Is a Eunuch a man

[punkypink (imported)]

Punkypink has persuaded me in her many posts that gender is an identity, not an anatomy. If you feel like a man, and have played a man's part in society, then you are a man. That said, a man who didn't know you might think that opting for castration signified your rejection of masculinity, or at least a deep ambiguity about your identity. Many people, maybe most people, can not tolerate ambiguity. They prefer clear and simple identifications that do not require thought and do not provoke anxiety. What sort of group was this? Had you any reason to expect this man to understand your choice? Do not expect ordinary people, unprepared for the extraordinary, to be as accepting as they should be.

A rare rare occasion where i can actually agree with anything bob's had to say. Especially about how most men may look at castration as a rejection of masculinity and ambiguity. Even most trans people cannot accept ambiguity, as acknowledging the existance of ambiguity may feel like a cornerstone of their own affirmation being removed. I myself only finally came to terms with accepting the existance of gender ambiguity in the past couple of years, once I understood that it did not apply to me at least.

I think it is perhaps common for most people not to be able to understand something outside of their own sphere of existance, not initially at first, especially if there is a sort of perceived "threat" to themselves. For example I've often felt that women could accept trans women more easily than men, because a trans woman symbolically may appear, similiarly as with castration, a rejection of masculinity. To a man who doesn't understand what makes gender what it is, especially one who has confidence issues with his gender, he may feel that if it is possible for someone male to reject masculinity and identify and present as a woman, their own identity may feel rocky.

I am sure there are men of all sorts. Castrated men and non-castrated men. I am also sure there are eunuchs of all sorts. Castrated eunuchs and non-castrated eunuchs. Ultimately if you feel like a man, who cares what sort of body you have and what you've done to it.

[punkypink (imported)]

I played the part of a man in society and that did not make me a man. So I would keep the definition simple. You are whatever you believe yourself to be. You have no control; however, if others believe you to be something else. In the end, what you believe about yourself is your reality.

Elizabeth

Giggles. I believe I am a cyborg with built in 20mm autocannons instead of arms. But everytime I try to fire them I am sadly disappointed when nothing happens =(

sorry, couldn't resist! xD

[devi (imported)]

Is a eunuch a man? A eunuch can either be male or female. Born-eunuchs are often assigned to be females since at birth they lack male genitalia even though they also lack any female capacity to bear children in the future. Preborn-eunuchs are almost always assigned as females although they also lack this capacity to bear children. Many born-eunuchs do not get discovered as having "eunuchoid habitus" often times even on into many of their late adolescence. Most of these have been assigned the male gender and many today are given testosterone treatments. However nearly all of these are unable to have children either. Made-eunuchs nearly always get assigned as males since birth but then later due to medical intervention they become eunuchs also. They will range from pre-pubescent on into late manhood. In many societies pre-pubescent and early pubescent males can be considered as non-males. However our society needs all the warriors it can get. So in short as long as a eunuch was asigned to be a male at birth then this person (a eunuch) is a man.

[cordonone (imported)]

Sorry this has probably been on here before. I was a bit hurt yesturday when someone I didnt know in a group said I was no loger a man and he ment it and was realy negative towards me. I stood up for us all and said I am among the elite group (then through my pint at him not realy) So ok may be here is correct my nuts are gone which iam still very happy about but I have 3 children, a dick, like sex and feel and look the same apart from a slightly smaller bulg in the trousers.

So officialy what am I apart from special and amongst freinds.

Thanks

Interesting choice of words by your "critic." He says that, in his opinion, you are no longer a "man." Since definitions of "manhood" are fraught with cultural and psychological baggage of all sorts, he was no doubt reflecting some narrow set of criteria that he, or others of a similar mindset or background, use to define who is a "man." To say that you, or anyone, is not a "man" because of the presence or absence of two masses between your legs is just plain ignorant. To some, one is not a "man" unless he regularly belches, farts, drinks large quantities of beer and enjoys demeaning homosexuals and watching contact sports.

He didn't venture into the more subtle definition of "male" and "female," whereby one is female if one has two of the same kind of sex chromosomes (XX) or male if one has two different kind of sex chromosomes (XY). He might have been confusing your situation with that of a 47,XXY male, who can exhibit hypogonadism and develop Klinefelter's syndrome, but he doesn't sound quite that sophisticated. It gets a lot more complex when you consider hermaphroditism and pseudohermaphroditism, but that sounds way beyond his IQ level.

IMHO, it's up to you how you identify yourself gender-wise. As a eunuch, you can identify yourself as "male," "eunuch," or "transgendered." It all depends on who you are.

[Mac (imported)]

.................

I am sure there are men of all sorts. Castrated men and non-castrated men. I am also sure there are eunuchs of all sorts. Castrated eunuchs and non-castrated eunuchs. Ultimately if you feel like a man, who cares what sort of body you have and what you've done to it.

Conversely:

(1) Is a woman who has had a hysterectomy no longer a woman?

(2) Is a woman who has had her ovaries removed no longer a woman?

(3) Is a woman who has had a masectomy no longer a woman?

(4) Is a flat chested woman (one who never developed breasts) not a woman?

What would be the difference between:

(1) A man who has his penis, testicles, scrotum (and possibly prostate) removed.

(2) A woman who has her breasts, uterus, ovaries (and possibly vagina) removed.

They no longer have organs or genitals of either sex and can't engage in penetrative

sexual activity so which are they (woman or man)?

[Mac (imported)]

What about a genetic female dressed, looks, acts and sounds like a guy in the restroom? What if it was a

cisgendered genetic female who's a drag king?

I have no idea, Emily. I imagine that I'd find another place to go pot

ty in the case where a genetic female appeared as a guy. ..................

Sandi

What difference does it make once you enter a private stall and close the door? Having a common area with sinks and mirrors for washing hands and fixing hair, etc should not present a privacy or gender related problem.

[PiercedDick (imported)]

It isn't a penis or testicles that make a man, it's his actions, feelings (yes, men do have feelings), and attitude that make him a man. if you feel like a man, act like a man, and maintain a masculine demeanor, you're a man. If you feel like you have to attack others about their life choices, act like a whiny little snot, and your attitude sucks as the aforementioned person who questioned your being a man did, you're a misinformed, cynical asshole.

[paring (imported)]

Well a bull is a bull and a beef is a beef, when a man lose the use of his testicles he can no longer do what a man has got to do, reproduce himself, If a castrated man is still a man what's an eunuch then?

[punkypink (imported)]

What difference does it make once you enter a private stall and close the door? Having a common area with sinks and mirrors for washing hands and fixing hair, etc should not present a privacy or gender related problem.

I agree with this actually. Same for fitting rooms and the like. I don't see a problem at all when there are private stalls.

[punkypink (imported)]

Well a bull is a bull and a beef is a beef, when a man lose the use of his testicles he can no longer do what a man has got to do, reproduce himself, If a castrated man is still a man what's an eunuch then?

Judging a book by its cover is inapplicable when one is talking about a sentient species like us. If the ability to reproduce in a certain defines gender, then you're indirectly saying that a trans woman is a man and a trans man is a woman. On this boards, I'd advise you to carefully reconsider making such ignorant statements about gender.