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VARIATIONS ON THE NORM by _Marcus_ Transexuality & Gor At first glance, the answer to this seems simple enough-- all conceptions of a "natural order" being based in what is "natural," then anything "unnatural" must be outside that order, ergo incorrect. But is it? What is transexuality, if not an attempt to correct an inborn genetic error, the misassignment of one's sexual gender identity? Let's face it, no one embarks on such a long, difficult, and terrifying process as changing one's physical sex, lightly and without reservation. No one does such a thing for simple kicks. These people are dedicating their entire lives to the fulfillment of a powerful, all-consuming need. Are transexuals, then, simply desperately lost sexual outsiders, enroute back to the welcoming fold of sexual naturalism? Perhaps. And while their presence quite obviously gives many who were born to their natural sex and gender the heebie-jeebies, that effect (while worthy of examination in and of itself) is immaterial to the argument. The question might then become one of whether or not the triumphant transgendered then gratefully and happily assumes a place within the interrelations of the two sexes which supports and fits within the confines of a presumed natural order, or instead now functions as an aberration within the new sex. Meaning, having created oneself as a genital male or female, without acquiring the additional, different musculature and internal biological make-up of the new sex, is the new transgendered actually capable of BEING a fullblown member of the new sex... or will he/she always be a surface imitation? The answer to all of this, in human terms, is extremely difficult to divine. The Gorean answer, however, seems to me to be rather basic. It is NOT the physical equipment which one possesses, but rather what one does with it, which determines how an individual fits within the greater Gorean philosophy. Meaning, if a physical male undergoes the process to become a physical female (or vice versa), and fully accepts the dictates of that new identity, both societal and sexual, in accordance with a presupposed natural order, then they have literally changed from one thing into another within the overall system. If they can then fulfill all obligations in accordance with their new place, without the addition of artificial leveling measures, then they have been successful. No harm, no foul. But, if they continue to manifest behaviors, abilities and attributes unsuited to their new position, which artificially alters or negatively influences their honest interaction in the greater pool of humanity, I'd say they had failed to change from one sex to another, and had instead become something new, unnatural, and outside of any natural order. And while the Gorean philosophy does not deny the existence of such externality, it does tend to view such things with a certain measure of suspicion. Transvestitism & Gor Transvestitism is not homosexuality-- it is simply a psychological proclivity to garb oneself in a certain type of garmenture, to copy garments worn by the opposite gender. Again, Gorean philosophy doesn't specifically preclude such a thing, so long as the cross-dressing is not intended to dupe or fool others about one's physical gender. Indeed, upon Gor among the Savages of the Barrens, certain males are symbolically clad in the garments of women, to illustrate their position within the tribe. A Gorean would be more angry about a civilian duplicitously wearing the uniform of a true soldier than they would about someone wearing a dress or make up. This hangs on the intention behind the action. Goreans view any form of deceit in an extremely poor light. Wear whatever you want. One man's skirt is another man's kilt. Just don't attempt to hide or misrepresent what is actually underneath it. Nor, I add, is homosexuality specifically unGorean... provided that it does not attempt to subvert heterosexuality, that it obtains only between consenting adults, and that it does not attempt to depict itself as something other than what it is. Again, self-honesty, and honesty in one's self-portrayal when dealing with others, is an extremely important part of Gorean philosophy. Gor & BDSM People are sexual beings, and Gorean philosophy recognizes this. If it pleases Goreans to do so, and again provided all is done among consenting adults, they can smack each other with paddles, jab each other with knives, have sex with mailboxes... whatever. Just so long as there is no duplicity involved, and those involved do not attempt to pretend that what they are doing is something other than what they are actually doing, no harm no foul. It is simply important that there be a distinction made between those who tie each other up for a few sexual kicks, versus those who actually surrender some measure of their own physical and psychological control, and of their daily lives, to another. The difference between Gor and BDSM has always been one of intention, and of simple honesty. If BDSM is played as a sexual game, then fine... but let it be so noted and freely admitted to be such. But don't let it be mistakenly called a Gorean-themed surrender of self to a greater power. Not unless it actually is such a thing, which is pretty damned rare in BDSM circles these days... in which case, the whips and chains are unnecessary outward trappings anyhow-- since the real action is happening inside the heads of the involved parties. Gorean domination and submission isn't only about sex. A lot of your common run-of-the-mill BDSM, however, IS strictly about sex. Nor are the two things identical. Whips and paddles do not automatically qualify as Gorean, nor do those who happen to use them in sex-play games. Being Gorean is something altogether separate. To some, it seems a fine line. To myself, and those like me, the difference has always been an obvious and glaring one. There isn't anything in the Gorean Philosophy that specifically precludes someone from being either a masochist or a sadist. I am certain that they would exist upon Gor, though perhaps in comparatively smaller percentages to their numbers here on Earth, as Norman explains, due to different social paradigms which would make their existence less likely. Still-- people are people. Different people relate sexually to one another in different ways. Again, Gorean Philosophy doesn't contest this fact. The reason why there is such an anti-sadomasochism slant to so much Gorean rhetoric is simply that it has always been necessary to counter the false perception that Gor is based entirely in sadomasochism-- that all Gorean Masters punish their slaves for pleasure, and that all Gorean slaves derive sexual satisfaction from such punishment. That assumption is fundamentally incorrect. Not all-- in fact, statistically very few-- Goreans are either extreme sadists or masochists. In fact, you don't have to be either in order to experience what we call "the Mastery" and "slave surrender." To a Gorean, punishment is meant to be unpleasant-- ergo, it is punishment. If an adept Gorean Master wished to punish his slave, and if she happened to be a masochist, he would alter his mode of punishment to reflect that. It would therefore be something she DIDN'T like. I.E-- actual punishment. Many sadomasochists are attracted to Gorean interaction because of the trappings of punishment-- whips and chains and the like. But those are simply means to an end. Gorean M/s interaction isn't about pain; it's all about degrees of masculine and feminine control. A Gorean Master with a masochistic female slave would probably reward her with a fairly severe pain trial for good behavior rather than bad-- and deprive her of what she craved when she deserved punishment. The means change, but the end remains constant. Too many people have too shallow an impression of what Gor is all about. They try to use it to mask some other pet ideology of theirs-- conservatism, or neosocialism, or pansexuality-- without understanding what it actually is. The totality of human sexuality is far too great a topic to comment upon here. Suffice it to say, there are probably just as many interesting sexual variations available upon Gor as there are here in modern western society; though some might possibly also be subject to similar taboos and social misunderstanding as are their Earth counterparts. As I've already said: people are people, after all. And that sword cuts both ways. I wish you well, _Marcus_ __________________________________________ "One may be rational, perhaps, without being weak." |
