schrodingerscat Wrote:
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> Biologically, there are XX and XY chromosomes.
> Choosing to identify as the opposite sex does not
> change your chromosomes or biological facts.
>
> It’s ironic... identifying as
> the opposite sex, determined by your biology, is
> protected in most states.
We have to move beyond what we learned in high school science, in some cases eons ago. Lifelong learning is a beautiful thing.
Life is more complicated for some people than others.
Below is just a quick overview of some of the facts about the biology of being human. It is likely quite different than what teachers of old presented in class. It's good to live and learn, beyond the biology texts from the '60s et al.
Describing Gender Identity and Expression:
https://www.healthline.com/health/different-gendersExcerpts:
“Gender and sex do not have the same meaning. One is social, and the other is biological. Gender is a spectrum, and there are many terms to describe it. Such language is important for understanding your gender and knowing how to affirm and support others.”
“Many people use the terms “gender” and “sex” interchangeably. However, gender and sex actually refer to two separate things.
“Gender is an identity — your personal sense of who you are. The term can also refer to socially constructed categories that relate to what it means to be a man or a woman.
“Sex refers to biological and physiological characteristics. Your genitals, hormones, and chromosomes all relate to your sex.
“Although many are taught that there are only two sexes — male and female — that isn’t true. Some people are intersex or have a difference of sexual development (DSD).
“Many people grew up with a simplistic idea of gender and sex: that there are two sexes, male and female, that “match” with two genders, man and woman.
“In reality, neither gender nor sex is binary.
“The categories used for sex and gender are socially constructed.
“Your gender identity is your personal sense of self. It’s how you, as an individual, conceptualize your own gender.
“Gender expression, on the other hand, is how you express your gender identity. Many do this through clothing, behavior, gesticulations — anything people might associate with gender. Your gender expression might match what society expects of your gender, or it might subvert it.
“Having language that helps demonstrate the many ways people experience, express, or identify their gender allows us all to more clearly see and understand the entire gender spectrum — including and beyond the traditional binary gender categories of man and woman.
“Intersex is “an umbrella term that describes people who have sex characteristics — such as chromosomes, internal organs, hormones, or anatomy — that can’t be easily categorized into the binary sex framework of male or female.
“Intersex conveys information about a person’s sex characteristics but doesn’t indicate anything about their gender identity.
Sex is “the classification of a person as male, female, or intersex based on the existing system of organizing human bodies and biologies.
“This system is based on chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics.
“Sex assigned at birth is “the act of assigning or designating a particular sex to a person based on their chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics. This is often done by medical professionals during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth.
“The sex a person is assigned at birth doesn’t determine or indicate anything about their authentic gender experience or identity.
“It’s amazing that gender — something many people thought was a simple concept — is actually so personal, nuanced, and complex. For that reason, it’s totally OK if this list is a lot to digest!
“Just remember: Gender is an essential part of health and well-being for everyone.
“Becoming familiar with language that helps you to talk about this part of identity and society is a great way to care for yourself and be an ally to others.
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Care for oneself. Be an ally to others.
Not a bad life motto.