Defining Gender According to Trump
By EMMA BRADLEY ’20
One of the many things that Milton has taught me time and time again—as it should—is that the bounds of gender stretch far beyond biological parts. I’ve learned that gender is not limited to male and female, but that it is instead a spectrum. I’ve learned that gender extends beyond medicine, and includes both a cultural and social aspect in its definition. These gender concepts are necessary for people at Milton to learn in order to ensure that everyone’s unique gender identity is accounted for. However, the Trump administration’s newly proposed gender definition accomplishes none of these goals, and has caused a large outcry, mainly among the transgender community.
According to the New York Times, after the Department of Health and Human Services wanted “to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX,” the Trump administration hoped to adopt a definition based “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” So, what exactly does this definition mean? The proposal entails that gender will be based solely on a person’s biological sex; however, we understand that sex and gender exist on two entirely different, but related, spectrums. While sex refers to a person’s biological makeup, gender identity refers to someone’s inner feeling of oneself. Someone can be a biological male, but identify as a different gender— this person would identify as “transgender.” The problem with Trump’s proposed definition of gender is that it does not distinguish between sex and gender, and thus leaves transgender people outside of its definition. For example, transgender women with male sex organs, according to Trump’s definition of gender, would be considered men, despite identifying as women. This new definition can only take a psychological toll on the transgender community.
The transgender community’s fear has been expressed through the hashtag, #WontBeErased on social media. Since these new laws provide no legal protection for the transgender community, individuals have been speaking out against the policies. I believe that this definition is a step backwards for equality. Where the Obama administration opened up the conversation on gender in federal programs, the Trump administration aims to abolish legal rights of trans people. The hard work that was done to further the conversations on gender and sexuality is now being undone. For example, according to the New York Times, “Several agencies have withdrawn Obama-era policies that recognized gender identity in schools, prisons and homeless shelters.” At Milton, we know how important recognizing non cisgendered people is through having non-gendered bathrooms. Imagine how excluded and forgotten people of our own community— friends, teachers, peers, and more—would feel if Trump’s definition on gender was passed. Thus, it is necessary that individuals, particularly those affected by these laws, speak out to prevent this setback from occuring. •
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/us/politics/transgender-trump-administration-sex-definition.html