“Assigned at birth” - help me with the counter argument!

I use it as a modifier or a verb, but rarely as a noun. I doubt I'm made more popular by my habit of asking people to clarify whenever they use "gender" and then when they say "euphemism for sex" asking them if they'd consider jettisoning that usage because it's being used as a political weapon against me, though.

*nonsense

CaveMum I've just had a look at the document from which your screenshot came and lower down in 'section 8 Summary' it states:

Sex and gender are different concepts that are often used interchangeably. The UK government refers to sex as being biologically defined, and gender as a social construct that is an internal sense of self, whether an individual sees themselves as a man or a woman, or another gender identity

So the ONS does know, but have used Stonewall (I assume) approved 'assigned at birth' instead of 'observed and recorded at birth'. COuld yu ask your colleague why someone would 'assign' a biologically defined class

I just don’t use it any more - when do you really need to use the word these days. It was a euphemism for ‘s-e-x’ back in the day.

The word 'gender' is a nuisance. It has become a poor substitute for the word 'sex' when it doesn't mean the same thing. Just because too many people were too squeamish to use the word sex to describe male or female.

I’m not sure whether talking about chromosomes is a good idea, because then you might get pulled into the weeds of having to explain that people with DSDs aren’t between sexes.

But you could mess with their poor woke minds even more. "Yes, there are cases of anomalous chromosomes. That's why it's so important to do the testing., so you know if someone has a physical issue or a mental disorder. It makes sure that everyone with problems gets the kind of help they need."

I’d concentrate more on the fact that sex is observed, not chosen.

Agreed; would also suggest getting in a sneaky hint that OP knows more about this than the ex colleague does by stating that phenotypical sex is observed at birth; from this chromosomal sex is inferred rather than observed or assigned.

Just seen thisposted on the The Glinner Thing thread by Deliriumoftheendless and it made me laugh:

I believe they hold up a lipstick and a spanner and see which the newborn reaches for

I know that that thread is discussing male/female brains, but it works for the assigned at birth nonssence too, I think

‘Don’t be so bloody stupid - you look, you see’

I’m not sure whether talking about chromosomes is a good idea, because then you might get pulled into the weeds of having to explain that people with DSDs aren’t between sexes.

I’d concentrate more on the fact that sex is observed, not chosen.

It gets tough if you're putting your job in jeopardy by not cooperating, but I'd want to say "You should say sex is observed at birth, not assigned at birth. What really counts is the chromosomes, so if anyone thinks the observation was wrong, they can always get it checked. Modern medical science is a great blessing." (Do not grin.)

I wonder if enterprises that have a scientific focus try to force this malarkey on employees. If lots of people say "The chromosomes, what about the chromosomes?" I could imagine the whole effort collapsing.

Well let's go back to basics.

According to Cambridge dictionary, assigned means 'to choose'.

A relevant example given is:

todecideareasonfor something.

There is no 'choice' or 'decision' to be made regarding sex. The external genitalia of the baby means the baby is a boy, or a girl (or very rarely intersex). There is no decision to be made as it is determined by science; it would be like 'deciding' the earth is spherical. It just is, whatever we say.

We also do not 'assign' the baby as a human being, because again, the fact speaks for itself.

Rigid homophobic parents

I like that - new phrase coined.

Could catch on. For example - "my parents were fucking RHPs".

I think what happens is:

Baby’s sex observed and recorded at birth.

Baby’s gender assigned by parents with rigid homophobic gender stereotypes by putting “Daddy’s Little Princess” baby outfit on a girl, or trucks on a boy.

Baby girl grows up hating said stereotypes and wants to play with trucks. Rigid homophobic parents can’t cope so call Mermaids for support who tell parents their daughter must be trans for liking “boy things” and girl ends up on puberty blockers and testosterone.

Baby boy grows up hating said stereotypes and wants to play with dolls. Rigid homophobic parents can’t cope and call Mermaids for support who tell parents their son must be trans for liking “girl things” and boy ends up on puberty blockers and oestrogen.

Somewhere along the lines, jelly babies, GI Joe and Barbie are used to explain how this works, but those are just details.

Nobody assigns sex at birth, FGS. Gender, yes - that's something we would probably agree with the TRAs on! Sex, no.

Marking spot, as I'm anticipating the same issue.

Knew my DDS sex at 11 weeks gestation.
She wasn't assigned anything at birth.,the midwives labeled her Baby Cross.I didn't get a ticket or certificate telling me she was assigned anything.
Does that mean I got it wrong?

I hate this phrase with a passion. I find it hard to take anyone seriously when they say it, as they are either saying it through sheer ignorance, or wilfully saying it to push an ideology I find problematic.

I always just reply that sex is determined at conception not birth but it is tiresome to have to point this out to grown adults who should know better. But then, that's the fucked up rock we spin on.

If sex is assigned at birth that implies that you could (as the parent) challenge it and get the hospital staff to say "fair one" and change your baby from say, a boy to a girl.

Does this ever happen? Even in Canadia?

The word assigned implies that the assigner has some kind of input into the outcome.
When in reality sex is determined at conception, in some cases it’s confirmed before birth by testing such as amniocentesis.
It’s a biological reality of observation, except for a very small number of babies who are born with disorders of sex development or intersex, and it’s a bit more difficult. This has been appropriated to apply to all births. However there are a number of individuals personally affected by these disorders who strongly disagree with this and you could point him in the direction of them for a better understanding of the issues.

unwanted.interactivethings.io/#/

Even the Guardian style guide uses "observed at birth" now. It's terminology stolen from people with DSDs.

My DH has a serious genetic condition that is vastly more common in boys than girls (inherited from xx carriers on the X chromosome). His sister is a carrier. She did ivf to ensure that she only had children with xx chromosomes (I.e girls). The biological sex of the embryo was able to be ascertained before implantation.

If it could be assigned at birth surely the baby girls that are killed just for being girls could be assigned as boys then they could be saved

Try that one on him

I had NIPT at 10 weeks gestation. They told me she was a girl when she was the size of a strawberry. At the 12 week scan they pointed out her ovaries. How is that possible if it's only assigned at birth?
At her birth the midwife merely observed that her external sex characteristics were aligned with expectations of a female baby.
If anyone says the assigned nonsense to me I will just repeat the above.