Woman: Difference between revisions
imported>Sekhet (Creating a separate page for this identity, separate from the binary genders page, as discussed on Discord today.) |
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Anyone with a female gender identity is female: she is a [[woman]] or girl. Women are a very diverse group, and many assumptions about the definitive characteristics of womanhood are not held in common by all women. Having the ability or desire to give birth are not what makes someone a woman, because many women and girls can't or don't want do that, due to health conditions, age, or personal choice. Looking like a woman in other people's judgment does not make someone a woman, because others can misjudge that, and there are women who look masculine, and other people who look feminine, whether by choice or by nature. Only identifying as a woman makes someone a woman. Any woman's womanhood is valid no matter what kind of body parts she has, or what gender she was [[assigned gender at birth|assigned at birth]]. Cisgender women, transgender women, and [[intersex]] women are equally women. Because gender isn't the same thing as [[sexual orientation]], women are still women whether they feel sexual attraction to men (heterosexual), or to women ([[lesbian]]), or to people of any gender ([[bisexual]] or [[pansexual]]), or none ([[asexual]]). | Anyone with a female gender identity is female: she is a [[woman]] or girl. Women are a very diverse group, and many assumptions about the definitive characteristics of womanhood are not held in common by all women. Having the ability or desire to give birth are not what makes someone a woman, because many women and girls can't or don't want do that, due to health conditions, age, or personal choice. Looking like a woman in other people's judgment does not make someone a woman, because others can misjudge that, and there are women who look masculine, and other people who look feminine, whether by choice or by nature. Only identifying as a woman makes someone a woman. Any woman's womanhood is valid no matter what kind of body parts she has, or what gender she was [[assigned gender at birth|assigned at birth]]. Cisgender women, transgender women, and [[intersex]] women are equally women. Because gender isn't the same thing as [[sexual orientation]], women are still women whether they feel sexual attraction to men (heterosexual), or to women ([[lesbian]]), or to people of any gender ([[bisexual]] or [[pansexual]]), or none ([[asexual]]). | ||
In the Western colonialist [[gender binary]] system, "woman" is considered to be one of the only two genders that exist, one of the [[binary gender]]s. Throughout [[history of nonbinary gender|the history of the world]], there have been many people who do not identify with | In the Western colonialist [[gender binary]] system, "woman" is considered to be one of the only two genders that exist, one of the [[binary gender]]s. For all of written history, cultures all over the world have acknowledged people who were gender-variant or who transitioned to a different gender role than the one assigned to them at birth. Ancient cultures that thought of there being a specific number of genders did not always say there were just two. In ancient Egyptian writings, [[Gender-variant identities worldwide#Sekhet|woman was one of three genders]], and in classical Jewish literature, [[Gender-variant identities worldwide#The six genders in classical Judaism|woman was one of six genders]]. The gender binary is an artificial and relatively new concept to humanity. Gender is not inherently binary. Therefore, "woman" is not inherently a binary gender. Rather, "woman" is one of many genders that people have. Throughout [[history of nonbinary gender|the history of the world]], there have been many people who do not identify with being only female or male, who are therefore [[nonbinary]]. There are also people who identify partly as a woman, and yet do not feel they completely fit into that category, so they call themselves nonbinary women. Although the gender binary system is coercive and limiting, "woman" is a valid identity. Womanhood can be better understood as an identity in its own right, rather than as an opposite pole in a binary system.<ref name="labelle">Sophie Labelle. ''Assigned Male'' (political comic). February 6, 2019. https://assignedmale.tumblr.com/post/182605182667</ref> | ||
