How much as the environment influenced your views on gender and your own expression of gender?
I have been lucky to grow up in an accepting environment where the people around are accepting of the way I am. My extended family is extremely traditional, however, my parents do not believe in these stereotypes. Coming to UWC has broadened my view on how people express their gender, and how I myself express gender. Learning about people who are transgender, homosexual (etc) has helped me improve as a person, and I would never treat someone differently based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.
How important is your gender to your identity? Why?
Gender is important to my identity in the sense that it has changed the way I portray myself in certain situations. I am not always proud of it, but even today I stereotype certain traits of each gender. I do not believe that women are less capable of men, but I do believe that there are differences in physical capabilities between genders. I am aware that this is a controversial thought, and I am still learning and shaping my opinion on this issue.
How has it shaped other aspects of your life?
I think that being female has changed the way that I interact with my male and female friends respectively. For example, the way I physically show my affection to my female friends is different than the way I would to my male friends. Apart from this, there are no serious ways that being a girl has shaped my life.
What has influenced your perspectives about your gender?
My own grandparents treat my brother and I differently due to our gender, and this was something that really surprised me. Learning about women’s empowerment and taking part in activities which motivate girls to join STEM and other curriculum are things that I believe are very important. Watching the world around me and learning in an inclusive society has helped me form a strong opinion that girls are equally as important as boys.