DECOLONIZE ALL THE THINGS (Great Blog, great Blog post)

[ismnotwasm]

DECOLONIZE ALL THE THINGS
The reflections of a Black Feminist Biocultural Anthropologist & Sociologist in a Constant State of Rage

Gender is the range of physical, mental, and behavioral characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between and across, masculinity and femininity. In Western societies, the accepted cultural perspective on gender views women and men as naturally and unequivocally defined categories of being with distinctive psychological & behavioral propensities that can be predicted from their reproductive function. (The idea that women do feminine things, men do masculine things & it is just ‘natural’) (Doing Gender, West & Zimmerman, 1987:126)

What is SEX/BIOLOGICAL SEX?

Sex is a determination made through the application of socially agreed upon biological criteria for classifying persons as females or males. The criteria for classification can be genitalia at birth or chromosomal typing before birth, and they do not necessarily agree with one another (Doing Gender, West & Zimmerman, 1987:127).

What is SEX CATEGORY?

Placement in a sex category is achieved through application of the sex criteria, but in everyday life, categorization is established and sustained by the socially required identificatory displays that proclaim one’s membership in one or the other category. Sex & sex category can vary independently; that is, it is possible to claim membership in a sex category even when the sex criteria are lacking

What is patriarchy?

Patriarchy (rule by fathers) is a social system in which the male is the primary authority figure central to social organization and the central roles of political leadership, moral authority, and control of property, and where fathers hold authority over women and children. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination. Many patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the male lineage. Patriarchy can manifest itself socially, politically, and economically.
http://decolonizeallthethings.com/teaching-tools/patriarchy-gender-lesson-plan/

[malthaussen]

1. Did you ever think that the need to categorize things...

... is one of the failings of our society? Of course, it has its uses, but I've long thought we take it too far. The primary problem is that when things are categorized, they're expected to demonstrate certain characterists and are considered more-or-less "wrong" when they do not. While this may not have deep consequences for, say, a pair of shoes, when categorization is applied to individual people, the results can be quite problematic.

-- Mal