And We Evolve

by Lisa Pellegrino
Cornwall Meeting

Love is a boundless energy which, when truly free, overflows all the ideological vessels that society constructs to contain it.

— June Singer, Androgyny, 1976

 

I get it. We were all taught from an early age that there are only two genders. It’s taken me a while to understand the difference between biological sex, gender identity, and culture & psychology.

I wish all conversations about gender started with an acknowledgement of this reality:

“We often conflate male with masculine,

and female with feminine,

when in actuality each of us contain energies of both.”

— Mythic Deviant, Sea Gabriel, fellow Friend in Seattle

 

Words Create Worlds

Language has, and always will, evolve. As do we. We can look to science to help us understand the nuances beyond the antiquated perspective of a gender binary. COVID-19 pandemic aside, the scientific method has become an incredibly helpful empirical framework for settling debates where facts supersede opinions, involving careful observation, repeatable experiments, and peer review. Hallelu!

 

There’s an instructive web page by Cade Hildreth called “Gender Spectrum: A Scientist Explains Why Gender Isn’t Binary.” When we think of gender or sex many of us only consider external genitalia, a penis or a vagina, which is just one of the 10 biological markers of sex. None of these biological markers is bimodal; they all vary and are diverse across the human species. In addition to external genitalia, the other biological markers of sex are:

  • internal genitalia
  • chromosomes
  • gonads
  • hormones
  • gametes
  • secondary sex characteristics (“features that appear during puberty, but are not involved with reproduction”)
  • skeletal structure
  • gene expression
  • brain structure (highly recommend Dr. Robert Sapolsky’s research on the neurobiology of transsexuality)
  • hormone receptor sensitivity

 

I have found search terms like “queer ecology” particularly insightful and healing in understanding how varied biological sex presents in not only humans, but in all of the natural world (female hyenas have huge penises! whaaaaa?!!?). It’s been interesting to note how younger generations instantly embrace these concepts, while also noticing how older generations struggle, often riddled with confusion, especially on related topics like pronouns. Again, I get it. It’s hard to keep up. Many of us have a fear of being wrong, and when issues related to sex and gender, or race come up, we’re inevitably going to get it wrong. But we live and learn, no?

 

So how is gender related to Quaker Faith & Practice? In a word, TRUTH. An integral part of Quakerism is not only about asking questions, but asking questions in the pursuit of seeking truth. Oftentimes, truth can be found beyond a binary concept of “right” and “wrong.” In my humble opinion, the ability for one’s mind to hold contradictory realities, or “holding both,” can be a spiritual act.

 

Let us educate each other on how transgender individuals have always existed, will always exist, and learn the scientific basis behind the varied ways that biological sex presents in humans. I share this information with you so that you too can be equipped with the facts. Civil discourse is one of the key ways that we’ve evolved as a species. While I know many people’s minds and hearts won’t be changed by science, logic, and reason, I know how much my own mind and heart have expanded with this knowledge. Now. How to turn it into wisdom?