This is probably one of the reasons why they are so successful in the discourse. But then again, it’s like sex and and the biology of sex is way more complicated than any of these anti-trans activists are willing to admit. But I think what’s happened is that because a lot of the anti-discrimination policies protecting trans people are written with the language of protecting gender identity or gender expression, it becomes this convenient go-to to say, “Well, actually, we’re concerned about sex, which is different from gender.” So there’s a little bit of a hand wave there. It’s a lot more complicated, and you can’t just pull those things apart. And basically, all these fields have decided that actually, that’s all crap. We went through this period of time in the 60s through 80s when a lot of psychologists and sociologists and feminists were thinking in terms of sex-gender dichotomy, that there are two separate things, that sex is physical and gender is psychological or social. Sex is biology and science, and gender is this ephemeral identity stuff that isn’t based in concrete reality, which is a very bizarre separation to make in 2021. I think that there’s become, especially in the last five years-although these arguments have been around for a long time-this tendency to separate out gender from sex. And I do cite your credentials because the argument that is always trotted out by these right-wing pundits is, “Oh, well, you’re ignoring biology.” And when I cite you I always think “You know who could tell them something about biology?” Does this “trans people don’t understand biology” thing just drive you up the wall? Serano But you also you have a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biophysics from Columbia and spent 17 years researching genetics and developmental and evolutionary biology, and I cite this fact when I mention your work, which I do fairly frequently because one of my special interests is responding to bullshit conservative arguments. You are the author of a number of books, including a surrealist novel. People can go to to find out about all the many things you do. You’re a musician, a spoken word performer, and a writer. It has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity. Serano corrects the laughably ignorant claims that transgender people misunderstand or ignore “biology.” In fact, it is the critics who are unacquainted with the basics of science.Ī transcript of the interview follows. Having previously spent two decades as a professional biologist, Dr. They go through some of the most common arguments made about trans people in the popular press and show why they are pernicious, factually incorrect nonsense. Rowling, Helen Joyce, Deborah Soh, Abigail Shrier, and Ben Shapiro. Robinson on an episode of the Current Affairs podcast to examine claims made by J.K. Serano recently joined Current Affairs editor in chief Nathan J. Her “ transgender glossary of sorts” is also an essential resource for those who find gender and sexuality terms confusing or imprecise.ĭr. She has written a number of articles patiently taking apart common misconceptions. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, Salon, and elsewhere. Serano is a PhD molecular biologist, writer, and musician whose books include Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity, Outspoken: A Decade of Transgender Activism and Trans Feminism, and the surrealist novel 99 Erics. There are a lot of bullshit arguments made against transgender people, and no person is better at debunking these arguments than Dr.
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