Alice Dreger and Michael Kimmel take the opportunity to discuss gender classification and the biological/physiological aspects of it. Dreger wrote the article in response to Caster Semenya, a world class runner who competes with other women from around the world. She has drawn a lot of attention because her gender identity has been called into question by the I.A.A.F. (a track organization). They were questioning whether she 'qualifies' to be considered a woman or if she is actually a man.
Dreger goes on to discuss the minute differences between male and female characteristics down to the chromosomal level. She discussed chromosomes, hormones, genitals and other chemicals present in both male and female bodies that scientists are trying to use to inform their decisions regarding where the line between male and female is. There is no point where a human has more of one thing than another or any specific part to them that is unique to their gender. It's absolutely possible to be born feeling a part of one gender, only to discover that you're internally different due to varying levels of certain hormones/chromosomes. "A few years ago, I got a call from Matthew, 1 19-year-old who was born looking obviously male, was raised a boy, and had a girlfriend and a male typical life. Then he found out, by way of medical problems, that he had ovaries and a uterus" (Dreger, p. 123).
I never knew there were so many variables to consider when attempting to identify a gender. The fact that there is no black and white answer leaves judgement up to people who decide what characteristics are most important to them and their definition of gender. So, although science can help to inform their decisions, it cannot be the one to draw the line; instead, it's done subjectively by humans. This makes the entire process sort of arbitrary and makes me wonder if we should consider dropping the labels all together. While some people may choose eventually to switch genders, many are born with differences that they had no choice over. It seems insanely unfair to try to make a 2-gender mold that everyone has to fit nicely into.
Dave - I agree with your view on this. I had the same reaction after reading this article. How did I not know there were so many variables to consider in gender identification? I agree that it seems like an arbitrary process, much like the modern conceptions of human differences and human identity. It seems clear that markers of human identity are malleable and fluid so it seems silly that we constantly have to mold ourselves to nice and neat categories that someone else has defined.
ReplyDeleteHello Dave,
ReplyDeleteI like how you used the phrase, “there is no black and white answer” while talking about gender. It’s the same thing, isn’t it? There is no simple definition of black and white, and there is no simple definition of male and female. It seems that we have been discussing the former for many more years than the latter, and it makes me wonder how many more years until we figure out how to let go of the idea that everything is one way or the other, rather than a continuum of differences that don’t really matter. Add to that the fact that Black Americans won the right to vote a good 50 years before women, and I think we have a long road ahead… thanks, Claudia