Gender-Role Undifferentiated

I have started the gender-role undifferentiated movement. I suppose someone else has already started one. Since all I could find on Facebook was androgyny, I started a Gender-Role Undifferentiated Facebook group. I always thought I was somewhat androgynous with a female gender identity. However, during my Psychology of Adjustment course, I learned I was probably gender-role undifferentiated.

Androgynous persons score high on both traditional male and traditional female personality traits. Those persons who score low on both are gender-role undifferentiated. That would be me. I don't think I'm particularly good at either traditional male or traditional female things. My interests mainly include things that both genders would be interested in--walking, hiking, running, camping, lifting weights, growing vegetables, pets, various sports. I do like foreign languages, but many men also like them. I tend to get up in the morning and put on comfortable clothing that is neither masculine nor feminine. I don't wear much makeup and just let my hair grow as long as it will get. I feel uncomfortable being forced into either a male or female role.

I live with a male-to-female transsexual who is considered third gender in the Cherokee Nation but is permitted a female role in the tribe. One reason I'm glad this individual has chosen to join a tribe is that I felt some competition with her as to who was most feminine. I also felt pressured by her to learn male things. I do want to learn to do traditional male things, but at my own pace. Also, sometimes she looks down on me because I'm not good at traditional female things. She tends to treat me like I'm a deficient person because I'm not good at either traditional male or female things. It is hard to be respected as just a person who is good at some things and not so good at others. I am reclaiming my identity as gender-role undifferentiated. I'm proud of it!

Just to give you an idea of how my roommate can make me feel bad about myself--her clan grandmother is a married heterosexual female who is considered third gender in the Cherokee Nation. She is good at both male and female things--a good cook but also can fix things around the house. The things that I'm good at can't be sorted out into male and female gender as much, and it causes me to be looked down on.

Memorial Day, May 25, 2009

I walked the Grove Run Trail at Rector, PA in Linn Run State Park and Forbes State Forest on Saturday. This was my third time. This is a beautiful trail, and my favorite part of it is the last leg up to the summit. There are dramatic altitude changes on this trail, and I had my first ever experience of altitude sickness. This probably happened around 2,500 feet. Last July I hiked at Mt. Mitchell, NC, which is close to 7,000 feet and did not experience altitude sickness.

I decided not to descent at that point, because a ways up the summit there is a metal trail box with a trail log. I decided if I could make it to that point, I could log my real name, the date, and the symptoms I was experiencing. Then the ranger would have some place to start if I disappeared!

I was feeling better by the time I made it to the summit. I also encountered a large party of male and female hikers up at the summit, so I could have asked them for assistance. I descended on an easier trail, the Quarry Trail, and then turned back onto the last leg of the Grove Run Trail. Descending took care of the problem, and although there was a long hike back, I was fine.