calmeilles (imported) wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:32 pm
I didn't use the word "celebrate" or anything like it. I do know that it's not all roses: I have a Filipino (or should that be Filipina?) friend who complains bitterly that he can't get a "normal" job although what he does do, hostess manager of a Tokyo club, makes him wealthy by the standards of his peers.
The strong duality of male and female leaves us no place for the intermediate, indeterminate, eunuch or just plain contrary.
A strong duality does leave
and plain contary.
Having a strong exclusion category does anything for people who're outside the boundaries of what is considered normal might also leave place for people who dont belong to either major sides, but it does nothing to get them treated fairly. Fact is its fairer to have a strong duality, and then allow people to decide that they are neither or something else, than have a 3rd existing social category between the 2 that allows discrimination by giving "normal" people a place to dump the rest of us who aren't "normal" into.
You might not realise, but a strong duality is not the same as an exclusive duality. In an exclusive duality, there is no room for existance outside of that duality. In a strong duality, there is plenty of little niche spaces for people outside of the duality to fill themselves wherever they feel comfortable putting themselves. Imagine an exclusive duality as 2 halves of a circle, while a strong duality are 2 large ovals within a circle. In the latter there is plenty of space that is not defined, that allows scope for personal identification, while at the same time, ensuring that because a 3rd distinct category does not exist, the opportunities for discrimination is much smaller.
So I have to say that I strongly disagree with what you said. Maybe it was an exclusive duality you had in mind, but from comparing Asia and the West, I have to say that it is a strong duality that exists in the West, and not an exclusive one. Asia's system of having a 3rd distinct category does not elevate it above the West in terms of allowing for individuals who do not wish to belong to either, because it then forces the definition of the 3rd category on those individuals who might not agree with that definition either. For eg, in Thailand, the term ladyboy is widely applied to mean crossdressers, transsexuals and transvestites. I'm sure not every crossdresser, transsexual and transvestite feel like they should be identified under the "ladyboy" umbrella. I am sure that eunuchs would also get pushed under the ladyboy definition in thailand because its their "dustbin" for anyone who doesnt fit within the duality of male and female, and I can also say that a lot of eunuchs wouldnt be happy about being put into a 3rd category that they dont feel like they belong to.
In short, I will make a stand that a strong duality is actually the best system, because 1stly, as a species we HAVE a strong duality. The system of strong duality allows for people who have small variations from either dualities belong, while giving the freedom for people who choose to exist outside of those 2 dualities to do so. I've done a little diagram to illustrate the point. Hope it helps.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.p ... 165723.jpg