When the midwife cries, “It’s a girl!” she is not assigning anything, she is merely reporting the presence of one or other set of genitalia. In almost every case, this will turn out to correspond with the chromosomal make-up of the child, so it’s a perfectly valid procedure that has stood the test of time.
As Debbie points out, sex is determined – not “assigned” – at the moment of conception.
Yes, sex in mammals is determined by chromosomes but it is defined by the anatomical structures that develop and support the production of either large or small gametes. The external genitalia are the outward manifestation of this anatomy.
Yes, sex in mammals is determined by chromosomes but it is defined by the anatomical structures that develop and support the production of either large or small gametes. The external genitalia are the outward manifestation of this anatomy.
Dougie Undersub
1 year ago
When the midwife cries, “It’s a girl!” she is not assigning anything, she is merely reporting the presence of one or other set of genitalia. In almost every case, this will turn out to correspond with the chromosomal make-up of the child, so it’s a perfectly valid procedure that has stood the test of time.
As Debbie points out, sex is determined – not “assigned” – at the moment of conception.
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
One minor quibble with the article; “Children need to be taught the truth about sex and gender.”
Maybe schools shouldn’t be involved at all in teaching sex and gender. The state is struggling to teach reading, writing and math. Maybe we should leave sex and gender to the adults.
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
One minor quibble with the article; “Children need to be taught the truth about sex and gender.”
Maybe schools shouldn’t be involved at all in teaching sex and gender. The state is struggling to teach reading, writing and math. Maybe we should leave sex and gender to the adults.
polidori redux
1 year ago
“… there was even a BBC programme aimed at 9- to 12-year olds that asserted that there “are over 100 genders”.
Nobody believes that. Those that profess to believe it are being disnonest. I know it, you know and they know it.
Absolutely correct. Not one single person has ever changed seks. Anyone who says otherwise is knowingly uttering a falsehood, i.e. lying.
Last edited 1 year ago by Richard Craven
polidori redux
1 year ago
“… there was even a BBC programme aimed at 9- to 12-year olds that asserted that there “are over 100 genders”.
Nobody believes that. Those that profess to believe it are being disnonest. I know it, you know and they know it.
Andrew D
1 year ago
It’s the Emperor’s New Clothes. Even after the scales had fallen from everybody’s eyes, the Emperor continued parading as if nothing had happened. Those with a vested interest in denying reality will continue to deny it.
Andrew D
1 year ago
It’s the Emperor’s New Clothes. Even after the scales had fallen from everybody’s eyes, the Emperor continued parading as if nothing had happened. Those with a vested interest in denying reality will continue to deny it.
Lennon Ó Náraigh
1 year ago
We are told by the BBC that there are over 100 genders. An “educator” on the Isle of Man tells us there are 73. A distinguished senator from Ireland gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament that there are precisely 9 genders. Now Debbie Hayton is telling us there are as many genders as there are people. This is highly discriminatory to other number systems: if gender really is a spectrum, it is high-time to accept that genders can’t really be labelled by the integers alone. We need to look at other number systems: irrational genders, imaginary genders, etc.
I wonder if my gender is transcendental or imaginary. If the latter it may require a 4D representation which might explain why it is so elusive to most people.
Your sex is what you have between your legs, your gender is what you have between your ears. Gender, a psycho-social idea, is therefore a rather useless category for discerning differences.
Sex and gender get confused and conflated when they are used interchangeably or incorrectly. A prime example is government and corporate forms to fill in that don’t ask for your sex but for your gender when what they really want to know is your sex. As this confusion has become endemic it has ignited the gender wars.
I wonder if my gender is transcendental or imaginary. If the latter it may require a 4D representation which might explain why it is so elusive to most people.
Your sex is what you have between your legs, your gender is what you have between your ears. Gender, a psycho-social idea, is therefore a rather useless category for discerning differences.
Sex and gender get confused and conflated when they are used interchangeably or incorrectly. A prime example is government and corporate forms to fill in that don’t ask for your sex but for your gender when what they really want to know is your sex. As this confusion has become endemic it has ignited the gender wars.
Lennon Ó Náraigh
1 year ago
We are told by the BBC that there are over 100 genders. An “educator” on the Isle of Man tells us there are 73. A distinguished senator from Ireland gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament that there are precisely 9 genders. Now Debbie Hayton is telling us there are as many genders as there are people. This is highly discriminatory to other number systems: if gender really is a spectrum, it is high-time to accept that genders can’t really be labelled by the integers alone. We need to look at other number systems: irrational genders, imaginary genders, etc.
