There’s no male or female; we invented these words because we have that capacity. We observe nature and we try to understand things because we have that capacity. We name, label, study, play—that’s what you do when you are at the top of the food chain. We feel, and we feel in a certain way because we have that capacity. Can lions and chimpanzees feel what we feel? We don’t know. Do we know if a male gazelle identifies as a female one? No. How do we know it’s a male then? We observe and make an educated guess. Emphasis on educated.
The gazelle doesn’t even understand a single thing of what we are saying. Why should it be bothered by our nonsense, especially if directed at its genitalia?
Peacocks are my favorites. As a kid, I always thought they were female; they looked "showy" and flamboyant, and my intuition attributed these traits as feminine. I changed my mind immediately, as soon as my ignorance was amended with some education, recognizing that peacocks might see things differently from me—no big deal. I am not a peacock, or at least I think I am not one. Sue me if you think otherwise.
If I see a lady with a beard and she shouts at me because I didn’t call her “him” or something I could have never guessed, I apologize and I stop talking to them immediately; clearly, they are more interested in being called what they like than hearing what I have to say, and I know for a fact that I often say things that might sound a bit like nails on a chalkboard. How do I know? Because I can still hear my thoughts! Reading back what I have said in the past, it’s quite cringe, but that means I am growing. Believe it or not, you are helping me grow. Thanks!
This is my creative space; if you don’t like it, block me. If you don’t want me on your platform, ban me. It’s not like I am going to stop thinking these or other things… what would you have achieved? If you really believe in what you are saying, please educate me… Just don’t coerce me in any way; I don’t play well with that, sorry. Neither should you, by the way!
Do we have the capacity to tell others how they should feel? No. Actually, often we obtain the exact opposite when we try. Can we coerce others into doing something that they don’t really want to do but that they feel like they would be judged by “other people” otherwise? Of course! We are complex creatures, but we are so simple and fragile. I embrace my fragility; if someone calls me a girl, I smile as I would smile if I was called a peacock! Worst case scenario, I would ask a simple question: “Why are you calling me that?” maybe learn something and move on regardless.
There’s no male capable of birthing children because it doesn’t have that capacity. Naturally. Not because they are not enough of what they are not. Why would a rose want to be a tulip even if it’s impossible? As hard as it could try, it would never ever achieve that goal. Why would a tulip accept a rose as its own kind? Out of generosity? Out of empathy? Out of ignorance? Out of coercion? Tulips and roses are different, and that’s OK. Every living being is, in a way, unique, but there are natural laws that transcend everything else. As humans, we have the capacity to bend many of such rules; perhaps one day, men will be able to grow babies inside of their bodies, women to use their sperm to fertilize an egg.
I just managed to summon a vomit aftertaste with my mind, so everything is possible! Aren’t these abominations like it would be cross-breeding a lion with a crocodile? Or a man with a lion. What if the next trillionaire identifies as the king of the jungle and manages to become a “man-lion”; would you be OK with that? “Yes, I would because they wouldn’t hurt anybody; they are just being lions—what’s the big deal? Also, it’s not happening in my backyard, so... who cares!”
Right… so what’s next? One day your daughter tells you that she cannot introduce you to her cat-boyfriend because you are allergic. She hates you for that! Congratulations! You should load up on antihistamines and accept… whatever. You can go cry in the toilet like a grown man!
My rebuttal to all of this is: “Why?” Believe me, I have asked a few times but have never received an answer; I was just offended and called names. I meant no harm, of course, like a curious and ignorant kid doesn't mean harm when they ask stupid questions, but if my idea of normal being:
man + woman = couple => kids
outrages you... I am deeply sorry to break it to you, but the world has much bigger problems right now than arguing on social media and on the streets with strangers about stuff that is taught, or at least WAS taught back in my days in school, first grade.