Going into biology of gender this first summer session I thought to myself that it would be a boring class of anatomy and reasoning behind different disorders and such.  I was wrong, this class is probably one of my favorite classes that I have taken thus far at VMI, I learned more than I thought I would and we got to write about what we thought and what we wanted, not censored topics lacking any real feelings.  We learned everything from distinguishing male from female anatomy internal and external to different customs in present day and history like with the Native Americans. We also were asked to reflect on each topic and write artifacts to voice what we learned and our opinions, we wrote about the gender and health gaps around the world, menstruation, third genders, and circumcision.

Circumcision is one of the biggest arguments in society today, I wrote artifact six to convey the need for it in males while not being good for females.  Circumcision in males alleviates health risks associated with the male genitalia making it easier to clean and tend to.  Those that are uncircumcised have a hard time due to needing to clean under the foreskin properly or risk obtaining an infection or worse.  Some cultures still circumcise women at the time of menarche but that practice is very slowly declining due to health risk and no proven reason for it.  Circumcising women involves cutting the clitoris, the clitoris and labia, or both and then sewing the vulva together to prevent intercourse.  (Ideas from artifact 6)

One of the best things we learned in this class, to me anyway was all the diseases and disorders associated with sex and with genetics.  This is a very important topic to teach and to learn about because it raises awareness and causes people to think twice before engaging in risky activities involving their genitals.  Most of the class found the pictures and videos disturbing but I didn’t, sure I felt bad imagining these things happening to me, but I am a true biology major.  We like the gross stuff; the stuff that makes other people turn away actually attracts us because we want to know more.  This course has done that, I would gladly take it multiple times asking new questions each time to learn as much as possible. This leads into the health gap which is covered in Artifact 5, are men and women more susceptible to different health issues based on gender? Men can get different cancers than women and women can get worse complications from health issues than men can. Since the female reproductive organs are internal, health issues can grow more rampant due to the moist environment and the ability to treat them gets harder due to lack of access to the affected spot, men have it easier in the way that if the penis gets infected, its external and easier to get to in order to treat it. (Ideas from Artifact 5)

Another topic we covered was binary gender and then all the different genders that are really out there.  Binary gender people believe in only two genders, male and female, and any other gender isn’t recognized.  I feel more empathy for the people in society dealing with discrimination based on who they are in the way of gender, transgender people have every right to make changes to their own bodies and there is no reason to exile them from your lives, they are still family, friends, loved ones, they just have a newer identity.  To the people out there that only recognize binary gender, I implore them to take this course, and it might do some good by opening their eyes (Southern Comfort is recommended).  (Ideas from Artifact 8 and 4)

Thank you Doctor Hinks for a great course, it was very well put together and really flowed, I know I learned a lot and I know my peers did as well.  The extra credit day was a lot of fun and new, and I am happy they got the final member and that it wasn’t Elmo.  I’m looking forward to researching more and trying to answer some of the puzzling questions that were procured in class.

References

• Artifact 4
• Artifact 5
• Artifact 6
• Artifact 8

Reflective tag:

Southern Comfort is a community of transgender people in the south, they come from all over and strive to make themselves known not because of what they are, but who they are. They are caring, loving, and very smart people that only want to be accepted by society and their families.

Artifact 8:

              Robert Eads is a transgender man that started out as a girl, when he transitioned, he family looked down on him and his mom wondered where she had gone wrong. This is really important because this is happening all around the world and it shouldn’t, it is there right and their choice based on how they feel, there is nothing wrong with that. towards the end of the movie, Robert is dying and his father, mother, son, and grandson come to see him and accept him for who he is.

The focus of this film is to raise awareness about the improper treatment and unfair actions against transgenders, they don’t get proper health care, they are looked down upon, and they don’t get to voice their opinion without being scorned. Transgenders are people too and it is their choice as to what they are and who they are, not anyone else’s. Most of the close transgender communities like SoCo see each other as their chosen family because they are the ones that see each other for who they really are, the people they want to be, they really are family to each other.

what are you? If you feel like you are something that biologically you aren’t, would you change it or just stay unhappy as you are? I would change it and I would be proud of that change. People like Robert and Lola are very brave and courageous because it takes guts to go against society and be happy at the same time.

