Gender Identity
Planned parenthood definition
Gender identity is essentially how we feel about and express
our gender roles in the form of clothing, behavior, personal appearance, etc.
It is not defined by our sex, which is biological and determined by anatomy,
and it is not constrained to gender (society’s expectations about how a person
of a specific sex should act). Transsexuals, for instance, believe that they
are or ought to be of the opposite sex. When someone’s biological sex doesn’t
match their gender identity, they are considered transgender.
Gender identity is not fixed at birth, but BritannicaEncyclopedia explains that it is typically established by age three and is
difficult to change thereafter. A secondary gender identity can be developed
over the core identity along with the development of sex-associated behaviors
later in life.
Gender identity is not a learned trait, but something
inherent. As Madeline Wyndzen, Ph.D, a transgendered professor, explained, “we
do not need learn to be ourselves, we
just are ourselves.” Madeline, for
instance, is bi-gendered: someone who goes beyond androgyny to embrace
different gender roles in different situations.
Gender identity is also viewed from a medical standpoint, as
a disorder. Web MD defines gender identity disorder as a condition in which a
male or female feels a strong identification with the opposite sex. This person
often experiences great discomfort regarding his or her anatomic sex. It occurs
more often in males than in females. The cause is unknown, though theories
suggest that it is caused by chromosomal “abnormalities, hormone imbalances
during fetal and childhood development, defects in normal human bonding and
child rearing,” or a combination of all these factors.
Until reading this post, I didn't realize that one has their gender identity pretty much established by the age three; something that is quite interesting. However, I am still curious of how much one stays innate to this gender identity established in the toddler years and if it actually gets alter/is changed later in life, possibly due to environmental/life-style factors.
ReplyDelete"Like an individual’s concept of his or her sex role, gender identity develops by means of parental example, social reinforcement, and language. Parents teach sex-appropriate behaviour to their children from an early age, and this behaviour is reinforced as the child grows older and enters a wider social world. As the child acquires language, he also learns very early the distinction between “he” and “she” and understands which pertains to him- or herself."
ReplyDeleteMore from Brittanica Encyclopedia. It seems like gender identity rarely changes but can. And can be influenced by the world which a child grows up in. I think it's one of those things that are really hard to say by how it is influenced (nature vs. nurture and everything).