Follow-up to Ep. #1 – What is Gender?

I’m getting ready to do Ep. #2 and I figured while I’m preparing I would take a look back at the first episode. Here are some stats on the first episode:

• 733 views, 4 comments, 5 times faved on YouTube
• Countless emails, comments, and IM chats
• Posted on a class blog!

What I Think

Besides it being of crappy quality, I think it was a success. More than anything, I wanted to get it out there and I wanted to make people think. I think that is what happened and so, I’m counting this as a success. There are some things that I would change or clarify better, but overall, it was pretty good for the first one.

While I’m here, I wanted to address some of the comments that were made on the class blog. It’s a great discussion and I recommend checking it out. I want to thank whoever did it because I enjoyed reading the comments and I also liked knowing that it did make people think, even if briefly.
The Comments

Katie brought up a couple of good questions, stating:

How do they interact with people, do they say female or male on forms like job applications, it definetly changes how people talk to eachother.

Now, not to give anything away, but I’m going to be talking about this in my next video (coming soon, I promise!). I can’t speak for every trans person out there, because we’re all different and have different personalities, but for me it brings about some problems. My family either doesn’t accept it or doesn’t know about it, so around them I’m addressed as “she” or “Joshica” or “her”. I don’t like it and it makes me uncomfortable, but that’s how it has to be for now. When I’m with other people, say my friends, I prefer to be “he” or “Josh”. I mean, after all, that’s who and what I am.

As for legal documents, such as job applications, college applications, etc. I put female because that’s what it says on my license and birth certificate. But, when I was in San Diego and I worked then I would tell people that I was an FtM and would prefer to be considered “male”. They were all great about it.

Rylee states:

One thing I strongly disagreed with was when he/she explained the gender scale. 100% male was described as insensitve and even taken as far as “asshole.” I know plent of “100% male” men that aren’t that way.

Yes, I realized this after viewing it, and this is one of the things I wish I could change. I just wanted to say that. Rylee also states:

Ok, I’m confused. I thought that was a male in the beginning, then he/she proclaimed to be a man trapped in a woman’s body, so I thought was savvy, then when I went to look for the link to comment and I read where I could post about HIS issue? So now I’m not so savvy. Not that it really matters which he/she is, I was just curious.

Sometimes I get confused as well. It’s so ingrained in us, the use of pronouns, that you see breasts and you automatically think “she”. I’m not a pronoun nazi, so when someone says “she” to me, I let it slide. It’s not that big of a deal for me. I prefer “he” however.

Brandy says:

The main issue to me in this video is more about sexuality. She feels more like a man, not just in attitude, but physically and sexually and would like to make that a real and permanent part of her life.

Now, to me at least, sexuality is who you’re attracted to, the kinds of things that make you “excited”, etc. How I feel about my gender doesn’t pertain to how I feel sexually. For the record, I consider myself a straight male, meaning I enjoy women. While my discussion in my video was about my gender and how I feel that I am a male, but I’m physically a female.

Keesha said:

I found that piece by Joshanastasia interesting. First off, I don’t know what to call her..him..in reference. So don’t be offended when I say “it”.. “they” would be plural….I stopped the flick a couple times just to think “now this is a he”. Then I’d pause and say “now this is a she”. It’s hard! We aren’t commonly exposed to this.

I wasn’t offended, but for the record, being called an “it” isn’t really flattering. I’m not a thing, but rather I’m a person. It’s ok, to be confused by it, it isn’t easy, but if ever in doubt, use the person’s name, in my case “Josh”. Even if you used “she” I would have felt a bit more comfortable than “it”. All is good though!

Dannielle says:

There are two sexes for humans- male and female- but the individuality of each male and female goes much further than gender and has no classification.

Who says there are only two sexes (genders)? Society does. It’s a societal construct used to classify people into groups. Just because there are words to classify two types of people doesn’t necessarily mean that there are only two genders. It’s the same as in science, we can only see so many dimensions (1D, 2D, 3D) but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other dimensions.

Tyson says:

i believe she is decieved and has unintentionall deceived or confused others. you and i included.

How have I deceived you or confused you? I would like the chance to clarify.

The following comment was made by someone who did not leave their name, but instead opted to use “a concerned Christian”. Now, for the record, I was raised Catholic and still practice mostly Christian values.