Reflective tag:

Menstruation is when the uterine lining peels and exits the female body, this happens once every menstrual cycle, or it should. Each cycle is different but usually lasts 28 days with your period happening on the last few days.

Artifact 7:

                Menstruation, the biggest problem men face, when you encounter a woman on her period… Run. You will not survive this encounter unless you know these three tips, if you are going to say anything to her, it will be along the lines of you look great, if you don’t show up with chocolates or comfort food you are wrong, and finally if she asks you to get pads of tampons, you better go get them if you want to live.

All jokes aside, menstruation is a natural thing, animals do it, humans do it, maybe some aliens do it, but it is common and nothing to worry about. The uterine lining sheds for about 3-5 days, this consists of blood from spiral veins, mucus, and endometrial cells in large quantity. Most girls are starting to get their menarche, or first period around 12-13 with the age decreasing every year. All menstruation is trying to accomplish is the settling of hormones and organs in preparation for the cycle to start all over to try and fertilize an egg.

Everyone has their own beliefs on menstruation and how to deal with it but unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it because it is natural and necessary. Trying to stop it could have adverse effects on the body in long term problems that we can’t foresee. Warning to men, stay on a woman’s good side during this time to avoid becoming a marked man,  you don’t want that because then she will rip you apart.

Reflective tag:

Circumcision is a commonly practiced operation; most men get circumcised when they are born to have the easiest time with it. Most people only think of circumcision as a male event but in fact it is not just for men, but some women have this happen to them as well, just in different ways due to their culture.

Artifact 6:

Circumcision in males is a common practice of removing the foreskin from the tip of the penis. This is proven to have health benefits later on down the road for the men that get it done do to the need to clean the area covered by the foreskin or risk getting an infection or disease. The process of removing the foreskin is different based on the beliefs and customs of the society and culture, ranging from just getting it cut off with a blade to having it surgically removed by a doctor.

Most of the time, circumcision will occur when a baby is born, the doctors will take it into a separate room and perform the quick procedure, some cultures like in Africa have the procedure when a boy becomes a man, proving that he is suitable for marriage and a family. Some people are skeptical about circumcision due to religious beliefs and because of personal morals, but it is still widely practiced due to the health benefits. When you are circumcised, you decrease risk of urinary or sexual infections because it is easier to clean all parts of the penis, whereas with uncircumcised men, they have to clean a lot better including under the foreskin and if they don’t they will most likely develop a type of infection.

Lastly there is female circumcision, or in my belief, female mutilation, there are three main types of female circumcision. Type one is the removal of the clitoris and is believed to reduce sexual urges in young females in hopes that they will remain pure until marriage. Type two is the removal of the clitoris and the labia and has the same purpose as type one, the only difference is in cultures and beliefs that practice this type. Type three is the worst of all, the clitoris and labia are removed and the vulva is sewn shut leaving small holes for urination and for menstrual fluid.

I believe in most cases, female circumcision is wrong and should not be practiced; especially against a person’s will, but in some cases if it benefits the female and she agrees to it, then it is alright. Circumcision is one of those things that is masculine due to health reasons of men and women. I recommend circumcision because it will make things easier for your son down the road.

Reflective tag:

What is a health gap, the health gap is the difference in health and wellness of the genders within the gender gap of the world. Why does it exist in society? Most of the time, the health gap can be attributed to the differences in genetics and build of men and women. There are things we can do to diminish the gap but it all needs to start with educating the populace to causes and symptoms, how to treat, and how to prevent different diseases and illnesses.

Artifact 5:

Some of the factors that influence health in men and women include but are not limited to family history, genetics, environment, and personal hygiene. Family History plays a huge part in overall health because genetics are what make us who we are. Many people suffer from a family history of cancer or heart disease, both men and women; this drastically increases their chances of getting the issue in question such as HPV or Human Papillomavirus. Another one of the issues of the health gap is the fact that sometimes a gender can get a disease but wind up being a carrier of the disease instead of being affected they accidently pass it on to the opposite sex.

If you live in a dirty environment, I hate to break it to you but you have a higher risk of obtaining illnesses, unless of course you are a younger child, studies have shown that when you are younger if you play in the dirt or consume your own mucus you actually build up your immune system slightly through antibody production in response the bacteria trapped in the mucus. The older you get, typically the weaker your immune system gets, both men and women.

