4 ms·

> The amount of biological sexes aren’t even close to two. There’s XXY… XYY… XXX… These are not sexes, these are chromosomal configurations. Sex refers to the

by siland 5y ago

> The amount of biological sexes aren’t even close to two. There’s XXY… XYY… XXX… These are not sexes, these are chromosomal configurations. Sex refers to the structure and purpose of the reproductive system, and ultimately the type of gamete (egg or sperm) this system is intended to produce. There's variation within each of the two sex classes, but there are indeed only two of them - discovery of a third type of gamete in humans would be quite the biological revelation! > Nor is anybody arguing about “sexes” really the argument revolves around gender rather than biological sex. The "sex is a spectrum" and "there are more than two sexes in humans" arguments are ones often put forward in debates about gender. Usually to defend the idea of 'sex reassignment surgery' being a process that actually changes someone's sex. Rather than a cosmetic procedure intended to alleviate psychological distress.

faeriechangling 5y ago
So where somebody produced both male and female gametes what sex re they? Both simultaneously? Are infertile people sexless? Seems like according to this framework you would need to include neuter and perhaps intersex. Is a woman who had ovarian cancer no longer female? I’ve also heard “sex reassignment surgery” being called “gender affirmation surgery” in recent times. I simply don’t hear people making arguments along the lines you’re talking about because “gender” is generally emphasized instead of “sex”.
- siland 5y ago
  > So where somebody produced both male and female gametes what sex re they? Both simultaneously? There are no recorded cases of this actually happening, and if it did in the future I expect an accurate description of their sex would depend on exactly what unusual biological circumstance has caused them to produce both gamete types. Both sexes simultaneously could perhaps apply in this scenario, e.g. if it was an instance of genetic mosaicism. > Are infertile people sexless? No, why would they be? They'd still belong to the sex class corresponding to their reproductive anatomy, even if it isn't fully functional or has been removed. > Seems like according to this framework you would need to include neuter and perhaps intersex. With most DSDs, the subject's sex is unambiguous. For example, Klinefelter syndrome only applies to males, Turner syndrome to females, etc. Which conditions do you think wouldn't fit in this framework? > I simply don’t hear people making arguments along the lines you’re talking about because “gender” is generally emphasized instead of “sex”. I've observed these arguments being put forward in discussions of transgender issues. Though more recently there seems to be a trend towards arguing that the more nebulous concept of 'gender identity' is the most important factor in determining if someone is a man or a woman (or 'non-binary'). Not that I agree with that either.

by siland 5y ago

faeriechangling 5y ago

So where somebody produced both male and female gametes what sex re they? Both simultaneously? Are infertile people sexless? Seems like according to this framework you would need to include neuter and perhaps intersex. Is a woman who had ovarian cancer no longer female? I’ve also heard “sex reassignment surgery” being called “gender affirmation surgery” in recent times. I simply don’t hear people making arguments along the lines you’re talking about because “gender” is generally emphasized instead of “sex”.

siland 5y ago
> So where somebody produced both male and female gametes what sex re they? Both simultaneously? There are no recorded cases of this actually happening, and if it did in the future I expect an accurate description of their sex would depend on exactly what unusual biological circumstance has caused them to produce both gamete types. Both sexes simultaneously could perhaps apply in this scenario, e.g. if it was an instance of genetic mosaicism. > Are infertile people sexless? No, why would they be? They'd still belong to the sex class corresponding to their reproductive anatomy, even if it isn't fully functional or has been removed. > Seems like according to this framework you would need to include neuter and perhaps intersex. With most DSDs, the subject's sex is unambiguous. For example, Klinefelter syndrome only applies to males, Turner syndrome to females, etc. Which conditions do you think wouldn't fit in this framework? > I simply don’t hear people making arguments along the lines you’re talking about because “gender” is generally emphasized instead of “sex”. I've observed these arguments being put forward in discussions of transgender issues. Though more recently there seems to be a trend towards arguing that the more nebulous concept of 'gender identity' is the most important factor in determining if someone is a man or a woman (or 'non-binary'). Not that I agree with that either.