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So... I'm a chick.
Well, yeah. :> But....
"Gender: Female" on an "about me" page is rarely considered a vague or obscure topic... hardly something most people would make a seperate section in their site for. However, it's just not a simple subject. I may have the uterus, but I don't limit myself by it. I am female... but I don't think that's the only gender I get to be. To see beyond the limitations of gender is liberating. And being variable is more true to me than sticking myself in roles and categories!
Gender isn't a straight line! Our (modern western) culture only recognizes two genders -- male or female. They tell us all people fit into one of these two categories, and they even perform surgeries on babies in an attempt to make sure they do. The two-gender theory, however, isn't true -- and some other cultures realize this. Transgenderism and supernumerary gender roles have been accepted and, in some cases, highly respected societal roles. Gender fluidity and variation are considered normal aspects of human life. Some examples of cross-cultural precedents:
- Native American Two-Spirit Traditions
- The Navajo Nadle
- The Lakota Winkte
- The North Piegan Manly Hearts
- The Tahitian Mahu
- The Madagascar Sekrata
- Hindu Tantric and Hijra Sects
- Islamic Xanith, Khawal, and Sufi Traditions
- The European Castrati
I choose not to limit myself to one supposed extreme or the other. I identify as female. My body is female, and I like it that way (except for about a quarter of the month, heh). I identify as a chick. I'm a lady (and I use the term loosely). I'm a lesbian -- I'm a female who likes other females (though I certainly won't quibble over the gender of a person I love!). But those are not the only genders I identify as. I am "female", I am "maleish", I am "variable", I am "androgyne", I am "neither", I am "either", I am "what the?", I am "all of the above", I am "N/A". And "whatever else I feel like being today". I'm often "the other other gender".
I am uncomfortable with being directly called a "woman", personally, and sort of neutral on "girl". To me, "female" is more a biological state, while the title "woman" is culturally based and biased. Maybe my attitude towards these will change in the future, but for now I don't identify as those gender labels. They just make me feel squicky inside. :>
Now Presenting As...
Gender -- a complicated subject. Some of us whose gender falls outside the "norms" of society identify as genderqueer. It's a playful place to be, in my experience, and quite liberating. There's no reason you have to stick to always being seen as the sex you were born as. Why not dress in drag for a day and get called "sir" (or "ma'am" if you're male)? Or go androgyne and really confuse them? Here are some great links, particularly Female-to-Male transgenderism (FtM, F2M), androgyny, and genderqueer.
Okay... so that last one isn't really about gender. But it's so fun... and it comes in handy for passing as non-female. ;>
Feminism
Ooo, naughty word. I'm a feminist. No, I don't believe we should have a matriarchy. No, I don't think women should rule the earth, or that they're any better than men. Feminism is the belief in *equality*, no matter one's gender. Men and otherly-gendered people suffer when women -- or any group of people -- are oppressed, as well. All of our society does.
Body!
Bodies are pretty important. They're pretty vital to being happy and functional in today's society, wouldn't you say? They're amazing things -- complex machines that enable us to move, to talk, to express ourselves and communicate, to feel pleasure and experience the world. So why do we hate them so much? It's very sad that body dysmorphic disorders (being unhappy or uncomfortable with our bodies) and eating disorders are so common as to be accepted as the norm in our culture.
Girly Stuff
We can bleed for a week straight and still get the laundry done. Menstruation, yuck. Can't say it's something I'm eager to embrace. Frankly, it's a pain in the tail. But it's also powerful. Most girls will never forget their first period. It's an indicator of our health. It's a taboo subject, and it shouldn't be. Some people say it's a curse because of a sin our ancestor committed. Others say it's a blessing from the feminine divine. Our body builds a cozy little nest, then completely remodels every month. The menstrual cycle is a fact of life for a large chunk of a female's life... it's your body (or your significant other's, or your mom's) and it can't hurt to be aquainted with it. Who knows -- you may even find a new respect for periods. Know your flow! (*facepalm* That is so corny!)
Bad Blood (Menstrual Problems, Disorders, and Pain)
- Amenorrhea -- Absent periods
- Primary Amenorrhea -- No menarche (first period) by the age of sixteen
- Secondary Amenorrhea -- Absence of periods for three months in a woman that has had periods previously
- Dysmenorrhea -- Painful periods
- Endometriosis -- Endometrium (tissue which is built up and shed during the menstrual cycle) found outside the uterus and in other parts of the body
- Menorrhagia -- Heavy periods
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) -- Serious premenstrual distress with associated deterioration in functioning (fomerly known as Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder [LLPDD])
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) -- Mixture of symptoms experienced before a period
- Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) -- Bacteria cause illness occuring mostly in women who use high-absorbency tampons
Sex
Now for the fun stuff! The topic that needs no introduction... but I will anyway. So many people are uncomfortable with their sexuality, just as they are uncomfortable with their bodies. You can be single and still sexually active... yes, I'm going to say it... masturbation. I'm such a naughty Dragon. If you only buy one book on sex in your life, purchase Betty Dodson's Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving. I recommend this book to anyone -- male, female, other; old, young; single, dating, married. The sites I'm linking to are not only fun (hehehe) but promote healthy sexual expression and are excellent women-oriented sites and stores. (But great stuff for men and partners, too!)
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