== Etymology and terminology == | == Etymology and terminology == | ||
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This comes from a set of symbols that were first used to denote the effective sex of plants (i.e. sex of individual in a given crossbreed, since most plants are hermaphroditic) by naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1751.<ref name= Stearn>{{cite journal|last=Stearn|first=William T.|s2cid=87030547|title=The Origin of the Male and Female Symbols of Biology|journal=Taxon|date=May 1962 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=109–113 |jstor=1217734 |doi=10.2307/1217734 |quote= The origin of these symbols has long been of interest to scholars. Probably none now accepts the interpretation of Scaliger that {{char|♂}} represents the shield and spear of Mars and {{char|♀}} Venus's looking glass.}}</ref> The male and female symbols are still used in scientific publications to indicate the sex of an individual, for example of a patient.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Zhigang |first=Zhigang |date=25 September 2009 |title=A HIV-1 heterosexual transmission chain in Guangzhou, China: a molecular epidemiological study |journal=Virology Journal |publisher=BioMed Central |volume=6 |issue=148 |pages=Figure 1 |doi=10.1186/1743-422X-6-148 |pmid=19778458 |pmc=2761389 |quote=(Mars male gender symbol) indicates male; (female Venus gender symbol) indicates female|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Joseph Justus Scaliger speculated that the male symbol is associated with the Mars, god of war because it resembles a shield and spear; and that the female symbol is associated with Venus, goddess of beauty because it resembles a bronze mirror with a handle.<ref>{{Citation|last=Taylor|first=Robert B.|chapter=Now and Future Tales|date=2016 |pages=293–310 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-319-29053-9 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-29055-3_12 |title=White Coat Tales}}</ref> Later scholars dismiss this as fanciful,<ref name=Stearn />The visual equivalent of a backronym, preferring "the conclusion of the French classical scholar Claude de Saumaise (Salmasius, 1588-1683) that these symbols [...] are derived from contractions in Greek script of the Greek names of the planets".<ref name=Stearn />''Thouros'' (Mars) was abbreviated as θρ, and ''Phosphoros'' (Venus) by Φ, in handwriting.<ref>H W Renkema, ''Oorsprong, beteekenis en toepassing van de in de botanie gebuikelijke teekens ter aanduiding van het geslacht en den levensduur'', in: Jeswiet J, ed., ''Gedenkboek J Valckenier Suringar. Wageningen: Nederlandsche Dendrologische Vereeniging'', 1942: 96-108.</ref><ref name=Stearn /> | This comes from a set of symbols that were first used to denote the effective sex of plants (i.e. sex of individual in a given crossbreed, since most plants are hermaphroditic) by naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1751.<ref name= Stearn>{{cite journal|last=Stearn|first=William T.|s2cid=87030547|title=The Origin of the Male and Female Symbols of Biology|journal=Taxon|date=May 1962 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=109–113 |jstor=1217734 |doi=10.2307/1217734 |quote= The origin of these symbols has long been of interest to scholars. Probably none now accepts the interpretation of Scaliger that {{char|♂}} represents the shield and spear of Mars and {{char|♀}} Venus's looking glass.}}</ref> The male and female symbols are still used in scientific publications to indicate the sex of an individual, for example of a patient.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Zhigang |first=Zhigang |date=25 September 2009 |title=A HIV-1 heterosexual transmission chain in Guangzhou, China: a molecular epidemiological study |journal=Virology Journal |publisher=BioMed Central |volume=6 |issue=148 |pages=Figure 1 |doi=10.1186/1743-422X-6-148 |pmid=19778458 |pmc=2761389 |quote=(Mars male gender symbol) indicates male; (female Venus gender symbol) indicates female|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Joseph Justus Scaliger speculated that the male symbol is associated with the Mars, god of war because it resembles a shield and spear; and that the female symbol is associated with Venus, goddess of beauty because it resembles a bronze mirror with a handle.<ref>{{Citation|last=Taylor|first=Robert B.