Most of the time, men have more issues then women due to the masculine culture and not wanting to ask for help. It is frowned upon in society to ask for help and to show weakness as a man, women can just go ask for help and not have to endure sickness whereas men are sometimes afraid to ask for help or to even figure out what is wrong. Sometimes this fear can take simple illnesses into more drastic issues, like a cold leading to pneumonia. This can sometimes lead to more money spent on treatment and possibly death depending on the situation. Sometimes you have to have an intervention for someone that is having a hard time addressing their issues, with health concerns, this can be a gender-transformative intervention or explaining to the person that if they don’t start seeking help then things will not get better this is a way to deal with a sick manly man.

Health is not something to fool with, if you are sick then you should seek help, if you find something that doesn’t look right like a lump on your testicles or breasts, don’t think that just cause you are a man or a woman that you are above the issue at hand or above asking for help, just do it.

Reflective tag:

This is a rather short artifact that goes straight to the point. Most people believe in binary gender, having only two genders, but in reality there are so many other genders around the world, some are chosen and some are forced to change. There are some cultures that accept this view on gender, that it’s a person’s right to be what they believe they are, and there are some cultures that condemn those that want to alter the body they were given.

Artifact 4:

In society, there are two genders; this is how it has been for all of known history, male and female. This way of thinking is called binary, and this is the way most people think, there are no mixes or medical anomalies, well I hate to break it to you if you are one of these people but there are third genders out there, actually there are way more than three. There are males, females, transgender, bi-gender, nonconforming gender, transsexual, and many more, try broadening your view of other people.

I once had a friend jokingly tell me that he was a lesbian trapped in a male’s body without knowing that there are people out there that actually feel this way. Why not stay in the male body if you like females? Good question, some people are attracted to the same sex but don’t feel right as the gender of which they were born, this is a common occurrence in many places around the world. Some choose to think like that and some are forced to be that way like the Bacha Posh in the Middle East, these are girls that are born into families that don’t have sons so they treat and raise their daughter or daughters as sons in hopes of not being looked down upon in their cultures for not being able to procure a son.

The Hijra, they are men in India that feel like they are supposed to be women, they believe that inside they are women that by accident have as they put it, “that thing just dangling there” and it should be no longer. As part of their initiation into the sisterhood known as the Hijra, they must first have their penis and testicles removed by a member or members of the order to officially be able to be recognized as a woman. Most of the Hijra have to make the choice for themselves and their families banish them and no longer recognize them as members of the family. Why go through that and lose everything, they do it because it is what they believe, yes they might lose their families but they gain the love and respect of their fellow Hijra, people that believe as they believe, a sisterhood.

I hope that you, as I have, have learned something through this. I implore to do your own research into this topic, you will be surprised. As already stated, there aren’t just two genders; there are many other genders that real people associate themselves with. Male, female, transgender, gender neutral, transsexual, nonconforming, what are you?

Reflective tag:

A blast from the past, from foraging to pastoral and horticulture to industrial societies we have had them all. Many differences and some similarities exist between the many types of societies the past and present have endured. Such as the treatment of women, the passing of family heirlooms, and the power within the individual populations many things have sculpted life throughout human existence. I am focusing on the Haida and the Tlingit of the Canadian Pacific.

Artifact 3:

The Tlingit and the Haida were natives of the Canadian Pacific Islands; they were primarily patriarchal with a matriarchal undertone. They were a foraging society with small villages of people that had very good communication and relations with neighboring villages which is new for this timeframe, hence the classification stratified that they earned through their communication, cooperation, and social economy. Each village contained a head family with a clan chief and several underlying house chiefs to form the governing body.

Marriages were arranged but were decided by the man’s uncle on the mother’s side, he would ask for the woman’s hand in marriage and would do the arrangements as well as raise the man until this time; this is the matrilineal aspect to the society. This was very effective because the uncle had the respect of the young man since he had grown up under the care of his uncle. The uncles also had a final say on whether or not a woman was suitable for his nephew, better hope your uncle liked you.

