Overview

Our human race is (fundamentally of course) made up of males and females. During the evolvement of our 'civilised culture', by the influence of governments, law, mental health, religion and powerful individuals, our societies have constructed very strict, dichotomous definitions of what constitutes 'male' and 'female'. As a result of this, males and females have been representations of the extreme ends of the scale, so to speak, while people who fall into the 'grey' area in between (representing natural diversity of sex and gender) have been left to 'fall through the cracks' and to very much fend for themselves in a sometimes cruel and very unforgiving society.

So much of our every day society evolves around what constitutes 'normal'. The definition of 'normal' men and women; normal male and female behaviour. Even 'normal' behaviour in general. As medical science has progressed, it started to play a significant role (and was thought to be conclusive) in setting points of reference in defining male and female, determined by what medicine might know at a particular time (and by legal and religious influences and constraints). As medical advances have been made, those definitions became more intricate in their biological structure, particularly as it pertains to sports. During this whole process, the natural diversity that exists amongst humans has somehow been forgotten or deliberately and/or conveniently, ignored.

Quite possibly one of the main reasons for this has been the pathologisation of atypical gender behaviour or expression, by the 'mental health' professions. If a person (particularly a child) is not seen to behave in a way to be inconsistent with their gender, they are considered to be suffering some sort of mental or phsycological disorder requiring urgent attention and treatment.

The reality is in fact that gender diversity exists only as a problem because of socially constructed stereotypes and the truth is that gender diversity/variance is simply an occurance of natural human form and behaviour. There is no illness. No condition. No dis-order. ...no psychological condition requiring treatment. In fact, many of the psychological issues that some people might suffer are quite possibly the influence of the pressures and anxiety induced by society through lack of acceptance an stigmatisation. Despite this, some psychological/psychiatric associations or departments have kept such conditions alive and have subjected people (including children and their parents) to horrendous and archaic forms of behaviour and aversion type therapies in attempts to 'cure' such conditions.

An excellent article highlighting these issues can be found here:

Brain, Child - the magazine for thinking mothers...
Written online article interview with Stephanie Wilkinson/Ken Zucker - Fall 2001
http://www.brainchildmag.com/essays/fall2001_wilkinson.htm