|chapter=Now and Future Tales|date=2016 |pages=293–310 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-319-29053-9 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-29055-3_12 |title=White Coat Tales}}</ref> Later scholars dismiss this as fanciful,<ref name=Stearn />The visual equivalent of a backronym, preferring "the conclusion of the French classical scholar Claude de Saumaise (Salmasius, 1588-1683) that these symbols [...] are derived from contractions in Greek script of the Greek names of the planets".<ref name=Stearn />''Thouros'' (Mars) was abbreviated as θρ, and ''Phosphoros'' (Venus) by Φ, in handwriting.<ref>H W Renkema, ''Oorsprong, beteekenis en toepassing van de in de botanie gebuikelijke teekens ter aanduiding van het geslacht en den levensduur'', in: Jeswiet J, ed., ''Gedenkboek J Valckenier Suringar. Wageningen: Nederlandsche Dendrologische Vereeniging'', 1942: 96-108.</ref><ref name=Stearn /> | ||
{{Clear}} | |||
== Cisgender women == | == Cisgender women == | ||
Cisgender women are women who were assigned female at birth (or were born with certain [[intersex]] conditions), and who have a female gender identity. [[Cisgender]] (from Latin ''cis'' "same side of" + "gender", this word was "coined in 1995 by a transsexual man named Carl Buijs"<ref>Julia Serano, "Whipping Girl FAQ on cissexual, cisgender, and cis privilege." 2009-05-14. [http://juliaserano.blogspot.com/2011/08/whipping-girl-faq-on-cissexual.html]</ref>) means "not transgender," as they don't [[transition]] to female from some other gender. | Cisgender women are women who were assigned female at birth (or were born with certain [[intersex]] conditions), and who have a female gender identity. [[Cisgender]] (from Latin ''cis'' "same side of" + "gender", this word was "coined in 1995 by a transsexual man named Carl Buijs"<ref>Julia Serano, "Whipping Girl FAQ on cissexual, cisgender, and cis privilege." 2009-05-14. [http://juliaserano.blogspot.com/2011/08/whipping-girl-faq-on-cissexual.html]</ref>) means "not transgender," as they don't [[transition]] to female from some other gender. | ||
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== Transgender women == | == Transgender women == | ||
Transgender women are women who were assigned male at birth (or had certain intersex conditions), and who have a female gender identity. Like any women, they ask to be called by [[Pronouns#She|"she" pronouns]], and their sexual orientation can be lesbian, heterosexual, or otherwise. This is the male-to-female transgender spectrum. Older psychological and medical writings wrongly call trans women "male transsexuals" or "male transvestites", and call them by unwanted "he" pronouns. Trans women are women, not feminine men or [[sexual orientation|gay]] men. | Transgender women are women who were assigned male at birth (or had certain intersex conditions), and who have a female gender identity. Like any women, they ask to be called by [[Pronouns#She|"she" pronouns]], and their sexual orientation can be lesbian, heterosexual, or otherwise. This is the male-to-female transgender spectrum. Older psychological and medical writings wrongly call trans women "male transsexuals" or "male transvestites", and call them by unwanted "he" pronouns. Trans women are women, not feminine men or [[sexual orientation|gay]] men. | ||
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Some notable people who identify as nonbinary as well as a female, girl, or woman include: | Some notable people who identify as nonbinary as well as a female, girl, or woman include: | ||
* Musician and performance artist [[Arca]] (b. 1989) - nonbinary trans woman<ref name="Moen">{{Cite web |title=Arca: Embracing the Flux |last=Moen |first=Matt |work=PAPER |date=7 April 2020 |access-date=30 June 2020 |url= https://www.papermag.com/arca-transformation-2645630264.html}}</ref> | * Musician and performance artist [[Arca]] ([[she/her]] and [[it/its]],<ref name="Fallon">{{Cite web |title=Arca Is the Artist of the Decade |last=Fallon |first=Patric |work=Vice |date=8 November 2019 |access-date=30 June 2020 |url= https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/evj9k4/arca-is-the-artist-of-the-decade}}</ref> b. 1989) - nonbinary trans woman<ref name="Moen">{{Cite web |title=Arca: Embracing the Flux |last=Moen |first=Matt |work=PAPER |date=7 April 2020 |access-date=30 June 2020 |url= https://www.papermag.com/arca-transformation-2645630264.html}}</ref> | ||
