—
We have a chance, every day, not to rob ourselves of joy.
When people focus on gender as something mandated and immutable, binary, specific, judged, they steal so much joy, not just from other people but from themselves, too. These Iconic cultural gender rules are things you can play with if you like them. Or they can put you in a box and oppress you.
Chivalry is a great example of that. It’s playing with standardized rules of gender. You can also, with the people around you, toss these away in favor of any kind of gender idealization without hurting anyone. To live in a world where gender only exists to give us something fun to play with is to use what we have to make joy.
This goes for so much in our life. We have a shiny bright line- consent. We know that we can play with any human state as long as we acknowledge and respect consent. We can not judge, we can build joy. We can reject cultural ideas about what’s proper, provided we do it consensually.
This is the promise of transhumanism. Its simplest representation—a piercing in an odd place, a tattoo of something that means something to you—is the first step into this place where we can customize our experience in the world and think beyond the stories that we’ve seen into new stories, ones that bring us more joy.
Like the teacher in grade school who refused to call you by a new name that we just came up with, there will always be people who want to invest their energy in standing in between people and their own joy.
Please, try not to be that teacher today, too hung up on how things have always been to see how things could be.
Let’s not rob each other of joy.
—
The Good Men Project #LoveEqually Sponsorship Program for Pride Month
We celebrate the full expression of gender and sexuality all year long. But for Pride Month, it will be front and center. #LoveEqually
More from GMP on LGBTQ Issues
—
What’s Next? Talk with others. Take action.
We are proud of our SOCIAL INTEREST GROUPS—WEEKLY PHONE CALLS to discuss, gain insights, build communities— and help solve some of the most difficult challenges the world has today. Calls are for Members Only (although you can join the first call for free). Not yet a member of The Good Men Project? Join below!
RSVP for Intersectionality Calls
—
Join the Conscious Intersectionality FACEBOOK GROUP here. Includes our new call series on Human Rights.
Join The Good Men Project Community
All levels get to view The Good Men Project site AD-FREE. The $50 Platinum Level is an ALL-ACCESS PASS—join as many groups and classes as you want for the entire year. The $25 Gold Level gives you access to any ONE Social Interest Group and ONE Class–and other benefits listed below the form. Or…for $12, join as a Bronze Member and support our mission, and have a great ad-free viewing experience.
Register New Account
Please note: If you are already a writer/contributor at The Good Men Project, log in here before registering. (Request a new password if needed).
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
—
Photo credit: Shutterstock