If I may step in with a little opinion of my own - I think there's more a case of gender identity. At least, that's what it feels like to me. People who feel themselves to be male, female, both, or even gender neutral. I know a few people like this, and tend to talk about it a lot when I do meet someone new - because I think that a gender identity is different from having a certain set of thought processes.
I think the human mind can adapt to many things, and, that, as human beings we have many facets. Without going into too much detail - our social selves, our 'personal' selves, even the person we are to ourselves alone. I think that a gender identity in a body e/he/she/it isn't compatible with feels a large amount of discomfort, or, as Jonah says "the result would be insanity".
Another layer of this are the social expectations placed on us. I don't know why or how the mind works these things out. I still get double-takes when I refer to Jonah as "he". To me, it's natural, but I know that there're some people who simply cement a role, or a gender, or an entire mindset on a person - and that can be stressful.
(And, as a person who hangs out with a lot of gay men, I've had the same experiences. To me, they seem more isolationist and intolerant (in general, not specific).
I wish the lot of you were in Ottawa -- I'd relish a chance to discuss something like this in person.
I think the human mind can adapt to many things, and, that, as human beings we have many facets. Without going into too much detail - our social selves, our 'personal' selves, even the person we are to ourselves alone. I think that a gender identity in a body e/he/she/it isn't compatible with feels a large amount of discomfort, or, as Jonah says "the result would be insanity".
Another layer of this are the social expectations placed on us. I don't know why or how the mind works these things out. I still get double-takes when I refer to Jonah as "he". To me, it's natural, but I know that there're some people who simply cement a role, or a gender, or an entire mindset on a person - and that can be stressful.
(And, as a person who hangs out with a lot of gay men, I've had the same experiences. To me, they seem more isolationist and intolerant (in general, not specific).
I wish the lot of you were in Ottawa -- I'd relish a chance to discuss something like this in person.
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