“a concerned Christian” writes:

I would completely agree that we are all either male or female. I believe the Bible teaches that someone with the thoughts of the blogger is being influenced, and is under the deception of demonic spirits.
God would tell her she is awesome the way he made her and that he longs for relationship with her and to make her complete in Him.
She doesn’t need a penis or anything else except to know Him. The vacuum inside of her that is only God shaped, manifests as gender confusion, added with the lie of our society of sexual perversion so “I must really be a man trapped in a woman’s body.” Others they try to fill it with drugs, alcohol, money, etc in order to feel complete. There is NO wholeness outside of Jesus and a personal relationship with HIM. I will continue to pray for the demonic strongholds to be broken in her life. It would be easy to dismiss her as a freak but inside she is screaming for acceptance and the love of God. Something we all need and desire.

The last time I checked, I wasn’t under the influence of the devil or demons and I can assure you, I’m not being possessed. (I asked my priest to check). I believe that God made me the way I am, after all, we’re all made in the image of God, or so says that Bible. I am an image of God, just the way I am. As are you. Just because you don’t agree with how I feel, doesn’t mean that you have to invalidate it by spewing off that I’m possessed by a demon or under the influence of one. I appreciate your concern and I wholeheartedly accept and respect your opinion, but don’t dismiss how I feel because you think I’m missing Jesus in my life. That isn’t the case at all. I wonder what Ben would say?

Kendra says:

What I found to be rather thought provoking was when Josh was talking about the gender spectrum and was describing the people who are 75% male and 25% female or the reverse of that. It kind of made me think about where would I be based on the way the different parts of the ‘spectrum’ were described? Assuming that 100% female would be something like a valley girl where they don’t do sports they don’t do manual labor, and these are the types of girls who spend their days shopping at the mall and going to the spa to get pedicures. Sure I like my share of shopping and the occasional pedicure as well, but I love sports and going camping and I’ve even been hunting a time or two. So would that make me a bit more ‘manish’ if you will?

I’m not saying you can’t be 100% female and not like sports or manual labor of cars or any of that. That’s the beauty of the spectrum. But, in all honesty, it’s just another way to classify people and it means nothing to me. You are what you are, regardless of what you like to do or what label you are.

Sabra writes:

I was a little confused on the idea if they were born thinking that they were male or if they developed it through out their lifetime?

I don’t think that when you’re a little kid you think about gender until the classification of that is learned. You are either taught by parents, teachers, society, or what have you. But for me, ever since I can remember, I’ve felt this way. There has been some research done as to whether it is something mental or physical and I’ll try to find links for them and post them later.

Mary says:

When Joshie was talking about the gender spectrum and how people can be different percentages of female and male despite their sex and found myself agreeing with him/her. However at the same time it also made me question society’s standards. Who’s to say that what makes a male, male can’t be a feminine quality too. This video helped to open my eyes to a different avenue of thought when it comes to stereotypes tied to gender.

Everyone has pre-conceived notions about gender. And as I previously stated above, I was wrong and wish to correct what I said about 100% male, that’s my stereotype.

Angie commens:

Well this is kind of a crazy video in the sense that it is something that most people never talk about. I think it is good to hear what she has to say but I would have to disagree with her. I do not think in any way shape or form are there more than one gender. I think that everyone is clearly a boy or a girl unless there is some rare birth defect. I think that she just desires to be a guy but that desire does not make her one. My heart kind of breaks for people like her because Im sure it is a hard subject and is touchy to most peoples ears yet what a beautiful woman she could grow to be. I couldnt imagine the emotions that come with it and I dont understand why it seems that no one is content with themselves these days.

What makes a male a male? A penis? What makes a female? A vagina? Just because I want to change my physical gender does not mean that I’m not happy with who I am. I think I’m an awesome person. Sure, I have flaws and I get upset and I make mistakes just like the next person, but that doesn’t mean I’m not happy with myself. This reminds me of something my parents said to me when I came out to them. The fact of the matter is, I’m not female. Why can’t I grow to be a handsome man?

That’s all. What do you think about the comments? Please, go read them in their entirety, don’t take my word for it. I just posted the things I wanted to comment on. Please, if you have any questions, ask me! I don’t bite, well I do, but I won’t bite you. That would be wrong.

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