As retired physician, I am fortunate to be reasonably well versed in biological and embryological science. One discovers, that all developing humans start out as females. In order for an embryo to develop as both a genotypic as well as a phenotypic male, the rapidly dividing embryonic ball of cells needs to have special receptors on its surface to respond to the normal testosterone surges that occur in the environment of the uterusas pregnancy progresses. If, an XY embro ( i.e. a genetic male ) lacks these hormone receptors, it will develop into a female on the outside ( breats and vagina ), without the internal female organs: no uterus or ovaries . These people are therefore incapable of having children, and may resemble males in their musculature. Does such an " intersex " person therefore compete in sports as a male or a female ? No such an easy question, as this type of a binary approach to gender, although applicable over 98& of the time, is inadequate to classify the rest. And, so much for the biblical story of the creation of a woman from a male's rib. I'll see the rest of you blasphemers in hell .......

However changeable and multi-faceted it may be, Is gender independent of others---a property intrinsic to an individual, and independent of other people? It seems to me it can only be described/defined in relation, or by comparison, to others. I'd surely like your thoughts!

Gender is conformity to sex roles--social norms and expectations about the 'appropriate' psychological and behavioral traits of men and women, boys and girls. There is no intrinsic, phenomenal what-it-is-like of gender. If you don't believe me, try introspecting. And even if there were, there would be no way in which one could compare one's supposed what-it-is-like to the what-it-is-like of others or compare the what-it-is-likes of individuals who identify as male and individuals who identify as female.

Gender is oppressive to men and women alike because the curves for the psychological characteristics identified as 'masculine' and 'feminine' overlap. Girls and boys in the gender-appropriate tails of their respective curves are happy and grow up to be 'normal' men and women without intervention. Children in the great bulge of their curves can be 'adjusted' to their gender-appropriate roles. Girls and boys in the gender-inappropriate tails cannot be adjusted and live tougher lives than necessary as gender misfits.

Gender transition is not a solution for us misfits--particularly if we are 5-foot zero tall, enthusiastically heterosexual, and could not pass for male no way no how--and are happy with our bodies even if we might prefer them to be a little slimmer. It is, of course, easier to fix people than to fix social norms but it might be worthwhile to give the latter project a try and to aim for trivializing sex and ending gender.

I have a technical question about the new language of gender. I tuned in to one of your shows recently & heard a person speak who was referred to, by others, with plural pronouns, but when speaking, that same person used first person singular ("I"
not "We") to refer to themselves when presenting their thoughts.
I thought to myself: How do I know which of these personalities is speaking now? Is there a lexicon or grammar primer for those such as moi, who are old & using fossilized brains, to make it more intuitive as to which words to use, when, like, y'know, when to speak spontaneously, & when to just clam up?? Or even when to capitalize the different pronouns!
Thank you.