Should we get rid of “GENDER”?
My first Spectrum Street Epistemology (SSE) video from Australia
In Sydney, Australia, a man and a trans woman discuss gender identity beginning with the claim, “We should no longer use the word ‘gender’.” Participants consider sex vs. gender, trans as a mental illness, gender affirmation, detransitioning, and compelled speech. The two have vastly different views but surprisingly find points of agreement.
At the end, the trans woman says this conversation has been one of the best in Australia. “We’ve seen some pretty ugly scenes of protests and what have you, especially in Sydney and other places in the recent month or so… a series of public discourse around LGBTQ issues that hasn’t been a great reflection on us in general.” In this conversation, “no one’s thrown a punch, no one’s yelled at each other.”
Of course we should get rid of gender, or if we do not, exclude it from anything related to science and policy.
Why?
Because you cannot measure it in any way and arguing about it is arguing about what a human, prone to lying and deceit, is telling you they feel.
We can measure sex. Use that instead.
Outstanding! You're too humble, Peter. The reason this conversation went so well is because you know when to ask for clarification and when to stop talking and move on. There were moments when, if I had had the microphone, I would have wanted to dissect the assertions of the older gentleman in particular. But you didn't go there. You switched back to the other participant and kept the back-and-forth going. You weren't looking to validate either of them, but simply to allow them both to say their piece without censor or judgment so that you could understand their POVs.
Full disclosure, I believe it's impossible to change ones sex, that gender is a social construct, that nobody under the age of 18 should be allowed to ingest blockers or hormones or have a surgical intervention, and that trans-identified males should never be allowed in women's prisons, sports or changing rooms, etc. However, of the two participants, I thought the trans-identified man was smarter, less rigid, more thoughtful, and remarkably objective. I agree that the absence of rancor was heartening and, in fact, quite moving.
Again, Peter, your ability to mediate this conversation and to know exactly when to press and when to back off, made it work. Not easy to do! Congratulations.