* Playwright and rap artist [[Dev Blair]] (b. 1996) - nonbinary [[femme]] / nonbinary trans girl<ref>https://www.instagram.com/dev_blair/</ref> | * Playwright and rap artist [[Dev Blair]] ([[they/them]] or [[she/her]],<ref>https://devblair.com/about</ref> b. 1996) - nonbinary [[femme]] / nonbinary trans girl<ref>https://www.instagram.com/dev_blair/</ref> | ||
* | * Romance author [[Chelsea M. Cameron]] ([[she/her]] and [[they/them]]<ref>https://twitter.com/chel_c_cam</ref><ref>https://www.instagram.com/chelccam/</ref>) - demigirl<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Chelsea M. Cameron|user=chel_c_cam|number=862141410627256320|title=I've been: bisexual, gay, queer, queer/bisexual. I'm also still not super sure about my gender, but for now demigirl is how I identify.|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> | ||
* Comedian, writer, and nurse [[Kelli Dunham]] - [[genderqueer]] woman<ref name="Wood">{{Cite web |title=Q&A: Comedian Kelli Dunham on Storytelling as a Radical, Transformative Act |last=Wood |first=Erin |work=Ms. Magazine |date=15 May 2017 |access-date=3 June 2020 |url= https://msmagazine.com/2017/05/15/qa-comedian-kelli-dunham-storytelling-radicaltransformative-act/}}</ref>/nonbinary [[transmasc]] [[butch]]<ref name="Guerrero">{{Cite web |title=Genderqueer Comic Kelli Dunham On Getting (Thee) Away From a Nunnery |last=Guerrero |first=Desirée |work=The Advocate |date=21 April 2020 |access-date=3 June 2020 |url= https://www.advocate.com/comedy/2020/4/21/genderqueer-comic-kelli-dunham-getting-thee-away-nunnery}}</ref> | * Comedian, writer, and nurse [[Kelli Dunham]] - [[genderqueer]] woman<ref name="Wood">{{Cite web |title=Q&A: Comedian Kelli Dunham on Storytelling as a Radical, Transformative Act |last=Wood |first=Erin |work=Ms. Magazine |date=15 May 2017 |access-date=3 June 2020 |url= https://msmagazine.com/2017/05/15/qa-comedian-kelli-dunham-storytelling-radicaltransformative-act/}}</ref>/nonbinary [[transmasc]] [[butch]]<ref name="Guerrero">{{Cite web |title=Genderqueer Comic Kelli Dunham On Getting (Thee) Away From a Nunnery |last=Guerrero |first=Desirée |work=The Advocate |date=21 April 2020 |access-date=3 June 2020 |url= https://www.advocate.com/comedy/2020/4/21/genderqueer-comic-kelli-dunham-getting-thee-away-nunnery}}</ref> | ||
* Singer-songwriter and comedian [[Left at London]] (b. 1996) - nonbinary trans woman<ref>{{cite tweet|user=LeftAtLondon|number=1160277010813349888|date=August 10, 2019|title=Nonbinary trans woman to be specific}}</ref> | * Singer-songwriter and comedian [[Left at London]] ([she/her]],<ref>{{cite tweet|user=LeftAtLondon|number=1160275504760360960|date=August 10, 2019|title=IM NON-BINARY. BUT STILL REFER TO ME AS SHE/HER. (UNLESS U REFER TO EVERYBODY AS THEY/THEM. THEN IM FINE WITH THEY THEM PRONOUNS.) LOVE YOU GUYS}}</ref> b. 1996) - nonbinary trans woman<ref>{{cite tweet|user=LeftAtLondon|number=1160277010813349888|date=August 10, 2019|title=Nonbinary trans woman to be specific}}</ref> | ||
* Poet and 1992 US Presidential candidate [[Eileen Myles]] (b. 1949) - [[genderqueer]] [[dyke]]<ref name="gqd">{{cite tweet|title=@DeJesusSaves @rugamarspr plus as a gender queer dyke I am trans|date=February 24, 2016|user=EileenMyles|number=702569073884811264}}</ref> | * Poet and 1992 US Presidential candidate [[Eileen Myles]] ([[they/them]],<ref name="Wichtel">{{Cite web |title=How Eileen Myles won a battle for personal pronoun plurality |last=Wichtel |first=By Diana |work=Noted |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=15 May 2020 |url= https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/currently-profiles/eileen-myles-won-their-battle-for-personal-pronoun-plurality}}</ref> b. 1949) - [[genderqueer]] [[dyke]]<ref name="gqd">{{cite tweet|title=@DeJesusSaves @rugamarspr plus as a gender queer dyke I am trans|date=February 24, 2016|user=EileenMyles|number=702569073884811264}}</ref> | ||
* Cosmologist and science writer [[Chanda Prescod-Weinstein]] (b. 1982) - [[agender]] woman<ref>[https://twitter.com/IBJIYONGI/ Twitter bio], retrieved May 17, 2020</ref> | * Cosmologist and science writer [[Chanda Prescod-Weinstein]] ([[she/her]],<ref>[http://www.cprescodweinstein.com/ Website bio], retrieved May 17, 2020</ref> b. 1982) - [[agender]] woman<ref>[https://twitter.com/IBJIYONGI/ Twitter bio], retrieved May 17, 2020</ref> | ||
