Well, this is the first in a series of videocasts that I’ll be doing. The first one is on gender. I briefly discuss what gender is and what transgender means. I’m sure I’ll get into more detail about these topics later on in the series, but for now I thought I would take small steps. If you have any questions or comments don’t be afraid! I don’t bite.

NOTES

Definitions

• Transgender – “People who were assigned a gender, usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that this is a false or incomplete description of themselves.” “Non-identification with, or non-presentation as, the gender one was assigned at birth.” Wikipedia
• Transsexual – “Transsexual people are often people who desire to have, or have achieved, a different physical sex from their original physical sex. One typical (though oversimplified) explanation is of a “woman trapped in a man’s body” or vice versa. Many transsexual women state that they were in fact always female gender, despite physically being male; transmen feel exactly the opposite.” Wikipedia
• Genderqueer – “It suggests nonconformity or mixing of gendered stereotypes, conjoining both gender and gayness, ‘pluralistic challenges to the male/female, woman/man, gay/straight, butch/femme constructions and identities.’” Wikipedia

Graphics

The Gender Spectrum