Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 21/05/2016 08:50:01
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Aaron Hurwitz asked the Naked Scientists:
Hi Naked Scientists,
Long time podcast subscriber; love the show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/). I have 3 gender related questions:
- The USA is now in a roil about gender identity. When I look up the definitions of male and female, I get the following: "Female: Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, that produces non-mobile ova (egg cells). Most female mammals, including female humans, have two X chromosomes. Male: A male organism is the physiological sex that produces sperm." Why have well educated people gone off the rails, at least scientifically, to try to redefine human gender to include those who mutilate their genitals? Can mutilating ones genitalia redefine their sex?
- Is sexual preference nature (genetic) or nurture? In a UK study, 95% percent of those polled born two generations ago stated that they are entirely heterosexual. With millennials however, only 43% stated that they are heterosexual with men and women viewing sexuality with more fluidity. Dr Kanazawa, from the London School of Economics and Political Science, explained: "The theory suggests that women may not have sexual orientations in the same sense as men do. Rather than being straight or gay, to whom women are sexually attracted may depend largely on the particular partner, their reproductive status, and other circumstances."
- Related to number 2, is it fair to prepubescent children as a population to have government open their minds to choosing sexual preferences or is it better to allow parents to guide them in this matter, and then allow the outliers the guidance they need to make it in the world?
Thanks so much for your take on these hot button issues.
Aaron
What do you think?
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No problem.
Sex what you are born with. It is determined by chromosomes. Most people have two, XX or XY, which define female and male respectively. There are other variants but these are rare and generally named as syndromes.
Gender is how you behave in society at large. It is determined by environment and choice. The majority are feminine or masculine but with care it is possible to behave in a genderless manner.
Sexuality is who you prefer to copulate with. It is determined by choice.
None of this is anyone else's business, though sex has medical and reproductive implications.
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is it fair to prepubescent children as a population to have government open their minds to choosing sexual preferences or is it better to allow parents to guide them in this matter
Prepubescent children are not competent to be choosing sexual preferences, and policy makers who would attempt to involve them in such activity do not stand on firm ground. That said, I would limit parental requirements regarding "sexual preferences" to that which is actually sexual. For example, for a boy to show interest in the display of flowers is not a denial of his sex.