The idea that gender is entirely socially constructed is easily the greatest misconception about gender that gets repeated time and again – almost always by cis people, who never think too much about it because they’ve never had to reconsider their own gender.
Gender roles and gender stereotypes really are socially constructed, like the idea that some clothes are feminine and others are masculine, just to name one example. Gender identity, however, is not. If that was true, like the previous commenter was saying, conversion therapy for trans people would work, when it’s been shown it absolutely doesn’t. Gender dysphoria isn’t a social construct either. Many trans people see their own lives improve considerably after taking HRT (hormone therapy) and having gender-affirming surgeries – how can that be explained socially? Also, we know there is a genetic component to being trans as well, because of twin studies. All of which shows there really is a biological component to gender – just not in the “gender = genitals” way that transphobes think.
You’re right, saying it’s entirely socially constructed isn’t right. That’s my mistake. I was saying that in opposition to OPs comment which seemed to compare the differences between genders to the differences between races and tie biology into it, which is a much blurrier and socially constructed line.
Ok I’m going to put my masters in neuroscience to good use. When right wing idiots talk about “biology” or “genetics” they always refer to karyotype IE XX Vs xy. But this is r******d. What makes you you isn’t random DNA configurations as much as it is the downstream products of that. Neuronal connections and endocrine interactions
FMRI studies scans of trans women (pre and post HRT) are much more similar to cis women than to cis men. Again, this is also before HRT. So yeah at least in neuroscience gender is testable (to an extent) and supports the assertion that trans women are biologically women. The reverse is also true for trans men. It would also provide a clue as to where some of the dysphoria comes from. (Disconnect between the endocrine system and the nervous system) If your brain is in lady mode and it’s being bombarded with testosterone it’s not going to be happy. In order to get the two to match up you can either rewire the entire brain (not possible or advisable) or go on HRT.
Obviously gender affirming surgeries have their place, but making the hormones and the neurones cooperate is probably the most important thing as far as keeping the noggin healthy is concerned.
I’m of the opinion that being queer is somewhat of an adaptation, even aiding in reproduction. Many queer people don’t realize that they aren’t cishet until many years after puberty. Science has focused on people that “always knew” that they were queer, often assuming that people who didn’t aren’t actually queer.
If anything, it makes way more sense for us to discover it later, if ever, as we can then pass on our genes when might not have otherwise. Lesbians and gay men often have kids, only to find out that they aren’t straight and help raise the kids they might not have had if they knew earlier. It’s not just kin selection that favors gay people.
Trans people also reproduce with cis people, as only a minority are exclusively heterosexual. Imagine a gay cis man, struggling with the expectations of needing to get with a woman, but always knowing he didn’t want that. One day, l he finds someone assigned female by society, but who acts like a man in every way they can. This person would interact like one of the boys, as he thinks like a cis man on a neurological level. The gay dude was never interested in “females,” but he falls for this person because they aren’t really a woman beyond reproduction. He shacks up with the trans dude ofc, passing on his genes directly instead of through his kin.
Even straight trans people do T4T, so there really isn’t anyone who can’t directly pass on their genes unless there’s something else causing infertility. Queer people don’t need straight people to make more of us. Heteronormative assumptions from straight people that don’t talk to us has prevented evolutionary biologists from understanding the true picture. They can’t understand why we exist so they deny that we do. So dumb 🙄
Yup, which is why science needs diversity to overcome our own stupidity. By covering for each other’s unique irrationality, we become more rational than ever would have alone.
The idea that gender is entirely socially constructed is easily the greatest misconception about gender that gets repeated time and again – almost always by cis people, who never think too much about it because they’ve never had to reconsider their own gender.
Gender roles and gender stereotypes really are socially constructed, like the idea that some clothes are feminine and others are masculine, just to name one example. Gender identity, however, is not. If that was true, like the previous commenter was saying, conversion therapy for trans people would work, when it’s been shown it absolutely doesn’t. Gender dysphoria isn’t a social construct either. Many trans people see their own lives improve considerably after taking HRT (hormone therapy) and having gender-affirming surgeries – how can that be explained socially? Also, we know there is a genetic component to being trans as well, because of twin studies. All of which shows there really is a biological component to gender – just not in the “gender = genitals” way that transphobes think.
You’re right, saying it’s entirely socially constructed isn’t right. That’s my mistake. I was saying that in opposition to OPs comment which seemed to compare the differences between genders to the differences between races and tie biology into it, which is a much blurrier and socially constructed line.
Ok I’m going to put my masters in neuroscience to good use. When right wing idiots talk about “biology” or “genetics” they always refer to karyotype IE XX Vs xy. But this is r******d. What makes you you isn’t random DNA configurations as much as it is the downstream products of that. Neuronal connections and endocrine interactions
FMRI studies scans of trans women (pre and post HRT) are much more similar to cis women than to cis men. Again, this is also before HRT. So yeah at least in neuroscience gender is testable (to an extent) and supports the assertion that trans women are biologically women. The reverse is also true for trans men. It would also provide a clue as to where some of the dysphoria comes from. (Disconnect between the endocrine system and the nervous system) If your brain is in lady mode and it’s being bombarded with testosterone it’s not going to be happy. In order to get the two to match up you can either rewire the entire brain (not possible or advisable) or go on HRT.
Obviously gender affirming surgeries have their place, but making the hormones and the neurones cooperate is probably the most important thing as far as keeping the noggin healthy is concerned.
I’m of the opinion that being queer is somewhat of an adaptation, even aiding in reproduction. Many queer people don’t realize that they aren’t cishet until many years after puberty. Science has focused on people that “always knew” that they were queer, often assuming that people who didn’t aren’t actually queer.
If anything, it makes way more sense for us to discover it later, if ever, as we can then pass on our genes when might not have otherwise. Lesbians and gay men often have kids, only to find out that they aren’t straight and help raise the kids they might not have had if they knew earlier. It’s not just kin selection that favors gay people.
Trans people also reproduce with cis people, as only a minority are exclusively heterosexual. Imagine a gay cis man, struggling with the expectations of needing to get with a woman, but always knowing he didn’t want that. One day, l he finds someone assigned female by society, but who acts like a man in every way they can. This person would interact like one of the boys, as he thinks like a cis man on a neurological level. The gay dude was never interested in “females,” but he falls for this person because they aren’t really a woman beyond reproduction. He shacks up with the trans dude ofc, passing on his genes directly instead of through his kin.
Even straight trans people do T4T, so there really isn’t anyone who can’t directly pass on their genes unless there’s something else causing infertility. Queer people don’t need straight people to make more of us. Heteronormative assumptions from straight people that don’t talk to us has prevented evolutionary biologists from understanding the true picture. They can’t understand why we exist so they deny that we do. So dumb 🙄
People aren’t rational creatures.
Yup, which is why science needs diversity to overcome our own stupidity. By covering for each other’s unique irrationality, we become more rational than ever would have alone.
Stupid apes together smart 🐵