I see videos of Crowder types asking randos on the street to do it, and of course, they always stutter and stumble their way around what it is (if they're well intentioned - of course lots just say the usual man = penis and woman = vagina answer.)

Most of the people that get caught out are just well intentioned people whose philosophy on questions like this is 'who the fuck cares' (which is valid).

However, I'd rather not be caught out. Usually I try to immediately split it into sex Vs gender by just asking them to clarify - "what is a woman according to sex or what is a woman according to gender" and then I try to go from there.

What's a good line to trot out in answer to stuff like this? It would be nice if it could become almost a set phrase answer so it could catch on easily.

  • jack [he/him, comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    "Like any broad social category, a single definition is guaranteed to be both too vague and too precise. Why don't you start?"

    They'll say something about vaginas or ovaries, and then they're immediately on the defensive. Point out the obvious gaps they don't feel comfortable facing - women with reproductive issues, XY women, women who have had an ovarectomy, etc. Eventually they'll get to something that either resembles a purely social category, and therefore includes trans women, or an extremely long and unwieldy biological category, which you can rightly point out doesn't provides any much useful information about the actual gender role or reflect the social elements of "womanhood" they actually care about. Basically, don't define woman. Force them to do it, whittle at their arguments, and finish by saying something like "the pursuit of definitions is a waste of time on situations like this/that has no moral or cultural value".

    When arguing with a reactionary, never let them set the terms for the debate. Redirect the discussion instead of playing their games.