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RainDog

(28,784 posts)
Fri Dec 27, 2013, 09:41 PM Dec 2013

Me, 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.
30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Me, My Sex, and I (Original Post) RainDog Dec 2013 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author delrem Dec 2013 #1
click bait, most likely RainDog Dec 2013 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author delrem Dec 2013 #3
Binary doesn't do nuance well. AAO Dec 2013 #8
The image is not intentional, it's taken randomly from near the center of the video. NYC_SKP Dec 2013 #12
I never knew how those images came about RainDog Dec 2013 #15
How do you know that? Where did you come by that info? Interesting. Do you have link about it? Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2013 #17
Hi Tuesday Afternoon! It's just from observation, it's that way every time. Not from dead center NYC_SKP Dec 2013 #22
Not from the current market standpoint it didn't Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2013 #23
Yeah, the cover pic there is rather out there, but the content is really interesting. I didn't know 1monster Dec 2013 #5
What a great video! K&R nt. polly7 Dec 2013 #4
mental travel RainDog Dec 2013 #6
thank you for posting this n/t passiveporcupine Dec 2013 #7
The answer to all problems...... DeSwiss Dec 2013 #9
+1000 Heather MC Dec 2013 #10
Recommended. (nt) NYC_SKP Dec 2013 #11
I've always found the idea of gender to be funny. I mean, we're all people, right? valerief Dec 2013 #13
I might have been misled by the video… instead, I gained from it ... MrMickeysMom Dec 2013 #14
Yes. The pain of those who deal with this difference RainDog Dec 2013 #16
Can you imagine how the Right would react to an alien race that wasn't genderized? Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #18
Various sci-fi writers have tried to imagine others with diff. gender categories RainDog Dec 2013 #19
I guess their nightmare would be by pollen. ACTUAL 'flower children'. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #20
It is never brought up in the Video but could explain hetero/homosexuality Heather MC Dec 2013 #21
Humans CAN celebrate diversity... dougolat Dec 2013 #24
Germany is adding a third gender to birth certificates RainDog Dec 2013 #26
After watching this video, it is such a great thing to know Germany has already gotten this in loudsue Dec 2013 #30
Very impressive libodem Dec 2013 #25
Pertinent articles nikto Dec 2013 #27
Thanks for the links! n/t RainDog Dec 2013 #28
Wow! That was awesome! loudsue Dec 2013 #29

Response to RainDog (Original post)

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
2. click bait, most likely
Fri Dec 27, 2013, 10:43 PM
Dec 2013

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)

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
12. The image is not intentional, it's taken randomly from near the center of the video.
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 12:39 PM
Dec 2013

It's often misleading, but not intentional.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
22. Hi Tuesday Afternoon! It's just from observation, it's that way every time. Not from dead center
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 04:08 PM
Dec 2013

...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)
23. Not from the current market standpoint it didn't
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 05:43 PM
Dec 2013

I really think it is not by accident. Could be wrong. Meh. HNE 2 U

1monster

(11,012 posts)
5. Yeah, the cover pic there is rather out there, but the content is really interesting. I didn't know
Fri Dec 27, 2013, 11:33 PM
Dec 2013

there were so many sexually ambiguous children born... nearly as common as twins...

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
6. mental travel
Fri Dec 27, 2013, 11:38 PM
Dec 2013

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.

 

DeSwiss

(27,137 posts)
9. The answer to all problems......
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 04:54 AM
Dec 2013

...start and end with UnConditional LOVE.

- That's really all we need to know.


valerief

(53,235 posts)
13. I've always found the idea of gender to be funny. I mean, we're all people, right?
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 01:01 PM
Dec 2013

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)
14. I might have been misled by the video… instead, I gained from it ...
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 02:16 PM
Dec 2013

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)
16. Yes. The pain of those who deal with this difference
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 02:35 PM
Dec 2013

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.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
19. Various sci-fi writers have tried to imagine others with diff. gender categories
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 03:54 PM
Dec 2013

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.




 

Heather MC

(8,084 posts)
21. It is never brought up in the Video but could explain hetero/homosexuality
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 04:05 PM
Dec 2013

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)
24. Humans CAN celebrate diversity...
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 05:58 PM
Dec 2013

...it just takes growing beyond the childish xenophobia we all have to deal with.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
26. Germany is adding a third gender to birth certificates
Sun Dec 29, 2013, 01:44 AM
Dec 2013

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)
30. After watching this video, it is such a great thing to know Germany has already gotten this in
Sun Dec 29, 2013, 08:12 PM
Dec 2013

motion. The USA will likely be the LAST country to deal with it. The Christian taliban will go ballistic.

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