As usual from this author. A pity some Unherd authors can’t get the balance right.
Richard Craven
1 year ago
Sensible article.
Nancy G
1 year ago
Another sensible and enlightening article by Debbie Hayton.
Sex Matters (the organisation started by Maya Forstater) is asking people in the UK to sign their petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
They need 100,000 signatures to guarantee a debate in the UK parliament. With everything Debbie has said and with the recent controversy about ‘transwomen’ in Scottish prisons in mind, please join the 83,817 people who have already signed the petition. https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
Why should sex (or anything else) be a protected characteristic?
Nancy G
1 year ago
Another sensible and enlightening article by Debbie Hayton.
Sex Matters (the organisation started by Maya Forstater) is asking people in the UK to sign their petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
They need 100,000 signatures to guarantee a debate in the UK parliament. With everything Debbie has said and with the recent controversy about ‘transwomen’ in Scottish prisons in mind, please join the 83,817 people who have already signed the petition. https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
AJ Mac
1 year ago
When the author is a transsexual–Hayton’s own term–the words are more likely to be heard by the herd–not only at this website but across a “diverse spectrum” of readers. It’d be nice to reach a point where a balanced, informed view such as this could get published somewhere like the NYT or (trigger warning) Guardian.
Last edited 1 year ago by AJ Mac
AJ Mac
1 year ago
When the author is a transsexual–Hayton’s own term–the words are more likely to be heard by the herd–not only at this website but across a “diverse spectrum” of readers. It’d be nice to reach a point where a balanced, informed view such as this could get published somewhere like the NYT or (trigger warning) Guardian.
Last edited 1 year ago by AJ Mac
michael stanwick
1 year ago
If gender expression is a way in which we exhibit that personality, then of course there is a spectrum of gender expression. It has as many points on the way as there are people in the world.
In other words gender, as used here, is personality.
michael stanwick
1 year ago
If gender expression is a way in which we exhibit that personality, then of course there is a spectrum of gender expression. It has as many points on the way as there are people in the world.
In other words gender, as used here, is personality.
Matt Sylvestre
1 year ago
Ms. Hayton – Both Rationality and Empathy together are lucky to call you their own. As are we readers of Unherd.
Matt Sylvestre
1 year ago
Ms. Hayton – Both Rationality and Empathy together are lucky to call you their own. As are we readers of Unherd.
Jane Watson
1 year ago
I always read your articles Debbie. Can you please write (or have you already written) a piece explaining from your perspective, as far as you understand, the need to transition.
I’m guessing there are different motivations, and that men who are prepared to sacrifice their genitals are the exception, but what is going on when predatory heterosexual men ‘identify’ as female? Are they trying to dissociate from their ‘bad’ self? Do they even know?
I always read your articles Debbie. Can you please write (or have you already written) a piece explaining from your perspective, as far as you understand, the need to transition.
I’m guessing there are different motivations, and that men who are prepared to sacrifice their genitals are the exception, but what is going on when predatory heterosexual men ‘identify’ as female? Are they trying to dissociate from their ‘bad’ self? Do they even know?
Daniel Lee
1 year ago
Zero confidence that the gender activists masquerading as teachers will change their pedagogical activities in the slightest.
Daniel Lee
1 year ago
Zero confidence that the gender activists masquerading as teachers will change their pedagogical activities in the slightest.
Gerald Arcuri
1 year ago
Saint Patrick presarve us! The Irish are rushing headlong to beat the Scots at who can be the most idiotically “woke”. It’s a race to the bottom…
Gerald Arcuri
1 year ago
Saint Patrick presarve us! The Irish are rushing headlong to beat the Scots at who can be the most idiotically “woke”. It’s a race to the bottom…
Albireo Double
1 year ago
The tide’s turning…
Albireo Double
1 year ago
The tide’s turning…
Helen Hughes
1 year ago
Debbie, I recently watched your interview on Triggernometry from a year or so ago. I found you so clear and commonsensical – it was quite the best video I’ve ever seen on the subject (you trumped even Jordan Peterson with Helen Joyce ). I’m very grateful for your voice.
Helen Hughes
1 year ago
Debbie, I recently watched your interview on Triggernometry from a year or so ago. I found you so clear and commonsensical – it was quite the best video I’ve ever seen on the subject (you trumped even Jordan Peterson with Helen Joyce ). I’m very grateful for your voice.
