A Degendered Society… Degendered, the very word paints a picture in my mind of being neutered or

spaded! Personally I’d rather not be subjected to being neutered anytime in the near future and I am
quite certain that Kimmel was getting to that very same point. Like Kimmel notes, “it is gender inequality
that produces the differences we do observe.” That essentially sums up the main focus of Kimmel’s
piece. Kimmel’s argument to the statement “degendering reduces gender inequality by eliminating
gender differences,” is that only through the elimination of gender inequality that gender differences be
reduced, not the other way around. Kimmel states, “Only by eliminating inequality will difference
recede until the variations among us… will prove largely epiphenomenal.” I couldn’t agree more, a
degendered society would only result in an androgynous society and can’t think of anyone, either
extremely masculine, extremely feminine or anywhere in between, that would be willing to lose their
gender identity. I consider myself to be a feminist, but that in no way means I’m willing to give up how I
identify with my gender. Kimmel states it well in saying, “Just as we know sameness doesn’t
automatically lead to equality, so, too, is difference incompatible with it.” We SHOULD expect to all be
different, to bring unique qualities to the table, but this does not null and void that a need for
elimination of inequality is critical to that success. Kimmel also ads, “a significant gender convergence
taking place” and I see it too. Even though we still have a long way to go in eliminating gender, racial
and soci-economic inequalities, we have come a long way. My favorite statement in this reading has to
be at the end, when Kimmel’s son Zachary is asked by his grandmother, “Zachary, what’s the opposite of
boy?” and the answer he provided, “Man” which made me feel there is more hope for the future than
despair. What an interesting view point, so see the opposite of a ‘child’ as an adult, as opposed to the
opposite being the alternative biological sex. The girl that wrote the Picasso-like drawings that stated,
“Girls don’t have to fight over boys” and “Boys don’t have to fight.” “Girls don’t have to wear makeup.”
“Boys don’t’ have to be mean.” “Girls don’t have to do all the cooking.” “Boys don’t have to go in the
garage.”, also had a very moving effect on me. This child creates a glimmer of hope in a formerly dark
world.

As far as what I’ve gotten out of this class, even though I’ve been aware of gender inequality most of my
life and have taken an active stance against it, I would have to say, additional ammunition to continue
that fight against inequality, discrimination and injustice. I can’t help but think that every one of us,
even those of us formerly with blinders on, has been given the tools necessary to not only recognize
these injustices, but do something about them, to take a stand against them, to make the world we give
our children, a better place.