Gender as Continuum

From the moment we are born, we are designated a sex and

gender. First, the terms gender and sex are often used
interchangeably. But gender and sex aren't the same. Sex is more
of a physical and biological aspect (reproductive organs,
chromosomes etc.) whereas gender refers to a sense of being
male or female. Individuals express gender beliefs in everything
they do, from their own beliefs and those of their culture
whether they indirectly or explicitly accept or assign these
gendered meanings to themselves or what others think, do and
feel. Parenting, expectations, upbringing, culture, peers,
community, media, religion and status are the most common
influences that shape our personal understanding of gender. In
short, society dictates gender. That said, you can liken it to a
crucible in chemistry, an instrument of change. Gender has come
a long way, from being linear, restricting gender to either male
or female only to becoming multi-dimensional, allowing more
gender classifications, like lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender, reflecting the diversity in human gender. Gender
was used to be one hundred percent male (100%) or one
hundred percent (100%) female, nothing in between, absolute
and restricting. Men and Women have long been confined to
what society expected of their genders. In todays world, society
somehow portrays or creates a hierarchy that heterosexuality is
still the desired model. Persons whose identities, practices, or

beliefs concerning gender deviate (differ from) societys

traditional expectations are often discriminated. Gender as a
continuum allows a less structured, less restricting approach to
gender. It allows more freedom for humans to express their
gender expression. But is gender more of nature? Or culture? It
is a combination of both. Understanding this will broaden our
perspective on gender identity. By adopting a continuum model
of gender, individuals will not be excluded from society or
experience discrimination for possessing stereotypical qualities
of the opposite sex which will accept and embrace diversity.
This will also help alleviate or lessen the homophobia and
transphobia in society by not perpetuating a heterosexual world.
It will alleviate the physical and psychological distress of those
who do not reflect the idealized standard of gender. An excerpt,
quoted below, from the study conducted by Laura Saldivia
(Reexamining the Binary Construction of Sexuality) thoroughly
explained the concept.
"using biology to identify someone as man or woman
leaves great room for error, since the way biology is
interpreted is also a product of culture. If the construction of
gender had followed nature and had emerge from the evidence
it carries, gender would had spoken countless languages, not
only two. Instead of insisting on the primacy of nature or
culture as the source of gender differences, perhaps it is time
to recognize that both play a role and that no explanation of
gender difference can be reduced to one or the other of these

two variables, but rather that they only make sense if they are
integrated"- Laura Saldivia , (Reexamining the Binary
Construction of Sexuality)