Sex is Assigned, Gender is Limitless: Third Gender Identities Across Cultures
Location
Ponderosa Room D
Presentation Type
Presentation
Presentation Topic
Gender, Language, Culture, Mental Health
Start Date
3-3-2023 9:05 AM
Event Sort Order
09
Abstract
Sex and gender are often confused and used simultaneously. Gender goes beyond the sex we are assigned at birth, and identities not centered on the binary are known as third gender. In America we have a long list of terms we can use to define ourselves - it is even more interesting to look at gender identities around the world. I have researched seven different cultures and their native words for third genders such as Muxes and Hijras. My goal is to show the diversity in gender identities by broadening the scope outside of the U.S. I will be delving into the identities in Samoa, Indigenous tribes, Mexico, Madagascar, Albania, South Asia, and Indonesia. I will also discuss gender dysphoria and how it can impact gender identity and expression. As a future LPC, this research is helping to strengthen my cultural competency to be inclusive of other cultures without using my western lens to label them.
Sex is Assigned, Gender is Limitless: Third Gender Identities Across Cultures
Ponderosa Room D
Sex and gender are often confused and used simultaneously. Gender goes beyond the sex we are assigned at birth, and identities not centered on the binary are known as third gender. In America we have a long list of terms we can use to define ourselves - it is even more interesting to look at gender identities around the world. I have researched seven different cultures and their native words for third genders such as Muxes and Hijras. My goal is to show the diversity in gender identities by broadening the scope outside of the U.S. I will be delving into the identities in Samoa, Indigenous tribes, Mexico, Madagascar, Albania, South Asia, and Indonesia. I will also discuss gender dysphoria and how it can impact gender identity and expression. As a future LPC, this research is helping to strengthen my cultural competency to be inclusive of other cultures without using my western lens to label them.
Presenter Bio
AnaMarie Lopez, a Latinx scholar, uses all pronouns: she/he/they. They are a Counseling Psychology graduate student at the University of Central Oklahoma. They are also the Sexual Health Ambassador Internship Coordinator with the Women’s Research & BGLTQ+ Student Center at UCO. Their research has focused on Latinx mental health and third gender identities across various cultures. Their fun fact is that they have been accepted to three different international conferences: one in India, one in Prague, and one in Greece. AnaMarie is passionate about all things mental health and sexual health and wants to serve the Latinx and queer communities as a Licensed Professional Counselor.