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And what the difference between gender identity, gender expression, gender roles is. Because heaping them all into 'Gender' leads to dumb arguements. https://twitter.com/delaneykingrox/status/1280521362650435584?s=19
So, further few comments:
The Y chromosome (usually but not always) triggers differentiation in the gonads in the FIRST trimester of development.
The brain develops mostly in the THIRD trimester...
The Y chromosome (usually but not always) triggers differentiation in the gonads in the FIRST trimester of development.
The brain develops mostly in the THIRD trimester...
Both sets of instructions for making 'male' and 'female' tissues are present in our genome (our entire DNA).
Androgens created (usually but not always) by the gonads flip the 'female' default code to 'male'.
So by the third trimester, you should (but not always) get hormones...
Androgens created (usually but not always) by the gonads flip the 'female' default code to 'male'.
So by the third trimester, you should (but not always) get hormones...
...flooding your body that line up all your cells DNA instructions to those of your gonads. So your brain develops cisgender.... ie, matching your gonads.
But... not always...
But... not always...
If the hormone balance shifts between first and third your brain can develop using different instructions to your groin.
Furthermore, in order for hormones to flip the default to male, your hormone receptors have to be shaped to receive them. A variant can mean they ignore it.
Furthermore, in order for hormones to flip the default to male, your hormone receptors have to be shaped to receive them. A variant can mean they ignore it.
You see this in partial and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome ( PAIS or CAIS ).
Children effected by Diethylestilbestrol also show this.
Children effected by Diethylestilbestrol also show this.
So yes, tissues in the brain and the groin can mismatch, leading to the dissonance experienced which is currently called "gender dysphoria".
But brain plasticity! I hear some bozo at the back cry.
Yes, brains are very good at rewiring. But not everything. No amount of conversion therapy torture, electrodes in the brain and conditioning affects gender identity.
Horrifically, we know this because people did it.
Yes, brains are very good at rewiring. But not everything. No amount of conversion therapy torture, electrodes in the brain and conditioning affects gender identity.
Horrifically, we know this because people did it.
Again, this is nature/nurture. The nurture aspect is super plastic, we can rewire habits, learn to use new nerve paths to operate limbs and so on. We can even retrain left/right/up/down! (We strapped mirror goggles to students for months) brains are cool.
But...
But...
...gender identity appears to be a deep, core thing... which makes sense as evolution of sex goes waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in us.
Can we pinpoint this? Can we rewire it?
This is where you hit an ethical wall. It would require cruel human experimentation.
And for what? You give healthcare to trans people, they transition what they want and their suicide rate returns to closer of that of cisgender folk
This is where you hit an ethical wall. It would require cruel human experimentation.
And for what? You give healthcare to trans people, they transition what they want and their suicide rate returns to closer of that of cisgender folk
I personally would rather live in a world where folk get access to healthcare to deal with their dissonance than have a culture that allows human fetus experimentation for adjusting brain development to align to a false dichotomy.
Call me crazy.
Call me crazy.
Now, for completions sake, let's cover genderfluid and non-binary identies.
Firstly, these are completely, utterly valid. Gender identities are not binary. It is not a single variable. Brains are far, far more complicated than that.
Firstly, these are completely, utterly valid. Gender identities are not binary. It is not a single variable. Brains are far, far more complicated than that.
Because our DNA has instructions that make cells behave in a 'male' or 'female' associated ways (such as secondary sex characteristics in development of fat, muscle and hair) you need to understand that is on a single cell basis. We are made up of tissue, clusters of cells...
...an individual human can have all sorts of tissue developed from hormones shifting or some cells being insensitive to a hormone.
A very clear example of this is in PAIS where people have patches of 'male' typical tissue and 'female' tissue structures in the same body.
A very clear example of this is in PAIS where people have patches of 'male' typical tissue and 'female' tissue structures in the same body.
A Barr body, such as in humans in XXY klinefelters. You can see this sort of thing visually in a tortoiseshell cat.
So, you see, non-binary amd gender fluid people exist in the same way intersex bodies exist... because a human is made up of many tissues of many cells and is NOT a single binary.
These identities are therefore every bit as valid as binary ones.
The problem is that we don't see funding going into examining non-binary and gender fluidity, studies usually have very small sample sizes and you once again hit that ethics wall.
The problem is that we don't see funding going into examining non-binary and gender fluidity, studies usually have very small sample sizes and you once again hit that ethics wall.
The lack of scientific data about those identities is more to do with who controls the purse strings.
Not cool
Not cool
Humans are complicated. The problem with trying to fit us into neat boxes is that you have to cut off parts, and that is inhumane.
Be kind. Read. Learn. Grow.
Be kind. Read. Learn. Grow.
If you want to encourage me to shitpost, you can shout me a coffee via...
http://Www.ko-fi.com/dellak
I have a patreon but I don't have the mental juice to keep up with it.
http://Www.ko-fi.com/dellak
I have a patreon but I don't have the mental juice to keep up with it.
Have a fucking peachy day
