The Guardian reports this:
which seems straighforward, and simplifies some of the issues re gender which have emerged over the last decade or more.
Unfortunately it does ignore some biology and perhaps leaves some people stranded. There are a relatively few people who may have male or female characteristics, but who are genetically anomalous.
Time magazine recently had a letter or article from or about one such person, so while gender assignment at birth is presumably simple in around 98% or more of the population, some people are born different.
Just as it is generally true that "men" are male, and "women" are female is largely correct, for a few people this does not work.
It appears to have been recognised as a "problem" to be solved in the past, leading to potentially unwanted solutions, either involving drugs or surgery.
Thus just as most people are born with 5 fingers and 5 toes on hands and feet, there are some who do not have those characteristics.
Medics may then interfere, and suggest surgical treatments, though as in some of the cases from the recently refocused cases of birth "defects" due to the contamination in the dismantling of the Corby steel works, in some cases it might have been better to just leave the children alone - rather than subject them to years of painful or seemingly pointless surgery.
So the legal system has "solved" one issue, but swept some others under the carpet.
which seems straighforward, and simplifies some of the issues re gender which have emerged over the last decade or more.
Unfortunately it does ignore some biology and perhaps leaves some people stranded. There are a relatively few people who may have male or female characteristics, but who are genetically anomalous.
Time magazine recently had a letter or article from or about one such person, so while gender assignment at birth is presumably simple in around 98% or more of the population, some people are born different.
Just as it is generally true that "men" are male, and "women" are female is largely correct, for a few people this does not work.
It appears to have been recognised as a "problem" to be solved in the past, leading to potentially unwanted solutions, either involving drugs or surgery.
Thus just as most people are born with 5 fingers and 5 toes on hands and feet, there are some who do not have those characteristics.
Medics may then interfere, and suggest surgical treatments, though as in some of the cases from the recently refocused cases of birth "defects" due to the contamination in the dismantling of the Corby steel works, in some cases it might have been better to just leave the children alone - rather than subject them to years of painful or seemingly pointless surgery.
So the legal system has "solved" one issue, but swept some others under the carpet.
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