Anyone who has tried to understand the shifting gender landscape in our culture and society today has come up against this term "gender identity." Everything "trans" seems to rest on an understanding of gender identity. Some say we all have one. Some say it's more important than biological sex. But what exactly do people mean when they use this term? Well, it depends on who you ask. In this video I do a deep dive into the concept of gender identity and review four different frameworks for understanding and interpreting this often used, but rarely understood concept.
I would love to hear what you think of these ideas. Also, please let me know, in the comments, if you would like more videos like this where I break down more “gender jargon.”
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The problem I have with all discussions of gender identity is that I don’t know the definition of “identity.” Incidentally, I have the same issue with the concept of racial identity.
Everyone uses this word as though we all know what it means, but I never see it defined. As much as I appreciated Kathleen Stock’s book, “Material Girls, for me it shed no light on what seems to be a fundamental question.
As for myself, I have no idea what my “identity” is.
You are a working psychotherapist. So, presumably, this is a concept pertinent to your work. Perhaps we could begin by you saying what you mean by “identity.”
Identity is a fact of existence. I am male, irrespective of what I say or think, it is a fact of my existence. It is true at all times for all versions of myself. It is neither chosen nor “alienable” - I cannot get rid of it by choice or by action of others.
Gender is a meaningless term when applied to humans, like case or mood or tense. Combining that with the fact that you cannot choose an identity, it’s less than meaningful.
I can no more choose to identify as “future perfect” as I could remove the fact of my being male from my existence.