Posted on May 17, 2016
Are you a manly man? A womanly woman? What do those terms mean to you?
4.53K
32
30
3
3
0
http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2016/05/17/sorry-liberals-but-gender-is-not-a-social-construct-n2164148?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=
Some accuse our President of leading us off the tracks and into another unnecessary social conundrum: What is gender? To be fair, he didn't create the problem. Like always, he merely exacerbated it. Now, it seems, people are afraid to use public bathrooms. They can't decide which they should, and perverts are having a field day.
Every society beginning with primitive ones, had rites of passage demarcating the distinction between childhood and adulthood. The fairest of these involved some kind of pain like circumcision. An intellectual test might have precluded some from being considered adults while giving children early entry into the ranks of the adult community. Women had it easy; the onset of the menstrual cycle generally signaled that a girl was now a woman. For guys of my generation, receiving a driver's license was it.
Two of my favorite novels have subplots that play on this theme: The Source by James Michener and The Navigator by Morris West. I recommend them highly.
Of late, America's lack of such a clear cultural ritual has always been a minor issue. But now it has come to the fore and been exacerbated by a debate over what constitutes gender. The essay linked in this discussion is a pretty good introduction to the topic. I'd love to hear your thoughts after reading it.
Some accuse our President of leading us off the tracks and into another unnecessary social conundrum: What is gender? To be fair, he didn't create the problem. Like always, he merely exacerbated it. Now, it seems, people are afraid to use public bathrooms. They can't decide which they should, and perverts are having a field day.
Every society beginning with primitive ones, had rites of passage demarcating the distinction between childhood and adulthood. The fairest of these involved some kind of pain like circumcision. An intellectual test might have precluded some from being considered adults while giving children early entry into the ranks of the adult community. Women had it easy; the onset of the menstrual cycle generally signaled that a girl was now a woman. For guys of my generation, receiving a driver's license was it.
Two of my favorite novels have subplots that play on this theme: The Source by James Michener and The Navigator by Morris West. I recommend them highly.
Of late, America's lack of such a clear cultural ritual has always been a minor issue. But now it has come to the fore and been exacerbated by a debate over what constitutes gender. The essay linked in this discussion is a pretty good introduction to the topic. I'd love to hear your thoughts after reading it.
Sociology
Culture
Gender
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
4
4
0
The article is clearly nothing more than an opinion editorial - nothing more than a blog entry.
Much of gender _IS_ a social construct. Pink for girls, blue for boys - just 100 years ago, it was the opposite. Just 60 years ago, women were 2nd class citizens (and in many ways, still are). Have you seen the movie, "Carousel," within the last 30 years? It was very clear that giving "love hits" to a woman was good and proper - and MANLY, and that it was a woman's place to accept them without comment. Even Rosie the Riveter is hailed as a great example of a woman doing a "man's job."
Socialization teaches us how to treat and react to our fellow humans (and other critters), and gender roles are part of this. It teaches us how to dress (ewww, are you wearing THAT?), and who pays for a date. Society teaches us that a guy that sleeps with lots of women is a stud, but a woman that sleeps with lots of guys is a slut.
"Girly man" is a Neanderthal-ish dig at a male that doesn't feel that women are objects and that using female-terms to describe someone as weak, unimportant, and negative is acceptable. "Man up," "Grow a pair," "You're just a pussy," are all examples.
For YEARS, especially my time in the Army (Infantry), I was blasted for being a pussy, a homo, a girly-man, purely because I didn't like to drink until I puked so I could drink more and sleep with everything with a skirt. To be honest, it got to the point that I began to wonder about it, myself. Now, some 25 years later, with a wife and three daughters, I realize where the problem was - it was with the society and NOT with me.
Imagine, this, Jack: from tomorrow morning until the day you die, you're going to have to wear short, pink dresses with lots of lace and frills. Would you feel good? Would you feel natural? Would you feel something was wrong?
The gender debate is one step beyond that. Imagine that you looked into the mirror - Captain Jack Durish looks into the mirror - and you see full breasts and no penis. Would you feel good? Would you feel natural? Would you feel something was wrong? That's what trans-folks feel every day. They look down and the view doesn't match what they feel SHOULD be there.
And society is still telling them to shut up and accept that as their reality.
______________________________
NOW, to address your commentary:
I actually agree with many of your points. Back in my day, a Driver's License _WAS_ the mark of manhood for a guy. When my kids were of age, it was their first cell-phone. Today, there aren't any quasi-clear delineations between childhood and adulthood - hell, kids are inundated with sexualization from the time they are toddlers, and "prostitots" are seen every day as they walk into elementary schools.
