Gender is a narrative

Interesting story in the NY Times today about sex researcher, J. Michael Bailey, and his study of transgendered women (people born biologically male who have sex changes to become female). In brief, Bailey argued in his book, The Man Who Would Be Queen, that some men choose sex reassignment surgery because of an erotic fascination with themselves as females. But this idea offends those who say they chose to become women because they were born the "wrong" gender, that they were essentially females trapped in male bodies. What ensued from the controversy were a series of ad hominem attacks against Bailey along with accusations of bigotry and scientific sloppiness. He was later cleared of any charges but his reputation remains bruised by the episode. Without delving into the details, what interested me most about this story is the way it outlines the tenacious grip people tend to have on their particular gender narrative.Of course it's not biologically possible to be born the "wrong" gender. Gender is a fluid construct of biology, psychology, and culture. Nevertheless being born the "wrong" gender is the way many transgendered people describe their experiences. It is their narrative. By swapping from male to female (or female to male) they can undo their personal "wrongness" while reinforcing the underlying philosophy that rigidly separates male from female, a philosophy they obviously embrace. A more expansive, creative concept of gender would undermine the whole process. I've often thought this when observing drag queens, who, in many ways, mimic the most regressive stereotypes of "femininity." Though their outward play of gender-swapping is indeed transgressive, one could argue that their adoption of stereotypical femininity is downright conservative. I'm not sure the Family Research Council would agree, however.All in all, I think the story perfectly exemplifies the combative bloodsport that gender has become in our society. We can't agree on what's "feminine" and "masculine," or even on what's "biological" and "cultural" but we never tire of clobbering each other with our definitions, whatever they may be. Wouldn't it be more fun if we treated gender as a game rather than a prison?