From the moment we take our first breath (and sometimes even before that, what with sonic imaging technology), the cry Its a boy or Its a girl ushers us into this world. As we grow into adulthood, everything about us grows and matures as we grow and mature. Everything except gender, that is. Were supposed to believe that our gender stays exactly the same as the day we were born. Our genders never shift, were told. The genders were assigned at birth lock us onto a course through which well be expected to become whole, well-rounded, creative, loving peoplebut only as men or as women. From where I stand, thats like taking a field of racehorses, hobbling the front legs of half of them and the rear legs of the other half, and expecting them to run a decent race: it doesnt work. Gender, this thing were all seemingly born with, is a major restraint to self-expression.That doesnt make sense to me. Why should we be born with such a hobble? Does that make sense to you?
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More quotes by Kate Bornstein, My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely

“We change our attitudes, our careers, our relationships. Even our age changes minute by minute. We change our politics, our moods, and our sexual preferences. We change our outlook, we change our m...”
— Kate Bornstein, My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely
gender performance performing-gender
View all quotes by Kate Bornstein, My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely →

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