The Significance of Gender and Sex
The term transgender is one that has come to have significant meaning in the contemporary world. While many did not initially understand the sense of the word, it is somewhat apparent that it is fast gaining popularity especially after the coming out of people such as Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner) as transgender. Many people may not understand how a man would turn out to be a woman in a man's skin or a woman to be a man in a woman's skin. However, individuals are now coming out, and the T in LGBTQ is now gaining more meaning and a voice in the world. As people get to understand this group, questions are being raised on the significance of gender and sex in this equation. Perhaps the most important point to begin by is by defining gender. Gender is the social definition of men, women, boys, and girls. It is dynamic and is seen in the way a society treats any of the groups as mentioned above regarding allocation of responsibilities and the existence of opportunities (Bolich, 8). Sex is a biological trait – male or female. However, in a society where there seems to be a more acceptable norm of sexual fluidity coupled with the dynamism of gender, people living 'outside the norms' of sex and gender are now becoming more accepted. They are experiencing life in somewhat normalcy as the rest of the people although with some few differences from people who are still accustomed to the traditional gender roles.
Jennifer Finney Boylan's Experience
Jennifer Finney Boylan was born male and even went ahead to perform male duties even within the confines of marriage. However, she would go ahead and transform from male to female in the year 2000. Her autobiography written and published in the year 2003 outlines her journey to her transformation. In the book "She's not there: A Life in Two Genders" Jennifer takes the reader through her life from when she was born on June 22, 1958. Originally called James Boylan, she married Deirdre Boylan in 1988. Together they have two sons Zach and Sean. Her transformation was characterized by therapy sessions, feminine clothing, and then taking female hormones. It is quite obvious that Boylan began her life assuming the traditional roles of gender and 'fitting into normalcy.' However, her experience of gender in both instances has underlined the fact that the general public is still not comfortable discussing the issue of transgender which she currently resonates through her life experiences. In her article "Trump, the CDC and the Peek-a-boo Doctrine" Boylan highlights the fact that the Trump administration and the CDC are still not comfortable with the idea of transgender. The CDC, for instance, listed transgender as one of the terms they would not allow in their documents (Boylan). The Trump administration, on the other hand, refused to include the LGBTQ in their census data. She states that the administration is playing a game of peek-a-boo with the matter, something she describes as "the belief that if you cover your eyes, the things you do not like suddenly disappears" (Boylan). Her opinion implies that despite the phony idea that the world has accepted the issue of gender dynamism, the system has not, and their experiences are still different from the rest of the population. In her memoir, for instance, she asserts that with the change, her experiences changed such as the change in friendships, and the evolution of her relationship with her spouse.
Matt Duron's Story
Boylan's story and experience of gender resonate with Matt Duron's story and his family's experience with the same. Duron describes what a typical guy would be in a society that values 'normalcy.' He highlights his masculinity in the activities he partakes and states that they make him a "typical guy's guy." Just like Boylan, he lived in a family that played some peek-a-boo with the issue of sexuality – it was given no talk at all. His son's experiences and his experience as a parent to a boy who likes girl's stuff underscore the fact that the society is still not comfortable with the way others choose to live their gender especially if it is out of what they would consider normal. In retrospect, it is quite apparent that the experience that Duron's son has can be likened to that of Boylan before she transitioned. Duron asserts that his wife believes that she has a son who is only a girl at heart. This fact that is comparable to Boylan who experienced much of his life as a man within the conformities of the society, yet deep inside he identified as a woman. It is appalling that despite gender bearing the trait of being dynamic, the dynamism is one concept that does not tend to augur well with the society if it does not conform to their normalcy. For instance, Duron states that his friends would be surprised at how he raised his son with some suggesting that they would "bully, and make him a man." This fact implies that the society in which he lives is still stuck in the traditional conventions of manhood and masculinity.
The Need for Societal Reform
It is rather apparent that the issue of transgender and gay rights is one that still needs a societal reform if the matter of equality is to be gained irrespective of sex and gender. It is definite that the society lives in a phony miasma of acceptance while deep inside the experiences of the transgender are yet to be inequality with the rest of the society. Boylan, having lived as both a man and a woman has experienced the change in treatment and experience that comes with the shift. On the other hand, Duron states that his son faces criticism by choosing to experience gender as he pleases. With the peek-a-boo games that Boylan describes in her article, it is rather obvious that the matter of sexuality is one that the government and other institutions are choosing to play hide and seek with and wish away. This aspect tends to give unfair treatment to transgender people. However, Boylan states that the "Transgender people are a part of this country, and will continue to be part of this country whether or not Republicans admit that our lives are real." Duron, on the other hand, acknowledges the vulnerability that comes with the choice his son has taken in regards to experiencing gender and as such is convicted that loving a child who is different, a target and seen as vulnerable is my role as a father and decent human being.
Works Cited
Bolich, Ph G. G. Conversing on Gender. Gardners Books, 2007. Print.
Boylan, Jennifer F. She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders. Broadway Books, 2013. Print.
Boylan, Jennifer Finney. “Trump, the C.D.C. and the Peek-a-Boo Doctrine.” New York Times.18 December 2017.
Duron, Matt. “My Son Wears Dresses; Get Over It.” The Atlantic. 5 September 2013.
