Third Gender - Research Paper

Introduction

In the past decade, several people have refused to be classified as either female or male since they believe they are not affiliated to either of the two categories. Other people reject the binary gender classification since they claim that they are undergoing sexual transition. Pakistan, Nepal, Australia, and Germany are some of the few nations that have recognized the existence of third gender persons. Additionally, research has provided comprehensive evidence that suggests that biological sex identity might be a spectrum. One wonders whether the binary classification system should be re-examined as it plays a fundamental role in defining people's gender. The society should have more than two genders to demystify cultural gender construction, to support the gender continuum, and to ensure that the doctors can define the babies' gender identity easily.

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In most societies, gender is viewed as a social construction. As a result, communities have fostered specific cultural perspectives on the ideal outlook on gender. Initially, most Western societies recommended binary classification to distinguish people's sexuality. Nonetheless, the LGTB community has divergent views that undermine social gender construction in support of a more gender fluid world. Cultural construction has denied people the liberty of choosing their gender freely (Gonsiorek, 2014). Furthermore, the 21st has been characterized by a tech-savvy generation that is repulsive on supporting the binary system. For that reason, activists have encouraged the society to endorse inclusive and gender fluid views rather than the discriminative binary classification approach.

There should be more than two genders as a gender continuum has been in existence since ancient times. Consequently, transgender is not a western concept as masculine girls and effeminate boys have been there. In most societies, they have traditionally acknowledged the third gender identity. Hijras in India, Muxe in Mexico, and Bakla in the Philippines exemplify some of the native gender-fluid personalities that have been recognized in their communities (BBC Health, 2016). But, the proliferation of western culture and Judeo-Christian ethic has led to a significant decrease in the space occupied by these individuals. Besides, discrimination has led to the two-spirited individuals being viewed as outcasts who should not perform particular roles. If the transgender movement is acknowledged, it will advocate for the modification of the binary system to empower the LGTB community. For that reason, the more gender fluid the society is the more rights and privileges the third gender will be granted.

Medics have gradually recognized the complexity they face in defining sex especially among babies. Pediatric urologists claim that sex is a spectrum and it is not binary. The doctors' professional experience has influenced their perception of sex and how they cater to babies with indistinct gender identity. The medical practitioners have expressed their concern over the challenge they encounter in identifying a child's sex. For example, the baby's chromosomes might be XX that are typically linked to being a female; however, its genitalia resembles that of a boy (Alipour, 2017). In the past two or third decades, surgery was mandatory for ab bay born with such complications to make them either girls or boys. Some of the surgeons are uncomfortable to perform such irreversible surgeries. Medical critics support the integration of the third gender. They oppose the idea of birth certificates being used to classify people's gender. Consequently, the critics claim that official documents should have one's name, date of birth, and the national identification number.

Incorporation of the third gender idea is a significant initiative the society can adapt to demystify gender construction. The cultural gender perception relies on the binary sex classification and having more than two genders will weaken the ideology. The existence of masculine girls and effeminate boys confirms that gender is a continuum. The community should acknowledge transgender movements and support their efforts towards establishing a more gender fluid world. Doctors have recognized that defining a baby's sex is very difficult if their gender is indistinct. Therefore, society should re-evaluate the binary gender identity to eliminate the irreversible surgeries they perform on the babies to make them either boys or girls.

References

Alipour, M. (2017). Transgender identity, the sex-reassignment surgery Fatwas and Islamic theology of a third gender. Religion and Gender, 7(2), 164. doi: 10.18352/rg.10170

BBC Health. (2016). Do we need more than two genders? Retrieved from www.bbc.com/news/health-35242180

Gonsiorek, J. (2014). The third issue of Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1(3), 201-201. doi: 10.1037/sgd0000055