LGBT analysis approaches, categories, and goals
LGBT analysis approaches, categories, and goals have all been questioned, built, and rebuilt over the years.
The significance of LGBT culture
In terms of gender identity, we must agree that the experience of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people is maybe not as significant as it was three or four decades ago. Nonetheless, LGBT culture continues to play an important part in the formation of socio-sexual and community identities.
The importance of LGBT history
The LGBT history is a very important guide for fostering social reform in a broader community. The paper will provide a critical reflection of the book Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein in relation to the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) history in the United States.
Kate Bornstein's work on gender and sexuality
On the frontline of gender and sexual identity is the frank and funny but fierce voice of Kate Bornstein. This is a tremendous work from Bornstein and it is quite relevant to feminism. The relevance to feminism comes out quite clearly since the author tackles a plethora of issues relating to feminism and global prejudice aimed at women. She cleverly incorporates autobiography, dramatic writing, and cultural criticism to drive her point home. Her point is that gender (clearly distinguished from sex) is not a natural phenomenon but a cultural one. The questions about gender she tackles are hard for others even to attempt. She confronts transgendered people and transgenderism in a clever way that does not put her on the opposing side of her audience.
The intersection of fashion, design, and identity
After reading this work, I have many templates to break down my traditional perception of sexuality and gender. Bornstein tends to the generalization that has been given to females and that will be an extraordinary judge of design and fashion. She utilizes this similarity to offer an outline of her own particular life and that of her better half. She contends that fashion, design, and personality are critical, and that they are interwoven and are not autonomous from each other. The need to have a place with individuals with comparable characters is critical, the sense and longing to have a place is a noteworthy main impetus in our way of life today. In the process, Bornstein concedes she neither feels male nor female. She says “People are starting to ask me about fashion. I love that! Maybe they think the doctor sewed in some fashion sense during my genital conversion surgery.” This is on the grounds that her female friend is experiencing her sex change, as well, which is why she feels neither straight nor gay.
Understanding oneself and the need for belonging
I can confirm that Bornstein’s cleverly written work is very informative. Through her, I got to understand myself in two ways. The first way is that I am a man while the second way is that I understand myself as a man who literally wants to be the other gender. There is always a human need to belong to a group of similar people. I completely agree with Bornstein on this. Among many people, including me, there is always a strong yearning to people of the gender like themselves. According to her, things get mixed up because the gender of a partner that one chooses forms the basis of the sexual orientation of the culture. There are those working extremely hard to keep same the gender’s rigid system. These are the people Bornstein calls “gender defenders”.
Exploring gender and overcoming inequality
Part 4 of her work particularly caught my attention. It is very stimulating. Bornstein asks 15 questions, each distinct from another, on how to generally understand gender and how to overcome gender inequality. In question 6, for instance, Bornstein wonders how people become gendered. To tackle this question, she first confirms that the informed consent bestowed upon us by the society does not form the basis of gender. For any reason, gender is a cult, and, as such, must not be abandoned. The moment an individual abandons the gender cult, he or she becomes open to criticism and ridicule. She further adds that, when it comes to gender, one cannot be humorous about it because it is too serious to joke around with. Bornstein is right when she says “I’ve come to see gender as a divisive social construct and the gendered body as a somewhat dubious accomplishment.” To understand this, we first got to agree that the theater should explore ambiguity and fluidity of gender. Tragically, the theater is still homophobic. For this reason, Bornstein is afraid that the queer will tend to be conservative as opposed to organizing themselves for a common cause. She says “an empowering theater is a strong partner: A space in which people can work together for a common goal of freedom.” I agree with her on this because members of the LGBT have always thrived in the theater. Most a times, they can act naturally in camouflage in front of an audience.
Empowering LGBT history
In conclusion, the history of how the LGBT people have developed their own communities, relationships, and identities is very empowering. It is more empowering than that of how the society has oppressed them. This history needs to be kept in perspective so as a reductive victimology approach towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people is avoided at all cost. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender history will be of great benefit to both the whole society and specifically to the LGBT people.
Kate Bornstein's work and the treatment of women
After reading Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, my concern for the treatment of women concerning the two gender system has increased. For thousands of years, the system has been very poisonous and inconsistent. The horrific belief of the society that women are inferior to men has wrongly trained men not to do feminine things or talk about their feelings. Kate Bornstein has experienced life in both genders, and it is for this reason that I tend to accept her arguments, opinions, and discussions. Her personal approach, frankness, and witty style open the gender boundaries and assumptions to questioning.
Work Cited
Bornstein, Kate S B. Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us. S.I.: Seal Press,
1994. Print.
