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Sometimes I love the foreign press
Apr. 26th, 2003 10:06 amAt the very least, I love it more than the domestic mainstream press; here's an example of why.
Apr. 26th, 2003
(no subject)
Apr. 26th, 2003 10:10 pmTalking with my most favorite person this evening led a certain amount of clarity to things (as conversations with said person usually do). Specifically, I was talking about ideology, definition, and worldview, in specific my reaction to any of the above in others.
To be even more (if uncharacteristically) specific, I do not identify with binary gender definitions at all. I don't buy the "continuum", "pole", or "spectrum" ideas, as they are simply binarism in slightly fancier clothing. I am not "in the middle", etc. This is tricky terrain for me, as it's largely unmapped, and unacknowledged as even potentially existing by the majority of folks. If it's hard for me, I imagine it's even more difficult for others to deal with, particularly as they don't have my vested interest in dealing with it; I'm pretty cool with the various manifestations of, "Wow, this is something I hadn't thought of" response. I can, in certain circumstances, exhibit something that looks a lot like patience.
But, I tend to feel suspicious of those who use, or appear to my eyes to use, binary gender as a large part of their own identity. To me, if only binarism is acknowledged, then there just isn't room for me as I work to define myself in that person's worldview. At best, it feels as though the rules are being exempted from me; that's not as comforting as it's likely intended.
I certainly don't mean to infringe on anyone's right to define themselves in any way they choose; that would be unacceptably inconsistent. However, I do tend to be suspicious of, at least on the inside, language use that appears to reinforce binarism, and limit my own identity choices and definitions. I know, it's easy to say, "But it shouldn't matter what others think of you", and to an extent, that's correct. But, if that mantra was the end all, be all of social and ideological discomfort, I have the sneaking suspicion that we never would have had suffrage, civil or gay rights, usw.
I don't know what to do about much of this, but at least I've stated something out in the open; that's intended to be the start of a conversation with anyone who cares to pick it up.
To be even more (if uncharacteristically) specific, I do not identify with binary gender definitions at all. I don't buy the "continuum", "pole", or "spectrum" ideas, as they are simply binarism in slightly fancier clothing. I am not "in the middle", etc. This is tricky terrain for me, as it's largely unmapped, and unacknowledged as even potentially existing by the majority of folks. If it's hard for me, I imagine it's even more difficult for others to deal with, particularly as they don't have my vested interest in dealing with it; I'm pretty cool with the various manifestations of, "Wow, this is something I hadn't thought of" response. I can, in certain circumstances, exhibit something that looks a lot like patience.
But, I tend to feel suspicious of those who use, or appear to my eyes to use, binary gender as a large part of their own identity. To me, if only binarism is acknowledged, then there just isn't room for me as I work to define myself in that person's worldview. At best, it feels as though the rules are being exempted from me; that's not as comforting as it's likely intended.
I certainly don't mean to infringe on anyone's right to define themselves in any way they choose; that would be unacceptably inconsistent. However, I do tend to be suspicious of, at least on the inside, language use that appears to reinforce binarism, and limit my own identity choices and definitions. I know, it's easy to say, "But it shouldn't matter what others think of you", and to an extent, that's correct. But, if that mantra was the end all, be all of social and ideological discomfort, I have the sneaking suspicion that we never would have had suffrage, civil or gay rights, usw.
I don't know what to do about much of this, but at least I've stated something out in the open; that's intended to be the start of a conversation with anyone who cares to pick it up.