Whenever a man rose to a new rank of chieftain, he would hold a potlatch, or as we call them now, pot lucks. He would provide the food, gifts for his guests, and his ultimate goal was to have a better feast than anyone else has had, proving his wealth and why he deserved the title. Chiefs were not the nobles that we associate power with; they actually worked very hard both for their individual families, but also for those not related to him. The chiefs were the backbone of the villages, providing for the village and communicating to the other villages.

In some ways our society now could benefit from some of the success of these smaller societies of the past. If we were half as effective as our predecessors, maybe some of the issues of the present would no longer be an issues, our politicians might get stuff done in a timely manner.

Reflective tag:

The gender gap is a study showing the differences or inequality between men and women in the world. Even though there is still a gap, it is slowly starting to decline meaning that the sexes are starting to recognize each other’s abilities and accomplishments. Most countries are getting better with the differences but there are still a few that are being stubborn and not really changing their ways. There are many factors that determine the gap rankings such as education and politics.

Artifact 2:

The gender gap is a study showing the differences or inequality between men and women in the world. Unfortunately there is still a lot of inequality among the sexes, be pay or rights, it is still prevalent in our society whether we choose to see it or not. The good news is that the gap between genders has slowly started decreasing as women gain higher titles and more respect for their abilities, hopefully sometime in the near future both sexes will be equal in all aspects with respect to abilities.

The gender gap exists because of the differences or perceived differences between not only sexes but also among race in terms of education, pay, abilities, and last but not least the stereotypes associated with sex and race. According to the Wikipedia page for the gender gap, there are four items taken into account in the formulation of the gender gap chart, Economic participation and opportunity, Educational attainment, Political empowerment, and Health and survival. It is easy to see why these are the deciding factors given that there are noticeable differences in many countries like the Middle East for example. Women don’t get most jobs, most can’t afford to get a higher education which limits their potential and those that do are scorned for trying to rise to higher ranks in society. Most problems are caused by other people but there are some cases where the gender that is being hindered is doing it to themselves for instance women or even younger girls that decide or accidently become pregnant and then choose to stay unemployed or drop out of school and expect everyone else to pick up their slack, this sets back the progress almost as much as it is moving forward making the closing of the gap much harder than it needs to be.

Right now the United States is sitting at ranked spot number 20, honestly that is not bad but it’s still not the top 10. The things setting us back are health and political empowerment. Women haven’t quite breeched that stereotype that men are politicians, yes there are some women in political offices but we need more to make a better rank in that category. With the health gap, it is factored by birth rates and death rates, more men are born on average than women in the U.S. and women tend to live longer. Once both of those numbers change some for the better, I believe that we can rise to the top 10 ranks in the world, not that it is a competition per say.

May 21, 2015

Reflective tag:

If you went up to 20 different people and asked them what sex and gender were and how they were different, you would probably get 20 different responses. Sex can only be changed through surgery to transform the existing genitalia while gender is how one person perceives what they are, you can have a penis and consider yourself female if that is how you would prefer people to view you. Long story short, sex is given to you genetically but through some means can be changed, but gender is decided by the person whose life it is, in most cases.

Artifact 1:

What is the difference between sex and gender? Sex is the biological distinction as to whether an individual is male or female. This can be any number of key clues, genes and chromosomes, gonads and gametes, hormones, or reproductive anatomy both internal and external. Gender is the difference between masculine and feminine as decided by the individual or in some cases the society.

Sex can be changed through surgery where the external and sometimes the internal reproductive anatomy is changes to look and function like the opposite sex’s anatomy. Even though you have the surgery, your body still tries to keep you the original sex you were born as, which is why some people have to go through hormone therapy to cancel out the body’s natural processes. Gender is a lot easier to changes, in some countries where sons are preferred, the families that are sonless due to several daughters, will change one daughter to look and dress like a boy to fulfill the roles that a son would have to avoid family shame. Each culture views gender a little differently and reacts to gender switches in different ways, some embrace while others cast out anyone who is “gender confused”.

Cultures are the ideals, beliefs and characteristics of a particular group or society. Some promote the changing of gender to better suit a family’s needs while others tend to alienate those that try to change what they were born as. Sex is harder to change than gender; it requires therapy and surgery to change the genetic and physical aspects of a person. Gender however, is based on how a person feels; do they have male anatomy but feel like a woman or vice versa? That is their choice and they need to do what makes them feel better in their surroundings.