Entry #4

July 22, 2013

How relevant is knowing about gender
concepts, gender diversity and gender issues to
nation-building? How important is it to know your
place in the gender spectrum?

It seems that gender-related issues are one of the most

discussed topics now. For some reasons, awareness
about gender and sexuality has been on the spotlight and
is being thoroughly discussed on different media and
different perspectives. The debates have already closed
some issues but have also opened up new ones. The
question is, what can this awareness do to a student like
me? Or better, what good can it bring to me and the
society I belong to?
Indeed, knowing whats happening around me is very
important. Through the knowledge I have, I can react
well to certain things that happen around me. Same goes
with knowing about gender issues. It is through the
knowledge of these concepts and issues that we will be

able to respond to certain instances in life. When the

people of our country know well what our functions as a
man or woman are, then we can do our responsibilities
well. We can perform our duties in the way that we like,
in the way that benefits us all. Basically, knowing about
such gender concepts and issues should be a reminder of
our unique individualities. As clich as it may sound,
each of us is different from the other. We have our
strengths and our own weaknesses.
In order to function well, it is also important that we
know which gender we belong. This may be hard for
some and may also take a while for others, but this is an
important matter. Unfortunately, there are those who
insist their beliefs to others regarding this issue.
Personally, I am aware of my place in the gender
spectrum. And I think this kind of helps me in making
decisions and in doing certain things. But then again,
what I want to emphasize here is that we should not be
limited to the tasks/things that our gender is supposed
to do. We should always aim for the better. Do not
discriminate.