Facebook's "new" 58 genders

[Kramodlog]

They aren't really new, but they are a new feature of FB.

I'm sort of ambivalent on those. The faux binary choice society imposes can marginalize some people. That is clear. In that optic I perfectly understand why a lot of people are happy that their gender is recognized somewhere (aside from Germany, but even that is very limited).

At the same time, if we want to move to a post-gender society, shouldn't be deal away with that sort of category altogether? Is this sort of recognition just a stepping stone toward post-gender?

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

The only gender I'm an expert on is my own but there does seem to be some synonyms in that list (and the story looks like it was taken from the Onion...)

AR

 

[EscherEnigma]

At the same time, if we want to move to a post-gender society [...]

That's an interesting assumption. While I'm sure some people would be happy with that and prefer to not identify as any gender, I think that's the minority view. That Facebook added so many is, if it's going to be taken as evidence of anything (a risky proposition), would probably support the reverse... people want more specificity in their gender identity, not less.

Regardless, this is a descriptive thing, not a prescriptive thing. That is, Facebook added more gender identities as a reflection of what people wanted, not to guide what people want.

 

[Kramodlog]

That's an interesting assumption.

I am interesting.

Regardless, this is a descriptive thing, not a prescriptive thing. That is, Facebook added more gender identities as a reflection of what people wanted, not to guide what people want.

By doing this, FB does reinforce a sentiment or idea that is already there in some people. Not sure why you use guide.

 

[EscherEnigma]

You're the one that suggested Facebook was involved in "moving" anyone anywhere. I am stating that is a curious assumption, that facebook is a reflection of the path we're on, not a window to the path of the future.

 

[delericho]

They aren't really new, but they are a new feature of FB.

I'm sort of ambivalent on those.

Seems a huge waste - not only have they gone to all the effort of supporting those 58 options, they've almost certainly left something out (certainly when the categories change, as they inevitably will). A better approach would have surely been "Female", "Male", "No Answer", or "Other" - with the last giving the user a box to write in whatever category they choose. And, likewise, the list of pronouns offered seems excessively limiting, especially given that people who don't use English as their first language vastly outnumber those who don't identify as either "Male" or "Female".

At the same time, if we want to move to a post-gender society...

We don't, so that's okay.

 

[kingius]

This is both DEScriptive and PREscriptive because culture is a gigantic feedback loop. If you think that there are no links between Facebook and the authorities (and the authorities and political agendas) then you are being incredible naive about the way the society that we live in actually works.

Facebook is being used here to pursue a liberal agenda that seeks to transform society and it will work. Those minority in a transgender or some other unusual category can now point to Facebook and say, if they can do it, so can you.

 

[Kramodlog]

You're the one that suggested Facebook was involved in "moving" anyone anywhere. I am stating that is a curious assumption, that facebook is a reflection of the path we're on, not a window to the path of the future.

I was talking about institutional recognition as a sign that the times might be a changing.

 

[Kramodlog]

This is both DEScriptive and PREscriptive because culture is a gigantic feedback loop. If you think that there are no links between Facebook and the authorities (and the authorities and political agendas) then you are being incredible naive about the way the society that we live in actually works.

Facebook is being used here to pursue a liberal agenda that seeks to transform society and it will work. Those minority in a transgender or some other unusual category can now point to Facebook and say, if they can do it, so can you.

What is wrong with wanting to transform society?

 

[kingius]

You read your own wrong doing into what I put, I did not state that there was any. I merely described what is happening and suggested why (i.e. politics are at work).