Your Own Voice: Gender, Experience & Perspective

The second of a two-part series and the final episode of Your Own Voice: Gender, Experience & Perspective Podcast. This episode features Gabrielle (she/her), who identifies as a cisgender white woman, and her journey of being an expectant mother during the pandemic. Gabrielle’s story is an example of what happens when life turns on a dime, and coping with sudden and unexpected change. 

The first of a two-part series, reflections from women around the world about their experiences being a working mother under lockdown during the pandemic.  As one woman told me, “We are all under the same storm but in different boats”, and there is value in taking a snapshot of this moment in time, to hear other people’s experiences and perspectives as we all navigate this new world.  

Lynda identifies as female, and as a mom, a teacher and a musician (pronouns: she/her). Among other things, Lynda shared the journey of coming to accept and support her child, who identifies as non-binary.

Maddie identifies as non-binary and gender fluid (pronouns: they/them).  Maddie shared about coming out, and the feelings that led them to embrace their identity and use they/them pronouns.  Maddie also discussed what it means to be marginalized, and the dynamics that can exist between people from different marginalized groups.  Maddie is a professional musician and touched upon the challenges of navigating gender in the music biz.

Soraya identifies as a cisgender, multiethnic woman (pronouns: she/her). Soraya talked about navigating gender as a writer and an activist, and shared ways people can protect themselves online. Among other things, we discussed the pushback that can occur when women tell their #MeToo stories, and constructive ways to channel anger towards creativity and connection.  

A new feature from the 'Your Own Voice: Gender Experience & Perspective' Podcast, Gender Lens Reviews look a popular movies and TV shows from a gender perspective.  This episode features a review of Schitt's Creek. I love this show, both for the beautiful way it handles gender, sexuality and love...and because it is just plain funny!    

V identifies as a black woman, a student and a creative (pronouns: she/her).  V shared about dealing with the ‘angry black woman’ stereotype, and pushing back against the expectation to minimize her presence in the world.  As someone who works in human resources, V also talked about navigating gender and race in the workplace, and ways everyone can contribute to ending violence against women.  

Elle identifies as an activist, a feminist, a woman, and an Arab Lebanese-American (pronouns: she/her).  This interview took place a few days before Super Tuesday 2020 and we got political;  covering topics from women running for office and gender in politics, to women working on the front line of immigration reform. Elle also talked about the importance of ‘building your tribe’ and being in community.

Sofia identifies as an American woman of South Asian heritage, as a child of immigrants, and in lighter situations as a ‘brown woman’. Sofia uses she/her pronouns . Among other things we discussed dealing with anger and gender inequality, being a women in comedy, navigating fear of failure, and what it means to celebrate women and girls. 

Camille identifies as a woman and uses she/her pronouns.  She discussed growing up as a woman of color in the deep south under ‘Jim Crow’ law, and dealing with gender and race.  Camille also touched upon the challenges of ageism, and navigating gender, race and age.

John identifies as a straight white man, and has no preferred pronouns.  Among other things we talked about gender and privilege, gender and race, and how gender dynamics can impact self-confidence. 

The second of a two-part series exploring things that people in the US can do to make a change around gender.  Responses ranged from the use of terms and language, engaging in advocacy, getting outside of our bubbles, calling out harmful myths, and talking about things that make us uncomfortable. 

The first of a two-part series exploring things that people in the US can do to make a change around gender.  Responses ranged from easy steps and simple actions, to deeper ways of engaging with people and the world. 

The second of a two-part series, sharing responses to the question, “What do you think is possible today, given the current conversation around gender, that wasn’t possible a few years ago?”  In Part II we hear personal stories about new possibilities that span the gender spectrum. In particular, how differently this upcoming generation approaches gender roles, identity, orientation and expression.   

After six months of one-on-one interviews, I’m taking a step back and sharing responses to the question “What do you think is possible in the current conversation about gender that was not possible even a few years ago?” Possibilities Part I explores accountability and awareness in the post #MeToo era.  The next episode, Part II, will explore issues related to gender identity, expression, and orientation and the many generational changes underway. 

Liz identifies as a female Asian American, and a Chinese American Hapa (pronouns: she/her).  Among other things we talked about gender and body image, gender and body shaming, and how race can play into this dynamic. 

Chris identifies as a hybrid, third-culture kid, and prefers the pronouns he and them.  Among other things, Chris talked about the challenges and joys of transitioning, and how it feels to be in between genders.  Chris also spoke about the creative potential that can benefit everyone, when people have the space to be who they truly are.

Rachel identifies as a gay, ethnically ambiguous, female naval officer (pronouns: she/her/hers). Among other things, we discussed being a woman in the Navy/military, and how gender stereotypes can impact sailors and veterans alike. 

