As opposed to transgender mechanical men.
Praise the Omnissiah!
The ad is the second one from a Democratic candidate in a swing state responding to an onslaught of anti-trans advertising.
I love in Ohio and all repub ads only talk about illegal immigrants and trans people. That’s all they have, with a sprinkling of late term partial birth abortions.
I am frankly shocked that the trans stuff apparently works, well enough to be a main thrust of an ad campaign. Like I fully get there’s a subset of Americans who are not comfortable with the concept, dislike trans people, think it’s immoral or whatever. But it’s such a big deal to you that we need a particular political party in charge so they can ban stuff? I just can’t relate to that. But it’s common enough that they run these ads, it’s either firing up true believers or actually converting people. Somehow.
This language reinforces the narrative that transgender women are “biological men,”
What narrative? This is mostly true, and only untrue in cases of transgender women who are intersex AFAIK.
OK, so you recognize intersex people. Good. Let’s start there. So we can have people who appear like men or women who actually have the genitals of the opposite (or both), right? OK, so what caused that development? Usually it’s related to chromosomes, but that isn’t actually the cause. The thing that creates the differentiation is what hormones they have. The chromosomes usually are what controls their output though, so it’s correlated.
OK, so we recognize that hormones are the thing that actually causes this. What happens when we artificially control what hormones are in the body? Does it matter what could have happened if we subvert that and control it manually? Which part is biologically deciding their gender? Isn’t it the thing actually being expressed? If that’s the case, then aren’t they biologically women?
There’s more to biology than you learned in your high school bio class (that you probably failed). “Basic biology” is, as the name implies, basic and not a full understanding. Anyone appealing to “basic biology” is admitting they don’t actually understand any more than that.
(Just FYI so you can know where I’m coming from, I’m a cisgendered straight white man. This doesn’t effect me directly, so I’m not arguing from self preservation. This shouldn’t matter, but some people would probably discount the opinions of trans people as “arguing from emotion” or some bullshit just to ignore them.)
If that’s the case, then aren’t they *biologically* women?
Biologically male or female would be more correct as gender is a social construct. Also the term is referring to their original status pre-hormonal or other gender affirming care so no.
that you probably failed
Sorry to disappoint you but I have never failed a subject and have completed higher education.
”basic biology”
You’re the only person here who has used that term.
Biologically male or female would be more correct as gender is a social construct.
I’m just using the term they used.
Also the term is referring to their original status pre-hormonal or other gender affirming care so no.
AFAB/AMAB is for the original status.
You’re the only person here who has used that term.
The logic you’re coming from is what’s taught in basic biology. You didn’t use the term, but you used the knowledge. I bet this politician has used the term though, but I’m not going to dig to find out because I don’t really care.
AFAB/AMAB is for the original status.
You’re literally splitting hairs when the phrases mean the same thing.
No, it’s not. What part makes someone “biologically” male or female? If their hormones are such that they are growing in the manner you’d expect for a male or female then they are biologically that sex, regardless of what they were at birth. Your chromosomes are not your biology. A(M/F)AB is unambiguous and clear. Biologically male or female could be referring to a number of biological processes in their body, many/most of which are associated with their chosen gender if they’re undergoing HRT.
Also the term is referring to their original status pre-hormonal or other gender affirming care so no.
We already have a far less problematic set of terms for that: Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB) and Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB). “Biological male” is a scientifically misleading phrase that bigots invented to slander trans people and it should not be used by anyone.
“Biological male” is a scientifically misleading phrase
The phrase seems to be very clear in meaning, could you tell me what you find misleading about it?
This was already explained to you earlier in the thread. “Male” and “female” are, biologically speaking, not distinct and mutually exclusive categories in humans. This is the case naturally, and the terms become even less useful once you account for those who modify parts of their biology, whether by surgery or by artificially triggering natural biological processes, to bring those parts into congruence with other parts of their biology.
“Biological male” is a slur. It has no basis in science. It’s a term coined by bigots to misgender trans people with sciencey-sounding words so their abuse looks reasonable at a glance, in much the same way that proponents of Scientific Racism use pseudoscience in an attempt to legitimize white supremacy.
Which biological process do you think that term refers to? If you can’t pinpoint a single specific one, and have that make sense and have every person agree with you, then it’s clearly not useful.
The only thing thats useful about it is it allows someone to be a bigot and act like they’re intellectually superior (while also managing to be less precise and generally incorrect).
If you can’t pinpoint a single specific one
So my answer must be simple, when discussing a complex topic, but you will circle back to claims of complexity to dismiss anything I say.
That is hardly a good faith response.
I would say it is the sum of biological processes that result in the expected sexual dimorphism observed within the majority of the population, resulting in biologically male or female traits.
It only needs to be simple if you say it should be simple. Biological male is a bad term because it implies some simple binary, which doesn’t exist. If it does exist, then you should be able to tell me specifically which biological process it refers to.
I would say it is the sum of biological processes that result in the expected sexual dimorphism observed within the majority of the population, resulting in biologically male or female traits.
Fine answer. OK, so when someone takes HRT they are modifying these biological processes to fit with their chosen gender, correct? So they are now biologically their chosen gender, according to your definition, right? They are not the gender assigned at birth anymore.
