Intersectionality is a term used highly and frequently, especially, when referring to feminism. This term includes sexuality, class, race, gender and even religion (Cohen, 2015). Being 2019, and gender being a term that can be heavily debated, the generic term for gender is referred to either of the two sexes (male or female), especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones. The term gender is also used more broadly to denote a range of identities that do not correspond to established ideas of male and female. Like it talks about in the articles, this term does not have to be agreed upon especially when talking about the transgender world. Many people commonly relate race and gender and this can cause many biased ideas to and against certain groups or individuals. Studies show that the trans view of gender and race can be related and linked to historic references and significances. As we all know, a transgender is an individual whom changes their gender after being assigned a specific gender at birth. Many stories and articles from and about transgenders show us that before they transitioned into their new gender, they felt trapped in their bodies from the gender they were assigned to at birth. Gender is something that we are all born with and assigned at birth but is something that could be changed in your lifetime. On the other hand, race is something that we are also all born with but is not something that you could change in an individuals life time.

As talked bout in the article about Rachel Dolezal, she identifies herself as a black female which automatically puts her at risk to be discriminated and criticized already. She goes to tell the article interviewer about how she gets racially profiled almost every day and gives us an example about how when going through security at an airport, she always gets pulled aside to get an extra screening or checked twice. Even though she was clean when walking through the metal detector, a TSA agent almost immediately pulls her to the side and checked her hair and the rest of there body.

Going back to talking about race and gender, gender is often assiciad with the physical characteristics of an indiviual. For example, if a girl has her hair cut very short into a pixie cut and wears longer or baggier shorts and a large t-shirt, people may confuse her as a male even though she is female (vise versa). This is a large factor in society as long with the skin color of an individual. The color of our skin can determine how were treated and fit into society. This is not a new issue developing in our world today, rather, it is an issue that has been around for hundreds of years. Something that surprised me and upset me was Freemans experiment. The study showed that white pepole are seen higher in status and society than back people are (Freeman, 2011). Each individual is unique in their own way and sadly people, especially, these days are very quick to judge just based on someones appearance or physical traits. If everyone looked alike and the same, this world would be a very boring place. That is, especially, the beauty of America. Anyone can be anything that they want and be free and have all of the same rights as other people do. There is too much stigma and visual cues that determine someones race and gender.

Growing up in the Chicago area (about 15 minutes outside of the city) and making frequent trips down to the city several times a week, I have grown up to learn about transgender and other forms of gender before most kids have. I have always had an open mindset to realize anyone can be anything they want in life even if that means completely changing their gender. I have only increased my knowledge even more by social media and the news about race and gender. Some of my friends are very narrow minded about the idea of transitioning genders. I try to educate them by telling them this is America in 2019 and it is not an uncommon thing to see. A persons body and the parts that they have does not identify their gender. What they are and feel the most comfortable in is considered their gender. People who are closed minded about this idea of gender and race are usually the ones who don’t pay attention to any stories or media.

Cohen, I. (2015). Watch Rachel Dolezal’s Long, Unbelievably Incoherent Interview with Melissa Harris-Perry. The National Review.

Freeman, J. B., Penner, A. M., Saperstein, A., Scheutz, M., & Ambady, N. (2011). Looking the Part: Social Status Cues Shape Race Perception. PLoS ONE.