"Red Eye" was a bit over the top, but we noticed that it was on at 3AM, so that explains some of the ranting. I thought the segment did raise one interesting question. Is Thomas Beattie a man or a woman? One the one hand, s/he has the reproductive equipment of a woman. On the other hand, Thomas legally had her/his name changed and had "top sugery" as well as testosterone supplements so s/he can grow facial hair. It raises the question of to what extent we as human beings can define our gender and to what extent it is biologically given. In the future, human beings will be able to control a lot about ourselves that we once accepted as biologically given like our lifespan, our intelligence, and perhaps even our personalities. This "radical evolution," I feel, will and should also include our ability to control our gender.
While the "Red Eye" comments were completely disrespectful, the whole topic does spark some difficult questions. Is Thomas Beatie considered a man? Are we really ready for a "pregnant man"? I feel like this couple really want a child, let them be. I'm sure everyone doesn't react to Beatie like the folks on "Red Eye" but it is amazing to me how much brass some newscasters really have, and how does Fox let them get away with that?
Even though they crossed several lines, they are right in some aspects: Biologically Beattie is still a women and it is not possible to change that in any way with today's medical possibilities. Maybe in a couple years it will be possible to completely change one's gender, but it isn't yet. If it was necessary to be that harsh is questionable, but that is probably part of the show. I agree that Beattie is still a woman even though she might be treated as a man legally.
My first reaction to Jacoby's comment was, "Wow." No matter what your view is, such harsh criticism is unwarranted. Unlike intelligent debate, Jacoby's rant only showed one, heavily skewed side of an extremely complex and controversial argument. It is easy to make harmful jokes about something when you know little what you are ridiculing.
6 comments:
"Red Eye" was a bit over the top, but we noticed that it was on at 3AM, so that explains some of the ranting. I thought the segment did raise one interesting question. Is Thomas Beattie a man or a woman? One the one hand, s/he has the reproductive equipment of a woman. On the other hand, Thomas legally had her/his name changed and had "top sugery" as well as testosterone supplements so s/he can grow facial hair. It raises the question of to what extent we as human beings can define our gender and to what extent it is biologically given. In the future, human beings will be able to control a lot about ourselves that we once accepted as biologically given like our lifespan, our intelligence, and perhaps even our personalities. This "radical evolution," I feel, will and should also include our ability to control our gender.
While the "Red Eye" comments were completely disrespectful, the whole topic does spark some difficult questions. Is Thomas Beatie considered a man? Are we really ready for a "pregnant man"? I feel like this couple really want a child, let them be. I'm sure everyone doesn't react to Beatie like the folks on "Red Eye" but it is amazing to me how much brass some newscasters really have, and how does Fox let them get away with that?
Even though they crossed several lines, they are right in some aspects: Biologically Beattie is still a women and it is not possible to change that in any way with today's medical possibilities. Maybe in a couple years it will be possible to completely change one's gender, but it isn't yet. If it was necessary to be that harsh is questionable, but that is probably part of the show. I agree that Beattie is still a woman even though she might be treated as a man legally.
My first reaction to Jacoby's comment was, "Wow." No matter what your view is, such harsh criticism is unwarranted. Unlike intelligent debate, Jacoby's rant only showed one, heavily skewed side of an extremely complex and controversial argument. It is easy to make harmful jokes about something when you know little what you are ridiculing.
for me there is a big difference between sex and gender. while Thomas's sex may still be female, he is definitely gendered male.
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