The John/Joan Story: Gender Identity

In our modern world gender is a major part of who we are and what we believe. But many times we often ask the question what is gender , what is sexuality and how is it different? Well in fact sexuality is apart of gender. Gender has 3 different types of biological sex, gender identity , and gender expression. Biological sex is what physical trait ( genital part ) you were born with , Gender identity is how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth. Gender expression is External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors
and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.(Campaign, 2018). Sexuality is which sex your are attracted to ( if your gay, straight , bisexual etc.,).
Recently I read a article about a boy who was born a boy but raised as a girl ( The John/Joan Story ). And this story made me question what gender really is. Gender is both socially ( nature) and biologically constructed , because you can never change how someone feels inside, your physical and social traits impact you and the instinct inside you overrides everything.When you grow up you automatically know if your a boy or a girl because someone tells you or there is some instinct inside of you telling you your that specific gender, An adequate example is the John/Joan story . John who was part of a horrible accident that made her genital part fall off causing her parents to make a desperate decision to turn her into a girl.But throughout John/Joan’s childhood she always knew who she was and what she wasn't going to be. “ It had to do with the realization that she made around the time of grade two that she was not and never would be no n matter what her parents , her doctor , her teacher or anyone else told her. ( John/Joan ,page 9, 2018 ) . “ During this part of the story John/Joan realized who she was inside
. As a society we form boys and girls and tell them who they are but when can never tell them how to feel inside only because you can never change that little instinct inside of them telling them that there not who your telling them they are. Joan always knew that to her she is not a girl nut a boy. “ all children form a sense of themselves whether there dressed in blue or pink. "page 9 . Despite the fact that Joan/John knew who she was inside and how she felt inside and only asked that she would be recognized for who she was on the inside and not what anyone was telling her she should be. That forever will override and substitute any biological and social gender construction.
In many scenarios your society is what makes most of our everyday decisions. But have you ever thought that those influences could also be impacted by your physical identity. In the story Joan/John struggled with emotional and physical traits. He/She was forced to be a girl on the outside ( society ) but her masculine ways ( physical or internal ) never denied her everyday decisions. “ I recognized Joan as my sister but she never acted the part.” ( page 14 , paragraph 4 2018 ) “ By then Joan knew there was something different about her. But she didn't know what . Your know generally what a girl is like , and you know generally what a guy is like. And everyone is telling you that you're a girl . But you say to yourself I don't feel like a girl. But i like to do guy stuff…. ( page 16, paragraph 4 , 2018 )” Joan/John dressed like a boy , acted like a boy , and felt like a boy. However she never hesitated to change her ways because of her physical determination ( to dress like a boy ) and her constant biological instinct telling her that she is not a girl. The John/Joan story show a unquestioned amount of interconnection of how social and biological forces impacted her then and in the future.
As a child Joan/John didn't want to wear dress or wear makeup , she played with her brothers toys used the bathroom standing up.
She conveyed all the basic masculine traits as a result of being who she wanted to be. “ It was shortly after her first birthday when Linda first put her in a dress….she was ripping at it and trying to tar it off. I remember thinking .. “ Oh my god she knows she’s a boy and doesn’t want to .. be a girl. ( page 13-14 , paragraph 6 and 1, 2018)” . even though her parents changed her sex never did Joan/John ever identify as one . Only because of that instinct telling her she is not a girl. Joan/John masculine urges always overthrew what anybody tried to tell him/her . “ Do you want to be a girl or not …. She raised her head and bellowed into her face “ NO” ( page 28 , paragraph 1-2 ,2018 ) . It what then after this that Joan/John parents finally told her that she was or is a boy and quoted form the story john was relieved it made sense to him why he felt the way he did . Why his masculine urges ( instinct ) over rode anything everyone was telling
him.
To close this discussion in conclusion Gender is both socially ( nature) and biologically constructed , because you can never change how someone feels inside, your physical and social traits impact you and the instinct inside you overrides everything. Gender may have 3 different meaning however gender is how you feel inside what makes you, you. Whatever gender you choose to be there is nothing wrong with that . Always remember nothing else matters expect how you feel about yourself on the inside and out.