Ledillman

I don't understand that. I don't know what gender is. Is it like personality? And what, you can't just be who you are and live happily unless there is a word for the kind of person you are? Just wear that pink skirt or whatever, go on the street and have fun. Is it so important to have a term? Why talk about this?

Sometimes in these threads I feel like noone understands what the hell is going on in the discussion, but everyone is too afraid to call it bullshit because they will look bad. I know that's probably not it and I simply can't understand it because I haven't experienced what these people are going through but yeah. I've never seen a good clear explanation of what gender is.

Well, your gender can be important if you want to take a leave of absence from work (maternity leave) because you have a new child but you were born a man but effectively now you are a mother. Works the same way if you were born female, decide you are a man, and request a leave of absence to care for a new child.

Hence, categories can be important because they specify what protections you have under the law and in the workplace.

TheCupboard said:

Well, your gender can be important if you want to take a leave of absence from work (maternity leave) because you have a new child but you were born a man but effectively now you are a mother. Works the same way if you were born female, decide you are a man, and request a leave of absence to care for a new child.

Hence, categories can be important because they specify what protections you have under the law and in the workplace.

I don't think a self-identifying woman is going to get into an emergency woman's shelter anytime soon.

I'm not entirely sure if you're trying to be facetious with your post, though.