Of course, I need to cite Freud, Foucault, Spivak, Marx, and, and, and...everyone...

And then there is the issue of stigma- the stigma surrounding sexuality leads it to be viewed as something only in the domain of the subordinate- or those in whose domain sexuality is are subordinated- not worthy of the need for consent. Of course, we are all sexual, capable of desiring and being desired, and should feel no shame in this. If we all truly believed this, could we put an end to rape? In my first post on this subject, I wasn't speaking specifically about sexual trauma, but trauma in general. I don't think it's hard to understand how we are shaped by the traumatic experiences of our parents, teachers, siblings, coworkers, friends, and community members. When we develop an identity, such as gender, and when that identity seems to come with a traumatic experience, such as rape, it affects us whether or not we have directly experienced it. And when we experience rape, or are affected by the experience of rape, does this affect our gender identity?

afterthoughts to the afterthoughts: The paradox is: sexuality is something that some (desired objects) have while others (desiring subjects) take. Desire, while associated with the powerful, also indicates a lack of something possessed by the less powerful. Does this idea (which of course can only be true as a social construct and for only as long as we play into the social construct- everyone is sexual) also reinforce sexual violence? Everyone is sexual but, generally, sex is more satisfying with another person. The dominant must assert dominance- must admit they are incomplete on their own- and the discomfort in this leads to violence.

some afterthoughts: I guess I want to make sure it is clear that I said "is it a binary division" and not "IT IS a binary division." While we don't know much definitively about gender save that it is a social construct (or is it...) I find playing with the concept of gender as a binary division Even as I am viewing gender as a binary division, I am still seeing it as not confined to masculinity and femininity in the strictest sense- I hope that the Almaguer article helps to elucidate this. I have been very inspired by the ideas of Judith Butler, particularly in Gender Trouble, as well. The Almaguer article does, however, still attribute certain traits to the activo/pasivo gender division such as effeminate behaviours of pasivo- in terms of binary divisions, there is also the tendency to view subordinated males as hypermasculine- however this hypermasculinity is not characterized as professional or rational and is dominant in only a limited sphere. This is where the idea of more than one gender could come into play, or a broadening of the definitions within the binary system. Some argue that the sexualization of lower class or colonized men can place them more appropriately with the feminine category even though traits aspired to them could also be classified as hypermasculine. Indeed, sexuality has been viewed as something that some have and others take, often violently. The recent questioning of rape culture shows just how pervasive this notion has been. In the 90s when gay couples began "coming out" in large numbers there was the question that became a bit of a standing joke, "who is the husband and who is the wife?" This indicated that the asker did not really understand what it meant to be part of a queer partnership. It also shows a very limited conception of what a heterosexual partnership can be. It is also important, I believe, to separate the thing from the stereotype of the thing. That said, the desire to fit into society, or maybe even the fact that our society is simply what we know, can cause us to live as scripted stereotypes. But this does not mean that there is "no such thing" as gender, even if if is a social construct, social constructs are very real in their own realm. Sexuality is something lifelong, complex, multifaceted, and influenced by any number of factors. It is seen as a private thing that also plays a crucial role in our public lives and identities. Perhaps this role is where gender comes into play.