Sex Is Complicated - Conservatives’ simple biological facts aren’t facts at all.

[Olivia P]

JUNE 4 2014 1:25 PM, By Jillian Keenan

A correspondent for the conservative website National Review recently declared that Laverne Cox, the transgender actress gracing the cover of Time magazine, "is not a woman." Kevin D. Williamson went on to argue that transgender identities are a "delusion ... that transcends the biological facts in question," and referred to Cox throughout with male pronouns, despite her expressed preference for female ones. Williamson wrote that the "subjective impressions" of gender should not supersede the "biological fact" of sex, which, according to him, is simple science.

Now, my biological education peaked at age 3, when the boy next door and I played doctor and discovered that the differences in our hair length weren't our only physical differences. Based on a 3-year-old's understanding of science, Williamson's confident claims about "biological fact" seem logical.

But some people are real doctors. So when Williamson's article provoked outrage from the transgender community and its allies, I called some experts. When it comes to sex, is it true that biology is simple?

More: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/06/national_review_laverne_cox_story_the_science_of_sex_and_->-bleeped-<-.html

[kelly_aus]

An interesting read, for sure..

[blink]

Great article. Thanks for posting this.
And what a zinger:  "A kindergarten understanding of biology is great for kindergarteners, but we're adults,"

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So far in my life I've completed a BS in Human Physiology and just last month completed my 1st year of medical school. Even my limited education so far doesn't support this simpleton's view of human biology. I have learned the opposite actually, that sex and gender are often different of each other, sex is often difficult to determine, and that when there is a mismatch between these we are to treat the patient as their gender rather than their sex.

They're teaching this in medical school? That's very good news.

And congratulations on your BS and first year of medical school.

[blink]

Thank you.    And yes, that's what we're being taught whenever it comes up in lecture. Every professor I've had, with the exception of one doctor who shouldn't be practicing, supports this and teaches it. 

All except one, awesome. That's very good to know this is what's being taught now. Nothing like a doctor (or anybody for that matter) that basically addresses a person's reproductive equipment rather than the person they're supposedly speaking to, so hopefully that will become a rarity.