Trans* Competency

One thing I have learned in the past three weeks is that not many people are very educated on Trans* issues or even how to address a Trans* person.  I recently started a new job at Chipotle, which the job itself has been COMPLETELY amazing.  Majority of the people I actually work with are infact of the LGBTQ community.  If they are not part of it, they are normally on the "Allies" side of the spectrum themselves.  Sweethearts, they really are.
    Only, they really don't know how to address me as a person to be honest.  First off, they all assumed me Male.  Which, is quite alright with me (being the Gender-queer I am).  I am probably a good starting point for them as I do not get offended when I am mis-pronouned.  As I actually like to be called both.  Does not make me flinch. I am just really sad that I was not given "They" until they found what I wanted to go by.
    Sadly, we do not educate people in public school system on human decency it seems.  The ability to look at a person and not observe them to be nothing more than themselves, and have the kindness to not associate who they look like to who they actually are.  I wish I had more people approach me like a co-worker actually did and ask me "When it comes to Pronouns, which do you prefer?"  The single fact that this was an actual event in my life, gave me a single hope that in this day and age people actually have been learning how to be inclusive to those on the Trans* Spectrum.  Why in this 20th Century when Trans* Visibility is visible do we not include these people into basic human rights?
     I've been fighting for identity since I was 15, since then I have had to educate so many people on how to address a person.  As assuming pronouns is absolutely rude.  I mean, we are not that complicated as people.  Maybe a few extra issues that come with us, but for the most part.  I haven't seen much difference between a CIS-gendered person and a Trans* person.  It's quite hilarious how much people blow up gender identity when in retrospect.  It's a common feat we all go through Male or Female, CIS or Trans*.  Let's not forget to be people and work towards being inclusive for everyone in our lives.

Association of Another Notion

Honestly, answer this question and tell me that society does not have you brainwashed when it comes to gender:  What are appropriate colors for "Males" and "Females"?  It's quite an easy answer because the first thing majority of people will think of are "Blue" for "Males" and "Pink" for "Females".  Why?  Obviously it is because when a child is bore we decide that these are typical colors for them.  We rarely stray from this normative because we have been trained to accept these two colors are Gender Specific.  Odd thing about this is that we are very aware of Gender Neutral colors as most families who decide to not disclose the Gender of the child they are going to bare into this world; often will choose neutral colors.  These being Yellow, Purple, and Orange usually.  Though, we know how specific we can become when choosing the shade of these colors.  It's quite a hassle in someways, that is another story nonetheless.

    Now, take for a moment if you will.  What else in the world is Gender Specific in the sense that we associate one gender with this object or place?  I am sure we could sit here and devise list for specific objects and places but in general sense I am sure we can make enough of a dent to get the message across in this post.

    Let's start with the idea of "Male" and how we perceive it in society through association. What are the top three places you would say a "Man" would be? 

1. Hardware Store
2. Sports Complex
3. "Gentlemen's Club"

Now, in our day and age.  We accept that people are more diverse but in a sense we are sticklers for the age old "Truths". Those being that men are Strong, Brave, and Firm.  Who love Woman, Sports, and finally tools/working on cars/houses.  "Men" are known to be aggressive and know what they are looking for, take care of what business that needs to be attended too, and finally known for being the "Bread Winners" of the household they live in.  They love Sporting events, drinking beer with they fellow "Men", and even playing sports with their fellow "Men".  They tend to stay away from colors that are of the female spectrum and rarely like to do things of the nature their opposite gendered counterparts would like to do.

    That's a good lead into the next Gender we are going to associate with. Of course, you have seen the "Male" association offered up.  Now, it's time for "Females" have their stand in the light.  "Women" are suppose to be Caring, Clean, and Subtle.  In society, we like the "Damsel in Distress" to be associated with "Women" because of the fairy tales we grow up with.  This also leaves us with the notion that "Women" want to be saved, which means they also want to be the victim.  Now we all know that to be a enormous fallacy. We also like to associate the color Pink with "Females" as well.  "Women" are suppose to be the home makers, care takers of the family, and the person who attends social gathers.
    Surprisingly enough, "Men" and "Women" have closed the gap in many ways between their roles.  You have your "Mr. Moms" and your "Mrs. Dads".  Some "Men" stay home and tend to the house and the children, while, some "Women" go out and become the "Bread Winners" because they have the ability to make more money than their "Male" counterparts. I'm glad to see that people are being more diverse themselves and breaking from these norms in a more normative fashion.  Contradictory of the points I am bringing up, but makes for a good arguing point.  To bring the idea of gender non-conforming to light is quite an odd thing.  It's what makes us as a society freak out and go "What the..."  Which, when bringing visibility to the idea that Gender Identity and Gender Expression exist on a far bigger plane than we are use too.  That's something that gets the best of us.