Quinn identifies as queer, non-binary, and a work in progress.  Quinn prefers they/them pronouns.  Quinn comes from rural Iowa and perceives gender as a culture.  Among other things, we discussed non-binary gender identity and the meaning of they/them pronouns.

Mary Kathryn (MK) identifies as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, an attorney and a playwright; and prefers the pronouns she and her.  MK comes from a lineage of Cherokee Nation citizens who fought to protect women’s rights in the time of the ‘Trail of Tears.’ Through her work as an attorney and a playwright she advocates for the rights of women, children, and Native Americans. As part of our conversation we talked about concrete actions people in the US can take to advocate and project women and children.   

Sam identifies as a born-again feminist, and prefers the pronouns she and her.  Sam is a graduate of West Point and a former engineer, who now works on elevating women in Peace & Security issues around the world. She has terrific insights from working in male-dominated environments, and about things that anyone can do to be an ally anywhere. 

Mercedes identifies as a cisgender Latina woman, and prefers the pronouns she and her.  She has dedicated much of her life to working on Violence Against Women in the US and overseas.  Mercedes shared her deep experience navigating issues of gender and race, dealing with machismo, and the importance of the #UsToo movement. 

Kim identifies as Me, Myself and I, and prefers the pronouns she, her and hers.  Kim grew up in a working-class neighborhood in the Rust Belt, a place where ‘everybody worked’.  She had terrific insights about gender and socio-economic class, and how financial security can impact the choices women make.

Kat identifies primarily as a Persian woman, and easily finds ways to identity with other people she meets. Kat prefers the pronouns she and her.  Kat is an immigrant and a self-described ‘born-again’ American. She has devoted her life to fighting for equal opportunity and human rights for all.  Among other things, Kat discussed raising a teenage son the in #MeToo era, and the importance of confronting sexism (and other ‘-isms’) in a way that meets people where they are.

Matt identifies as a cisgender gay male and prefers the pronouns he and him. Matt grew up in the mid-west during the Mathew Shepard era and navigated being gay and coming out in this environment.  He has fascinating insights about being a gay man in the work place, and the challenges facing the LGBTQIA community today.    

Sandi identifies as a Christian, a woman, a millennial, an African, and an American; and prefers the pronouns she and her.  Sandi talks about how her faith, her family, and being a woman of color impacts the way she views and engages on gender issues. We discussed ‘Sacred Activism’ and how to advocate for change in a way that includes rather than divides.

Episode Seven: Barbara.  Barbara identifies as a female service member transitioning to civilian life, and an empty nester; and prefers the pronouns she and her. Barbara grew up out West and joined the Air Force to serve her country and seek opportunity.  As an enlisted woman who rose up the ranks to become an officer, Barbara has great insight into what has changed for women in the military over the past three decades, and what still needs to be done.

Tracy identifies as a black woman and prefers the pronouns she and her. Tracy is a physician and we discussed navigating medical school and the medical field from the lens of both gender and race.  We also talked about the challenges that can arise, and how to adapt, when a family member changes their gender identity.

Episode Five: Martina resonates most closely with the identity of a cisgender bisexual woman and prefers the pronoun she and her. As a child Martina loved sciences and math and became a nuclear engineer (one of a few women in this field at MIT at the time), but later in life changed her career to the healing arts.  We had a fascinating discussion about gender in the workplace in both male-dominated and female-dominated environments. 

Ziv identifies as a cisgender heterosexual woman and prefers the pronouns she and her.  Ziv worked as a civilian in law enforcement before the #MeToo era and discussed the daily challenges being a woman in that environment.  She later studied gender, calling it a transformative experience, and talked about how this new perspective changed her relationships and her life.

Chloe identifies as an openly transgender woman and prefers the pronouns she and her.  Chloe shared the journey of embracing her gender identity and gender expression, long before most people had ever heard the word ‘transgender’.  She also spoke about the urgent need for people to discuss human dignity, to recognize the secular moral values that define a truly human life - and to grasp how central gender identity is to that awareness.

Rose identifies as a cisgender queer woman and prefers the pronouns she and her. Rose grew up in a socially conservative home out West.  We discussed the recent rise in use of LGBTQIA vocabulary, and how the introduction of these terms into popular culture is creating opportunities to ‘convert vocabulary into understanding’.  We also touched upon how gender can impact our willingness to take risks and fail.

Amanda identifies as a bi-racial woman and prefers the pronouns she and her. Early in her career Amanda witnessed the results of sexual violence against children, which led her to seek the root causes of these problems.  Among other things, we discussed dealing with double standards for women in the workplace, and the importance of ‘getting outside your bubble’ in the current political environment.