Most people can talk while they walk. Just the same, most people can see with 20/20 vision. And of course, most people can run. Each of these 3 statements takes an action and applies is to a group of people that can perform it. Those that are not mentioned or are not apart of the group are forgotten or disregarded. Each one of these statements include the phrase - "most people" and although our language supports this type of generalization, it is wrong. Being in the majority does not mean that others should be excluded or not mentioned. The small percentage (the "some" group) that cannot perform these tasks are missing their share of perspectives.
An example that this can be related to is of a handicapped person. We describe a person as handicapped to indicate they have a disability that does not allow them these opportunities to run, walk, or see with 20/20 vision. The term is broad and it includes a wide range of disabilities not just the ones mentioned, but my point goes beyond that. The other end of these statements is that there are some people who cannot function to the fullest extent. Saying: "People can categorize themselves into the role as a male or female," is not correct either. What should be considered is all those who fit in, on, or around this specificity. There are just some people who cannot, no matter how hard they try, be one or another. Many of these people wander with no real sense of identity because no room has been made for change other than what has been provided. It should be encouraged then that we have a new open dialogue in which not just males and females exist, but more than that can. This is what we should strive to do as we pull away from the rules and regulations put on our society from people of the past.
The debate in the movie "Multiple Genders: Mind Body and Conflict" brought up some very interesting points about this aspect. One of the debaters seemed to believe that people should try to fit into one or the other, basically having changes made to themselves in order to conform and pick one side to be for the rest of their lives. I do not particularly agree with this person because I think everyone should be able to live with what they are given and not feel ashamed of themselves. If more people are born with darker hair color, those with light hair colors would not be ashamed. So why should people feel ashamed and made to conform for being born with no clear distinction between being a "male" or "female". People today find comfort in being considered male or female; yet there are certain others who would like to be recognized as something different. No change should be needed and no restrictions should be set up for a person to be identified. Many people take pride in what they are and those who don't ever get to feel that pride cannot be weighed down by the strict rules or standards of our society.
The other ideas that interested me about this video debate was the couple that adopted a baby and they were planning on raising the child as an inter-sex couple. They did not want to squeeze themselves into the male and female roles that society claims is the "norm" for parenting styles. I agree that families can take many different forms and this is just one of the ways that can lead to a healthy lifestyle for children. The way to raising a healthy child is not about how much money you can provide them with or about the male and female dynamic involved. It just takes the right kind of attention tailored to each kid.
Instead of only focusing on the inter-sex or gay couples as factors for an unhealthy childhood they should weigh the risk of having many other factors like missing parents, abusive parents, or even uninvolved parents. All of these and many more problems put a child at risk for being raised in the "wrong" way. The people who oppose this type of relationship with parents and children are not thinking clearly about all the potential issues that have nothing to do with gender specifics.
I agree with you that society should make changes for the many people who do not wish to fall into the male and female category. Society shouldn’t make these individuals choose a side if they do not wish to, or feel it won’t fit them. They should be able to live their lives as they want to. People don’t have a right to interrupt and say that how they are living is wrong. I also liked the hair color metaphor that helped explain how people should be proud of what they are, no matter what society says. It was a great way to explain your point, and how we shouldn’t force people to choose between male and female.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you on the inter-sex couple that wished to adopt the child. As you brought up, we shouldn’t be worried about if the child has two fathers or two mothers, etc. We should be more focused on how safe a child is, and if the parents can give the child all it needs. Not only to intersexual couples, but to all couples. Abuse and neglect happen even in homes with heterosexual parents. Inter-sexual parents are just as capable of raising a child as any other parent.
In short. I totally agree with you, on everything.
Everything you say is so true! They're really are some people who cannot fit into one category. I don't even see why we should have "categories" that people need to put themselves into. People should just be themselves. I liked the couple that was going to raise their child as an inter-sex as well. The woman who kept talking about kids HAVING to have a female and male parent was so wrong. I think an inter-sex couple is capable of giving just as much love to a child as a heterosexual couple.
ReplyDeleteIt's true about kids not having one parent or no parents at all, or having abusive parents. There are kids out there who are living like that, getting raised in the wrong way, yet we are still more concerned with kids who are getting raised by inter-sexed couples. I liked when you said "Many people take pride in what they are and those who don't ever get to feel that pride cannot be weighed down by the strict rules or standards of our society." It's so true and very sad that people cannot be accepted for who they are, it's even more sad that we would rather accept them for whom we want them to be rather than who they truly are.