Gender and Transexuality

Gender is a construct of the culture that makes a distinction between men and women. The Compact Oxford Reference Dictionary defines gender as 'the state of being male or female(with reference to social or cultural differences).' Thus, it shows that more than biological aspects, it is the cultural aspect that defines a man or a woman. This fact has come to my focus after going through the traumatic experiences of some people who were confused in the gender divison of the society. The main troubles of those people who are biologically born boys are all related to cultural identities.. for example- they feel it very traumatic when they are not able to dress like a girl; painting the lips and nails crimson red is also one thing that they associate with womanhood.. those who are biologically born girls can do it but those who are boys can't. It is really surprising what great hold the culture has on our lives... a girl is not born with coloured lips and nails. She is not born with the dresses culturally provided to her. It is only a cultural burden that she bears... Simon de Beauvoir has rightly observed, "One is not born, but rather becomes a woman.... it is civilisation as a whole that produces this creature." This phenomenon completely invalidates the word transexuality. It is just the matter of choice.... what cultural role one wants to play...