So far, I’ve defined the terms sex, male and female, and gender identity and discussed propagated stereotypes and sexual preferences. This post deals with gender expression.
I’ve been having a difficult time writing this post. Every time I start, I feel I repeat the same stereotype discussion from the first four parts.
Sex is a biological term. Gender identity is independent of physical fact and leans toward how one feels.
Gender expression is how a person portrays themselves to the world. The portrayal is not based on the person but on how the general masses want the world to exist.
Generally, there is masculine and feminine expression. By writing these words, I’ve fallen into the binary world of the masses.
We have Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) in the accounting profession. Does the world have its socially accepted expressions? Are these socially accepted expressions worldwide, or is each locale a different society?
Rather than saying socially accepted, I lean toward the term socially conforming. We need to break those social bindings and allow fluid individual expression. Different does not mean wrong or strange.
The world unfairly judges a person by their gender expression, assuming their sex and gender identity.
Media portrayal of characters’ gender expression started to evolve in the early 1970s. Before that time, male and female actors had distinct characteristics. Breaking the mold may not have been accepted by the censors.
Archie Bunker was the first sitcom head of the household male who was demeaned and open to ridicule by the producers and audiences. Archie had his biases, some of which reflected the early media days. If men had long hair or carried a handbag or women wore pants, “how can you tell them apart.” Viewing a person’s expression of “light in the loafers” mixed the concept with preference. They are not tied.
In media, males with a flair for fashion must have a distinct sexual preference.
If we continue to think expression needs to have a conforming meaning, we are all as one with Archie.
Unfortunately, producers pay the talking heads of social conformity to make sound bites—the more extreme, the better, making more money for the media producers.
A line in Howard Stern’s biopic movie Private Parts (1997), “a survey of listeners indicate they wait to see what he’ll do next.” Since then, tv and radio hosts, quests, and commentators have tried to create one-liners to keep an audience rather than provide analysis.
The one-liners form generally conforming views.
It’s hard to break from what those around you view. Conforming with our friends is more important than accepting others’ differences, especially those that don’t materially impact us.
My views have progressed from the 1960s regarding race, sex, and sexual preference differences. However, noncomformist are still persecuted.
I read a post during 2021 Pride month, “I’m an old white heterosexual male, so I don’t know what it’s like to be persecuted.” If he added he voted for Trump, would he have known?
Distinguishing gender expression is not needed.
I’m me, and you’re you. What’s wrong with that?
Vic- I agree 100%
Why should we judge other people regarding these issues?
One area that does concern me is young kids and teens dealing with this question of gender. Leave kids alone- my sister was a tomboy, our boys liked wearing my high heels and clomping around the house! Do these behaviors mean they are gay, transgender, bi? Doubtful! When kids reach their 20’s and beyond is the time for them to make these kind of decisions about themselves. If the do determine they are LGBTQ – then support and love them!