SEX

[placemats]

So what does SEX mean to you?

For me it's the difference between females and males. Plus an enjoyable past time that doesn't require a penis.

Increasingly for me, the word is to define biological differences, 'having sex' is something I sometimes do when I'm not to knackered.

As a post menopausal lady it's like a foreign land I have no interest in visiting.

I'm going to quote the fabulous Maya Forstater.

They say gender (they mean sex!)

I now proactively correct the word gender in documents and speech. When they mean sex.

The first couple of times it felt weird writing 'sex' - in a work email for instance.

Then I remembered this is always how we used to describe it. I don't remember suddenly getting embarrassed about the word over the last decade or so - and I don't think people I know did.

And given that over the last 10-20 years we've apparently become much more chilled with talking about sex in general (as in the activity rather than the biology) it made me wonder why on earth are people are suddenly shy about using the word to describe biological sex.

Or why they're suddenly needing to conflate biological sex with gender stereotypes of behaviour and appearance.

And then I remember post-modernism, queer theory, etc, men wanting an 'in' into women's spaces, and I remember that the word 'sex' isn't helpful to those agendas.

And I also remember how crucial the word still is to describe biological differences and therefore experiences. To be able to describe the discrimination and differences that arise from having a different sex.

How important it is.

So then I carry on correcting the word 'gender'. When they mean sex.

A friend’s biology final exam a few —many— years ago was:

“Sex is dangerous, discuss”

The expected response was to discuss the problems with sexual reproduction vs asexual reproduction. Context matters.

Sex is what posh people get their coal delivered in.

Thank you pombear

Brilliant post.

It’s weird. We started using gender as a euphemism for biological sex at the same time as TV was allowed to use ‘fuck’ for intercourse.

Something that I have found myself saying a lot when I see the word ‘gender’ being misused.

Its notable that sex is one of the characteristics that is omitted from the Labour Peer's letter to Corbyn about his leadership which was published today in the Guardian:

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/16/tom-watson-backs-labour-motion-auto-exclude-racism

Jolly old "gender identity" is of course on the list.

If you stop using sex you can't define sexism. Sex is the motivaton for women's oppression and it is at the root of why we need feminism.

Questa
Pressure is also coming from Tom Watson, the deputy Labour leader, who on Tuesday backed a new motion which would automatically exclude members accused of racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia or transphobia in what would be a radical overhaul of the party’s complaints process.

The auto-exclusion would apply where there is “irrefutable evidence” of discrimination and would be overseen by an independent appointee, according to the motion, which will be debated at next week’s full meeting of the national executive committee (NEC)

Huh. Well that's probably most Labour members gone then. If they actually take misogyny and sexism seriously.

Certainly will be all of the gender critical feminists gone on a flash, seeing as "transphobia" includes pointing out reality.

Jane Austen had no trouble using the word in the early 1800s; there are frequent references to one's "sex" in her novels. Usually while pointing out the limitations imposed on the female sex. The word matters