Clearly, there are physical differences that we tend to assume differentiates between men and women. These are those associated with genitals in the main.
But before we can consider if there are differences between men and women, we need to consider what we mean by a man or a woman. The starting point, once again, tends to be genitals. When a baby is born, a doctor/midwife looks at the genitals and usually declares it to be a boy or girl. There are occasions when the genitals are ambiguous and it is at that point that more checking is done. It is rare for anyone to consider that someone with an obvious penis is anything other than a male and without a penis is a female.
But how big does the penis need to be before it is a penis and not an extended clitoris? Or how small before it is classified as a clitoris?
Of course, schools still teach that X-X is female and X-Y is male from a chromosome perspective. But many people have mosaicism or other variances.
Then there are many other research projects happening that seem to suggest that it is not very clear cut exactly what the differences between male and female are.
So we can have sex based on genitals – but that will exclude some people
Sex based on chromosomes – but that will exclude some people
Sex based on reproductive capability – but that will exclude many
So how do we define male or female? Perhaps we should look to a lot of research that has been going on which has shown that hormonal issues in the womb can cause a difference from the apparent physical sex (as defined by genital considerations) and the brain sex. This is work such as the following:
- Sexual differentiation of the human brain in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation Swaab, Dick F; Garcia-Falgueras, Alicia Published in Functional Neurology Jan – Mar 2009
- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7 … n32334584/
- Sexual differentiation of the human brain: relevance for gender identity, transsexualism and sexual orientation. Swaab Gynecol Endocrinol (2004) 19:301–312. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15724806
- Clinical implications of the organizational and activational effects of hormones. M.Diamond, Horm Behav. 2009 May;55(5):621-32 BTW.
So I am struggling to define a man or a woman. Or perhaps more to the point, I am asking what the point in defining man or woman is?
Why do we need to define man or woman? Why do we need to separate the human race into two distinct groups? I struggle with that, but when I look through history, there has always been separation of man and woman. Two distinct groups, with two different societal expectations.
A starting point then is to ask why we separate men and women and is that correct…