Month: June 2015

Thomas McKellar

Biology of Gender

Dr. Hinks

June 18, 2015

 

The Physical and Mental Health of the Different Sexes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help Received: Artifacts

 

 

 

As Americans, in a modern western society, we take for granted so many things. From air conditioners, to cars, to computers, our lives are revolutionized by practices our ancestors could have only dreamed of. One of these revolutions is in the field of medicine. We can treat diseases that were one almost exclusively fatal, bring people back from the cusp of death, and perform near miracles on those in need. There are, however, many kinks and flaws left to be fixed in medicine. These include the differences in medical demands and restrictions for men and women and the resistance to the admittance of third genders. Through this course, I learned much about how we let historical mumbo jumbo, and ancient prejudices and practices define how we treat our fellow human beings.

One of the primary lessons I learned was the existence of a non-gender binary society. I believed that gender was determined by organs, and only by organs. This society is based on our out dated system where medicine did not understand the existence of intersex conditions, or have the ability to make an individual the gender they feel themselves as being. In Artifact 1, I specified that Gender not determined just by their organs, but by their personalities, the way they are raised, and their genetic makeup (Artifact 1). Nature thrives on mutations, on the hiccups that sexual reproduction provides. These mutations are not always helpful however, they can often cause a person to be in between male and female, in a grey area (Artifact 1). An individual’s gender identification can also be determined by outside factors, not just by genetics (Artifact 1). The effects of this are reflected by the ongoing prejudice, and unreasoned fear throughout our society. Especially in less developed countries in the Middle East and Africa, those who identify outside of their gender, or are born without a specific gender, are either shunted into a gender or are discriminated, persecuted, and even killed for just being different. Not long ago, in the West, these acts were commonplace. As our society modernizes, and medicine has uncovered the existence of more than two genders, our society has cooled off, so to speak. We have begun to be accepting, and tolerant, of those who choose other genders, or those who cannot have a gender (Artifact 4).

For all our medical revolutions and discoveries, sometimes humanity misses the most obvious criteria. These can range from the effects of medication to the misdiagnosis of a illness. However, a still massive problem, with effects spreading across the world, is the medical differences in men and women. I am not speaking of obvious differences, like genitalia, but the effects of medication, and the chemical differences between the two sexes. These differences did not emerge recently, on the realization that there are differences between men and women. for decades, medical trials were run almost exclusively on adult men, with no female or underage representation to test medications or procedures. A modern example of the effects of this is the discovery that women process the sleep aid Ambien differently, with women processing the drug slower, with some cases of over 45% of the medication remaining in their system. This could affect driving, motor skills, and the judgement of the individual, with potentially devastating consequences. The differences in healthcare are not just based on the actual procedures, but also on society expectations and the gender roles of each individual. A prime example of this is the difference of doctor visits between men and women (Artifact 5). Women are much more willing to go to the doctor, or have work done, than men. Men have a unhealthy reputation for avoiding medical checkups. However, many men avoid healthcare because they want to appear strong, and not risk potentially humiliating, “weakening” treatments that would show failure to live up to standards (Artifact 5). As my mother has always told me, men want to live up to their idol, and Clint Eastwood took a bullet to the chest in a Fistful of Dollars, so my swollen prostate cannot even begin to hurt me, right (Artifact 5)?

 

There is a reason people say men are from mars, and women from Venus. While so similar, we are so frightfully different that even we cannot comprehend it. It blows our own minds. So many failed relationships, arguments and fights are caused by very simple, discreet differences in our chemical, emotional and physical variances. This course really opened my eyes. I truly enjoyed it. I got to see so many cultural standards, and how different they are, even just from town to town in the United States. In my home, Texas, in Austin or Dallas, or any other large city, transgender or LGBT is just another person, no big deal. In Whitehouse, my town of 5000, there would be a small riot if one of “them thar homosex’als” disgraced the local trailer park. I think I am leaving this course more open than I was before.

Reflective Tag- This movie absolutely sobered and horrified me. I myself have a slight uncomfortableness to transgender, I will be honest, and their choice kind of freaks me out. But it is their life, their decision. I have no place to argue or throw my hat into the argument. The sickening part is that men and women were allowed to die because of their choice to change genders. That pisses me off. I do not care what a person chooses, but a human life is a human life. You do not let someone die because they freak you out, or make you uncomfortable. You put on your adult pants, swallow your goddamn bias, and save the fucking life.

Transgender is the new hot bed topic of the gender debates. The moral, physical, and spiritual aspect of the changes of the members of this community has a spectrum as heavily divided, and as fiercely defended, as the differences in the Allies and Axis in World War II. The heavy burden these individuals carry, and the darker side of the opponents of the movement, are brought to light by the movie Southern Comfort, telling a story of love, intimacy, and tragedy for a transgender couple in Georgia.

Robert Eads was your typical good old boy. He enjoyed smoking his pipe, watching the sun rise on his farm, and spending tie with his love, Lola. There was something out of place with Robert, however. He was a female to male transgender individual, who had retained his female genitalia. Lola Cola, his love, was a male to female transgender, who had retained her original genitalia as well. Robert was a happy, settled man, content with his plot in life, even despite the absolutely horrid ordeals he had been subjected to. For you see, he had very little time to live, for his body was attempting to kill him. He had terminal ovarian cancer.

