(January 8, 2024 at 11:17 pm)Astreja Wrote: I know very well, and have known virtually my whole life, that my own gender is atypical (very close to the midpoint of female and male). I don't perceive it as fluid, though, and not a choice that I made. What cultures need is acceptance of natural variation rather than binary gender roles that force people into situations they utterly abhor.
(January 8, 2024 at 11:28 pm)JJoseph Wrote: Ok, Astreja. I accept what you say about your own experience. But natural variation is one thing. Telling children they ought to change their naturally assigned gender is another. I am of the view such discussions should take place at least after the child has become an adult at 18. Do you disagree?
Gender and sex develop at different times in the prenatal period, and due to hormonal fluctuations it's possible to have male gonads but female gender (or vice versa). The "natural" sex is the one that matches the gonads; the "natural" gender is the one that matches one's gender perception. There may be some environmental factors (e.g. endocrine-disrupting chemicals) that have caused this mismatch to become more common than in the past.
It might be desirable to delay major surgery, but discussions can start taking place as soon as a child can voice a clear and unambiguous opinion about their own gender.
