You're not woman enough to pee here

I have really been waiting for this presentation all semester. The girls started with some definitions and terms. Then they explained the Kinsey scale a bit and how it is not fluid. This is very frustrating because only allows for 2 genders. One author we read from I forget who but he said that there are actually 5 genders represented in tribes in Indonesia. I am really unfamiliar with any gender besides the mainstream male and female. Toria and her girlfriend have been working with our professor to design a new model which allows for more freedom in terms of "genderizing." So there are three pieces: identity, expression, and attribution. And the idea is that this model allows for fluid change. Each part has 5 lines in which you fill in M for male, F for female or 0 for nothing. To sum it up, identity is who you believe you are, expression is how you show others who you are, and attribution is how others see you. According to this model, these things can constantly change. One day, you can feel like you are expressing more feminine traits and another day, more masculine. I know they said there is a neutral piece to it, but I just don't see it. I don't see how you can feel like you are nothing some days. Even after Celia's explanation of parenting and gender, I still don't really understand that part. They said they have a lot of work to do with this model still but the fact that new ideas can arise from this about gender is such an exicitng thing to hear about!

When I first heard about the transgendered population here at Juniata, I didn't really think much of it. Leave them alone, they aren't hurting anyone. Well, eventually, it became a bigger issue when Andie started using the girl bathrooms on campus. Just so as not to cause bigger problems, my solution would be just for those 5 minutes you use the facilities, use the boys'. Then, I became better friends with Toria and Andie, and heard their story a little. Andie said she isn't transgendered to make a statement, she said she feels wrong thinking herself as a male. She says it just doesn't feel right and its hard everyday when people say she is male. She has also said that if she could change to fit what her gender is, she would. Andie says that biological sex is just plumbing and it shouldn't be the single defining factor of someone's gender. She doesn't want to be a burden and feel different all the time. My heart broke a little after hearing Andie talk about this to our class where some people just don't understand. I don't think they are trying to be mean, but it is just such a foreign idea to them that it seemed like they were attacking Andie at some points. I adore Andie and Toria. I am always so astounded by how brave these two are. Despite the harsh looks and loud whispers, they refuse to change to fit the norms. I admire their courage so much and wish them only the best in their future.