You’re thinking in the right direction, but you’re not quite there. Yes, gender gets assigned at birth as your biological phenotype (because the overwhelming majority of humans identify as cis gender). Humans become individuals and eventually realize that maybe their assigned gender does not fit them. At this point it becomes their own choice and it overrides any gender assignment given at birth. Depending on the individual, gender changes from something that’s assigned to something you assign yourself.
Yes, genders are tentatively assigned at birth because most languages are based on gendered pronouns and gendered words. So we need a gender to refer to this new person, and we can’t ask babies for their input.
But that’s not different than a father saying his baby will like sports. Or, in my case, saying your baby will grow up to play Magic The Gathering with you.
Because when they’re old enough to decide for themselves, they can change whatever temporary labels you attached to them. And they can say they don’t like Magic. Gender. I meant gender.
At this point it becomes their own choice and it overrides any gender assignment given at birth.
That’s not true. Your gender assignment is defined by how others treat you, how they interact with you, and that’s not completely under the individual’s control. You can’t choose how other people view you, at least not entirely.
You’re thinking in the right direction, but you’re not quite there. Yes, gender gets assigned at birth as your biological phenotype (because the overwhelming majority of humans identify as cis gender). Humans become individuals and eventually realize that maybe their assigned gender does not fit them. At this point it becomes their own choice and it overrides any gender assignment given at birth. Depending on the individual, gender changes from something that’s assigned to something you assign yourself.
Yes, genders are tentatively assigned at birth because most languages are based on gendered pronouns and gendered words. So we need a gender to refer to this new person, and we can’t ask babies for their input.
But that’s not different than a father saying his baby will like sports. Or, in my case, saying your baby will grow up to play Magic The Gathering with you.
Because when they’re old enough to decide for themselves, they can change whatever temporary labels you attached to them. And they can say they don’t like Magic. Gender. I meant gender.
That’s not true. Your gender assignment is defined by how others treat you, how they interact with you, and that’s not completely under the individual’s control. You can’t choose how other people view you, at least not entirely.