To be candid, I don't know what to recommend to fix it.
Much of gender _IS_ a social construct. Pink for girls, blue for boys - just 100 years ago, it was the opposite. Just 60 years ago, women were 2nd class citizens (and in many ways, still are). Have you seen the movie, "Carousel," within the last 30 years? It was very clear that giving "love hits" to a woman was good and proper - and MANLY, and that it was a woman's place to accept them without comment. Even Rosie the Riveter is hailed as a great example of a woman doing a "man's job."
Socialization teaches us how to treat and react to our fellow humans (and other critters), and gender roles are part of this. It teaches us how to dress (ewww, are you wearing THAT?), and who pays for a date. Society teaches us that a guy that sleeps with lots of women is a stud, but a woman that sleeps with lots of guys is a slut.
"Girly man" is a Neanderthal-ish dig at a male that doesn't feel that women are objects and that using female-terms to describe someone as weak, unimportant, and negative is acceptable. "Man up," "Grow a pair," "You're just a pussy," are all examples.
For YEARS, especially my time in the Army (Infantry), I was blasted for being a pussy, a homo, a girly-man, purely because I didn't like to drink until I puked so I could drink more and sleep with everything with a skirt. To be honest, it got to the point that I began to wonder about it, myself. Now, some 25 years later, with a wife and three daughters, I realize where the problem was - it was with the society and NOT with me.
Imagine, this, Jack: from tomorrow morning until the day you die, you're going to have to wear short, pink dresses with lots of lace and frills. Would you feel good? Would you feel natural? Would you feel something was wrong?
The gender debate is one step beyond that. Imagine that you looked into the mirror - Captain Jack Durish looks into the mirror - and you see full breasts and no penis. Would you feel good? Would you feel natural? Would you feel something was wrong? That's what trans-folks feel every day. They look down and the view doesn't match what they feel SHOULD be there.
And society is still telling them to shut up and accept that as their reality.
______________________________
NOW, to address your commentary:
I actually agree with many of your points. Back in my day, a Driver's License _WAS_ the mark of manhood for a guy. When my kids were of age, it was their first cell-phone. Today, there aren't any quasi-clear delineations between childhood and adulthood - hell, kids are inundated with sexualization from the time they are toddlers, and "prostitots" are seen every day as they walk into elementary schools.
To be candid, I don't know what to recommend to fix it.
(4)
(0)
CPT Jack Durish
I agree almost completely with almost everything you commented. My issue is that the President jumped into a debate and pronounced his verdict as though it was his prerogative. Sorry, I can't find any legal basis for his action in the Constitution. What's worse is that he threw gasoline on the flames. Like you, I don't know what to recommend to fix it, not yet. I think the answer will come after long and serious consideration and debate by the society at large (and it's way overdue).
(0)
(0)
SSG Nicholas Wright
People are confusing a biological gender, something in the brain that cannot be changed, with gender roles which are totally made up but we act like it's biology and pass laws to enforce them and conduct lots of poorly designed sociological questionnaires that indicate that "women are naturally more nurturing and men are naturally more aggressive" or similar.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
No where has anyone said that gender is a social construct. The operative word that everyone leaves out is "identity". It is gender-identity that should be the topic of conversation. Actual gender has never been an issue, and with modern medical technology can be changed from one to the other, physically, at least.
This article relies on ridicule and outdated notions to make its point. Therefore, it is garbage journalism, at best. No where does it even attempt to cite a source for its conclusions. It even attempts to link transgenders with mental illness, something even the American Psychiatric Association would consider quackery.
The one culture that the article missed was the Native Americans, before the coming of the white man. They celebrated the homosexuals, both male and female, calling them "Two-Spirit" people. Not all ancient cultures stuck to the same rigid definition of gender. Neither should we.
This article relies on ridicule and outdated notions to make its point. Therefore, it is garbage journalism, at best. No where does it even attempt to cite a source for its conclusions. It even attempts to link transgenders with mental illness, something even the American Psychiatric Association would consider quackery.
The one culture that the article missed was the Native Americans, before the coming of the white man. They celebrated the homosexuals, both male and female, calling them "Two-Spirit" people. Not all ancient cultures stuck to the same rigid definition of gender. Neither should we.
