Gender Theory

	Perspectives Used to Examine Gender This is my work defining the different approaches that people take when analyzing gender. Not all trans people are essentialist, but there is something more beyond social construction. This covers both those and more form a trans point of view.
	Who put the "Trans" in Transgender? Gender Theory and Everyday Life Abstract: In theory, transgender is a challenge to the social construction of gender. In practice, it is usually not. Transgendered people -- in one way or another -- place themselves outside the conventional male/female dichotomy, yet live in a social world that recognizes only females and males. How could a self-identified transgendered person earn and maintain a transgender attribution, when others are constrained to attribute unproblematic "male" or "female" gender to him/her? Is it possible to alter, in practice, what seems to be the incorrigibility of the gender attribution process? Is this, in fact, what transgendered people want to do? In the light of three possible meanings of trans, we consider whether there is any point to deconstructing gender.
	Sexing the Body: How Biologist Construct Human Sexuality Abstract: This article is a version of Chapter One: Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. In it is argued that science is often thought of as being beyond the reach of social and political debates. In fact, it is precisely such debates that have dictated the course if scientific research, ranging from the very questions scientist pose to the experimental methods they employ. And this highly pertinent to the ongoing debate concerning the biological versus the social nature of gender and sexuality. In most public and most scientific discussions, sex and nature, are thought to be real, while gender and culture are seen as constructed. But these are false dichotomies. In fact, it is argued, there is a complex and subtle interaction that exist between the biological and the social/political that must be understood and reexamined.
	Sandy Stone's Transgender Handout This is Sandy Stone's handout explaining four different perspectives on gender. It was originally presented at "Drive by Theory."
	Blending Genders: Contributions to the Emerging Field of Transgender Studies
	Suggested Rules for Non-Transsexuals Writing about Transsexuals, Transsexuality, Transsexualism, or Trans ____. These are a set of guidelines for non trans people writing about trans people. There are many pitfalls one can fall in when writing about a community other than their own. Often by viewing a community through your perspective rather than theirs you may think you understand it when you don't and make a dishonest analysis.

This site was assembled by Anne Serene and is a collective work of people who teach various disiplines including: women's studies, psychology, sociology, gender study, social work, transgender study, queer studies, anthropology, etc. and wish to teach about transgenderism from a transgendered perspective as to be sensitive to the thinking and theory emerging from the transgender communities and to be sensitive to the issues and experiences of transgender people.
To suggest material to be included on this site e-mail Anne. Click to subscribe to csu_trans a list for transgender students at California State University campuses.

The information on this page is the responsibility of the user. Humboldt State University assumes no responsibility for the content of this page.