When we think about sex and gender, we often think there is a binary. Male versus female and man versus woman: These statuses are believed to be solid and immutable. People are assumed to be male or female, a gender assignment based on sex assignment. The social creation of the gender binary and the many different ways in which gender identity differs for each individual person are often overlooked when discussing these topics. Even LGBTQ people can sometimes have difficulty grasping the concept of identifying on a spectrum, not being able to be confined to a box. When someone doesn't fit the bill of identifying with the sex they were assigned at birth, many people in the LGBTQ community may automatically assume that person is transgender or identifies as the "opposite" gender. What is often overlooked is the idea that gender exists in continuity. There is a common misconception that the gender you identify with first is inherently your identity. What this fails to recognize is the fact that gender identity is a journey of self-discovery. Your gender identity is fluid and capable of changing throughout your life. What many people fail to understand is that gender identity is not black and white or one or the other; it is a spectrum, or perhaps even a kaleidoscope, in which each individual has different experiences, perceptions of themselves, and ways they want the world to see them, which can change over the course of a person's life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In Western society, it is taught that gender is intrinsically linked to biological sex. Newborns are classified at birth as male or female, depending on their genitalia. This binary concept fails to even acknowledge the existence of intersexuality, much less the distinction between sex and gender. Biological sex exists with an inexhaustible amount of possible variations. This in itself shows the faulty thinking that occurs with the idea of ​​binary sex. Beyond anatomy, there is also the construction of gender as binary, according to which there are only two possible genders. What this idea is missing is the idea that there are many different factors that play into gender. These include gender identity, gender expression, and biological sex. These ideas and more contribute to the creation and expression of an individual's gender. As a result, each individual has a different experience with gender and has a distinct gender identity. Gender is not set in stone and is certainly not dictated by biological sex. It exists along a spectrum, meaning there are an infinite number of possible identities. There are many ways an individual can identify, and these are not dictated by the binary given to us by society. Gender, and the expectation to conform to the gender binary, begins at birth. Society surrounds us with gender messages so daily that we usually fail to notice them. From the moment they are born, children are instilled with a set of gender expectations. These include the concept of being pink for girls and blue for boys, girls playing indoors and boys playing outside, and much more. In Nina Here Nor There, Nick's father expresses his desire to adhere to the gender expectations surrounding women. He regularly asks things like whether Nick will grow his hair or why he stopped wearing earrings. These little things create a much bigger picture than a gender binary, and become so normal to us that we fail to realize the harmfulness of trying toforcing people into boxes. The existence of gender and the gender binary also creates a certain privilege regarding gender. . Nick's friends talk about not wanting to be part of male privilege even as they express male identity. Gender creates privilege and male privilege is pervasive in our society. In the book there was often the question of the morality of moving on to men and leaving women behind to deal with male privilege. These characters seemed to realize that even if they don't identify as women, they can still support them and help dismantle this privilege. This privilege is created by the idea of ​​binary gender, and therefore the dominance of the male gender. Those considered to be the "opposite" gender are therefore considered inferior. Another type of privilege that was discussed was that of being able to "pass." Nick talks about the privilege he had when he was seen as a woman using the women's restroom. There were also instances where some of his transgender friends talked about being able to 'pass' as cisgender men, which Nick envied. Even the privilege of passing as one gender or another is something created by the gender binary. This privilege recognizes only two sexes as valid. Therefore, if a woman wears more masculine clothing, society generally assumes that she is attempting to give off the appearance of a man. This does not take into account that gender occurs along a spectrum and that people do not need to identify as man or woman. There are an infinite number of possible identities and they do not need to adhere to what society deems acceptable. There is a certain expansiveness to the genre that is often overlooked. Society dictates that we must be one or the other and immediately and constantly know what our gender is. Even sometimes in the LGBTQ community there is a failure to understand that gender can change throughout life and is not set in stone. As you grow and change, your relationship with your gender and identity can also change. As seen in Nina Here Nor There, Nick's relationship with his gender changes dramatically over the course of the book. She spent more than thirty years without questioning her existence as a woman and simply feeling uncomfortable in her body. Over the course of the book, as Nick learns more about gender fluidity, he is able to become comfortable with himself and realize his own identity. There was a moment when he talked about how he didn't always feel like he was a man, like some of his transgender friends did. After gaining more knowledge about gender, he was able to understand that he didn't need to have his gender set in stone. This goes to show how fluid gender can be and how it isn't always necessary to know exactly how to define your gender for someone. The most important part is being able to feel good about yourself. Nick's story also shows the importance of understanding that your relationship with gender can change throughout your life. Just because you identified yourself one way in the past doesn't mean that will be your identity forever. Like all things in life, gender identity is fluid and capable of transformation. Gender is broad and inexhaustible, something that grows with a person. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Gender exists in countless different forms and expressions. It is not something that can be dictated by society, but rather by personal identity and feeling. Gender can change throughout life, as often as necessary. There is no right way to “do gender”. We need to see gender not through a binary system, but.