Nick_A wrote: ↑June 30th, 2022, 9:48 pm
It seems like a simple question and politics is doing its level best to corrupt it, butit is far more complex then normally given credit for.
For example, the clownfish along with other sources of life can change its sex:
https://www.thetech.org/ask-a-geneticis ... ome%20male.
For clownfish like Nemo, it is particularly complicated. All clownfish are born males. A clownfish group consists of a dominant male and female and 0-4 juvenile males. So where did the female come from in the group? When the female dies, the dominant male changes sex to become the dominant female and one of the juveniles becomes the dominant male.
Do these ways of making males and females have anything in common? Yes. In all cases, whether you are male or female is determined by a certain set of genes being turned on.
In people, the presence of the Y chromosome determines this. The Y chromosome has a gene called SRY that signals the body to become male. In other words, the SRY gene must be on to make a male. In fact, if SRY is present in someone with two X chromosomes, they appear male and if someone is XY but has a mutated SRY gene, they look female.
The same is true for species without sex chromosomes. For example, in turtles it may be that high temperature shuts off the turtle SRY gene so you get females. In the case of clownfish, the absence of a female results in a male changing to a female. We don’t know exactly how this works, but it’s possible that the female clownfish produces some sort of chemical signal that keeps males from becoming female.
In terms of what’s going on biologically in the clownfish, apparently the dominant male has functioning testes and some latent cells that can become ovaries under the right conditions. Once the female dies, the testes in the dominant male degenerate and ovaries form from the latent ovarian cells.
What is this SRY gene?
https://medlineplus.gov/download/genetics/gene/sry.pdf
The SRY gene provides instructions for making a protein called the sex-determining
region Y protein. This protein is involved in male-typical sex development, which usually
follows a certain pattern based on an individual's chromosomes. People usually have 46
chromosomes in each cell. Two of the 46 chromosomes, known as X and Y, are called
sex chromosomes because they help determine whether a person will develop male or
female sex characteristics. Girls and women typically have two X chromosomes (46,XX
karyotype), while boys and men typically have one X chromosome and one Y
chromosome (46,XY karyotype).
The SRY gene is found on the Y chromosome. The sex-determining region Y protein
produced from this gene acts as a transcription factor, which means it attaches (binds)
to specific regions of DNA and helps control the activity of particular genes. This protein
starts processes that cause a fetus to develop male gonads (testes) and prevent the
development of female reproductive structures (uterus and fallopian tubes).
Surely this cannot happen with human beings some say. Human sexuality may be determined by forces science is yet to understand
From the Gospel of Thomas:
http://gnosis.org/naghamm/gthlamb.html
(114) Simon Peter said to him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life."
Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven."
What is a woman? What is a female and how does it relate to males. Is it by chance or does mother nature determine genders which can change and are determined by her needs?
Human gender and sexuality is complex because it involves biology, psychology and social or cultural aspects of human identity. It became less mysterious with the knowledge of genetics and the endocrine system. The work of sexologists, including John Money, shed light upon the nature of gender and gender identity, especially focusing upon people with intersex disorders and those with issues around gender identity, especially transsexuals. One critical issue following on from John Money was one of his case studies. It focused upon one of two twin boys who unfortunately lost his penis in an accident of circumcision. A decision was made to correct the boy to become a girl. For more any years, this decision was understood to mean that it was possible for one to become a gender based on socialisation. That was until it came to light that the 'girl' was struggling desperately and, despite hormones to make her become female, she was masculine looking, experienced bullying and chose to transition to become male. Unfortunately, this person 'John', who actually published a book on his story, committed suicide, although it is understood that there were various factors in his life which may have contributed to this. What is critical though is that the idea that gender was a mere aspect of nurture was challenged by this case-study because what really happened was that it showed how complex is.
The whole area of gender is extremely complex and, sometimes, it becomes so muddled. The understanding of intersex disorders is complicated because there are so many different forms, including chromosomes disorders and hormonal disorders, such as adrenogenital syndrome, which is a genetic disorder which leads to masculination and genital masculinisation at birth in some cases. Many intersex people who were reared as one sex and given surgical treatment have spoken out about this and there is a growing belief that children should be given time and space to be involved in the decisions as opposed to having decisions made for them.
The issue of gender dysphoria is more complex. In some cases there can be an overlap between gender dysphoria in intersex disorders and people who have been raised as one sex and wish to transition to the other gender. However, in many ways the exact causes of transsexuaism is not known, as to how much is physical and how much is psychological although there is ongoing research. There is so much discussion in the media about gender and trans issues. It is a great area of controversy which has possibly taken over from discussion about gay issues. However, there is still homophobia.
This is a big topic but it could go in many ways, especially around the area of trans and LGBTQI issues because, unfortunately, on forum discussions, it can generate into open hostility and my own fear about this thread is that it may degenerate into a thread which is about transwomen are not real women, or of why trans people should not expect to be referred to by their chosen pronouns. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own views but there is so much transphobia anon the internet, as well as bullying of LGBTIQ people in society. It would be good if this discussion becomes one of open discussion and of deeper understanding. Also, as your question is what is a woman, hopefully, the nature of female identity, sexism and gender identity will be explored, and that this will involve women speaking about what it means to them to be a woman.
Also, the concept of androgyny, as the integration of the psychological aspects of gender, as the anima and animus, spoken of by Jung may be relevant, especially in relation to the reference you make about the Gospel of Thomas. The idea of androgyny, especially as explored in June Singer in her book 'Androgyny' has been in existence from ancient times, especially in mythology. Sometimes, especially in media discussions of trans terminology and controversial discussions, the archetypal aspects of androgyny get missed out as a philosophical aspect of the nature of sexuality and gender.