Gender is fluid, it’s not related to biology, the majority of the population is cisgender (those who identify with the gender they were born with). Now, this is a general overview and hasn't taken into consideration that there are many who only come out to their families and not on social media. Even back in the day people didn’t always identify with their gender, these discrepancies in identity always existed but were not accepted. They were even dangerous to express but with society being a bit more accepting now things are different.
Problem with gender roles
Sometimes gender conformity is taken to extremes and the person in question may not have a say. Gay men and lesbians are assaulted and ridiculed because they are not following the stereotypical norms.
They not only face challenges with stereotypes but they are also a part of a minority based on sexual and gender orientation. They also face socio-economic and cultural injustice. This restricts their capacity to fully enjoy their rights as citizens. They are more likely to experience harassment, discrimination and intolerance compared to heterosexuals. 63% of transgender and gender-nonconforming people experience acts of discrimination that can affect their life.
What is identity?
Identity is how we define ourselves, it is a lot more than we think it is and has a strong influence on how we see ourselves. Gender can be a big part of our identity, not identifying with your gender can be very challenging. With the added pressure of family and society, it may push some to conform and be unhappy.
Problems LGBTQ+ face
Lack of acceptance and rejection is one of the challenges they face, it’s not just society that they face rejection from but sometimes family as well. Being homeless can affect their socioeconomic status as well, which in turn can affect their mental and physical health.
Even though on 26 June 2015 the US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages in 50 states there are still 72 countries where same-sex marriage is illegal and even homosexuality as a whole, some have a death penalty as a punishment.
Transgender people
The term ‘transgender’ means identifying with a different gender than they were born with. Transgender women were assigned male at birth and transgender men were assigned female at birth.
They also face challenges of conforming to the gender they choose, they have to perform it to an extreme. It is a pressure to perform their gender identity evidently.
For example, transgender women feel forced to be more feminine in ways that cisgender women are not expected.
Non-binary people
Non-binary people are those who don’t identify with either gender. Some do have a more masculine or feminine way of presenting themselves while some may prefer a gender-neutral appearance.
Other terms such as agender (those who don't identify with either gender), bi+ gender (those who have more than one gender), genderfluid (those who don't have a fixed gender, it can change across time) and other gendered (those whose gender does not fall in male or female categories).
In conclusion, I would like to say that since we now live in a world that is more evolved and we have a sense of identity the concept of gender and how we perceive people should also evolve. Just because someone acts or looks a certain way, doesn't mean we know what gender they identify to. We as people should support the LGBTQ+ society because at the end of the day they are people and they have the right to make their decisions. If not supportive then be tolerant as everyone has the right to their decisions.
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