Carlotta Tyler:
I consciously change the spelling in gynder to encourage new associations and to
challenge our basic assumptions about what it means to be a womun or a man; a
girl or a boy. The reason I chose "y" is from "gyn" which is female associated,
such as, gynecology, gynergy, or gynecocracy. Gyne stems from the Greek's word
gune, meaning "female" or "woman".
I realize just by changing the spelling doesn't mean change will automatically
follow. The idea is to create the opportunity to be freed from culturally and
psychicly embedded sexism, racism, expectations, and other assumptions about
role and identity. This whole experience I label the gynder factor, that is, by
being or portraying ourselves a specific gynder, we necessarily act, react, and
interpret our words, deeds, and thoughts from a female or male perspective and
in turn, others act, react, and interpret our words, deeds, and thoughts based
on our being as female or male.
Although we are indeed female or male, who we are is more than our gynder. In
like fashion, there is the race factor, sexual orientation factor, class factor,
and other categories we use to label and classify each other. By focusing on a
specific factor, we often miss getting to know the individual. For example,
attibuting stong or cute to infants, giving car or barbie toys, and expectations
regarding athleticism or cheerleading.
There's more to this theory, but basically, we are all individuals living in a
specific time and place. Who we are is more than any one factor: gynder, race,
orientation, class, or the roles we engage in.
Sharon Hushka
sharynh@earthlink.net
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