The question on sex gave a choice of 3 options: male, female, other.
How we laughed – these systems analysts have it drummed into them that they must allow for all possible options, however unlikely or even impossible.
Although I have grown up a lot since then, & become better informed, it was only when listening to Sarah Graham on Saturday Live this morning that it really struck home how odd that we should insist on a clear cut binary division for something which is obviously so complicated.
One of those ‘things’ which has intrigued me now for many years is the way that very small children – say from around the time, even before, they first begin to walk – will always notice & be interested in any other similarly-sized child they see, will look with a special kind of concentration, & maybe then start to make overtures if circumstances allow. I always have the feeling that they somehow are aware of gender, or perhaps I should say something different about the other child, something interesting & just a little bit of a puzzle, possibly introducing a slight wariness which is not there if both are of the same gender.
These children are far too young to be asking questions of mummy & daddy about difference, even if they have a sibling, so this speculation, if at all correct, just adds to the argument that the constituents, manifestations & signs of gender are subtle indeed.
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The speech of Aristophanes
The speech of Aristophanes