When the midwife cries, “It’s a girl!” she is not assigning anything, she is merely reporting the presence of one or other set of genitalia. In almost every case, this will turn out to correspond with the chromosomal make-up of the child, so it’s a perfectly valid procedure that has stood the test of time.
As Debbie points out, sex is determined – not “assigned” – at the moment of conception.
Absolutely correct. Sex is observed, not assigned.
Yes, sex in mammals is determined by chromosomes but it is defined by the anatomical structures that develop and support the production of either large or small gametes. The external genitalia are the outward manifestation of this anatomy.
Absolutely correct. Sex is observed, not assigned.
Yes, sex in mammals is determined by chromosomes but it is defined by the anatomical structures that develop and support the production of either large or small gametes. The external genitalia are the outward manifestation of this anatomy.
When the midwife cries, “It’s a girl!” she is not assigning anything, she is merely reporting the presence of one or other set of genitalia. In almost every case, this will turn out to correspond with the chromosomal make-up of the child, so it’s a perfectly valid procedure that has stood the test of time.
As Debbie points out, sex is determined – not “assigned” – at the moment of conception.
One minor quibble with the article; “Children need to be taught the truth about sex and gender.”
Maybe schools shouldn’t be involved at all in teaching sex and gender. The state is struggling to teach reading, writing and math. Maybe we should leave sex and gender to the adults.
One minor quibble with the article; “Children need to be taught the truth about sex and gender.”
Maybe schools shouldn’t be involved at all in teaching sex and gender. The state is struggling to teach reading, writing and math. Maybe we should leave sex and gender to the adults.
“… there was even a BBC programme aimed at 9- to 12-year olds that asserted that there “are over 100 genders”.
Nobody believes that. Those that profess to believe it are being disnonest. I know it, you know and they know it.
But did the children watching it know it?
Scary point.
Scary point.
Absolutely correct. Not one single person has ever changed seks. Anyone who says otherwise is knowingly uttering a falsehood, i.e. lying.
But did the children watching it know it?
Absolutely correct. Not one single person has ever changed seks. Anyone who says otherwise is knowingly uttering a falsehood, i.e. lying.
“… there was even a BBC programme aimed at 9- to 12-year olds that asserted that there “are over 100 genders”.
Nobody believes that. Those that profess to believe it are being disnonest. I know it, you know and they know it.
It’s the Emperor’s New Clothes. Even after the scales had fallen from everybody’s eyes, the Emperor continued parading as if nothing had happened. Those with a vested interest in denying reality will continue to deny it.
It’s the Emperor’s New Clothes. Even after the scales had fallen from everybody’s eyes, the Emperor continued parading as if nothing had happened. Those with a vested interest in denying reality will continue to deny it.
We are told by the BBC that there are over 100 genders. An “educator” on the Isle of Man tells us there are 73. A distinguished senator from Ireland gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament that there are precisely 9 genders. Now Debbie Hayton is telling us there are as many genders as there are people. This is highly discriminatory to other number systems: if gender really is a spectrum, it is high-time to accept that genders can’t really be labelled by the integers alone. We need to look at other number systems: irrational genders, imaginary genders, etc.
I wonder if my gender is transcendental or imaginary. If the latter it may require a 4D representation which might explain why it is so elusive to most people.
Would he have complex genders, or would that be a gender complex?
jender?
jender?
Your sex is what you have between your legs, your gender is what you have between your ears. Gender, a psycho-social idea, is therefore a rather useless category for discerning differences.
Sex and gender get confused and conflated when they are used interchangeably or incorrectly. A prime example is government and corporate forms to fill in that don’t ask for your sex but for your gender when what they really want to know is your sex. As this confusion has become endemic it has ignited the gender wars.
I wonder if my gender is transcendental or imaginary. If the latter it may require a 4D representation which might explain why it is so elusive to most people.
Would he have complex genders, or would that be a gender complex?
Your sex is what you have between your legs, your gender is what you have between your ears. Gender, a psycho-social idea, is therefore a rather useless category for discerning differences.
Sex and gender get confused and conflated when they are used interchangeably or incorrectly. A prime example is government and corporate forms to fill in that don’t ask for your sex but for your gender when what they really want to know is your sex. As this confusion has become endemic it has ignited the gender wars.
We are told by the BBC that there are over 100 genders. An “educator” on the Isle of Man tells us there are 73. A distinguished senator from Ireland gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament that there are precisely 9 genders. Now Debbie Hayton is telling us there are as many genders as there are people. This is highly discriminatory to other number systems: if gender really is a spectrum, it is high-time to accept that genders can’t really be labelled by the integers alone. We need to look at other number systems: irrational genders, imaginary genders, etc.
