“Social+Norms”+–+Are+They+Really+Normal?

Kara Matters  n8838984   Michelle Newcomb ** “Social Norms” – A r e T h e y R e a l l y N o r m a l ? ? ? ? ? **

This image depicts a myriad of examples of how non-binary transgender people may identify. It relates to the gender continuum, in which the scale ranges from 100% male to 100% female, and encompasses every possible combination of gender identification, including that of androgynous, in which a person identifies as neither male nor female. The male and female sex are shown as the man and woman symbols, whereas the pink and blue have been utilised to show how much each of the people may identify as feminine and or masculine, with the pink representing the feminine gender and the blue representing the masculine gender.
 * The Artifact **** … **

The purpose of this cultural artifact is to raise awareness of the public health issue of gender identity; as the majority of the population identifies as either male or female, social norms have thus been created around these ideals and discrimination has arisen against individuals who do not fit into these categories – that is, those who’s gender and sex do not conform unambiguously to conventional ideas of male or female gender. A number of health outcomes may result from this discrimination, including a range of mental health illnesses, such as depression and low self-esteem, as well as physical injuries sustained from discriminating parties against the transgender community.
 * The Public Health Issue **** … **

The importance of gender identity differs all around the world, as different cultures hold different views on gender roles and their significance. In the majority of societies, there is a continuous imposition and reinforcement of rigid gender norms, and male gender roles are often considered superior to that of females, and are consequently subject to many benefits throughout their lifetime, such as rights, power and access to resources; it is reasons such as these why many who are designated as male at birth may choose to maintain that status, regardless of their self identity, especially in cultures where if gender and sex do not align, the consequences could be life-threatening. It is important particularly in those whose gender and sex do not match up according to social norms, to feel not only accepting of all genders, but happy with the gender they identify as. Those who fall under this category and are in a position in which they and the people around them are taught to be unaccepting of the transgender community, rather than feel free to be open about who they are, are consequently likely to suffer a plethora of mental health illnesses, such as low self esteem, depression, and even suicidal ideations. However, when researching peer reviewed journal articles, it is a rarity to come across an article supporting transgender to be a normal development in those with the condition, if any at all, but rather there is a surplus of articles labeling it as a disorder (Cohen-Kettenis & Pfäfflin, 2010, p. 499-513). It has been deemed so as in all studies regarding gender identity, those with the disorder are compared to those who fit into social norms, or at least those who claim to (Zucker, 2006, p. 671-686). ‘Gender identity disorder’ is a rare occurrence in children and adolescents, but is much more common amongst the adult population. Altering the stereotypical perceptions of traditional gender roles in Australia is an important step towards reducing harm sustained both physically and mentally by all gender identities. However, it should be noted that while in many cultures males experience many privileges, they are often disregarded in the advancement and implementation of gender-focused programs; gender equality includes addressing the ways in which males too are underprivileged (Gilles, 2011, para. 3).
 * Literature Review **** … **

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has conducted a multitude of surveys to ascertain the number of Australian’s affected by mental health disorders; their findings show that this number is rapidly increasing, with the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing revealing that approximately 3.2 million Australians – 1 in 5 people, had experienced a mental health condition in the year leading up to the survey alone. A study was conducted by the same organisation in 2003 concerning the burden of disease and injury in Australia; this study revealed mental health to be the leading cause of disability in the country, accounting for almost one quarter of the total years lost due to disability. Whilst the data gathered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics provides an approximate number as to the amount of Australians burdened by mental health disorders, there are limitations in the approaches they utilise. The data the institution is able to gather on mental health is entirely up to each individual divulge their mental health status; this can cause inaccuracy in the data gathered for a multitude of reasons, such as the respondents may not be willing to provide honest, or even accurate, answers, as they may not feel comfortable giving answers which exhibit them in an unfavourable manner, as well as due to the possibility and frequency of mental health professionals misdiagnosing patients. Moreover, not every person is able to access mental health services to be diagnosed, whether due to financial or geographical barriers, such as rural and remote Australians. It is therefore difficult to both fully understand and properly redress the issues of mental health as there is no way of knowing whether the data is complete and therefore exact enough to exhibit an accurate representation of the mental health status of Australian citizens.

Self-acceptance is one of the most important determinants of good mental health, which is why it is so important for those of every gender identity to feel accepted by their peers and by society. Without this confidence, they are more susceptible to mental health problems such as low self-esteem and depression. If Australia is able to move beyond the acceptance of stereotypical genders and roles, the overall mental health status of Australia can be greatly improved; while preventing mental health illnesses associated with a transgender identity will not eliminate or prevent all mental health cases, it can greatly reduce the numbers, therefore decreasing the annual budget required to be spent each year to treat these cases. On the other hand however, the rise in the burden of disease and injury and the amount of mental health cases will continue to rise if no action is taken to counteract these trends. It is therefore vital to take steps to ensure that every member of society, no matter what gender identity they hold, is able to feel “normal”.

