 Impassioned Wisdom About the Meaning of Gender
In a nutshell, Mollenkott examines the "binary gender construct" that holds us all hostage. In a world centered around the binary gender construct, we are all pigeon-holded into one of two sexes from birth -- male or female -- and from there, we hammered by social pressure to conform to the associated culturally-defined gender roles. That is, men must be "masculine" men and women must be "feminine" women.Mollenkott debunks the validity of the binary gender construct by first questioning the biological reality of the two sexes -- male, female. Through an exploration of hermaphroditism or intersexuality and other reasoning, Mollenkott shows that our insistence on two, and only two, sexes is erroneous. Next, Mollenkott shows how the binary gender construct has been harmful to individuals and to society. When people are forced into one of only two gender slots, that labeling has far-reaching ramifications for the kind of life the individual may lead within the good graces of society. The result is personal limitations on choices and behavior, bigotry and hatred toward those who can't or won't fit into one of the two designated boxes, and a perpetuation of patriarchal oppression. Mollenkott offers a delightful smorgasborg of societies that have gone beyond the two-gender system. Notably, many Native American societies recognize a third gender category called Two-Spirit. Finally, Mollenkott an omnigender paradigm. She asks us to imagine all of humanity forming a long line with masculine males at one end and feminine females at the other end. Like a rainbow, people with varying degress of gender expression for the center regions of the long line of humanity, with transgendered people forming the very middle ranks. She challenges us to point out, in this continuum we have built in our imagination, where "male" begins and where "female" begins. Mollenkott's omnigender paradigm would honor the diversity of the gender rainbow. She offers up some specific suggestions for how to encourage or work toward an omnigender society. And she goes on explore what an omnigender society might look like. In her book, Mollenkott notes that most physical violence is perpetrated by males. To the extent that aggression has been a socially-approved masculine trait, our binary gender construct may be at the root of the increased level of violence we see around us. The omnigendereed view, if implemented in society, would eliminate this type of violence. Mollenkott argues that it is urgent that we begin to deconstruct the binary gender system. She notes a study conducted at a clinic in Bombay, India. Of 6,000 fetuses aborted at the clinic, only ONE was a boy. With boy children valued over girl children in several places around the world, and with the spread of ultrasound technology, it could be that favoritism for the male child will itself lead to the demise of the binary gender system. This book presents cutting-edge gender theory in a way that is non-threatening, imminently readable, and just plain fun. The many facts that Mollenkott invokes to explain and buttress her thinking are like shining jewels. As an enticement, you will not be unmoved to learn what Mollenkott uncovered that explains the birth of Jesus to the *Virgin* Mary. While the book has a religious or spiritual theme, it will not be off-putting to readers who are uninterested in religious dogma. This is most definitely not a book for championing rigid, moralistic, close-minded viewpoints. If anything, Mollenkott's gentle and humorous touch may awaken in some a newfound appreciation for spiritual concerns. ....
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