TED Radio Hour Listen Again: The Biology Of Sex
Aug 14, 2020
Emily Quinn, an intersex artist and activist, shares personal stories about navigating gender expectations. Molly Webster, a radio journalist, explores the complexities of biological sex and the historical evolution of gender identity. Neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi discusses how hormones impact women's brain function, while structural biologist Karissa Sanbonmatsu investigates the role of epigenetics in gender identity. Together, they challenge the binary notion of sex, advocating for a deeper understanding of human identity as a spectrum.
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Emily's Childhood and Diagnosis
- Emily Quinn grew up in a conservative environment where womanhood was equated with motherhood.
- At 10, she learned she had a disorder of sex development and wouldn't menstruate or have biological children.
The Intersex Spectrum
- Emily Quinn reveals she is intersex, having XY chromosomes, a vagina, and internal testes.
- She explains that biological sex exists on a spectrum and challenges the binary view of male and female.
Navigating Shame and Biological Sex
- Emily Quinn discusses how she felt pressured to present femininely due to societal expectations and her fear of being discovered as intersex.
- She outlines seven areas of biological sex, including chromosomes, gonads, internal organs, external genitalia, hormone production and response, and secondary sex characteristics.