This condition, extremely treatable in the early stages, had been allowed to progress by doctors who were attempting to protect their reputation, or to keep their other patients comfortable. This man, who had sacrificed family, friends, and a way of life to pursue what he felt was right, had been sentenced to death by those sworn by the Hippocratic Oath. Sadly, this was not an uncommon problem for those members of the transgender community. Unsightly scars, sloppy operations, or downright refusal of service were epidemic of these individuals. Robert Ead’s story, and others like his, spurred a grassroots campaign for the improvement of the healthcare of transgender communities.

Reflective Tag- Menstruation does not freak me out, or have anything to surprise me. With Jewish relatives, and quite a few women in close proximity to me, I have come to accept how a period works, and how to adjust to the environment. Buying tampons and pads is standard procedure at my house.

 

 

Menstruation. In the past, this word, or its colloquialism the period, would cause men to run for the hills. To flee like refugees from an invading army, which is what they perceived women on this natural process to be. However, as our society is enlightened, society has accepted and relaxed about this natural bodily function, while maybe not embracing it.

American women frown upon their period because we grow up with our elder’s expectations, and prejudices. So when we see the old view to a period as scary, freaky, and an abomination, we tend to accept this fact. It is a beautiful process in its own way, however. It allows us to procreate, shapes our culture, and has defined our sexual identities for millennia. While people continue to see the period as unnatural, women will be shackled. Look at the new. “Would a female in the Presidency be able to make rational decisions during menstruation?” This shows a patriarchal view towards our society. If President Obama has a bad gold game, or feels angry, does he nuke our enemies? Of course not. These questions merely show the underlying biases of the American public, of every Tom, Dick, and Harry on the streets.

While America is not ideal yet by a long shot, other countries and cultures are far behind. Take Nepal, for instance. Women during their cycle are confined to horrid conditions, isolation and deprivation, because they are “unclean”. In Africa, girls are taught how to handle and confine themselves, and then not even allowed to work, or clean, or even touch foodstuffs, for fear of making them unclean. All of these views come from ancient principles of cleanliness, to protect these early communities from contamination, and from the danger of blood and bodily fluids being exposed to the people. Modern society, with the dawn of pads, tampons, and menstruation cups, the chance of contamination, and of the community being endangered, is at an all-time historical low

Reflective Tag- Circumcision does not scare me. I am circumcised, so its normal to me. However, the female version, is a perversion to me. It literally sickens me that our race does this.

 

 

 

 

 

When we are infants, there are many things that are decided, or done for us. In much of the Western world, these customs include male circumcision, or the removal of the foreskin. This helps with cleanliness, which is the cultural basis of the practice, dating back to the ancient Hebrews. However in other cultures there is also the practice of female circumcision, which is also known as female genital mutilation. This practice is concentrated in Africa and the Middle East.

 

Male circumcision involves the removal of the foreskin from the penis, leaving the meatus exposed at all times. This has a basis in the Judeo-Christian cultures, dating back to 4000 BCE. It initially only had cultural significance, but there is now evidence that circumcision can help prevent HIV, STDS, and infections. The procedure, once done with a flint knife and muttered blessings, is now, in the majority of the world, performed by trained medical personnel just after birth. There are, however, cultures, such as in Africa, that perform circumcision at puberty, as an entrance into manhood. Men in Sub-Saharan Africa are being encouraged to get circumcised, because of the procedures possibility to slow the spread of HIV.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is female genital mutilation. This procedure involves removing the outer and inner labia, and the vulva, from the woman. This leads to serious infections, incontinence. The procedures are generally performed by a traditional circumciser in the girls’ homes, with or without anesthesia. The circumciser is usually an older woman, but in communities where the male barber has assumed the role of health worker he will perform the mutilation. There are no health benefits, or other positive aspects of this procedure.  It allows the males of the society to establish control, and authority, over the individuals.

Reflective Tag    This segment of lessons really filled my own prejudices against the medical system. My mother is a radiation oncologist, and often tells me about men who absolutely refuse to get lifesaving care because it would be debilitating, preventing them from doing every day tasks.

 

 

 

 

Biology is full of huge outer and inner nuances from species to species. However, within each species, these differences are much more subtle, so subtle that only the keenest medical observation can identify them. In mammals, these boundaries are most usually separated along the different sexes. This occurs in humans as well. Unlike the majority of humanity believes, the differences medically are very different in men and women, even though this fact has only come to the light in the last century.

 

Men and women have subtle but significant physiological and psychological differences. The way medication is processed, the effects it has, and potential complications can affect the sexes differently. The most recent development in this was with the discovery that women process the sleep aid Ambien differently, with women processing the drug slower, with some cases of over 45% of the medication remaining in their system. This could affect driving, motor skills, and the judgement of the individual, with potentially devastating consequences. There are some medial practices where this has been known for years, but never applied to other fields, such as the application of painkillers such as morphine or hydrocodieine.

The gender norms of individuals can greatly affect their attitude towards healthcare. Men have penchant for avoiding medical care, even in the form of routine checkups. While some of this could apply to standard fear of the doctor, much of it applies. However, many men avoid healthcare because they want to appear strong, and not risk potentially humiliating, “weakening” treatments that would show failure to live up to standards. The Marlboro Man never goes to the doctor, so why should I? The need to feel like a manly man leads many to ridicule, fear, and avoid potentially lifesaving procedures such as prostate exams and colonoscopies.