What makes a man a man, and a woman a woman? Is it biology, or is it more than t

1. 59

   chunk999posted 10 years ago

   What makes a man a man, and a woman a woman? Is it biology, or is it more than that? Please explain.
   
   If you woke up tomorrow morning as a member of the opposite sex, would you still hold on to your original gender identity. For example, if you are a woman and wake up as a man, are you still a woman? Why or why not?

   replyreport
2. 73

   aliasisposted 10 years ago

   I don't think it's biology, or at least not to a significant extent. People are people, and societal norms and pressures create gender structures. Personally, though I identify as a woman, I really don't think it's important for my self-identity. If I woke up as a man, I guess I'd be fine with letting my gender be fluid - well, beyond the shocking implications of such an ordeal, haha. On the other hand, some, maybe most people do feel their gender is a huge part of their identity, and I suppose those people, if their sex were miraculously switched, would become transgender?

   replyreport
   1. 59

      chunk999posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Nice response. Gender, for the most par,t is a huge aspect of peoples lives. I was hoping through a thought experiment that people could see how gender is a social construct and not the result of chromosomes or sex characteristics.

      replyreport
3. 0

   Ben Blackwellposted 10 years ago

   Based on my knowledge, biology does play a small part in it.  There are hormonal differences between the two genders.  Also, it seems like men lose weight a bit faster and have a higher upper limit in muscle growth.  However, I believe that much of the distinction lies with our culture.  For example, it is thought that girls are generally weaker than men, but a girl who doesn't weight lift should be just as strong as a man who doesn't, except the girl probably doesn't play sports as much because of society.  I believe that the main "problem" lies in our culture in society.
   
   I have no idea what it would be like to wake up as a member of the opposite sex.  I would first try to see where my mind itself is, before the gender differences.  It may be a strange thought, but I might not necessarily try to fight the change (unless I was married, possibly).

   replyreport
   1. 59

      chunk999posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Are weak men not men? Are men that produce as much estrogen as women not men? Are men that have had their testicles removed not men? So, you wouldn't feel like a man trapped in a woman's body?

      replyreport