Reflections on Gender and Sexuality VT22 by https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2 Please write a few thoughts (they can be rough!) in relation to the questions – see slide for first 3 en-us 2022-05-03 21:01:32 UTC 2026-03-17 16:11:03 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169687589 They feel pressure to behave in a certain way, be a certain way, not feeling like they can be themselves. Maybe they feel like they can't express their feelings or love for e.g friends and family, which in some cases can damage these relationships]]> 2022-05-04 10:18:11 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169687589 Labels can be very useful, for example they enable us to make informed decisions when buying the right products. https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169716342 2022-05-04 10:50:13 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169716342 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169719012 Labels can be very useful as a communication tool, and are sometimes very satisfying to find if they fit relatively well for one’s feelings. However I think it’s important to remember not to let them confine you and to be open to change as a person. Sometimes we find out new things about ourselves later on, and would communicate ourselves better through a different label than the one we now use. I think it would then be foolish to hold on to the label just for the sake of it. Sexuality and gender can be fluctuating, and we change a lot through our lives, so naturally our labels should be able to do so too.

Another thing about labels is that they never will cover one’s feelings perfectly. Sometimes I think labels are too strict and that can cause a lot of distress for people. If you as a gay person had a crush on a person of the different sex, you can still be gay. The definitions are for communication, not for putting oneself or others in rigid boxes. For myself that led to me simply labelling myself “queer” during a period, because nothing seemed to fit perfectly and therefore I gave up. But now I’ve realised that it doesn’t have to be a 100% match, because everyone are going to experience their gender and sexuality different anyways, and we can’t each have our own label.]]> 2022-05-04 10:53:29 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169719012 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169723771 A strong identity anchored to certain traits (perhaps outside the norm) can act as a reinforcing frame in your personality, but if the general perception of this trait is considered negative by majority groups or society as a whole, it may lead to increased feelings of being threatened or alienated. ]]> 2022-05-04 10:58:45 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169723771 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169730600 Generally I think people overestimate the degree to which norms influence their mental health. Some people might be afraid to be themselves and might rather hide behind shallow aspects of identity]]> 2022-05-04 11:06:18 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169730600 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169736717 Honestly, I really don't know. And I think people overestimate the degree to which they know themselves. ]]> 2022-05-04 11:13:11 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169736717 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169737197 Substantially less than many might believe, i.e. I doubt the norms surrounding gender is the cause of the suffering in TGNC people]]> 2022-05-04 11:13:46 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169737197 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169738915 Labels are a directly essential for enabling actions. If people generally weren't using labels/stereotypes/etc then everything would become literally chaotic and the world would become infinitely complex. It is in a way ridiculous to discuss wether labels are good or not, as if it was an option to not have any. ]]> 2022-05-04 11:15:51 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169738915 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169750224 To let the person tell you who they are and not assume that just because they can be defined to belong to particular group that they must have certain experiences. For example, that a black person must have faced much white on black discrimination. 

Also, be attentive to what extent they might use their more "shallow" group identities to hide their true personality. For example, being a woman is not much of a character trait as compared to being curious or shy. ]]> 2022-05-04 11:28:30 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169750224 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169754383 That the life for men is more associated with meaning, struggle towards a goal and taking and upholding responsibility irregardless of wether that might mean pain and suffering. Meaning transcends suffering ]]> 2022-05-04 11:32:26 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169754383 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169763842 In some aspects I believe men have a harder time fitting within their social framework than women regarding the perspective of what is considering "manly" and how narrow that term really can be. I believe there are only a few characteristics that describes what a proper man should be like. Alongside, women could be considered to have somewhat of a wider social framework to relate to and could have an easier time to take on both masculine and feminine characteristics since it is more socially acceptable. However,  I think it is crucial to see that there is a high double standard against women in society on a general level which makes us consider women's behaviors and characteristics maladaptive regardless of situation, intention or action.]]> 2022-05-04 11:42:08 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2169763842 https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2170251184 Trigger warning: 
The normative gender binary has very real, explicit consequences for women in Sweden and all over the world. The way we define women and men is the basis on which we have created a patriarchal society, in which women to undergo many deeply traumatic events - rapes, genital mutilation, domestic violence, forced pregnancies… This obviously affects our mental health. Being sexualised from a young age, being cat-called, or told not to trust “strange men” also obviously affects the way we form relationships with the opposite gender, and ours.
]]> 2022-05-04 16:47:29 UTC https://padlet.com/lauracox96/135t2g8mbceb55q2/wish/2170251184