What defines "Masculine?"
Oct. 22nd, 2007 05:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leticiaI am, apparently, 48% masculine. It's interesting that such was the header of the test results, despite being supposedly about both femininity and masculinity. Masculine is the default; feminine is in the gaps.
I took a test today, from tickle.com (I was a member back when it was emode and actually kinda cool) which purported to weigh my gender identity.
It lived up to all my expectations, with blatantly loaded questions which have nothing to do with gender and everything to do with our society's entrenched fucked-upness, such as this question:
This test and the stereotyped gender bias reflected in the questions is, frankly, disgusting, and I am proud to have fallen squarely in the middle. (Remember, guys, punching people when you're unhappy is masculine.) This is exactly the kind of idiot reinforcement of societal gender roles which causes sexism. If you're not doing these things, you're not masculine enough or feminine enough, and if you are, we criticize you and your whole gender with you for doing such stupid things.
Ultimately, the entire notion of 'feminine' or 'masculine' is a cultural myth. It is true that certain behavior types are slightly more associated with biological women than with men, but it's impossible to remove the elements of biology from the elements of enculturation. There is no way for this kind of test to be meaningful OR non-offensive, because it's very nature is to reinforce the cultural definitions of what you must do to be a real man or a real woman.
What this over-simplistic view of human nature forgets is that these various behaviors are not on a single continuum, nor are they linked. A like for gardening does not make me any more likely to stop and ask for directions; liking children does not make me unlikely to enjoy sports or to know Star Trek TOS.
The only thing that links these behaviors - or makes them exclusive - is cultural programming.
It's more than past time to reject this linear view of human behavior and nature as overridden by the single issue of biological gender. Culture is far more important in our primary self-definition than the actual biology of gender - look at the different values and behaviors of genders in other cultures, even so gender-bound as ours but /differently/ - and stop feeling threatened by people who break the 'rules' and infringe on the other side's territory.
I would rather be a programmer than a soccer mom. I would rather change the world than have children or find a soul mate. I like certain sports, though I don't get to do them often. I like to cook. I like to garden. I like children. I accept all these facets of myself, without apology or shame.
Because they have nothing to do with the chromosomes I received and everything to do with who I am.
My destiny revolves around more than the gender of my body. I refuse to reject my self-designation as feminine just because culture says the things I do, men should do.
I am 100% feminine. I am a woman. I celebrate my body. And if your test says otherwise, it's obviously wrong.
I took a test today, from tickle.com (I was a member back when it was emode and actually kinda cool) which purported to weigh my gender identity.
It lived up to all my expectations, with blatantly loaded questions which have nothing to do with gender and everything to do with our society's entrenched fucked-upness, such as this question:
45. What are you most likely to do when you're angry?
- Fume over it, but keep it inside
- Talk to a friend so I can work it out
- Curse or scream
- Hit, kick, or break something
- Hit or kick someone
I kid you not.
This test and the stereotyped gender bias reflected in the questions is, frankly, disgusting, and I am proud to have fallen squarely in the middle. (Remember, guys, punching people when you're unhappy is masculine.) This is exactly the kind of idiot reinforcement of societal gender roles which causes sexism. If you're not doing these things, you're not masculine enough or feminine enough, and if you are, we criticize you and your whole gender with you for doing such stupid things.
Ultimately, the entire notion of 'feminine' or 'masculine' is a cultural myth. It is true that certain behavior types are slightly more associated with biological women than with men, but it's impossible to remove the elements of biology from the elements of enculturation. There is no way for this kind of test to be meaningful OR non-offensive, because it's very nature is to reinforce the cultural definitions of what you must do to be a real man or a real woman.
What this over-simplistic view of human nature forgets is that these various behaviors are not on a single continuum, nor are they linked. A like for gardening does not make me any more likely to stop and ask for directions; liking children does not make me unlikely to enjoy sports or to know Star Trek TOS.
The only thing that links these behaviors - or makes them exclusive - is cultural programming.
It's more than past time to reject this linear view of human behavior and nature as overridden by the single issue of biological gender. Culture is far more important in our primary self-definition than the actual biology of gender - look at the different values and behaviors of genders in other cultures, even so gender-bound as ours but /differently/ - and stop feeling threatened by people who break the 'rules' and infringe on the other side's territory.
I would rather be a programmer than a soccer mom. I would rather change the world than have children or find a soul mate. I like certain sports, though I don't get to do them often. I like to cook. I like to garden. I like children. I accept all these facets of myself, without apology or shame.
Because they have nothing to do with the chromosomes I received and everything to do with who I am.
My destiny revolves around more than the gender of my body. I refuse to reject my self-designation as feminine just because culture says the things I do, men should do.
I am 100% feminine. I am a woman. I celebrate my body. And if your test says otherwise, it's obviously wrong.
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-23 02:25 pm (UTC)You can change the world with a soul mate and kids too, y'know. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-23 04:35 pm (UTC)Me, I've found my soul mate and we're very likely to have children when the time is right.
Doesn't mean that in an objective sense, I'd rather leave a lasting mark on the world. Not necessarily a big one.