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Sex and gender are more complicated than people want to believe. And in a world where many, many brave folks are coming forward to say that they don’t want to be categorized with the sex they were born with, or that they don’t identify with a particular gender at all, or a hundred other combinations of some or all of these things, others (who have never questioned what’s on their birth certificate) are confused.
How can this be true, they ask? Gender is the same as sex, isn’t it? And we just are what we are?
Well, here’s the thing – it turns out that chromosomally, cellularly, and biologically, sex and gender are not black and white, not easily defined, and are often fluid. And that’s not even layering a social or psychological aspect on top of it all.
Don’t believe me? Good, you shouldn’t – I’m a writer, not a biologist!
But Rebecca R. Helm is a biologist, and she recently tweeted an insanely insightful thread about how complicated it can be to classifying biological gender.
The best way to combat confusion is with knowledge, so buckle up and let’s go for a little learning ride, shall we?
First, she acknowledges that, on the outside, determining one’s biological sex might seem simple.
If you know a bit about biology you will probably say that biological sex is caused by chromosomes, XX and you’re female, XY and you’re male. This is “chromosomal sex” but is it “biological sex”? Well…
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
But right away, when you learn just a tiny bit more about those X and Y chromosomes, things begin to get more complicated.
Turns out there is only ONE GENE on the Y chromosome that really matters to sex. It’s called the SRY gene. During human embryonic development the SRY protein turns on male-associated genes. Having an SRY gene makes you “genetically male”. But is this “biological sex”?
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
Sometimes that SRY gene pops off the Y chromosome and over to an X chromosome. Surprise! So now you’ve got an X with an SRY and a Y without an SRY. What does this mean?
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
A Y with no SRY means physically you’re female, chromosomally you’re male (XY) and genetically you’re female (no SRY). An X with an SRY means you’re physically male, chromsomally female (XX) and genetically male (SRY). But biological sex is simple! There must be another answer…
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
And she keeps going, giving us a rundown of things possible and known, and everything out there that’s still a mystery, until – even though I’m educated and consider myself fairly quick on the uptake – I had to admit I was out of my depth.
Sex-related genes ultimately turn on hormones in specifics areas on the body, and reception of those hormones by cells throughout the body. Is this the root of “biological sex”??
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
“Hormonal male” means you produce ‘normal’ levels of male-associated hormones. Except some percentage of females will have higher levels of ‘male’ hormones than some percentage of males. Ditto ditto ‘female’ hormones. And…
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
…if you’re developing, your body may not produce enough hormones for your genetic sex. Leading you to be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally non-binary, and physically non-binary. Well, except cells have something to say about this…
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
Maybe cells are the answer to “biological sex”?? Right?? Cells have receptors that “hear” the signal from sex hormones. But sometimes those receptors don’t work. Like a mobile phone that’s on “do not disturb’. Call and cell, they will not answer.
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
And what should we do when we’re out of our depth? Defer to the experts, of course, who are comfortable in the deeper water and willing to hold your head above water, too.
What does this all mean?
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
It means you may be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally male/female/non-binary, with cells that may or may not hear the male/female/non-binary call, and all this leading to a body that can be male/non-binary/female.
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
Try out some combinations for yourself. Notice how confusing it gets? Can you point to what the absolute cause of biological sex is? Is it fair to judge people by it?
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
Of course you could try appealing to the numbers. “Most people are either male or female” you say. Except that as a biologist professor I will tell you…
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
The reason I don’t have my students look at their own chromosome in class is because people could learn that their chromosomal sex doesn’t match their physical sex, and learning that in the middle of a 10-point assignment is JUST NOT THE TIME.
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
So, let’s all take Rebecca R. Helm’s advice and just try to be kind to people.
Biological sex is complicated. Before you discriminate against someone on the basis of “biological sex” & identity, ask yourself: have you seen YOUR chromosomes? Do you know the genes of the people you love? The hormones of the people you work with? The state of their cells?
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
Since the answer will obviously be no, please be kind, respect people’s right to tell you who they are, and remember that you don’t have all the answers. Again: biology is complicated. Kindness and respect don’t have to be. [end of thread]
— Open Ocean Exploration (@RebeccaRHelm) December 20, 2019
Biological sex might not be simple to parse or grasp, but you know what is? Listening to what another human being is telling you about the body they inhabit and referring to them how they ask you to.
That’s something we can all start doing right now.