Sensible article.
As usual from this author. A pity some Unherd authors can’t get the balance right.
As usual from this author. A pity some Unherd authors can’t get the balance right.
Sensible article.
Another sensible and enlightening article by Debbie Hayton.
Sex Matters (the organisation started by Maya Forstater) is asking people in the UK to sign their petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
They need 100,000 signatures to guarantee a debate in the UK parliament. With everything Debbie has said and with the recent controversy about ‘transwomen’ in Scottish prisons in mind, please join the 83,817 people who have already signed the petition.
https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
Why should sex (or anything else) be a protected characteristic?
Why should sex (or anything else) be a protected characteristic?
Another sensible and enlightening article by Debbie Hayton.
Sex Matters (the organisation started by Maya Forstater) is asking people in the UK to sign their petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
They need 100,000 signatures to guarantee a debate in the UK parliament. With everything Debbie has said and with the recent controversy about ‘transwomen’ in Scottish prisons in mind, please join the 83,817 people who have already signed the petition.
https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
When the author is a transsexual–Hayton’s own term–the words are more likely to be heard by the herd–not only at this website but across a “diverse spectrum” of readers. It’d be nice to reach a point where a balanced, informed view such as this could get published somewhere like the NYT or (trigger warning) Guardian.
When the author is a transsexual–Hayton’s own term–the words are more likely to be heard by the herd–not only at this website but across a “diverse spectrum” of readers. It’d be nice to reach a point where a balanced, informed view such as this could get published somewhere like the NYT or (trigger warning) Guardian.
If gender expression is a way in which we exhibit that personality, then of course there is a spectrum of gender expression. It has as many points on the way as there are people in the world.
In other words gender, as used here, is personality.
If gender expression is a way in which we exhibit that personality, then of course there is a spectrum of gender expression. It has as many points on the way as there are people in the world.
In other words gender, as used here, is personality.
Ms. Hayton – Both Rationality and Empathy together are lucky to call you their own. As are we readers of Unherd.
Ms. Hayton – Both Rationality and Empathy together are lucky to call you their own. As are we readers of Unherd.
I always read your articles Debbie. Can you please write (or have you already written) a piece explaining from your perspective, as far as you understand, the need to transition.
I’m guessing there are different motivations, and that men who are prepared to sacrifice their genitals are the exception, but what is going on when predatory heterosexual men ‘identify’ as female? Are they trying to dissociate from their ‘bad’ self? Do they even know?
Thank you. Here are a couple of Unherd pieces in which I talk about the reasons why I transitioned.
https://unherd.com/2021/08/why-i-became-trans/
https://unherd.com/2022/05/the-truth-about-autogynephilia/
Many thanks Debbie.
Many thanks Debbie.
Thank you. Here are a couple of Unherd pieces in which I talk about the reasons why I transitioned.
https://unherd.com/2021/08/why-i-became-trans/
https://unherd.com/2022/05/the-truth-about-autogynephilia/
I always read your articles Debbie. Can you please write (or have you already written) a piece explaining from your perspective, as far as you understand, the need to transition.
I’m guessing there are different motivations, and that men who are prepared to sacrifice their genitals are the exception, but what is going on when predatory heterosexual men ‘identify’ as female? Are they trying to dissociate from their ‘bad’ self? Do they even know?
Zero confidence that the gender activists masquerading as teachers will change their pedagogical activities in the slightest.
Zero confidence that the gender activists masquerading as teachers will change their pedagogical activities in the slightest.
Saint Patrick presarve us! The Irish are rushing headlong to beat the Scots at who can be the most idiotically “woke”. It’s a race to the bottom…
Saint Patrick presarve us! The Irish are rushing headlong to beat the Scots at who can be the most idiotically “woke”. It’s a race to the bottom…
The tide’s turning…
The tide’s turning…
Debbie, I recently watched your interview on Triggernometry from a year or so ago. I found you so clear and commonsensical – it was quite the best video I’ve ever seen on the subject (you trumped even Jordan Peterson with Helen Joyce ). I’m very grateful for your voice.
Debbie, I recently watched your interview on Triggernometry from a year or so ago. I found you so clear and commonsensical – it was quite the best video I’ve ever seen on the subject (you trumped even Jordan Peterson with Helen Joyce ). I’m very grateful for your voice.