Hey @RitterVonRitter (and anyone else reading this),
I was born healthy and as far as I know genetically XY (I've never been tested, but all the bits and pieces are right where they should be and function well).
So, it is almost impossible for me to imagine the difficulties that someone born with chromosomes that are not XY or XX goes through. XXY syndrome is often not even diagnosed until after adulthood. I'd think the reaction I had to having thyroid cancer would mild compared to finding out I had XXY syndrome.
That is the easier of the two. I'm horrified by the thought of children being surgically modified in a series of operations as they grow up and even through their puberty. All the while the family telling them to not talk about it, nobody mentions it, no get well soon cards or flowers in the room, no visitors, no phone calls, not even a word of encouragement from a grand mother or uncle. It's a dirty secret which must not be talked about and that is wrong.
Why, would someone hide such a thing? because people use terms like "abnormality and a defect" to describe them.
They are not defective people. They are not abnormal people. They are people - humans with all the dignity, hopes, dreams, life and liberty that everyone shares. The last thing they want to be referred to as is abnormal or defective.
Therefore, they search for the right word. It's understandable that nearly 1 out of 50 people have trouble finding that word while hiding from being labeled as a defect or an abnormality. The word they've come up with for now is non-binary. Will it change? Most likely, but I've had friends change their name when they got married or adopted and I've been willing to call them by their new name right away - language morphing is normal.
Is it a third sex? I don't know. But, it does demonstrate that from an evolutionary standpoint our species is not 100% binary. It is possible that men with XXY syndrome can father children. Who knows what benefits to our species this passes down?
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease. But the reason it exists is that the genes that cause it are the same genes that provide a natural immunity to malaria. The malaria gene is recessive - so, normally it provides the immunity and not sickle cell. But, given the right combination of X and Y chromosomes and a person can get sickle cell if they inherit both recessive genes.
The point? Sometimes what appears to be a defect in an individual be a huge benefit to our species.
RitterVonRitter (imported) wrote: Mon Apr 02, 2018 7:14 pm
Putting aside the physical, there is the metaphysical. Man is a spiritual animal. Metaphysically, a man can be less than a man or can be more or less feminine. This explains both homosexuality and transgenderism.
I could not disagree more.
From a social view, I've known some gay men that were hard working construction workers who loved football, beer and hamburgers on the weekend. I've know some straight men who love to cook and clean house. So, I really disagree that there is a spectrum of male and female and that being gay is a factor of falling on the female side.
It is very possible to fall firmly on the masculine side of behavior and thoughts and still be gay.
No, gay men are not "less a man" any more than is a straight man who likes to wear women's clothes.
You have a point, but miss the larger context.
When I was little I learned where babies come from - "when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much, they give each other a 'special hug' and that's how babies are made". I answered, "you mean they have sex?".
Being a curious little kid, I also asked, "what happens if parents die". The answer I got was, "they go to live with family - like grandma or an aunt and uncle".
Bingo! an evolutionary and social example of how gay men and women help in reproduction. They create backup parents.
Who better to raise a deceased person's children than a brother or sister with no kids and a bank account reflective of not having had the expense of children so far?
Childless aunts and uncles can be very generous with baby sitting, gift giving, trips - all of which gives the child a better upbringing. There are examples of this in nature - sisters (from birds and elephants to chimpanzees) helping to raise their sister's offspring. Many times the helpful sister never has children of their own - gay birds?
Having gay people in our society is normal, natural and healthy.
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Lastly, regarding the lawsuit of Gender -vs- Sex (ok, that was tongue in cheek).
You are correct. Gender is a social and cultural construct. Sex is a scientific definition.
Reminds me of the seemingly endless debate over the tomato's status as "vegetable". There is no scientific definition of a vegetable.
Spinach is a leaf, celery is a stalk, carrots are a root, mushrooms are a fungus and brussels sprouts are an evil creation of a demon spawn from hell. The question is, does our language still call them vegetables and answer is yes.
Since gender is a social construct and not a scientific term, wouldn't a person's ability to define their gender be even more inviolable? Since we use the terms sex and gender virtually interchangeably, then it's not unreasonable for them to think of their sex and the same as their gender.
