The Third Gender

[Carolyn Marie]

A subsidiary publication of Scientific American, "Scientific American Mind," has published a lead article on

Transgender and Transsexual research called "The Third Gender."

Two caveats here. One is that you have to pay to download the article. I have not yet done so and haven't

read it.

The other is, based on the posted comments, it appears that the article is seriously flawed. For example, the

headline focuses on transsexuality, but commentators are saying that it instead focuses on cross dressers.

So, buyer beware. I would be very interested in any comments from those who read the article. I plan to do

so myself.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article....gender#comments

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Donna Jean]

Oh my, Carolyn.....

Even without reading the article....the comments alone were worth the effort of a click!

Oh my goodness!

Donna Jean

[Carolyn Marie]

I paid my six bucks and found, unfortunately, that it wasn't worth 60 cents.

First, the article is only four pages long. Its written by an "experimental psychologist" named Jesse Bering,

who appears to have no qualifications in treating or studying TG patients. His first book, soon to be

published, is entitled "The Belief Instinct: The Hidden Psychology of Souls, Destiny and the Meaning of Life."

Here are a few other concerns and observations:

1. The only transsexual featured in the article is Chaz Bono. Nothing like a little celebrity gossip.

2. The author states that "nearly all" FtM transsexuals are homosexual, but cites no proof, but that MtF TS people

are a "much more diverse group" but again cites nothing to prove the point.

3. The article continuously mixes sexuality and sexual preferences with gender, as though they were interchangable.

4. The only "authorities" cited in the article are Ray Blanchard and Anne Lawrence. The author does at least

mention that Blanchard's theories are widely disputed.

5. There are many references to transsexuals being obsessed with genitalia, sex, and sexual attraction.

6. There is no reference whatsoever to any of the recent studies on the biological/genetic basis for transsexualism.

I found the article to be sorely lacking in scientific merit, documentation, and balance. It was sensationalistic in its

focus on sexuality and sexual attraction, and was poorly researched. I am very disapointed that SA would publish it.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Donna Jean]

Serious bummer, Carolyn......

I'm really dissapointed in SA for that total lack of scientific perspective...

Someone said...?

Chaz Bono?

And...

5. There are many references to transsexuals being obsessed with genitalia, sex, and sexual attraction.

See?..That is the kind of stuff that makes it hard for us to get legitimized and not put on Jerry Springer!

Well, I'm certainly glad that I'm gonna take my $6.00 and put it to good use...I'm gonna get drunk!

DANG!

Donna Jean

[Guest Elizabeth K]

...I'm gonna get drunk!

DEE JAY! NO NO NO!

grin! Save the $6 toward your SRS!

Lizzy

[Guest Girl Emily]

Donna Jean,

Or at least a nice pair of shoes. :-)

Huggs,

[Guest Esperanza Xochitl]

Serious bummer, Carolyn......

I'm really dissapointed in SA for that total lack of scientific perspective...

Someone said...?

Chaz Bono?

And...

5. There are many references to transsexuals being obsessed with genitalia, sex, and sexual attraction.

See?..That is the kind of stuff that makes it hard for us to get legitimized and not put on Jerry Springer!

Well, I'm certainly glad that I'm gonna take my $6.00 and put it to good use...I'm gonna get drunk!

DANG!

Donna Jean

Drunk? Off six dollars?

I can think of better things to do (even if you can actually get drunk off $6.00) I'd rather look for hidden gems amongst the clothing in a thrift store. Or maybe I'd buy some soy milk or soy product... Yummmmmmm!

[Guest Donna Jean]

OK....OK.....OK!

You've all convinced me!

I'm not gonna get drunk.....

I'll put that $6.00 to good use on shoes or at a thrift store!

Donna Jean

[Guest Elizabeth K]

I wonder how much you could get cut off... for six dollars...

ummmmmm.... I can't believe I wrote that!

Lizzy

[Guest Donna Jean]

Well,

You can let me know...I didn't realize that we could do this "one piece" at a time!

(I'm sure this article would suggest that you could!)

Hey look! I found a quarter!

Donna Jean

[Guest Anna_Banana]

This is the stupid stuff that bothers me with the future of Web 2.0.

...Oh, I'm not talking about the content of the article. I'm talking about the fact that you have to pay $6 for an easily losable digital copy of a magazine. It's absolutely outrageous, and other companies, like the New York Times, are planning on switching to the exact same method of delivery. At least with a physical magazine, I can see if the stories are going to be worth my interest before I buy the thing. Now we're being forced to pay an outrageous fee (It's digital for crying out loud, no ink or paper were used) to read potential junk?

*shakes head*

.Anna

[Guest Donna Jean]

Anna.....

I totally agree with you....

It's like going to the store and buying a banana in a taped up brown bag...

You can't even see what you're getting....rotten or ripe!

(Banana used with permission....)

Donna Jean

[Carolyn Marie]

Anna, I agree in part. It should have been possible (and I'm certain it is from a technical standpoint) to have just made the article available by itself, for

free, or at most for a dollar. The rest of the magazine has some interesting stuff in it, and I suppose all of that is worth something, although 6 bucks seems a lot for

an e-copy.

The future is here, its electronic, and its expensive.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Nikki A]

I wonder how much you could get cut off... for six dollars...

ummmmmm.... I can't believe I wrote that!

Lizzy

if you are talking about what i think you are talking about im going to say... maybe just some of the hair. assuming one doesn't do that on their own!

hugs, Nikki

[Guest Girl Emily]

We are so educated on transgenderism that the chances of finding anything meaningful or new to us in a magazine directed at the mainstream is perhaps wishful thinking. However, to continue the stereotypical view of us is intolerable. How disapointing for this to come from such a progressive presenting magazine.

Huggs,

[Guest Esperanza Xochitl]

OK....OK.....OK!

You've all convinced me!

I'm not gonna get drunk.....

I'll put that $6.00 to good use on shoes or at a thrift store!

Donna Jean

That is a great decision. If I could spare 6 dollars I'd replace my lost pepper spray so I don't have to carry an empty glass mini bottle in my purse.

(Now that I think of it people get drunk in Milwaukee off six dollars if they go for cheap nasty tallcans of milwaukees beast, But that sounds just ewwww)