To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Well, I think the west (as I know it) has always recognized four of these five. Macho men, effeminate men, butch women, and womanly women. We’re missing the middle indeterminate, likely because the other intermediate categories are demeaned and diminished (and discriminated against). One of our kids (fully grown mid 30’s) who’s lived a rather masculine life (engineer, welder, auto racer) but without pursuit of women, and who has recently discovered/concluded that life as a woman would be preferable, despite the barriers. Go figure. As the French say, À chacun son gout.
Seen that way, you’re right. It just isn’t really as officially recognized as it is in Indonesia as they are still considerted to be men or women rather than something different.
I don’t like sticking people into a finite number of boxes whether it’s two or five. I also don’t subscribe to the gender spectrum. We have artificially decided masculinity is getting dirty whereas femininity is looking pretty.
Can someone name me one attribute that adheres to specifically one sex?
I cannot.
Instead, I feel we create these artificial rules and then force people into the boxes.
Why can’t I like getting dirty, playing football, camping and fishing while at the same time nurture my children, like ballet and want to wear skirts and tights?
Why do we need to make life harder? I get the need for the male or female sex parameter on a biological basis but gender is a made up parameter forced upon us before we have the ability to choose for ourselves.
You are absolutely right about not putting people into categories. Unfortunately, they are so engrained in our culture that you have to use them to disprove them in a way. There isn’t really anything “feminine” or “masculine” in my opinion, but I’ve decided to use both of those terms in the tagline for this blog to help more people understand.