In the attempt to understand and redress this public health issue, it is vital to consider the parts society and culture play in openly expressed gender identity. Culture influences every aspect of a society, from politics, religion, media, economy, education and health care, to the social interaction amongst families, between social groups and even individuals. Because of these complex interactions, it is crucial to consider every aspect of a society when trying to rectify many issues, as each component affects every other component of the system in at least a small way (The Global Sociology Blog, 2010, para. 1). A number of people in a range of social groups are affected by the judgment and discrimination against transgendered people; however, those whose gender and sex do not align are most affected by this issue, as well as those close to them. This is particularly the case in those living in societies in which it is considered a crime to identify as transgender. Turkey is one of many countries which upholds strict traditional attitudes, which disadvantage transgender people; while it may not be illegal to be transgender, those who openly identify as such, or are even suspected to be, suffer much discrimination in not only social settings, but civl rights too. The general Turkish worldview held about transgenderism, like in many other places, is a result of their religious and cultural beliefs (Erdogan, 2012, p. 1).
 * Cultural And Social Analysis **** … **

The media’s portrayal of gender is often a very black and white concept, with the female sex shown as very feminist, and the male sex depicted as very masculine. However, while there are a number of groups in society, such as mass media, which hinder the progress of gender equality, there are a number of groups and organisations working towards this goal; the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media is a research-based organisation, which works within the entertainment and media industries to combat the portrayal of these stereotypes and to educate young children about these stereotypical “gender norms”, as well as the need for, and importance of, gender balance (Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, 2013, para. 1). The LGBT community also works to raise awareness and promote acceptance of different genders, regardless of sex. It is organisations like these that help us to move beyond gender stereotyping through educating future generations; however, much awareness must still be raised in order to overcome gender-based judgment and discrimination. Furthermore, the Australian government implemented the Workplace Gender Equality Act of 2012 to replace the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act of 1999, with the aim of equality for both females and males in the workplace.

It is crucial for current generations to acknowledge and accept every gender, as how we act now, affects how accommodating future generations will be about these issues; openly discussing the issues surrounding gender identity will educate current and future generations to achieve this objective. Although in the past decade laws have been implemented giving both rights and protection to transgendered people, there is still much progress to be made at both the national and personal levels – that is, how individuals treat others they know or suspect to be transgender (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2008).

This artifact is representative of the gender continuum and the transgender community, as it depicts a myriad of combinations of how much a person may identify as male, female, feminine and or masculine. It symbolizes that everyone is different without placing any negative stigma on that fact, which promotes both the acceptance of people identifying as transgender and the normality of it. The simplicity of the image allows for it to easily educate anyone who comes across it, and thus allowing it to achieve it’s purpose – promoting and supporting gender equality. Knowing many people associated with, and as a passionate supporter of the LGBT community myself, this image reflects my own values and beliefs about the difference between stereotypical social norms and what I consider to be actually normal, in that everyone is different and thus everyone is in fact normal. This worldview of acceptance of everyone, regardless of gender, fits in with my ideals, and I am glad to have been able to further my knowledge on a subject about which I am so passionate. Although I knew about the transgender community before commencing this assignment, it has helped to further my knowledge and deepen my understanding, through allowing me to consider the perspective and experiences of those who identify as neither male nor female, or a combination of the two. This assessment task has piqued my curiosity to further investigate this issue, including the steps being taken to counteract the stigma and other issues surrounding it, and to learn how I can become more involved in the process of equality for all genders.
 * Analysis Of The Artifact And Reflection **** … **

Hi Ferhat! This was a great read, I enjoyed it very much. I love that you were able to keep it both informative and interesting at the same time. It sounds like a topic you are very passionate about and your use of so many statistics really made your point come across about how the massive gap is between the health of indigenous Australians and non-indigenous Australians. You came up with a very clever title and chose a good artifact for your wiki – it represents your issue well. In addition to stating just stating figures, it was useful that you put in a graph so that I was able to visualize how poor indigenous health truly is in comparison to that of non-indigenous Australians. You’ve put together a good page! http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/Close+The+Gap%2C+A+Campaign+200+Years+Late
 * Reflections **** … **
 * Close The Gap, A Campaign 200 Years Late **

Hi Harrison! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article! You wrote about a topic that I am very interested in and passionate about and you really helped to expand my knowledge and understanding on this topic. You incorporated figures in well, demonstrating the health gaps between males and females, with a particular focus on males having much poorer health outcomes than females, which I found very interesting as I have previously studied this topic. It’s good that you focused on the leading causes of death as it helped to outline the major issues those identifying as male face. Your use of rhetorical questioning is very effective and your artifact is very well chosen and overall this is a very good page! http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/Are+You+Normal%3F
 * Are You Normal? **

Australian Human Rights Commission, Office of the Human Rights and LGBTI People Commissioner. (2008). Gay, //Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex People.// Retrieved from []
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Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2013). //Mental Health (Statistical Division).// Retrieved from []

Cohen-Kettenis, P.T. & Pfäfflin, F. (2010). The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents and Adults. //Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 39(2)//, 499-513. doi: 10.1007/s10508-009-9562-y

Erdogan, O. (2012). //The Tragedy of a Transgender Identity in Turkey: Taking a Step, Progress, and Struggling to Live Under the Influence of Society.// Retrieved from [|http://books.google.com.au/books?id=bK4uHySJlPIC&pg=PP2&lpg=PP2&dq=Influence+of+society+on+transgenders&source=bl&ots=Pn-YlUTT9i&sig=MnprQ5Us3P56sDgNLr2V3qvdJ7o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-a90UsS1NYfOkwWPxoEw&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Influence%20of%20society%20on%20transgenders&f=false]

Foels, R. (2013). Gender is a flexible form of identity. //Intergroup Relations.// Retrieved from []

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. (2013). Improving gender portrayals in children’s media. Retrieved from []

Gilles, K. (2011). What is gender? And why is it important? Retrieved from []

The Global Sociology Blog (2010). Why is it so important to know how society affects us? Retrieved from []

Wikimedia. (2013). LGBT flag map of Australia. //Wikimedia Commons.// Retrieved from

Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 ( Clth ). Retrieved from []

Zucker, K.J. (2006). Gender Identity Disorder. //Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology, 8,// 671-686. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4615-4163-9_36