Deck 16: Trans Persons, Cisgender Persons, and Gender Identities

Question 1

One important claim in Christine Overall's discussion is that sex is part of our social identity. She also states that it's becoming an aspirational identity. Explain her reasoning for each of these claims. How might someone challenge them? If either one turned out to be Incorrect, do you think it would undermine her broader argument?

Answer 1

-Accurately summarize Overall's reasoning on both points.
-Offer some relevant, focused considerations that might plausibly be thought to tell against Overall's reasoning.
-Articulate a stance on the importance of these points to Overall's broader argument that's focused and appropriate given the assignment.
-Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for that position.

Question 2

Christine Overall denies that transgender and cisgender persons always or necessarily differ in the continuity or discontinuity of their gender aspirations. Does she provide adequate support for that claim? What about the more moderate claim that they might nevertheless usually or typically differ in their continuity or continuity?

Answer 2

-Articulate a position on the adequacy of Overall's support that's focused and appropriate given the assignment.
-Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for that position.
-Correctly identify and defend the argument's controversial premises using sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, appeals to reasonable principles, etc.
-Consider whether the same argument applies equally well to the more moderate claim.

Question 3

Suppose that Christine Overall's argument succeeds, and that she has shown that the gender identities of transgender and cisgender persons are not very different from each other. Does it follow, as she suggests, that cisgenderism is not the "default" condition? If not, what else would be needed to draw that further conclusion?

Answer 3

-Articulate a position on the relevance of Overall's argument to the question of whether cisgenderism is the "default" condition.
-Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for that position.
-Correctly identify and defend the argument's controversial premises using sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, appeals to reasonable principles, etc.
-If the essay argues that the argument supports denying the claim that cisgenderism is the default condition, then the essay should consider whether it's possible to add additional considerations that would support that conclusion.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a common assumption about sex or gender?

A) A person's sex is invariant
B) Gender is a constant
C) Gender and sex are congruent at birth
D) A person's gender is either male or female
E) Sex is a changeable trait

Question 5

Differences in men and women's typical dress are differences pertaining to ________:

A) Gender
B) Sex
C) Gender and sex
D) Neither gender nor sex
E) Sexual orientation

Question 6

A cisgender person is one whose present gender identity is typically deemed

A) Congruent with their birth sex
B) Incongruent with their birth sex
C) Incongruent with their birth gender
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an aspirational identity?

A) Being a male by gender
B) Being an artist
C) Being a good student
D) Being a biological parent
E) Being religious

Question 8

Overall points to cisgender persons' use of hormone replacement therapy as evidence that ________:

A) Their gender identity is aspirational
B) Their gender identity is not aspirational
C) Their gender identity is a socially constructed fiction
D) Their sex identity is a socially constructed fiction
E) None of the above

Question 9

Overall understands a(n) ________ as any instance where a person is censured for acting in a way typically viewed as inconsistent with their sex.

A) Constraint
B) Opportunity
C) Gender identity
D) Social identity
E) Aspirational identity

Question 10

Overall understands a(n) ________ as any instance where a person's gender enactment exceeds conventional norms for their gender.

A) Constraint
B) Opportunity
C) Gender identity
D) Social identity
E) Aspirational identity

Question 11

Overall understands a(n) ________ as any part of one's identity that requires active maintenance.

A) Constraint
B) Opportunity
C) Gender identty
D) Social identity
E) Aspirational identity

Question 12

Overall hopes that what will be the takeaway from her essay?

A) There aren't many significant similarities between the gender aspirations of trans and cisgendered persons
B) There are many resemblances between trans and cisgendered persons because of the nature of gender
C) There are no differences between trans and cisgendered persons because of the nature of gender
D) Cisgendered persons will have the tools to recognize how different they are than trans people
E) We should all work to abolish the categories "trans" and "cisgendered"