexes (male and female). That's it. Sounds simple to me. So, how can it be fluid? I don't have all of the answers but this sounds like a case of semantics. It sounds like there is a need to discuss the definitions of gender, sexual identity and sexual preference.
As of today, the United States government has made no official acknowledgment or definition of non-binary or unspecified gender. The states have taken it upon themselves to allow non-binary gender markers on identification documents. I'm sure there are various reasons why someone would declare themselves as gender "x" and I hope it's worth the time, energy, attention, and finances they can potentially incur for the sake of having that status.
Recently, I read an article where a state is now allowing gender "x" as an option on driver's licenses. I see that as being potentially problematic in the future. "x" is basically an unknown gender to the person that sees it on documentation. Things that are unknown have a tendency to take an exponential amount of time, energy and sometimes finances. There are a plethora of things that are intentionally separated by 2 genders. Prisons, bathrooms, locker rooms, hospital rooms are intentionally separated by 2 genders. When a 3rd is added, won't it result in mishaps, extra added expenses or accommodations? In 2018 Forbes article stated the U.S. was one of "The World's Most Crowded Prison Systems". Is the prison system willing and able to accommodate gender "x"? Probably not. So, if you are unfortunate and end up in the prison system, your gender "x" status may not mean anything. Perhaps as a gender "x" you're admitted to a hospital. The potential for a fatal mishap increases significantly. Why? Because in the field of medicine there are not only gender-specific diseases but also gender-specific drug effects. The time it would take for medical staff to determine if a gender "x" patient required medication and/or dosage that was specific to male or female may result in misdiagnosis, misadministration or much worse, death. More than likely, the "x" gender person may be forced to choose one gender or the other in a lot of situations, so I guess I'm not understanding the point of declaring it at all. This societal construct of a third gender (x) seems like more trouble than it's worth. Individuals that have to face the landscape of determining medical treatment based on hormone levels rather than gender are individuals that are intersex or have ambiguous genitalia. This is irrefutably necessary because of their physical development. Without these (or any other) physical reasons, determining yourself as gender "x" seems more like a product of groupthink and part of this era that feels the need to affix self-proclaimed labels and statuses based on your "truth" or individuality.
If you've continued to read this far, you've probably decided that this blog is the rantings of a "cisgender person preaching cisnormativity", let me be clear, I have no qualms about the descriptives you use to define yourself, your sexual preference or orientation. You can declare the color of your skin sarcoline, wenge or eburnean, have a sexual affection for trees and worship the god of dirt or ants but legally, on a state or government issued identification, it would be in your own interest (for health and safety) to specify what gender you are currently. For those individuals that are individuals that are intersex or have ambiguous genitalia, I would hope most have already completed the medical diagnostics to determine the percentage of male and female hormones that they produce and for the purpose of getting accurate and appropriate medical attention the greater % of hormone would be determined as their gender.
There are always exceptions but it is rare that human genes, blood type, and gender biologically (as opposed to cosmetically) change after you're born. When people speak of gender fluidity, it sounds like a self-proclaimed and self-described gender identity that is not fixed or set and is based on an emotional or psychological level. This is not the same as your gender. Again, gender is a word that means either of the two sexes (male and female). So, my conclusion is that gender in and of itself is not fluid. (Yes, I said it. Gender is NOT fluid.) Until it takes more than a human female ovum and a human male sperm to produce a human being, IT...IS...NOT...FLUID. (Why not? Because a bunch of unfertilized ovum that sits around for a month produces nothing but menstruation along with cramps, nausea, pain, etc.)
When a new word or phrase starts trending through social media, I always try my best to understand it. I want to know where this word or phrase came from and why it came to be. If I didn't do my due diligence in researching it and asking questions, I could easily fall into the pit of groupthink. And although groupthink can be powerful, it is not always correct. Understanding "gender fluid" begins with the correct definition of it as well as the correct definitions of other gender-based identifiers. Gender is the way you were born biologically (or hormonally), sexual identity is what you proclaim yourself to be (in your mind, heart or soul, if you will) and sexual preference is who you've chosen to love romantically. If a conversation is had, let's start it from a place of true and accurate definitions.
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