[ExI] extropy-chat Digest, Vol 237, Issue 13

[Adrian Tymes]

On Sat, Jun 10, 2023, 7:34 AM Ben Zaiboc via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> Someone who points out that everyone has XX or XY chromosomes (with the
> occasional abnormalities, like XYY syndrome) are at odds with those who
> want to ignore biology in favour of 'gender identity' (I know it sounds
> bonkers, but look at the reactions against J K Rowling for simply stating a
> fact). I have nothing against a man wearing a skirt, or people choosing to
> have surger to alter their sex organs, but I realise that if you're born
> with XY chromosomes, that makes you a man, and nothing can change that
> (yet). This makes me an enemy of the "you're a girl if you say you're a
> girl" crowd, who don't think chromosomes have a say in the matter.
>

The problem there is those who define "man" et al as anything more than
just "an adult human with XY chromosomes" et al - and that would
unfortunately appear to be the majority of people, regardless of the
science, which makes their definition matter.  This isn't just the "you are
what gender you think you are" crowd; indeed, that group arose as a
reaction to the "women are defined as baby machines who are not supposed to
earn a living"/"men are defined as mentally resilient enough that they
should never seek mental health help"/et al crowd.  The chromosomes can't
be changed but those other qualities can (to some extent: while no one with
XY chromosomes has yet become pregnant that I know of outside of extreme
surgical technicalities, most of the crowd is far more concerned with
whether those with XX chromosomes may be forced to become pregnant and
carry babies through birth against their will, which far too many say is
part of being a woman by the definition of "woman").

One theoretical solution could be to reduce those words to just their
chromosomal meaning in popular usage.  We are so far away from that, that
many view that solution as impossible in practice.

>
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