Deja Plazo

English 115
Beadle
17 September 2015
Gender: A Choice or Forced?
Whether it is by choice or not, every individual is given expectations based on his
or her gender. For instance, boys are expected to play with toy trucks, or soldiers, while
girls are expected to appeal toy cosmetics, or games that emulate domesticity, like play
kitchen scenes. For this reason alone, it is inevitable to continuously live with the binary
ideals of male and female ,though transgender identities are becoming more common).
Furthermore, our perceptions of ourselves, along with gender on a general level, are
constructed from the moment we are brought into the world by the people,
advertisements, and influences around us. We may subconsciously conform to one
gender either to avoid gender discrimination, or ambiguity. In their article, Women,
Men, and Society, Claire Renzetti and Daniel Curran contradict Barbara Kantrowitz and
Pat Wingerts assumption of one day encountering a genderless future.
The first tactic used by parents specifically, in order to depict their childs gender
is clothing. Clothing is purchased with a particular patterns or color that suggests a
certain gender. Similarly, diapers and onesies consist of such elements, because parents
want to steer away from anything that may inflict ambiguity upon their child (Composing
Gender 77). The human race demands certainty; and with that being said, with ambiguity
comes discrimination.

Ambiguity brings about discrimination in that assumptions are made when

humans do not appear synonymous with typical characteristics within a gender. Also,
when someone of an obvious gender partakes in activities or behaviors of the opposite
gender, discrimination occurs. Humans gain a complex from a young age that affiliates
males with masculinity and females with femininity, thus causing for gender
discrimination. Because almost all are aware of such roles, many conform or gender
socialize with what they were taught from a young age. However, there are few who do
not categorize with each gender. Unfortunately, society automatically imposes negative
attributes toward those who do not categorize; thus for the most part, the continuation of
gender is inevitable.
Some argue that because transgender individuals are appearing more in society,
we may someday face a community without evident gender specification. Those who are
not comfortable with their biological sex transform themselves in order to feel more
accepted in society. Although not accepted by many, it is seen more because people in
pop culture admit to their own transformations. A few celebrities in todays media have
done so, influencing others to do the same. As a result of a spark in awareness on this
topic, society has become more responsive. Unisex bathrooms and the disintegration of
gender generalization (for instance color differentiation between genders) are more
commonly seen.
However, there with every action there is a reaction. So, there are individuals
who disagree with this belief of expressing a gender or sex that was not biological; so, to
depict his or her opinion, they will perform somewhat drastic measures. Mostly seen in
males, they will exploit their masculinity in order to avoid ambiguity at all costs. For

example, consumption of testosterone supplements or excessive body building. They

withhold a complex that displaying any characteristic that adheres to femininity will be
the demise of their reputation and social status. Women on the other hand, will amplify
their main effeminate qualities for the same reasons a male would with his masculinity. A
woman may grow long hair, wear high heels, and wear clothing in which flaunts her
physique.
To concise, we express gender essentially because it is what is taught; not because
it is so much a choice, and because of this gender distinguishing or categorizing is
imminent. Certain ideals, depending on the manner in which some are raised, are thrust
upon individuals by influence or association. Furthermore, these individuals respect and
conform to the expected in order to fit in. Those who choose not to conform are looked
at negatively and are confined to the walls given to them because of the patterns and
behaviors in which he or she chooses to partake. Secondly, some reject the expression of
something other than that of what is biological. These people will perform extreme
measures to ensure that there is no uncertainty when it comes to their identification.
Finally, it is argued that because of the demonstration of the Transgender Community in
pop culture, the community will grow. While this may be true, Claire Renzetti and
Daniel Curran iterate that these people are still conforming to one gender, not sex. Thus,
the world will remain one in which categorizes people by gender, though it may no
longer pertain to just a binary perspective.