ASSIGNED
A time long long ago …
There was a period in time where it was believed by everyone that the earth was flat. “It must be flat,” one might have said, “I can see the proof in yon horizon where the earth comes to its end.”
Then eventually someone had the idea this was a false belief. “What if,” that person might have pondered, “the reason you can never reach yon horizon is because the earth is round?”
“Preposterous,” the first might respond. “I see what I see, therefore, the proof is by my sight that the earth is flat.”
Over time, it was proved, by the experience of travel, that the earth is, indeed, round. The truth that the earth is round is eventually accepted by everyone, even without everyone having the experience of travel themselves.
Fact is, the earth was never flat … even when folks believed differently.
Modern day …
The expectant parents, eyes glued to the monitor, listened intently as the ultrasound tech showed them their unborn baby’s ears, fingers, toes, and finally said, “Congratulations, it’s a boy.” The child’s gender is assigned even before leaving the mother’s womb. Decades ago, prior to the technology of ultrasounds, the child would leave the womb before the doctor would announce, “It’s a boy.” But what these two experiences do have in common is that gender is the very first proclamation made in the life of every child.
But how did the ultrasound tech and doctor determine the child’s gender? Of course, the same way it’s been done since the beginning of time … by the appearance of the genitals. It is believed that a child born with a penis is a boy, and a child born with a vagina is a girl.
Then eventually someone had an experience that leads them to the idea this is a false belief. “What if,” that person might have pondered, “a boy can be born with a vagina and a girl can be born with a penis?”
“Preposterous,” is currently the response. “I see what I see, therefore, the proof of gender is by the genitals.”
Ever so slowly, the idea that gender is determined solely by genitalia is being challenged as more and more transpersons share their experiences. However, the experience of being transgender is a rare one. I have read statistics that show only 1 out of 100 people are born into the trans experience. Only 1% have the experience while the remaining 99% of people still align with the belief that gender is determined by whether or not you are born with a penis or a vagina.
Of course, the statistics could also be incorrect. I personally feel the percent of persons born into the transgender experience is probably much more than just 1%, especially with so many transpersons choosing to remain hidden, or live stealth.
Over time, it will be proved, by the experience of being born trans, that, indeed, it is not genitals that determine gender. The truth that some boys are born with a vagina and some girls are born with a penis will be accepted by everyone, even without everyone having the experience of being transgender themselves.
Fact is, gender is not determined by genitalia … even as folks believe differently.
