Photo: Johnny Blazes, from hir Femme Show
Few people probably think of February as Gender-Fuck February, besides the members of Spectrum – until now. Spectrum will host two events this month meant to bring awareness to the social construction of gender and how we label ourselves, making Gender-Fuck February an appropriate title for the month.
Quite a few people do not know the difference between sex and gender. In response, Rachel Zelinsky, Spectrum’s Gender Identity Committee chair, offered this differentiation: “Gender is what is between your ears, sex is what is between your legs.”
Gender, Zelinksky went on to explain, is not as clear-cut as society might make it out to be. “Most people think of gender as whether you are a man or a woman. Recently there’s been the understanding that a person can be born as biologically male and think of himself as a woman. This person would be called Transgender, or transsexual if they got the sex change operation.”
Some people are born neither male nor female biologically. These people often refer to themselves as “intersex.” Rachel says this demonstrates that biological gender operates on a male to female or female to male spectrum.
One’s psychological understanding of one’s gender also operates on a spectrum. “Any person, regardless of their biological sex, can think of themselves as completely male, completely female, androgynous, or anything in-between. Just as many people agree that the average person isn’t completely gay or completely straight, the average person is neither completely male nor completely female.”
The first event that Spectrum is hosting is Johnny Blazes’ “Wo(n)man Show,” a performance challenging audience visions of gender. The event, taking place on the February 12, is meant to demonstrate that gender is not binary.
On the February 20, Spectrum is hosting its annual Drag Ball. This year’s theme is Underground. In the 1960s, police commonly raided gay clubs until the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of protests that are widely believed to have started the gay rights movement. If a man or woman wore three articles of clothing of the opposite sex, they could be arrested, causing gay clubs and drag balls to be kept secret. Rachel says that Drag Ball makes us reconsider gender in a fun way. “With Drag Ball, we can actually feel comfortable messing around with our genders.”
Thomas Schrader ’12 was glad to hear how open the college was to have events like those of Gender-Fuck February. “I think it’s really great that the school has a lot of diverse events and I think it’s great that people can be themselves.
Chi Ninh ’12 is a former student of Professor Manion, director of the LGBTQ Resource Center and a history professor at Conn. Ninh said, “I think it is great that Spectrum has organized these events to raise awareness on gender issues on campus.”
Spectrum hopes that Gender-Fuck February can spread awareness about the fact that gender is not binary, and hopes that those that do not identify as male or female can feel more comfortable about their identities in the community.
For those interested in learning more, Professor Jen Manion will lead a discussion on gender during the February 16 Tuesday Tea at 4:15PM. Tuesday Teas are a weekly event at the Center.
