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Original poster

Most of the time we really DON'T need to know what sex someone else is, do we?

42 replies

solidgoldbrass · 31/05/2012 23:40

You don't need to know what's in people's underwear to pour them a pint, buy a used car from them, arrange a mortgage for them, share a table with them in a crowded cafe, have your letters delivered by them, etc etc etc.
Apart from when you're contemplating sex (or TTC) with someone, or you are a medical professional needing to treat an ailment, are there many other occasions when it actually matters what sex/gender another person is?

OP posts:
Yama · 01/06/2012 23:20

I was just saying to dh tonight that most (all) men in the UK have more in common with me than about 3 and a half billion men around the world.

Age is another thing that we are programmed to judge. I want to break free from the shackles of judgement.

Original poster
solidgoldbrass · 01/06/2012 23:12

Given that all religion is harmful to women, they'd be better off binning it altogether than worrying about other people's sex/gender. If it wasn't for idiot superstitions, they wouldn't have to worry.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 01/06/2012 22:55

I agree that it's irrelevant in most situations - and the point about role models is moot, because if sex/gender wasn't disclosed in the first place, there would be no such thing as a male/female dominated profession, in any way other than, perhaps, some professions carry a stereotype for being more likely to attract gay or straight people.

I don't know about the religious argument, though, that has thrown me a bit.

KalSkirata · 01/06/2012 22:50

religious women like to know. And their identity and feelinfs are important too.

Original poster
solidgoldbrass · 01/06/2012 21:56

Trills: I find that really depressing. One of the things I have always liked about the Internet (and all the forerunners, perhaps not so much CB but Loot 900 and BBS) was that you didn't have to say whether you were male, female, black, white, rich, poor, deaf, blind, wheelchair user, whatever.

OP posts:
Original poster
solidgoldbrass · 01/06/2012 21:53

I said 'underwear contents' as the majority of people consider 'sex'(the state of being rather than the activity) as being to do with your genitalia. VB: would you have preferred 'chromosomes'?

OP posts:
Trills · 01/06/2012 13:19

If I am pouring a pint, no.

But if I am having a conversation with someone then every bit of information about their life, who they are, who they consider themselves to be, how they may have been treated differently by the world at large, all of that will affect how I interpret what they say.

VashtiBunyan · 01/06/2012 11:48

Sorry, that was entirely my fault Kim and I apologise. I didn't realise the OP had said that. I will redirect that question to SGB.

SGB, why are you equating underwear contents with sex and gender?

kim147 · 01/06/2012 11:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VashtiBunyan · 01/06/2012 11:32

The OP never mentioned 'underwear contents.' You're mentioned it twice. Neither gender nor sex = underwear contents and I think its pretty offensive to keep referring to it in that way.

kim147 · 01/06/2012 07:51

This reply has been deleted

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kim147 · 01/06/2012 07:41

This reply has been deleted

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WidowWadman · 01/06/2012 07:00

"So more women are more likely to enter a male dominated profession if they see other women have already been successful in it."

I see the point you're making, but at the same time I wonder whether it's a good thing to point out a role model's sex?

I'm trying to make sure that my daughters learn plenty about successful women, but I'm trying to avoid pointing out they're women, as if that made it more special. Because I just want them not to find it remarkable that a woman is successful in her field any more than that a man is successful. I want them to find it normal.

LucieMay · 01/06/2012 01:30

When I'm out on the pull I like to know Wink

VashtiBunyan · 31/05/2012 23:55

In an ideal world, no. In the current world I think there is a lot of benefit to knowing someone's sex if they could be a role model. So more women are more likely to enter a male dominated profession if they see other women have already been successful in it.

kim147 · 31/05/2012 23:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MiniTheMinx · 31/05/2012 23:43

Personally, no. I think it would be great to get to a point where people could just be free to be people without having to conform to gender stereotypical looks or behaviour.

We are not at that place now.