I have recently attended a discussion on gender. Here is what my input was:
It is easy to recognize the gender if we only consider the body but since we are more than just a body, things get complicated. We can meet a man in a female body and a female in a male body. Why is that? Is it good? Is it normal?

The qualities we possess are divided into feminine and masculine qualities and I believe we all have both sets regarding of the gender, of course we differ in the degree in which we have these qualities developed.

It is great that we live in times when a woman can express her masculine side and a man can show his feminine nature. So if I want to be a man (from qualities point of view) it is enough to exhibit my masculine qualities and see how it feels, how others react to my behavior, what I gain, etc. If a man wants to understand what does it mean to be a woman it is enough for him to use his feminine qualities, for example a man can be sweet and gentle and see how it feels, how others react to this behavior, what he gains, what he becomes aware of, what he understands, what he learns etc.

After all it is all about being effective in life and use all the tools we have got, in this case use any quality that we might possess to our own advantage. If a man needs to be as soft as a flower to accomplish something, let it be or if a woman needs to be strong, sharp and take quick decision to survive, meaning if she needs to exhibit her masculine side, that’s great, that's admirable.

It is good to be aware of the fact that we have these two natures in us, it is important to allow ourselves to use them as needed in order to achieve our goals in life. It is also important to keep balance between the two natures.

I can be a woman or a man in this female body from the qualities point of view… and I am. It is enough to observe myself with attention to see how and when I act as a man or a woman. When I look back at my past I can clearly see times when I was learning female qualities; as a result I would dress in skirts and dresses, wear more makeup, have longer hair etc. I also had periods when I was learning male qualities, that’s when I would mostly wear pants, have short hair and watch home improvement programs.

I am glad that I can be both, that’s so helpful in life, I can do many things myself sometimes even better than some men and I am proud of it. I also admire men who exhibit their feminine side, they become more understanding and tender… and they are not ashamed of it. They are true men in my eyes when they embrace both natures in them.

Sadly, even though we are not prohibited to express both natures in our modern times, when a woman shows her masculine side it is perceived as an upgrade but when a man shows his softer side it is often perceived as a downgrade.
What do you think?