* Musician [[King Princess]] (b. 1998) - [[genderqueer]] person and [[gay]] woman<ref name="Menuez">{{Cite web |title=King Princess |last=Menuez |first=Bobbi |work=theingenuemagazine.com |date= |access-date=6 May 2020 |url= https://theingenuemagazine.com/king-princess/}}</ref> | * Musician [[King Princess]] ([[she/her]],<ref name="Menuez">{{Cite web |title=King Princess |last=Menuez |first=Bobbi |work=theingenuemagazine.com |date= |access-date=6 May 2020 |url= https://theingenuemagazine.com/king-princess/}}</ref> b. 1998) - [[genderqueer]] person and [[gay]] woman<ref name="Menuez">{{Cite web |title=King Princess |last=Menuez |first=Bobbi |work=theingenuemagazine.com |date= |access-date=6 May 2020 |url= https://theingenuemagazine.com/king-princess/}}</ref> | ||
* Model, actor, and TV presenter [[Ruby Rose]] (b. 1986) - [[genderfluid]] woman<ref name="Gomez">{{Cite web |title=Gender-fluid Ruby Rose opens up about the backlash she's received for identifying as a lesbian |trans-title= |last=Gomez |first=Patrick |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=5 June 2019 |access-date=27 May 2020 |url= https://ew.com/celebrity/paul-lynde-life-legacy/ }}</ref> | * Model, actor, and TV presenter [[Ruby Rose]] ([[she/her]],<ref name="Kellaway">{{Cite web |title=WATCH: Australian Model Ruby Rose Comes Out as Gender Fluid |last=Kellaway |first=Mitch |work=The Advocate |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=27 May 2020 |url= https://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2014/07/31/watch-australian-model-ruby-rose-comes-out-gender-fluid}}</ref> b. 1986) - [[genderfluid]] woman<ref name="Gomez">{{Cite web |title=Gender-fluid Ruby Rose opens up about the backlash she's received for identifying as a lesbian |trans-title= |last=Gomez |first=Patrick |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=5 June 2019 |access-date=27 May 2020 |url= https://ew.com/celebrity/paul-lynde-life-legacy/ }}</ref> | ||
* Science fiction author [[Rivers Solomon]] - nonbinary/agender woman<ref>https://www.riverssolomon.com/hireme</ref> | * Science fiction author [[Rivers Solomon]] ([[they/them]]) - nonbinary/agender woman<ref>https://www.riverssolomon.com/hireme</ref> | ||
* Writer and animation artist [[Rebecca Sugar]] (b. 1987) - nonbinary woman<ref name="fink">{{Cite web |title=The Mind Behind America’s Most Empathetic Cartoon |last1=Fink |first1=Kathryn |first2=Paige |last2=Osburn |work=1A |date=9 July 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020 |url= https://the1a.org/segments/2018-07-09-the-mind-behind-americas-most-empathetic-cartoon/ }}</ref><ref name="PulliamMoore">{{Cite web |title=Steven Universe's Rebecca Sugar on How She Expresses Her Identity Through the Non-binary Crystal Gems |last=Pulliam-Moore |first=Charles |work=io9 |date=16 July 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020 |url= https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universes-rebecca-sugar-on-how-she-expresses-her-1827624015?IR=T }}</ref> | * Writer and animation artist [[Rebecca Sugar]] ([[English neutral pronouns#She|she/her]] or [[singular they|they/them]],<ref>https://twitter.com/rebeccasugar?lang=en</ref> b. 1987) - nonbinary woman<ref name="fink">{{Cite web |title=The Mind Behind America’s Most Empathetic Cartoon |last1=Fink |first1=Kathryn |first2=Paige |last2=Osburn |work=1A |date=9 July 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020 |url= https://the1a.org/segments/2018-07-09-the-mind-behind-americas-most-empathetic-cartoon/ }}</ref><ref name="PulliamMoore">{{Cite web |title=Steven Universe's Rebecca Sugar on How She Expresses Her Identity Through the Non-binary Crystal Gems |last=Pulliam-Moore |first=Charles |work=io9 |date=16 July 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020 |url= https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-universes-rebecca-sugar-on-how-she-expresses-her-1827624015?IR=T }}</ref> | ||
* Actor and drag performer [[Kate Rose Wilburn]] - nonbinary transgender woman<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFCyEIgPFJ/ Instagram post], 5 June 2020</ref> | * Actor and drag performer [[Kate Rose Wilburn]] ([[they/them]]<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/katerosewilburn/ Instagram bio], retrieved 18 June 2020</ref>) - nonbinary transgender woman<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFCyEIgPFJ/ Instagram post], 5 June 2020</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||