Karla's 2nd Media Review "Gender Capitalism"

In the TED Talk, “Gender Capitalism”, speaker Rain Dove talks about the way in which he/she/they capitalize off of gender expectations. Dove briefly discusses gender as a limiting social construct. However, Dove then asserts that because they personally do not identify very strongly with any one gender, and because they have become fluid enough in the eyes of society to pass as either a man or woman, they are able to use gender expectations and identity to their advantage. Although Dove is not too keen on labels, their TED talk is still very connected to my group’s topic of gender identity, as they say that identifying as a different gender can facilitate the way that they get around. Dove’s TED talk and experiences highlight the way in which gender biases often change the way that we experience life.

Dove begins by talking about how as soon as the doctor announced their sex, they were no longer simply themselves, but rather “she”, and that they were measured “against everything a ‘she’ was supposed to be”. The way in which they did everything, even the way that they earned society’s respect was gendered. Throughout their TED talk, Dove refers to their body as “a vessel” and asks why we are all being punished for a vessel that we did not choose. Although I have always seen gender expectations as limiting, the comparison of a body to a vessel really emphasized how trivial gender really is, as well as how silly the expectations tied to gender are.

Dove comes to the conclusion that “no matter how we express ourselves in gender or sex…society’s gonna screw us over”. Rather than let this control the way that they live their lives, Dove decides, “fuck it I’ll be both. I’ll be all. I’ll be whatever I have to be to get the most out of my life”. They go on to talk about how they adapt to pass as whatever gender will make the situation that they are in easier. While at first, I thought maybe this was wrong, I then realized that it just means that they are not allowing gender to stop them from getting where they want in life. They are simply living life as themselves, and the only reason it felt like cheating at first glance is because we are so used to the limiting norms just being a part of life. Dove doesn’t discourage anyone from expressing differently, but they are asserting that we should not allow ourselves to be defined by gender, a point that I very much agree with.

Dove’s TED talk seemed to state the obvious: that we should act according to who and not what we are. However, the fact that their encouragement to live life this way seems like a cheat code shows just how far we are from creating a society with true equal opportunity. Dove’s TED talk “Gender Capitalism” is was both very enjoyable and reflective.

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