What follows below is a chapter from my full course Animal Emotions.
To be quite transparent, it’s one of the chapters that has the least practical application when it comes to caring for captive animals, but it is also, hands down, the one chapter in all my online courses that leaves students the most flabbergasted.
And given how the subject of gender identity has become politicized in the last few years, I thought that maybe sharing some very basic facts would be a way to contribute.
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In this chapter, I discuss the two stages of masculinization.
Before watching the film, think for a brief moment about this seemingly trivial question: “how many genders are there?”
Left-handed? Here’s a study where they looked at 2d-4d ratios and handedness.
Interested in learning more about gender identity? Here’s Trans 101!
And the Genderbread Person might also give some insights:
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It is interesting how science is advancing and what discoveries are being made. Philosophies that embrace a binary model (white/black; right/wrong) are thankfully and rightfully being questioned more and more. It is yet to be seen how this knowledge impacts our animal relationships.
One way might be that a better understanding and empathy to the variability among humans makes us more empathic towards animals, perhaps?
Oh my goodness!!! This is so fascinating. And so current in terms of the gender debate going on at the moment. Of course, I immediately checked out my hand shape and my ring finger is longer than my index finger. I’m going to have to go back to this a few more times to get my brain around it.
I dont remember this chapter from the original A E course, is it a later addition?
It is really important, and yes, I already knew about it.
I believe that several cultures around the world acknowledge and accept a variety of genders?
Thank you for this chapter Karolina, I hope that the education system teaches a version of it.
And yes, I have a very masculine hand shape.
Interesting and I have a hand like a man and a body like a woman, except my hand.
But I grow up with lots of men so I though that’s was an explanation to why I was more like a boy.
But I have never heard about this before.
But I have some thoughts about some male dogs and that they was to much males in them. Today we like dogs that are males and they should be testosterone males. In the same time we can’t handle them or give them whatever they need.
My first standard male poodle was like a female standard poodle today.
And my standard male poodle today is the biggest allowed male standard poodle.
I think if we have more identity boxes that we can understand many we can figure out what de individual needs.
I will think about this topic and it is interesting and open new perspectives.