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Three is greater than two. Do you “agree”? (chuckle) I know, I know. It’s not an “agreement.” You either understand that three is a larger number (greater than) two, or you do not understand. But whether you understand it or not, three is still greater than two. Three is greater than two if you understand it, and it’s greater than two if you don’t understand it. Anyone who does not ‘agree’ is either delusional, ignorant or dishonest. Facts are facts.
Binary is the simpler of the two so here is the OED, weighing in on what binary means.
2. Relating to or using a system of numerical notation that has two rather than 10 as a base.
We can discard the second definition, since it clearly only applies when you are delineating binary number representations (01110011010) from the standard 10 base counting system (10, 100, 1000).
Binary is relating to, composed of, or involving two things. So, in other words, if there are more than two of something then it would be inaccurate to use ‘binary’ to describe it.
1. Either of the two sexes (male and female), especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones. The term is also used more broadly to denote a Range of identities that Do Not Correspond To Established Ideas Of Male And Female.
(There are admittedly two long worded secondary and tertiary definitions that I have not included as they are only in reference to word adjustment in languages that modify words by gender suffix, etc, such as “la” and “el” distinctions in Spanish that modify words with the suffixes ‘o’ or ‘a’.)
Read the underlined part of the Oxford English Dictionary definition. It’s important. Here is a quote from Wikipedia’s description of gender.
Gender is the Range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between, masculinity and femininity. Depending on the context, these characteristics may include biological sex (i.e., the state of being male, female, or an intersex variation), sex-based social structures (i.e., gender roles), or gender identity.
A simple way to summarize these concepts is that gender is “how people perceive sexuality (including their own sexuality) and sexual identification within the context of any culture.”
Yes, the traditional way that the vast majority of people in most cultures “gender identify” is as “male” or “female.” And yes, looking at only the traditional choices, there are two. So, you could even get away with a modified statement such as “traditional gender ID is a binary.” But, as you can see from the definitions, it’s a Range of Personal Identification and people are Not Bound By Tradition.
And, people in cultures around the world identify in more than two ways. The Hijras of Indian culture do not gender identify as either male or female. Neither to the Muxe of Zapotec culture. These are just two of many non-traditional ways that people around the world gender identify. And again, it’s what They say they are. If other people are saying ‘that’s not a gender,’ that doesn’t matter, what gender is – is how They choose to Self-identify within a culture that also acknowledges these IDs. Muxe are a recognized gender within a culture. It’s a gender ID whether you like it or not.
So… we have many. But, we only need three to put this “binary” thing to bed. Let’s use hijras as our one of many, and count. Here are some culturally recognized gender IDs:
2. Female
3. Hijra
How many did you count there? Did you get three? Me too! Yay, we are good at counting. Is three greater than two? Yup. It is. The number of acknowledged genders we have listed is greater than two. Gender is not a binary. Now you know.
The “there are only two genders” people are trying to tell you that the only two ways that people identify their own sexuality is “male” and “female.” They are trying to delegitimize the ability of people to choose anything other than those and say “you can’t choose that.” But… again… it doesn’t matter if they don’t like it or not. Gender is how They identify, not whether or not a random bigot recognizes their identification. That is not part of the definition. Three is greater than two whether you recognize the number three or not. Those bigots are simply announcing their ignorance, delusion or dishonesty.
It’s not a debate. You just know that there are more than two. Or you do not know (ignorance). Or you’re delusional (you think that three is not greater than two, and probably also think that Elvis is your boyfriend). Or you are dishonest (I’m going to pretend like you haven’t identified a third gender, because I prefer lying about it).
Three is greater than two whether you like it or not.
And no matter how You Self-Identify, you should know that I love you just the way you are.
Hugs!
I really do think you need realise that Ireland is not the sub Continent, while we must thank those Indian's who sent us rice during an gorta mor in the 1840's it is in the east of a far off continent, not here where their principles do not apply.
ReplyDeleteThis is the fact, no amount of liberal redefining of normal can change basic facts, there are only two genders, it is the normal and no abnormality can alter basic fact, no Legislation can alter fact, biology, which I read to A' level and chemistry which I read to post grad. does not recognise more than two genders so therefore two plus two, as I learned in national school, equals only four.
ReplyDeleteVery woolly thinking. You state that there are a "Range of identities that Do Not Correspond To Established Ideas Of Male And Female.". Ignoring your shrill capitalisations, don't you see how you are merely updating a rigid 1950s viewpoint which obliges people to be defined by a limited amount of cultural identifiers?
How about the view that a male or a female can be whatever the hell they want to be? That it should be culturally unremarkable that the full A-Z of all of those identities should be culturally available to everyone, regardless of the shape of one's genitalia? So, you've male or female genitalia. Who bloody cares? I judge people by the quality of their character, not by their bits. Any woman can be whatever she wants to be. Women can join the army, drink beer, do fine art, sleep around, race cars, be unisex, whatever. Blokes can do crocheting and wearmake-up. Who, other than a bunch of sad right-wing nutjobs, gives a flying fuck what anyone does in their life or with their appearance? Why are you so keen to pigeonhole and categorise people? Why does that matter to you? In attempting to reject the narrowness of traditional 1950s gender orthodoxy, instead of breaking down those resurgent, ridiculous stereotypes, you (ironically and disastrously) are calling for an increased fragmentation into a myriad of new gender-identity sub-sets. Your response to an artificially-constructed division is to create more divisions. Congratulations. But you're a product of your era, so in love with identity politics and the narcissism of small differences, that you haven't the sense to step back and see how reactionary and controlling ("its not a debate" is the utterance of a fascist) you really are.
menace Biology recognises 5 sexes based on chromosomal combinations. They are entirely organic and natural combinations free from any artificial interferance from law or religion. Refusing to accept natural variances is based upon a personal choice rather than sound scientic or biological facts.
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