Up until relatively five minutes ago in history, it was well understood that with few exceptions humans were categorized by sex as either male or female. Muddying the waters, gender which is predicated on sex divided girls and women from boys and men.
Admittedly, there’s variance among sex and gender traits. For instance, not all males retain the same testosterone levels, not all girls play with dolls, and not all humans have either XX or XY chromosomes. Hormonal, behavior, and genetic inconsistencies or abnormalities occur.
Although this was a no-brainer topic until somewhat recently, I acknowledge that the process of science involves questioning assumptions – even those which are thought to be well established – and conducting experimentation to understand truth and reality.
Intrinsically, scientific practice isn’t always comfortable to endure. Nevertheless, I value a system of assessing what’s valid and determining what genuinely exists. This subjective assessment of worth remains true for me even regarding matters with which I disagree.
As an example, in childhood I was taught about masculinity that was associated with typical male traits and femininity that related to characteristically female traits. On average, boys tended to be more physically aggressive while girls were more likely to be passive-aggressive.
These generalized claims were said to represent truth and reality for reasons not immediately clear to me in my youth. Authoritative sources declared these matters and I simply believed what I was told.
Therefore, when I was taught never to physically strike a girl or woman – though girls and women were allowed to physically assault me – I accepted the uncomfortable standard of inequality (social disparity). Despite inherent injustice of the norm, I endured unequal treatment.
As I turned 18-years-old and was required to register with the Selective Service System, although my female counterparts were afforded the privilege of not having to endure the burden of conscription, I realized that “equality” about which I was taught in school was a myth.
For instance, having enlisted in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps, I tolerated and accepted the fact that female Marines weren’t assessed by the same level of physical standards as male Marines. What equality was there in a separate but equal military system of this kind?
As I matured with the passage of time, I also realized that males received lengthier incarceration sentences for committing the same crimes as females and we had more work-related injuries than females. Still, complaints by women about unequal pay occupied social discussions.
Additionally, males completed suicide at a higher rate than females. Yet, national focus regarding suicidality revolved around the notion that females attempted suicide at higher rates.
Women typically received alimony regarding states wherein this archaic practice is the norm, women often received custody of children more so than men, and females were afforded special privileges in regard to educational and occupational resources.
Puzzlingly, women had the option to terminate a pregnancy though men had little (if any) privilege or right to advocate for life or termination in this regard. What equality exists in such a system?
Nevertheless, something I found interesting began to drive the social conversation regarding males and females at around the time I attended graduate school between 2012 and 2014. Some authoritative sources argued that there was essentially no notable difference between sexes and genders.
Moreover, people who identified as either transsexual, transgender, gender non-binary, gender non-conforming, and otherwise challenged social norms. When this global debate transferred from social media postings (e.g., Tumblr) to academia, the process of science was introduced.
Not long after graduating with a master’s degree in social work, I heard one academic outright declare in 2016, “It’s not correct that there is such a thing as biological sex.” While I’d heard denunciation of gender as a social construct, that was the first time out of the halls of academia that I heard someone utter such a phrase.
Even up until as recent as 2022, one anthropology source boldly declared:
Genitals, hormone levels, and chromosomes are not reliable determinants of sex. There are, for example, people with XY chromosomes who have female characteristics, people with ambiguous genitalia, and women with testosterone levels outside the typical “female” range. Biologically, there is no simple dichotomy between female and male.
While I acknowledge that there may be genetic or biophysical variance regarding male and female (e.g., intersex), such examples are the exceptions which prove the rule. The rule is that on average (norm) humans are categorized as male or female.
If data regarding 1.7 percent of intersex people in the world or 1.6 million people above the age of 13-years-old in the U.S. identify as transgender are then presented to discount the rule, these reported statistics are exceptions to the rule that the overwhelming majority of humans are male or female.
Although I remain open to discussing this matter based on philosophical or theoretical merits, there also remains a pragmatic component to the discussion. The latter involves rationality—that which is in accordance with logic and reason. For context, consider the following syllogisms:
#1: Modus ponens syllogistic form –
If p, then q; p; therefore q.
Example –
If slightly less than 2% of the global population is intersex, then binary sex categorization isn’t the norm.
Slightly less than 2% of the global population is intersex.
Therefore, binary sex categorization isn’t the norm.
#2: Hypothetical syllogistic form –
If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.
Example –
If there’s no such thing as a sex binary, then females should register for the Selective Service System at 18-years-old and unequal sex-based military standards ought to be eliminated.
