Video & Multimedia
Related: About this forumMe, My Sex, and I
article about the program here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14459843
In most of the world, people assume there are only two genders, female or male. But this isn't reality.
It's interesting to see that there's a medical condition for those who don't confirm to one gender or another. Rather than acknowledge that gender is a sliding scale that may exist biologically, not just culturally, it's so important to our cultural beliefs to continue a binary division that we don't know how to treat those who are intersex simply as humans.
Is it really a medical condition to not conform to one of two genders, or does nature itself say that gender exists in various configurations?
If we assume we are defined by our sexual organs and ability to reproduce, of course this issue will be seen as a disease. But if we want to recognize that we exist first and foremost as humans, if we can raise children as children, not as gendered beings, we might be able to learn something from nature's insistence on variation.
Those born without one defined gender or not are not at threat of death or disease from their genetic configuration. They are at threat of not fitting in to societies that insist on a binary view of humans.
Response to RainDog (Original post)
delrem This message was self-deleted by its author.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)I was surprised that was an image for this video, too, when linked it here. They're probably hoping some kid will click on it and actually learn something. lol.
It's a great, thought-provoking reality.
within intersexed people, there are various sexual orientations as well.
we're just so accustomed to that binary thinking. it's part of the western tradition - and others, too.
Response to RainDog (Reply #2)
delrem This message was self-deleted by its author.
AAO
(3,300 posts)NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)It's often misleading, but not intentional.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)thanks for the info!
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Thanks.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)...but from somewhere some ways into the clip.
Check this OP, for example. http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017166957
The opening slide seems to come from about 1 minute into the 6 minute clip.
I could be wrong but I think every single youtube posted works that way.
It certainly selected an unfortunate frame in this instance, didn't it?
Happy New Year to ya!
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)I really think it is not by accident. Could be wrong. Meh. HNE 2 U
1monster
(11,012 posts)there were so many sexually ambiguous children born... nearly as common as twins...
polly7
(20,582 posts)RainDog
(28,784 posts)for me, this is like traveling outside your own country. you can see your own culture much easier, sometimes, if you look at it from another perspective.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)...start and end with UnConditional LOVE.
- That's really all we need to know.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)The fact that we have these physical variations that may also result in innate behavioral variations is just plain funny.
The problem with gender isn't the variety. It's the cultural bigotry surrounding gender. Problems are socially imposed and don't have to be. (Although, OTOH, everything works out, over the long haul, the way it has to. Otherwise, it wouldn't turn out that way to begin with.)
But if you look at gender without the hate, look at it even with the social trimmings (girls, pink and dolls; boys blue and trucks), it's pretty funny.
Someday in the far future, if the humans of the world can survive the insanity of greed and gender equality is a reality (and that includes the sliding scale from female to male), I think others will see gender as pretty funny, too.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)First, the understanding that things that do happen at birth with alleged defects of sexual development lead to other things that are not without consequences to the innocent -
"pain"
"shame"
"anger"
for not understanding sooner
Second, is an even greater understanding... I think it was stated correctly when the person being interviewed said, "you fall in love with the soul, and not the genitalia."
Boy, that MUST ring true for persons born with a "correct" anatomical "ID" but who DO NOT relate to their assignment, right? So... Can we please let this guide us to a better understand and the need to be accepting humans born in what might fall outside this problem, yet feel uncomfortable when given a "correct" anatomy?
RainDog
(28,784 posts)was so sad to see - and, really, it seems to me that sex assignment surgery done without someone's permission is not the right thing to do - tho I'm sure it's done with good intentions.
I think people should be able to make their own decisions after puberty, if they want surgery - of if they don't.
The woman who couldn't get married because she was designated male at birth was another eye-opener.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)RainDog
(28,784 posts)And Middlesex, by Eugenides, is a great book from the perspective of someone in the here and now.
And other cultures have had designations for some sex/gender differences, like Native American two-spirits and India's hijras. More and more nations are designating "third gender" as a category when people have to declare for purposes of state.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Heather MC
(8,084 posts)Proving it is perfectly natural.
Once again Proving the bible is not a science book, so when it states something that can be explained by science as something that is attributed to being against God, it is further proof that the bible is filled with nonsense written by a bunch of men who had no clue about our universe or the human body.
I have always hated this idea that everyone everywhere has to be either or, one or the other never both. The said thing is that the people in this video were worried about being picked on and ridiculed. what a sad state of affairs that doctors make decisions beased on making sure a person is socially accepted and it has nothing to do with their medical well being.
Humanity needs to do better and stop being ruled by pure ignorance
One day
dougolat
(716 posts)...it just takes growing beyond the childish xenophobia we all have to deal with.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)Germany will be the first western nation to have an "intersex" designation for birth certificates and those with this sex designation don't have to choose male or female upon adulthood.
loudsue
(14,087 posts)motion. The USA will likely be the LAST country to deal with it. The Christian taliban will go ballistic.
libodem
(19,288 posts)K&R.
nikto
(3,284 posts)http://darwinbookcats.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/the-evolution-of-human-homosexual-behavior/
http://www.sciencecodex.com/exploring_the_evolutionary_consequences_of_samesex_sex_lessons_from_the_animal_kingdom
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13674-evolution-myths-natural-selection-cannot-explain-homosexuality.html#.Ujob0T-92po
RainDog
(28,784 posts)loudsue
(14,087 posts)Gives you a lot to think about.