(3)
(0)
CPT Jack Durish
Thank you for reading the article before commenting. You are a rare breed and I honor you for it.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
Study the rise and fall of the Roman Empirer - lost all sense of your points above. A country without some form of morale compass and vision if who it is will just flutter in the wind and soon be blown away.
If I had kids in school now they would be pulled - no way do I think a 10 year old girl be subject to taking a shower with a boy or in reverse.
Our morale compass has always separated us - now to through it all together will do more harm to those 99% versus the 1% who are confused.
My heart goes out to the confused but that does not mean I destroy the majority for the few.
If I had kids in school now they would be pulled - no way do I think a 10 year old girl be subject to taking a shower with a boy or in reverse.
Our morale compass has always separated us - now to through it all together will do more harm to those 99% versus the 1% who are confused.
My heart goes out to the confused but that does not mean I destroy the majority for the few.
(2)
(0)
SSgt Robert Dant
MCPO (Join to see) - Oh I am one who can say my morale compass in the 60s and 70s was not all that good. Not sure I would call them Good Ole days - ramp it hormones might be a better classification.
(0)
(0)
SSgt Robert Dant
SSG Nicholas Wright - SSG Nicholas Wright. I am not sure I said that having gender identity is a morale issue. I am pretty sure when I was young - no I am sure - when I was young my morale compass was totally jacked up. I think one who is born under one gender and desires to be another is someone who is troubled in life and has many things to deal with. However, I am more than willing to say when our Government steps in and forces children to deal with this is an extreme under any measures.
The minority should not mess up the majority in this country. While I have my opinions and my belief system - I am not judging the individuals who struggle with this.
The minority should not mess up the majority in this country. While I have my opinions and my belief system - I am not judging the individuals who struggle with this.
(0)
(0)
SSG Nicholas Wright
You're damn right that those who have gender stuff going on are troubled in life, and it's because people are making a big deal about things that just aren't. It's always "oh how shall I ever explain this to my child, why must we be subjected to their oddities" followed by an attack of the vapors. They trotted this same argument out for the mere existence of gay people, then for gay marriage, and now transgender is the new gay.
The way you've written your post, you're conflating the fall of Rome and gender minorities using bathrooms and showers as a moral issue. The minority has a right and expectation to dignity just as the majority does, and concerns about the tyranny of the majority go right back to the founding of our nation. Someone being uncomfortable with the mere existence of or interaction with someone else, someone different, someone atypical, entitles them to nothing at all, and is frankly ridiculous.
I get it if someone's problem with us queers is rooted in disgust. We all have things that disgust us. But this kind of disgust is a visceral reaction trained into to us by the people we grew up with and nothing more. It's up to that person to dig deep and come to terms with it, not to hide behind a RFRA or HB2.
The way you've written your post, you're conflating the fall of Rome and gender minorities using bathrooms and showers as a moral issue. The minority has a right and expectation to dignity just as the majority does, and concerns about the tyranny of the majority go right back to the founding of our nation. Someone being uncomfortable with the mere existence of or interaction with someone else, someone different, someone atypical, entitles them to nothing at all, and is frankly ridiculous.
I get it if someone's problem with us queers is rooted in disgust. We all have things that disgust us. But this kind of disgust is a visceral reaction trained into to us by the people we grew up with and nothing more. It's up to that person to dig deep and come to terms with it, not to hide behind a RFRA or HB2.
(0)
(0)
SSgt Robert Dant
SSG Nicholas Wright, you are definitely offended by my comments. But before you go to far - I have some really close gay friends (male and female) and they would probably be the first to tell you your anger is miss directed on me - while it is easy to see you are frustrated - try not to make it my issue.
I would say you need to study the Fall of the Roman Empire to see what I meant. I could go on forever about my beliefs - but will not.
The issue to me is still I would not feel comfortable if my daughter or son had to take showers with (yes the opposite physical sex) and put them in an uncomfortable zone. Why should they also be asked to suffer? Maybe it would be a much greater position for all if less anger was present and more logic.
Good luck to you - do not jump to conclusions that everyone is uncomfortable with your sexual preference - I am not.
I would say you need to study the Fall of the Roman Empire to see what I meant. I could go on forever about my beliefs - but will not.
The issue to me is still I would not feel comfortable if my daughter or son had to take showers with (yes the opposite physical sex) and put them in an uncomfortable zone. Why should they also be asked to suffer? Maybe it would be a much greater position for all if less anger was present and more logic.
Good luck to you - do not jump to conclusions that everyone is uncomfortable with your sexual preference - I am not.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google