If females should register for the Selective Service System at 18-years-old and unequal sex-based military standards ought to be eliminated, then all unequal standards within the U.S. must also be disregarded (e.g., criminal justice sentencing disparity).
Therefore, there’s no such thing as a sex binary, then all unequal standards within the U.S. must also be disregarded (e.g., criminal justice sentencing disparity).
Syllogism numbers 1 and 2 follow logical form. Still, a proposal may be logically sound while simultaneously unreasonable. For instance: If ridding the world of cancer is good, then killing everyone who has cancer is morally and ethically appropriate.
Given this understanding, would you consider syllogism numbers 1 and 2 reasonable? Undoubtedly, some people will agree with the major and minor premises, as well as the conclusions, of both. Other individuals will fervently disagree.
Regarding the matter of equality between sexes on June 19, 2024, one source reported, “Republicans and Democrats are weighing proposals to expand military conscription to women and make registration automatic. Both proposals face an uphill path to becoming law.”
Personally, legal enslavement of a population in order to fight wars on behalf of governments is reprehensible. As such, I oppose automatic registration with the Selective Service System.
On the other hand, if a nation must conscript people to fight against their will, I support an equal system of servitude. If we’re willing to suspend truth and disbelieve reality regarding inherent differences between sexes, why not afford equal opportunity for men and women to be conscripted?
While my default position is in opposition to what I consider militaristic slavery, I wonder what equality exists if only men are subject to the draft (conscription) though men and women are afforded similar liberties and freedoms. In opposition to this view, a separate source reports:
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called the idea “insane.” He added, “They [women] shouldn’t be forced to serve if they don’t want to,” overlooking the fact that men could be required to serve “if they don’t want to.” (In 2021 a divided Supreme Court found male-only conscription to be constitutional.)
Is it moral and ethical to afford men and women similar privileges (i.e., access to healthcare, education, etc.) and maintain comparable rights (i.e., voting, free speech, etc.) under a system of unequal obligation for conscription? I suppose it all depends on one’s level of bias.
In any case, I find it fascinating that up until relatively five minutes ago in history, it was well understood that with few exceptions humans were categorized by sex as either male or female. Whether or not scientific assessment of gender from an archeological perspective comports with sex is another matter altogether.
As an example, I’m entertained by declarations such as that encapsulated in one source that reports, “Spanish women fought as conquistadors along the men under Cortés’s expedition in the early 16th century, but the remains of the woman found at [a castle in Spain] predates the records by centuries.”
Feminist-based gender archaeology of this sort is a fairly new perspective on what was understood relatively five minutes ago concerning human history. There appears to be a growing push to place women in roles of combat regarding the historical record.
To provide another example, one source claims, “Iron Age remains found on the Isles of Sicily belonged to a female warrior, according to the authors of a new study that challenges long-held assumptions about the historical role of women in warfare.”
If males and females aren’t afforded true equality in life, perhaps we can enjoy the privilege of equality in death. If fast-tracking this process through the leveling of equal standards is the route humanity takes, why not require that men and women alike be required to shoulder a rifle?
Or, perhaps we can stop playing philosophical and theoretical games. Maybe we could value truth and acknowledge reality. Perhaps instead of divisive outie versus innie archeological and other historical revisionism we can stick to scientifically-testable data.
Then again, what equality is there in taking the rational route to existence? I suppose we can simply carry on pretending that a biological male can miraculously become a woman and that biological females are on average as competent at warfighting as males.
Although you may disturb yourself with unproductive beliefs about what I’ve expressed herein, I hope to have influenced you to think critically about these matters. The process of growth and change can be uncomfortable.
As discomforting as it was to learn about male disposability as a young boy, it was also uncomfortable to unlearn about other forms of inequality up with which I was raised. Discomfort is precisely what I offer prospective clients who seek out psychotherapeutic services with me.
I challenge unhelpful norms, encourage use of the scientific method, and dispute the irrational beliefs both men and women bring to sessions. If this uncomfortable approach to psychotherapy sounds like something you may find useful, I look forward to hearing from you.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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Fuentes, A. (2022, May 11). Biological science rejects the sex binary, and that’s good for humanity. Sapiens. Retrieved from https://www.sapiens.org/biology/biological-science-rejects-the-sex-binary-and-thats-good-for-humanity/
Goodyear, S. (2023, August 1). Archaeologists identify Iron Age remains as those of a female warrior. CBC/Radio Canada. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/iron-age-female-warrior-1.6924710
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