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There are only two human sexes. Genetic diseases that occur at a rate of 0.018% don't constitute additional categories.

thebooktocome 5y ago
I hear you saying: "Intersex people don't exist. Intersex people do exist." You might want to reflect on that self-contradiction.
- slumdev 5y ago
  1. Human beings have two arms and two legs. 2. Thalidomide caused some humans to develop without all four complete limbs. These people are still humans. Statements 1 and 2 aren't contradictory. 3. There are two human sexes. 4. Genetic anomalies cause some humans to develop without a complete set of the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of either sex. These people are still humans. Statements 3 and 4 aren't contradictory.
- Chris2048 5y ago
  "there are only 2 human genders" does not contradict "Intersex people don't exist" because such a condition doesn't constitute a biological gender. If it did, it wouldn't be called a "disorder". That said, we can just agree on what words mean, if if there are discrepancies, we can just label alternate definitions, to ensure they remain consistent. Which still brings us to the question: why aren't men allowed in women's bathrooms? If it's just the physical possession of a penis, this would still disqualify many trans-women.
whatshisface 5y ago
A category's a category if distinct items are in it. I think you are going for a more specific word than "a category." Perhaps, "social role that exists in the experience of most people?" That sounds like a good description of the two genders thing.
- slumdev 5y ago
  There are two human sexes. Carrying a child in a uterus is not a social construct.
  - whatshisface 5y ago
    I think you gave a great example of how it's fuzzy at the boundaries, because infertile women are still women. I'm not saying this whole gender thing is made up, any alien would notice gender if they landed in central park, just that you can't get too metaphysical about it.
    - slumdev 5y ago
      Your example illustrates the point perfectly, though. Infertility in someone who is of childbearing age is a problem. A bug, not a feature. Intersex conditions are similar. They don't diminish that person's dignity as a human, but the condition is unfortunate and anomalous.

I hear you saying: "Intersex people don't exist. Intersex people do exist." You might want to reflect on that self-contradiction.

slumdev 5y ago
1. Human beings have two arms and two legs. 2. Thalidomide caused some humans to develop without all four complete limbs. These people are still humans. Statements 1 and 2 aren't contradictory. 3. There are two human sexes. 4. Genetic anomalies cause some humans to develop without a complete set of the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of either sex. These people are still humans. Statements 3 and 4 aren't contradictory.
Chris2048 5y ago
"there are only 2 human genders" does not contradict "Intersex people don't exist" because such a condition doesn't constitute a biological gender. If it did, it wouldn't be called a "disorder". That said, we can just agree on what words mean, if if there are discrepancies, we can just label alternate definitions, to ensure they remain consistent. Which still brings us to the question: why aren't men allowed in women's bathrooms? If it's just the physical possession of a penis, this would still disqualify many trans-women.

whatshisface 5y ago

A category's a category if distinct items are in it. I think you are going for a more specific word than "a category." Perhaps, "social role that exists in the experience of most people?" That sounds like a good description of the two genders thing.

slumdev 5y ago
There are two human sexes. Carrying a child in a uterus is not a social construct.
- whatshisface 5y ago
  I think you gave a great example of how it's fuzzy at the boundaries, because infertile women are still women. I'm not saying this whole gender thing is made up, any alien would notice gender if they landed in central park, just that you can't get too metaphysical about it.
  - slumdev 5y ago
    Your example illustrates the point perfectly, though. Infertility in someone who is of childbearing age is a problem. A bug, not a feature. Intersex conditions are similar. They don't diminish that person's dignity as a human, but the condition is unfortunate and anomalous.