Congress Paper Abstract

A world without gender

Christie Elan-Cane 

From a position outside the bi-polarised gender system I am forced to challenge a system that excludes me.

Why is gender ingrained into the way society operates and why are there only two genders (based on the physicality of the body) that have social validity?

Society is run on a basis that there is a strict division between the roles of male and female, but why did the divisive gender system evolve through the physical differences between the sexes? Why are individuals who are sexually ambiguous at birth given non-consensual treatment to "make" them either male or female?

At present one has to declare whether one is male or female to gain access to all vital services. The inability to do so excludes the individual on a scale unimaginable to any other minority suffering discrimination in the ’democratic’ world. It is fear of this social exclusion that makes the individual unable to challenge the bi-polarised gender system.

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