Questions — Sovereign Women Speak

SEX AND GENDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

These discussion questions were compiled over three years from women’s group discussions on FEMALE ERASURE. People recognize that this is a complicated subject and it is with the intent of safe open discussion that this list has been compiled. Add them to your discussion groups or conversations you have with friends and neighbors. Thank you to the editor and contributors to Female Erasure: What You Need to Know About Gender Politics’ War on Women, The Female Sex and Human Rights

1. What is Sex?

2. What is Gender?

3. Who decides the definitions of gender?

4. What is the difference between sex and gender?

5. What is the connection between sex and gender?

6. What does gender identity mean to you?

7. What does sex identity mean to you?

8. What is feminine?

9. What is masculine?

10. Do you think you can change your biological sex?

11. Do you think that a lifetime of societal experiences can be transferred by genital surgery?

12. Who decided which human traits should be assigned to a specific sex?

13. What are some gender characteristics you associate with sex? a. How do you value these characteristics? b. Who ranked them? c. Who gains from these rankings?

14. Who gains from adhering to gender norms?

15. What does feeling like a woman feel like to you?

16. How have you experienced oppression? How does /did that feel to you?

17. What is bio-phobia?

18. If you are not comfortable in your own body, why?

19. Why is your body your enemy?

20. What if you are perfect already?

21. What privilege do you think women (or men) have that you want/need?

22. Who is responsible for physical violence against trans people?

23. Where do you think that violence against transsexual people comes from?

24. What do you hope to get out of this? What is your motivation?

25. What if you were already perfect?

26. What does gender mean to you? (list labels; which do you identify with?)

27. Are gender and sex related?

28. How do gender stereotypes affect people’s behaviors or personal identity?

29. Are you comfortable in your own body? If not why is that?

30. If you want to wear dresses and earrings why can’t you?

31. How does the world need to change for you to feel comfortable expressing yourself?

32. Should the world have to change in order for you to feel comfortable expressing yourself?

(cont.)

p. 2 Sex & Gender Discussion Questions

33. How can we work together to create a world where all people (men & women) feel safe expressing who they are?

34. What is the connection between gender and patriarchy?

35. Why is it important for everybody to feel included

36. Have you experienced oppression as a ____________________________?

(Fill in the blank) How does/did that feel to you?

37. What are some gender characteristics/categories that you associate with this sex? How do you make or value these characteristics/categories? How did we learn these rankings? Who ranked/values/devalues these characteristics?

38. If gender is innate, then how do we explain indigenous cultures where there are multiple genders?

39. What do you need?

40. Do you think a person can change their biological sex?

41. How can we get rid of gender stereotypes without making our bodies invisible?

42. Can you visualize a sacred space where only man or women reside?

43. Why do you think women value sacred time together? What do you think they get from that experience?

44. How can transgendered people work to help support women and the oppression they have endured for centuries?