Biological classification of sex challenged by Lu Ciccia: "Individuals of any gender can produce milk and nurse infants"
In a thought-provoking essay titled "Against Sex as a Biological Category", Lu Ciccia, a doctor in gender studies from the University of Buenos Aires and a biotechnology graduate from the National University of Quilmes, invites us to reconsider our understanding of sex. Ciccia argues that sex is not a fixed, biological fact, but a dynamic category produced by intersecting historical, political, and material practices.
Ciccia posits that sex is historical because the understanding and categorization of sex have evolved over time and are influenced by specific cultural and social contexts. The classification and regulation of bodies into sex categories serve power structures, governance, and social control, often reinforcing gender norms and inequalities. This perspective suggests that sex is not a static biological fact but a fluid and evolving category.
Moreover, Ciccia argues that sex is political, as it is used to justify and perpetuate power imbalances. The assignment of gender at birth, for instance, is not based on any scientific evidence, yet it has profound implications for an individual's life. Ciccia also argues that sex is biomaterializable, meaning that biological materiality itself (such as chromosomes, hormones, and bodies) is not simply natural but also shaped and understood through political and historical processes.
Ciccia compares the concept of sex to the concept of race, stating that they share a common genealogy, which is the idea of creating scientific categories to justify biologically the supremacy of white masculinity. This comparison underscores the harmful effects of reducing individuals to their biological sex or race, and the importance of recognizing the social and political contexts in which these categories are created and understood.
In terms of biology, Ciccia argues that what we have is not a sex, but a biology. The fetus's gonad differentiation in the first trimester depends on non-sexual, autosomal chromosomes and non-genetic products. The potential gonad can become ovaries, testicles, or ovotestes, but this is not definitive. Ciccia also argues that all bodies could potentially breastfeed, as the production of milk depends on two hormones, prolactin and oxytocin, which all bodies produce, and also on mechanical stimulation.
Furthermore, Ciccia highlights that the overexpression of an estrogen receptor in the most common breast cancer does not explain the difference in prevalence between cisgender men and women. This observation challenges the reductionist view that biological differences between men and women can be easily explained by a single factor, such as hormone levels.
Ciccia's essay encourages us to free ourselves from reductionist conceptions and to build a broader understanding of the potential and plasticity of the human being. By recognizing the historical, political, and material dimensions of sex, we can move towards a more inclusive and equitable society that values diversity and complexity.
Based on Lu Ciccia's argument, it may be beneficial to reevaluate common assumptions about various aspects of everyday life, including lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and even sports. The fluidity and evolving nature of sex challenges previous definitions and categorizations of gender, implying that average individuals may have more diverse qualities than previously believed.
Similarly, Ciccia's comparison of sex and race pulls into question the basis of categorizing people in casino-and-gambling, as well as weather forecasting. These industries may wish to consider the impact of social and political factors, in addition to biology, when dividing the population into categories.
In conclusion, by embracing the concept that sex is more than a biological fact, we can strive to create a more equitable society across all facets of life, ensuring that no individual is stereotyped, marginalized, or overlooked due to their sex or any other social or political categorization.
