Seattle PI

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/295134_erbe08.html

Friday, December 8, 2006

Gender assignment can go astray

BONNIE ERBE

Quote
Gender assignment occurs when a seemingly male infant is born missing all or part of his male genitalia. Until quite recently, such children were routinely surgically sex-reassigned immediately after birth. In other words, these boys were castrated to "align them cosmetically and hormonally with a female role" in life.

Only problem is some of those "girls" grew up to be boys.

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"Twenty-five of the children were reassigned by physicians at birth, castrated and raised as females. (But) the majority of these children, between the ages of 5 and 16 ... subsequently "reassigned" themselves back to males. All 27 showed strong male behaviors, activities and attitudes."

So much for trusting science on gender constructs. Science still cannot explain so-called gender variance (when children born as male decide they're actually female, or vice versa) much less sexual orientation. The Times reports some researchers suspect gender is actually determined by hormone exposure in utero. Expectant mothers take note: If you are carrying a boy, you might want to think twice before ingesting soy products containing phyto-estrogens (plant estrogens) known as isoflavones. Plant estrogens have lowered testosterone levels in rats, monkeys and other animals as well as humans.

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Maybe today's parent who allows a child to gender-vary really does know best. Imagine yourself in that position. Your child comes home from the hospital with male genitalia and certainly looks like a boy. But as soon as he starts to walk and talk, he insists he's a girl. He favors girls' clothing and playing with dolls. You try to change his mind. You lose. One Chicago mother of a 6-year-old boy who sees himself as a girl called the continuous battles "exhausting."

This is similar to what Dr. Moody did many years ago.  After the backlash that was created from his theory and the fall from grace Moody experienced it's amazing this practice still exists.

One thing it proves again and again, genitalia and/or environment do not dictate gender identity.  When will they get it?

Julie

Julie
They are getting it.  that study was 6 years ago and the author  does say "Until quite recently..."
so things are changing. she also mentions last weeks New York Times article that describes the current leading edge  thinking at children's care centers. and at thei point even private schools  are becoming suportive of familys, and the childs needs.

Quote“First we became sensitive to two mommies and two daddies,” said Reynaldo Almeida, the director of the Aurora School, a progressive private school in Oakland. “Now it’s kids who come to school who aren’t gender typical.”

KateAlice

It is scary to think of being re-assigned without your permission.  "Oops, he has a micro-penis.  He will be better off as a she.  Snip, snip."

I bring up the studies to show that there is a definite biological component, even if we may not completely understand what it is.  Plus there are other studies looking at biosocial limits (Udry) which are rather interesting.