You are most likely mistaken about gender

While speaking about homeland security, George “Gaffe” Bush once said, “I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we’re really talking about peace.”

Well, in contrast, I just want you to know that when we talk about gender, we’re really talking about gender.Which is to say, we are not just talking about women. Most people wrongly associate gender issues with women’s issues. I recall doing a degree in Gender Studies and when people asked what I was studying and I replied gender, they would nevertheless proceed to ask, “So, what is women’s studies about?”

It was baffling. In actual fact I was not interested in women’s studies alone or I would have chosen that course. Instead, I chose to study gender because I am interested in masculinity and femininity, in gender norms attributed to the male and female sexes, in the interaction –  the never-ending conflicts and also the opportunities to live together harmoniously – caused by gender roles.

What are those roles? The answer depends on many things, including the particular environment that you find yourself in. In a country like Nigeria, gender roles not only vary from region to region but they’re also shaped by our tetchy colonial past, and the education and religion that came with that predicament. Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where, for example, women have reigned not only as queens but as kings. In fact, female kings such as Ahebi Ugbabe who ruled Igala in Igboland in the twentieth century are arguably a precursor to transgender (people who express their gender outside of the norm) discussions today.

However, Nigeria is also a country where, to give another example, if you are male you can pass your nationality to a non-Nigerian female through marriage. If on the other hand you are a Nigerian female, by all means set  your eyes on a non-Nigerian husband, but our legislation will always consider your marriage as one to a foreigner.

If you are female, gender roles such as housewife, the weaker sex, the shrinking violet, the bimbo etc. may be used to describe you. If you are male, the roles of provider, macho man, gentleman or rational thinker may be attributed to you. Furthermore, although gender norms are limiting for both sexes (e.g. men should never be vulnerable and women should never be bossy yada yada yada) since most powerful traits are seen to be masculine, if you are a woman there is perhaps even more of an incentive to define womanhood for yourself.

So why is all of this political? After all the column is “Gender Politics”. Well, for three primary reasons. Firstly, precisely because gender and power are closely linked. Secondly, because maleness and power are also closely linked. And thirdly, because the first two points cause problems.

You may like to read the column regularly. Not because the author is claiming, like any good salesperson, that it will gain you great relationships, a happy life, prosperity and mind-blowing sex. In all honesty, I doubt reading this column will bring you any closer to that. (And if against the odds it does, please at least buy me dinner.)

But my column may give you a greater understanding of how gender norms shape our realities. It may cause you to marvel, as I do, at the social, sexual and cultural roles between genders and how those relate to our inner sense of power as well as to political structures. And that in return may have a positive effect. At the very least, we can quarrel about all things gender-related and that’s always a blast (or not).

One more thing for now. If you thought that there are only two genders you are mistaken. There are numerous, seventy-one (at least) according to the pre-populated list that Facebook users can choose from when choosing a gender identity.That said, the main focus in my column is gender politics as it relates to women and men.

sourced: the guardian