Discussion Board

This week’s readings bring our attention to identity categories related to sex (femaleness and maleness), gender (femininity and masculinity), and sexuality (LGBTQ+ and heterosexual). These categories are distinct but interrelated, since how we “fit” into one category shapes the norms regarding how we’re expected to “fit” into the others.

Similar to last week these texts offer insight into structures of thought and material structures that affect how we perceive people’s (and our own) sex, gender, and sexuality. Also similar to last week, we learn more about how certain characteristics or traits become associated with certain types of identity. However, one difference, as I noted in my course video comments, is that this week we’re asked to consider what is deemed “normal” or “not normal” by these structures.  

If you’re a Responder, please write a post that explores EITHER

1. how an idea in Kate Bornstein’s piece offers insight into the social meaning that sex, gender, or sexual identity categories have, OR
2. how an idea in Bornstein’s piece teaches us about binary ways of thinking about sex, gender, or sexuality.