During class on Tuesday when we
were talking about intersex individuals, I kept thinking about labels. I have
had conversations about this idea before, but I had never thought about it in
terms of gender or sex. The context I had always thought about was with
sexuality. Many people believe that sexuality is fluid and therefore people
should not label themselves as having a certain sexuality because it limits
themselves. For example, if I consider myself a lesbian, then I rule out the
possibility of falling in love or being sexually attracted to a man. This may
or may not occur for a lesbian, as many are set in their attraction to women
alone, but because people change over time, labels can be very limiting. The same
could be said for a straight individual. If they limit themselves to the
opposite sex, they are ruling out possibilities for love and attraction. Many
people are confident in their sexuality but others have fluctuating
attractions. If they are only attracted to the opposite sex at one point in
their lives and then become attracted to individuals of the same sex, were they
straight and then gay or were they bisexual all along. It is a very difficult
concept to deal with in this context. Therefore, I would like to say that
sexuality should not have labels because they become constricting, so the ideal
would be to eliminate them, but we live in a world full of labels and
categories so this seems very difficult. I also think that having labels for
sexuality can be a very positive thing. If an individual feels out of place in
many aspects of their lives but then they discover their sexuality and can be a
part of the LBGT community, this sense of kinship can be very important. In addition,
labeling sexuality lets people know who their options are. Chances are if a
lesbian finds out that a women she is attracted to also labels herself as a
lesbian, she might then try to pursue that women. In this instance, labels
provide people with valuable knowledge. Lastly, we live in a heteronormative
world, and therefore people who are straight do not have to actively label
themselves as straight because it is the assumed sexuality. In this sense,
labels can be much more important for the Other than for the majority because being
the other sets them apart.
To tie this back into class, I was
thinking about the labels of gender. There are only two labels, despite the fact
that not everyone fits into these categories. I think that intersex children
should be raised without a gender until they decide what kind of genitalia they
want to have. In an ideal world, that is all that would matter. If gender
categories did not exist and there were not as many assumed characteristics for
genders, then these individuals could act anyway they chose without having to
fulfill a role. But because our world
operates using these two genders, little kids will want to know which they are
so they know how to act and feel. If I had an intersex child, I would love to
give them an androgynous name and send them to school as a child, not a girl or
a boy, but given their environment, they would have to be classified as one or
the other.
How you do feel about labels? Can
you even imagine a world where sexuality or genders are not labeled? In terms
of sexuality, do you see more harm or benefit to people labeling themselves or
being labeled by others?
Genders and sexualities are constructs yes, but they are necessary for understanding the present moment. Each sexuality and Gender has a history that cannot be ignored. To one day erase the label of gay or lesbian, bisexual or transexual, hetero or whatever, would in some ways subvert that history. It is around these terms that many people feel great pride and a sense of solidarity. Unfortunately, as Foucault articulates in the History of Sexuality, the medical establishment regards these signifiers as indications of a certain kind of person who has a definitive childhood, personality, and disposition. The Gay man becomes a new species. These are the assumptions that must be undone. Politically speaking, these labels have potential to be both positive and negative. Once something has a name, the establishment can then begin regulating in via law. But, given the contemporary narrative, that same group of people can collude around that same signifier to fight for their rights and their humanity. We must get away from labels that force people out of the category of human, we must also avoid creating a stereotype. Each sexuality has a wide range of people who identify with it. Unfortunately, Heterosexuality is the only sexuality that is recognized as having variations and nuances. We cannot let someone's sexuality or gender determine their identity. That is not to say that sexuality is not an important tile in the mosaic that comprises who we are.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, this is a very interesting post. One of your last questions concerning imagining a labeless world is particularly thought provoking. Honestly, I can’t imagine a world where sexuality or genders aren’t labeled. The world we live in is so fixated on labels and distinctions that the idea of not labeling a person’s sexuality or gender seems too radical for the majority to handle. Taking this class so far has definitely stretched my mind but even so I can’t comprehend a labeless world. In previous classes, we have discussed “the bathroom issue” and I think the opposition towards not labeling public bathrooms with gender tags shows how much our world thrives on labeling. If there are people who can’t accept bathrooms not being labeled, how will those people accept genders not being designated? Perhaps this is a bit of a close-minded view but right now this is where my head is.
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ReplyDeleteAs far as the bathroom issue is concerned, I think you have to take into account the subtle psychological oppression that is going on. Anyone who does not clearly identify with either the Fe/male gender, is being told that society has no place for you-- You do not fit within the norms of our society; therefore, you do not exist as a person and you will not be given the same consideration, not even a place to use the bathroom. That would really suck. I'd like to hear a few reasons why it would be such a hassle to deal with an intersex bathroom. When I went to Oberlin, where there are several dorms with intersex bathrooms, it was business as usual. I was unsteady at first about the idea but within a half day I got really used to it. I never felt uncomfortable. I showered, used the toilet, ect. There was never any chance of being seen nude. If anything, I think that kind of a situation could yield a more comfortable attitude towards are own bodies. I took the opportunity to ask students about their experience with the bathrooms and everyone seemed to think they were a pretty good idea. I heard no horror stories, no gut wrenching anecdotes. You just get used to it. It would analogous to the United States Government changing all the street intersections into round-a-bouts. I think the real discomfort has to do with the recognition of people who do not for one reason or another satisfy sex/gender isomorphism or gender dimorphism. Seriously though, I wanna hear why it is such a big deal. Is it really that unthinkable? I don't think so.
