Body And Self-Identity

The conception of how the body affects personal identity is much debated. Where some philosophers believe that body has the least to do with self-identity, some believe that body does concern self-identity, especially, when it is related to gender. Transgender, people who have undergone sex change surgery, women and people who are born with abnormal bodies have the same functioning, thinking mind as the people with the conventional normal bodies. However, they are perceived differently in the eyes of society. Their mind is not given much primary importance because they have different bodies. Stereotypes are developed around them and they are put into certain categories. Because of these stereotypes, they are alienated and not included in the society as such. This affects their personal identity. Growing in this kind of society affects their perception of bodies and they develop somatophobia and are not comfortable with their own bodies. They grow up thinking that they are neglected just because of their bodies and their minds are not acknowledged at all.

If the body did not concern self-identity than everyone in the world would be perceived in the same way. But a clear distinction is seen in the way these people are treated and how their bodies affect their position in society. This goes to show that for the self, the mind is the base of self-identity but when concerned with the crowd, body distinctions clearly matter. However, where the mind is concerned, every person no matter what body he/she has, it functions in the same way, irrespective of the gender. Which shows when it comes to thinking and jobs involving mental abilities, the body doesn’t matter. Yet in work areas, these people are mistreated and neglected. This affects the society’s perception of self-identity which in turn affects the individual’s personal identity as he/she is a part of the society.

Transgenders often feel that their gender identity does not align with their sex and thus they feel that they are born in the ‘wrong body’. They feel the need to change their bodies and go through a sex change surgery to fit according to the societal norm of linking the sex to the social gender. This sex change is often not recognised by the government and they have to deal with notions of discrimination in education, employment, healthcare and other institutions. This affects their identity, as they are not recognised and they feel like the minority in the nation.Which is to say, that people more often relate the idea of the body to gender, that is, gender to sex.Wherein, a person might have a different gender than their biological sex. They do not fit into the social behavioural norms of gender according to sex and are thus perceived differently.