The Dueling Dualism article explores the issue of sex and how recently there has been the formation of new categories due to intersex gendered individuals. This is an interesting issue in which gender cannot be completely defined within such individuals thus sparking a revolution in science and in social constrictions that limited genders to strictly male and female. Science along with cultural concepts such as religion have kept society close-minded towards homosexuality and inter-sexual individuals, but now science is helping to pave the way in educating society that sex is not limited to male and female because there are people that are born with both sexes (inter-sexuals) or with opposite sex tendencies (e.g. transexuals, transgender). Another important dueling dualism that the author targets is the concept of nature vs. nurture when targeting specifically the issue of homosexuality. There is a huge debate that continues today as to whether homosexuality is inborn or socially constructed. Humans are complicated individuals thus it is difficult to target which may have more of an effect, but I believe that it is a combination of both the biological as well as the “experience” aspect that the author talks about that helps to form an individual’s identity. Homosexuality is an issue that has been around since the time of the ancient Greeks, thus it is not something new that has been recently created; it has just been suppressed due to social constrictions put on concepts of sex and gender (especially due to science).
In the Article “That Sexe which Prevaileth” society tells people that they have to choose a sex because of the social and cultural constrictions created through generations. I have heard of parents choosing the sex for their child when they are born with both male and female genital parts, but why not lave the child as is. Many intersex individuals grow with these struggles of inferiority because they feel the need to conform to one gender. They have not been able to embrace their sexuality nor their sexual appearance because they have been shunned by society for so long. Intersex individuals have existed since the beginning of time, but this issue has not been targeted as it has been today because “scientific methods classified them out of existence.” This is something that science has influenced in ostracizing this issue for so long, but now science is actually helping to increase awareness of inter-sexuals by the demand of various groups that are pushing for change such as feminists and the inter-sexual community.
In the article one bad hair day too many, the author states how she gave up her femininity as her first action as a feminist. She called herself androgenous because she wanted to destroy the distinctions between male and female. She makes people feel uncomfortable because he doesn’t act like a women. What does this say about society? Everyone is expected to “act” their gender; there room for differences. Those that do go against the norms are harshly judged. This author was a little extreme in wanting complete equality and no gender recognition. This is impossible because there are biological differences that make us men and women so unique for ex. women were made to reproduce versus men who can’t create life, and many more obvious reasons, thus there are bound to be differences in the treatment of men and women. Although I do agree with her complaint of how women are valued in society by acting feminine and their physical appearance. She says how “women’s attractiveness to men is the primary measure of her worth” thus further increasing the superficiality of today’s society. I can see why the author is trying to change hat, but her actions and opinions seem to be drastic.
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