Do you find this picture offensive? Embarrassing?
Uncomfortable? Well, you shouldn’t, because it’s just science. (And, come on, Kindergarten Cop is such a classic! - “It’s not a tooma” will always make me
laugh.)
Disclaimer: The following opinions are by no means a
statement about the LGBT community. Like, not at all. I truly love everyone and
just want you to be happy no matter who you are inside or out. That said, I do
have some strong opinions about biology.
I recently watched an interview where Boy George said
that he hopes that one day, gender will be “irrelevant.” While I agreed with
the general point he was making, I have to lovingly disagree and say: GENDER IS
RELEVANT.
• If gender was irrelevant, there would only be one door
to the public restroom.
• If gender was irrelevant, clothing stores would have
one department.
• If gender was irrelevant, the debate about equal pay
would sound like, “Some people get paid less than other people for doing the
same job, and that’s not fair.” (That isn’t fair, but that debate is for
another time.)
• If gender was irrelevant, the LGBT movement would not
exist. LGBT would mean that people love other people and some people identify
as people.
• If gender was irrelevant, Bruce would not have felt the
need to become Caitlyn.
Gender matters. There are books and journal articles written
on the subject. Some people have a penis, testicles, a prostate, and a tendency
towards developing facial hair. In the scientific world, these characteristics
make a person male, man, boy. Some people have a vagina, ovaries, a uterus, and
a tendency towards developing breasts. These people biologically would be
considered female, woman, girl. Animals have gender. Insects have gender.
Plants have gender-specific parts. Plumbing and automotive parts are referred to by gender-specific terms (this always makes me giggle). There are languages
throughout the world where even words have gender. Gender is relevant.
When Tyler and I first learned I was pregnant with a boy,
I stared at the ultrasound monitor in shock and didn’t believe the nurse until
Tyler shouted, “LEGOS!” (I would have bet good money that I was carrying a girl.
Her name was going to be Juniper.) Now, I have no problem with Coltrane wanting
to play with Barbies or other “girl toys,” but, scientifically speaking, he’s a
boy. And I plan to raise him like a boy. I wouldn’t send back a doll if he
really loved it and it made him happy, but I’m pretty sure Santa is planning to
give him Legos and dinosaurs and cars this Christmas.
Maybe I’m misinterpreting the conversation and gender
neutrality actually means that we need to treat everyone with the same kindness
and respect regardless of gender. If that’s the case, then I wholeheartedly
support gender neutrality and we can all disregard everything I’ve just said.
But even so…
Gender will always be relevant. And it always should be.
I am woman. And you’ve heard me roar.