DeleteThe issues of sexuality and labeling came to my mind too. As you noted, it's a really great thing on the one hand but an oppressive one on the other. In Queer Theory, we read another Butler article where she talks about strategic provisionalism. She suggests that we keep labels because we live in a world full of labels but also remind ourselves constantly that they are provisional, not essential, and that they should not be taken as constant facts but as contemporary necessities. This idea was extremely appealing to me, although I'm not sure exactly how to make sure that people are looking at identity through a provisional lens. As for the bathroom issue, I think the freak out over the bathroom is exactly the point. Is it really that unthinkable? Apparently. I think it's awesome that schools like Oberlin are making the change to gender neutrality in bathrooms and in dorms, but what if we said to the parents of elementary school or middle school children, "We're going to have one bathroom where everyone is." Where I'm from, which is admittedly not the most advanced place in the world in terms of social issues, that would cause a riot. Most of the world doesn't view labels of any kind as provisional. Before college, I had never thought of things this way either. Anyway, all that is to say, it would be great if we used labels provisionally and got people to understand that, but it's much easier to write than to do.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I know what you mean. I guess my point is why not start somewhere. Case and point: Rhodes is building a new Residence Hall. Why not have at least one floor with intersex bathrooms. If riots don't break out, maybe the next hall will have two floors with intersex bathrooms. Or, as many Oberlin halls do, why not put it to a vote for every dorm? Agreed, Oberlin is pretty progressive. I am not thinking that all of sudden every bathroom will change, at every level, in every building. Also, intersex bathrooms don't do away with labeling. They simply don't discriminate based upon labels. How is "Male" or "Female" only different than "White' only? In "The Epistemology of The Closet", we discussed to some degree the differences between "coming out" as a member of an oppressed sex/gender/sexuality and "coming out" as a racial minority. They are different obviously, but I think the impact on the psyche of those being ostracized is probably similar. I was really looking for some specific examples too. I really do appreciate your response though. I was thinking this would open a can of worms, guess not.
DeleteI agree with you Michelle, but I also feel like it's part of human nature to categorize everything to help understand the world, people, and ourselves. I have a hard time imagining a world without labels so in categorizing and labeling other people I feel like one can actually understand where he/she stands in terms of the different labels and thus creating a way to understand their own personality. In an ideal world that wouldn't happen, judgments wouldn't be passed and everyone could do whatever they wanted freely. Truth is though judgments will be made about different categories, so people who aren't categorized provide the categories with a dilemma. Honestly, we do grow and change our minds about how we feel about our sexuality and our sex and that's when your main comes in play. But like I started I would probably just blame it on human nature of -hierarchical- categorization.
ReplyDeleteI think that labels are obviously important (it's how we differentiate): as Dr. J continually uses the example of "This is a cup [label], it is an inanimate object [another 'label']. If people choose to label themselves as things, I'm not sure if I would find that negative. If someone chooses to represent themselves as straight, gay, trans etc. it is because they have thought about what it means in their lives and how they want to act on those labels.
ReplyDeleteI think the real problem, that I believed I have talked about in class, is as always when people intentionally use labels to force people into something that they don't see their lives as or a label with a negative connotation.
I think that the world is trending towards better things, especially with gender. I just read an article about how an elementary school teacher began to breach the subject of teaching her first graders how gender norms are harmful. Intersex bathrooms would be a great place to start with Rhodes.
I would agree that labels are important. As you stated in your post, Michelle, the way that one labels his or her sexuality can help him or her to find a sense of community, or serve as a means of identification. Because of this I feel that labels are necessary to a certain extent. With that said, I would also argue that labels do not need to be permanent. People change over time whether we want to or not. Our environments and circumstances change, which may or may not influence how we view our selves (especially in our relationships with others). I think that labels can be potentially harmful if we take them as absolute, which seems to happen quite frequently in our society.
ReplyDeleteI personally cannot imagine living in a world that was free of labeling or categorization. Perhaps the sense of discomfort that I would feel in such a society is a result of my own ignorance (having been raised in a society where most things seem to fit in categories quite nicely). When it's all said and done, labeling works for me. I believe that as long as individuals are given the freedom to label (or not label) themselves, then labeling does not need to be innately harmful. Additionally, there needs to be an acknowledgement of the complexity of individuals and the multiple identities that any one person can have. If we do not limit a person to his or her gender, sexuality, profession, race, etc. then maybe labels will become less restrictive or oppressive.