Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary by Agustín Fuentes

Human biology is far more expansive than the simple categories of female and maleBeing human entails a complex interplay of biology and culture, and while there are important differences between women and men, there are also many variations and overlap. Sex Is a Spectrum offers a bold new paradigm for understanding the biology of sex, drawing on the latest science to explain why the binary view of the sexes is fundamentally flawed*. Our conversation explores patterns across animal species, bio-cultural roles and impact, historical perspectives on sex & gender, why men have nipples, how female hyenas are bad a**, where political and social structures can occlude progress & how an honest, science-based foundation is paramount for being curious, learning & talking about the human experience at large.Agustín Fuentes is professor of anthropology at Princeton University. His books include Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You: Busting Myths about Human Nature; The Creative Spark: How Imagination Made Humans Exceptional; and Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being.Agustín Fuentes*from Princeton University Press Princeton University Press------------------------------------------------------------Chapters: (0:00) Introduction & Why this Book(2:50) Princeton Professor (3:45) Learning from Animals(4:45) Sex Biology v. Gender (6:45) Talking About Genitals is OK!(8:10) Lives influence Gender Presentation (9:18) 3G Sex Categories (10:15) Sex as a Spectrum(11:05) It’s about Patterns & Variations (12:38) Sea Horses & Spotted Hyenas (14:38) Fish Sex Changing (15:10) Bio-Culture: Look at a Baby Toe(16:20) Gender Rules are Contemporary(18:00) Anecdotes & Stories v. Science (20:05) No Male or Female Brain (23:10) Men are Mammals.  Men have Nipples(26:55) Differences in Current Cultures w/Bodies(27:45) What DNA Defines(30:05) Global & Political Challenges (31:10) The Binary is Two Completely Different Things(33:00) Using a Spectrum as Descriptive(36:05) Backlash, Hate & Official Government Doctrine (38:50) You Can Hate: But Don’t Mask it w/Biology(40:05) K-12 Education Needed(41:50) It’s Okay to Not fit in the Binary (43:10) Accessing the Book – Go Local (44:55) It’s Been Amazing & Difficult (45:10) Wrap UpLocal Cleveland Area Bookstores: Mac's Books, Coventry Mac's Backs Book Store Fireside Books, Chagrin Falls Fireside Book Shop Black Cat Books & Oddities, Medina Black Cat Books & OdditiesLoganberry Books, Larchmere Loganberry BooksApple Tree Books, Cleveland Heights Apple Tree BooksClevo Books, Cleveland Clevo BooksBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/eating-disorder-spotlight-resources-support-stories--5613148/support.Thanks for listening! Therapist Caise Find:  therapistcaise.comReach: [email protected]: Eating Disorder Spotlight: Resources, Support & StoriesFollow: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn & Youtube "Capturing Stories & Inspiring Recovery!"For Mental Health emergencies please go to your nearest Emergency Room or dial 911 or 988 on your phone. Mobile Crisis can also be helpful: Text 4hope to 741741. Disclaimer: The Mental Health Spotlight Podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to replace mental health or other professional health care services. Mental health treatment and recovery requires assessment by a mental health professional. Please consult with your care providers before engaging in new methods of care. The use of information provided in this podcast is at the user’s own risk.