We are living in the 21^st century, my friends. That means we are a generation to stimulate change and to create all things possible. We have done so many great things already such as paving the way for gay marriage in many states, evolving the ideas of what feminism are, broadcasting social change through movements and social justice. Heck. We even had our first African American president! Things are looking up in the blue skies of America, right? Well, not momentarily. As you probably seen in news headlines and even heard in some of the political debates this year, gender identity is a prevailing, persistent issue. A lot of candidates and even ordinary people are bashing the action of gender identity and destroying any possible ounce of freedoms.

Gender identity is as a personal conception of oneself as male or female (or rarely, both or neither). This concept is intimately related to the concept of gender role, which is defined as the outward manifestations of personality that reflect the gender identity. (Thanks Google). So the argument that we are faced with is, why should we have gender identity and have the option for people to choose other gender such as male or female? A lot of people consider allowing another option is thought to demolish the idea of America and what is “normal”. These people like to stay in tradition and not branch out into changes with society. I’m sure a lot of you have also heard or read about the bathroom situations transgender people are facing today with fighting to be able to use the bathroom they identify with. This idea is shut down a lot due to the fact a lot of people are uncomfortable with the thought of a transgender using their facilities, and that they choose to identify as something other than what they were biologically born as.

But I strongly disagree with these opinions and reasoning. I feel gender identity is a strongly embedded term in the 21^st century and it holds importance to the change we are making with society and people. It connects us to the idea that we are a country of freedoms and open-mindedness. Sometimes, in such a stubborn headed country, we need to look back at what we are disagreeing with and see the benefits and the overall picture and take a walk in their shoes. People do not realize what people with gender identity issues go through. These people were born into a certain sex, biologically, but do not fit. Imagine you not feeling like you fit into society or even your own body! All they want is for an option and a chance to feel like belong in both aspects. Is it really so bad to have a person who is biologically male but mark down a female on his paper because that’s what he identifies and feels comfortable with? How is it honestly affecting us, or even negatively? I got an answer, it is not. So why control something or deface it because it might of personally agree with some people?If a female wants to wear clothes fit for a man because she feels it completes her personality and attitude so be it! It betters the society we live in and helps people find who they are and live it. So next time you see an option for male, female, and other, on a piece of paper, do not look at is as America going “backwards” or ruining it’s reputation. It serves us a chance, for people to fit where they belong or to create a new gender or identity. The other option also gives us a new opportunity to create what we feel fits to our personalities and persons. Overall gender is just a word, but the actions and the meaning and how we use it as a country speak volumes.