The fluidity of sexuality is something that is controversial in modern society. Theoretically, we portray ourselves as open, and with postmodernity comes a sense of liberation surrounding sex and sexuality. Moore (2013) sees Gender as just a performance, a social construct, though she questions why we are compelled to repeat the same performance over and over. This culminates through viewing the way in which western political groups have shaped educational policies and schooling systems when considering students sexuality and choice.
There seems to be this obsession with secondary sexual characteristics, these so called idealistic acts performed by particular genders. For instance, a woman goes to the toilet seated and often has a preoccupation with their physical appearance whilst a male is portrayed as rugged and with a preoccupation on facial hair. These stereotypes are propagated from a young age and often reinforced in formal educational environments. it is little wonder that those who have sex changes, or transition as it is now called, have so much emphasis placed on these particular aspects of their own identity with sexuality. Moore (2013) sees this reinforcing of stereotype through people who identify as trans gender automatically remove the fluidity of gender. In this regard I disagree, as isn't it the choice to reflect particular genders in whichever way is available a further step into accepting the inevitable opportunity to accept or reject gender classifications at will.
This is, however, at its roots deeply controversial. The issues arise when looking at the use of gender politics, and their impact on the educational environment. Children are raised in an environment that has a deeply complex and hidden web of hatred entwined with its practices. The lack of fluidity in identity is seen in every aspect of the educational system, from the sexualisation of school uniform to the concepts embedded in educational programs, including a lack of curriculum coverage on fluid sexuality. Moore calls into question the use of intersectionality as a new buzz word. The refusal for feminist politics, identity politics, and sexuality politics to engage with many other political discourses allows for the hierarchy of oppression to continue.
Harper (2011, pp. 104-113) conducted a study into identity and intersectionality within students, and concluded with a call for a more fluid, dynamic and multidimensional perspective into how we classify race and sexuality. In this regard I call to attention a man who has challenged modernist conceptualisations of sexuality, and managed to show the fluidity it can entail over the span of forty years. David Bowie has often used music and popular culture to challenge and provoke thoughts, although he never wanted to be the man who stands as a flag waver for particular causes. His androgynous appearance in the seventies took the international world aback, and his fluid understanding of his own sexuality and the experimentation he conducted into matters of sexuality emphasises the multidimensional nature of gender and sexuality. The study into intersectionality and the freedom of sexual choice ultimately culminates with the concept, what are we doing with it? We need to look at the dialogue between racialised, ethnicised, sexualised and religionised humans living in different parts of the world and understand that despite all these differences there is an undercurrent of exploitation and degradation as a result of transgender choices. We need to look at our politics, responsibilities and ethics, and ultimately consider why these choices are so widely controversial and disagreed with (Brah, Phoenix, 2004, pp. 83-4). Why does our educational system cripple the freedom of choice within sexuality?
In the words of RuPaul: ''Honey, we are born naked, the rest is drag.''
References:
Brah, Avtar and Phoenix, Ann (2004). Ain't I am woman? Revisting Intersectionality. Journal of International Women's Studies, 5(3), 75-86
Harper, C. E. (2011), Identity, intersectionality, and mixed-methods approaches. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2011: 103–115. doi: 10.1002/ir.402
Moore, Suzanne. "Bending gender rules for solidarity." Canberra Times - For local Canberra News, World News & Breaking News in ACT, Australia. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2013. <http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/bending-gender-rules-for-solidarity-20130110-2cinl.html>.
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