The novel I decided to read and analyze was “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan. Throughout the novel Levithan describes the day to day lives of seven different teenage boys and the struggles they face because they identify as gay. I will be examining the concepts of constructing gender, being transgender, and the correlation of compulsory heterosexuality and discrimination against LGBT people.
Gender is constructed at a very young age. An individual’s gender construction begins the second they come into this world. For example, when babies are born they are either given a blue or pink blanket and hat depending on their sex. This is one of the first interactions the individual will have with their gender. Parents are the biggest and most …show more content…
Therefore, some people don’t practice either a male or female gender, and instead they practice something in between. Transgender people are part of this continuum. Avery experiences challenges with his gender identity everyday due to the outside world and societies views on transgender individuals. Our society has an overwhelming number of people who believe that gender is unable to change and if someone does get a sex change then they are considered to be disturbed. (CG 36). Within the reading “Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender” in Composing Gender, the author states: “Persons who perform the activities considered appropriate for another gender will be expected to perform them poorly. If they succeed adequately, or even well, at their endeavors, they may be rewarded with ridicule or scorn for blurring the gender dividing line.” (CG 40). Avery experiences ridicule within his day to day life. Whether that be a weird look or stare from a stranger, or peers bullying him. As discussed in lecture gender is perceived as a process. Gender creates social differences and hierarchies depending on one 's gender. Therefore, people who do not identify as either male or woman are seen as disturbing a social system which has been prevalent for many generations, which leads to discrimination against
Gender is constructed at a very young age. An individual’s gender construction begins the second they come into this world. For example, when babies are born they are either given a blue or pink blanket and hat depending on their sex. This is one of the first interactions the individual will have with their gender. Parents are the biggest and most …show more content…
Therefore, some people don’t practice either a male or female gender, and instead they practice something in between. Transgender people are part of this continuum. Avery experiences challenges with his gender identity everyday due to the outside world and societies views on transgender individuals. Our society has an overwhelming number of people who believe that gender is unable to change and if someone does get a sex change then they are considered to be disturbed. (CG 36). Within the reading “Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender” in Composing Gender, the author states: “Persons who perform the activities considered appropriate for another gender will be expected to perform them poorly. If they succeed adequately, or even well, at their endeavors, they may be rewarded with ridicule or scorn for blurring the gender dividing line.” (CG 40). Avery experiences ridicule within his day to day life. Whether that be a weird look or stare from a stranger, or peers bullying him. As discussed in lecture gender is perceived as a process. Gender creates social differences and hierarchies depending on one 's gender. Therefore, people who do not identify as either male or woman are seen as disturbing a social system which has been prevalent for many generations, which leads to discrimination against