If I correctly understand the intent for this thread, we are to post entirely self contained posts that make no references, be they direct or indirect, to any other post, and the subject matter is to be gender.
Hmm, ok.
Gender is a thing.
*angry reaction from some readers*
Well, ok...it might be inconvenient sometimes. If you prefer the aesthetic of viewing a change-process as a unified, single phenomenon rather than examining its components, I won't argue against that.
*what is bucket even talking about reaction from some readers*
Oh, right...when I think "gender" I tend to have different mental associations with the concept than most of you. Ok. You want to talk exclusively about...well, what exactly? "Gender" means different things to different people. To some it's exclusively biological reality. To others, it's various social constructs. To others it's a number of things depending on context. TO me personally it's a basic conceptual "force" or "phenomenon that has application for things like biology. For example, when I say "attraction" I might be talking about gravity, or magnets, or two people who like each other or any of a number of things. The concept "attraction" is a very general thing that is relevant in my areas. My concept of "gender" is similar.
Which, incidentally is the source of a lot of unpleasantness had between me and others on this thread when discussing gender. Frequently we're talking about different things. I apologize for that. Imagine if somebody were to say "like attracts like" meaning that people tend to be attracted to people who who like themselves, and somebody were to respond "what are you talking about? Opposite poles attract, similar poles repel!" talking about magnets. Both people are talking about "attraction" but the context changes things.
So when we say "gender" it's helpful for us to be talking about the same thing. Except that we're not actually talking with each other in this thread, we're talking, well..at each other, I suppose.
So, gender. It's a thing.
*skeptical, but not angry reaction from some readers this time*
Barring technolgical input and unusual cases, the typical biological reproductive process in humans involves male insemination, female impregnation and female internal carrying of fetus.
*reaction from some readers: how DARE you say "typical!" How DARE you imply that there's a "normal" way for this to happen and that anything else is unworthy!!! GRROWRRR! ANGER!!!*
...whoa. Let's relax, please. I'm not attempting to make value judgements here. I acknowledge that the system is somewhat arbitrary. Yes, there are people born with multiple genetalia. Yes, when it comes to seahorses the seahorses who produce the eggs are not the ones who carry them to term. I'm not suggesting this is "inferior" and that we need to go on a crusade to purge the unrighteous. I'm sorry if you have unpleasant personal experiences...but I just have to wonder if you have such a horrible emotional reaction to simple statements like the above, it's possible you might be the problem here, not the people pointing out the obvious.
Moving on.
Societies, tend to develop cultural patterns relating to gender.
*Some people in the audience start munching popcorn*
Well, everyone agrees on this, right? Societies do do this. How anyone feels about any specific part of the patterns is up for debate, but it does happen. I think having someone run into the room and ask you to kill some innocent bug or spider is not part of the typical experience of american females, for example. Whereas this is a thing that happens not infrequently to guys. Some women expect this. You're male. It's your role to kill spiders. Well, no...sorry, I don't like killing things. I'm not going to kill the spider. I'll put him in a jar and take him outside, but I'm not going to kill him just because you expect it.
Ahh, enlightenment.
You see, very often it's that simple. If you're not happy with the gender roles assigned to you by society, consider refusing them. Just do it without the anger and resentment. If I take a spider outside instead of killing it, I'm not usually looked down on for it. People don't shun me for failing to live up to my assigned gender role. Whereas if I were to freak out at every girl who asks me to kill something and deliver an angry rant about gender roles and inequality...yeah, I'd become a social pariah pretty quickly.
So don't do that. Do you own thing. Act like it's ok. It probably is. People pick up on how you feel about things. If you're a guy and you feel like going out wearing a dress is weird and not ok, people will pick up on that and think the same. If you feel like it's completely normal, people are less likely to react to it. If you're a girl and you feel like asking the boy you like to the dance is weird and not ok, well...actually that's just your problem. I doubt many people would have a problem with it even if you did think it was weird. Point being, some things you can change and maybe some you can't. Ask yourself honestly whether the problems you have are created by others or by yourself. Maybe it was somebody else who taught you that whatever it is you want to be or do somehow isn't ok, but if you believed them, own up to it.
Gender has implications in regards to biology. Sometimes these implications might be inconvenient.
Gender has implications in regards to society. Sometimes these implications might be inconvenient.
Don't worry so much about those two right now. Between VR and nanobots and manufactured body parts, a lot of those walls are going to start coming down in the next few years or decades. Be patient.
But the technology isn't likely to change how you feel about gender. That's up to you. Be at peace with yourself. Maybe you can't make other people be at peace with you, but you're not responsible for them. Take care of you. If you believe that what you are and what you want to be is ok, it will be easier for everyone else to believe it too.