The Brain and Gender

[morghanphoenix]

I find the "invading women only spaces" argument interesting, especially from a group that considers a men only space to be sexist.

These people have a more narrow view of things than most of those they regularly call racist/homophobe/bigot/etc.

[sophialea15]

Just came across your channel by accident and am glad I did! This is an excellent video, I'll probably be sending you some questions shortly!

[EarlRausch]

Recent brain scans of M and F volunteers have shown that there is a difference between the M and F brain.The scans are so accurate in fact that even not knowing the gender of the individual and just by looking at the scans the gender can be determined. Almost 95% accurate.The study also showed that some Men have a woman's brain and some women have a mans brain.(5%wild card) In the past People were scoffed at when they would say I feel like a woman trapped inside a woman's body or vise versa...

[A7Guitar]

thx so much for this video and your channel :) around where I live all conversations severely lack intellectual stimulation and your videos are one of the few that actually make me think. So again thanks. I dont think I could say thanks enough times to express how much i appreciate it.

[ChilapaOfTheAmazons]

Female programmers FTW!!! :-)

[TheMalinTransition]

Hey, what are you studying for your PhD? I'm planning on studying cognitive neuroscience. I'll try to keep you updated if I see any new studies on neurological sexual dimorphism between biological sex and transgender sex.

VS Ramachandran has done a bit that I know of:

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 69, Issue 5, Pages 1001-1003 (2007)

Occurrence of phantom genitalia after gender reassignment surgery

V.S. Ramachandran, Paul D. McGeoch

Hopefully you have journal subscriptions through your school.

[madscirat]

I'm very familiar with the 'dike/trannie divide' as I call it. I think you hit the nail on the head. Radical feminists hate trannies for the same reason creationists hate dinosaurs. By your very existence you debunk alot of false ideas about gender upon which their ideologgy is based. The other part of it is just an extension of man-hating to male-female trannies bc/ of association.

[charlenemonique1]

There are gender differences in our brains as well.I tried to tell the closed-minded that but they dont listen to me.I even tried to tell them that twin that the parents tried to raise as a girl and it did'nt work because he was never a damn girl!

[luisborgo]

Wonderful thing the connections one makes on YouTube. I was watching material on evolution and Artifitial Intelligence and I ended up on this talk about gender. No political or religious (i.e., ideological) agenda, a very scientific, thoughtful exposition ... How rare on this subject nowadays!!

[TrevorHeartsJeffree]

Im a 100% with you on all the topics you talk about.You should make videos more often!

[DW793]

So they hate MtF but they don't mind FtM, talk about hipocrisy.

[louphebe]

really now.. why is everything "evolutionary speaking"? It is all merely common sense, no matter what our origins are.

[TrannyGirl15]

Our origins explain the way we are. Evolution explains why biology works the way it does. Evolutionary theory explains why men and women behave differently better than the "well, men and women are just different" kind of non-explanation.

[louphebe]

Whether evolutionist or creationist men and women have quite clear cut differences :p

[DiLancreRoyalty]

I saw that documental! It was soo interesting!

[johnnecron]

This just goes to show you that the majority of feminists are clipped haired mean faced man hating lesbians who have an axe to grind.

To them its more of a religion than a movement to these women.

They have all the characteristics of male chauvinists. They hate trannies even more because they have something that they envy.

A penis!

[MsOxytocin]

You are SOOO beautiful!

[pansarblack]

I am wondering though is it possible for me to be born female and behavior wise be feminine but still feel like I should be male?

[DrCalistine]

Yes, Im a transguy who isn't stereotypically macho but Im still confident in who I am. Male does not mean masculine and female does not mean feminine.

[rabbitwho]

@pansarblack In my view: absolutely! I don't think the feminine and masculine adjectives should be gender specific. There are plenty of feminine men, that doesn't mean they are not men if they feel like men and are comfortable in their own skin. No one is 100% any one thing and everyone should just accept themselves (and each other) as they are and try to find the balance that makes them happy.

[pansarblack]

I am ftm and it is exactly like you described... My brain has the male trates you described... I'm violent compleatly driven by sex and not in the least into nuchering things... Your video kinda scares me as to what will happen when I start taking testosterone... But besides that it was very informative and made me think... Great gob

[athousandpins]

Could you imagine the sort of person who was 100% male? I can imagine cheesy pick up lines, muscle flexing, fighting, lots of sex. Stiffler (American Pie) comes to mind.

A 100% female would be either neurotic (giving in to the male dominated society) al la 50's housewife image) or just evil (not giving in to the male dominated society and controlling it with an iron fist)

al la Margaret Thatcher??

Maybe John Wayne and ???????

That thought gave me a chuckle in any case, any ideas on 100% woman?

[vegetalian]

exellent, informative. smart with a unique point of view.

[GrenouilleViolette]

❝On ne naît pas femme, on le devient❞ Simone de Beauvoir

[stefwannabe]

Another interesting brain topic would be dreams. Do you dream as a girl? I often have a reoccurring dream that I am crossdressing but usually get discovered.

[alivemo4]

I went on female hormones for about 3 months and found that talking with my father became much easier, even enjoyable! As a man, though, I was never comfortable in our conversations.

[ragingdrunk]

awesome and informative vid.

[lastvisiblecanary]

it's an interesting case because it points to a genetic and physiological propensity towards male and female hormone influence in the fetal state helps to decide brain differentiation in a manner that heavily influences gender, as well as male or female thought process styles.

for me, gender is first influenced by brain structures and fetal development, and then influenced, modified or amplified by later sociological input. nurture develops or stigmatizes drives: it cannot remove them entirley

[lastvisiblecanary]

Or rather, stable in their gender identity and as happy as any other female. Most people experiencing it don't know their condition until puberty when they go to a doctor to ask about the lack of menstruation. In the instance of AIS, you have completely female brain differentiation with light development of secondary female sex characteristics, with no masculinization: but w/ xy chromosomal sets in every cell in the body. 100% genetically male, 100% psychologically female (as gender is tested)

[lastvisiblecanary]

In cases of complete androgen insensitivity, those who experience the syndrome develope under the influence of the small quantities of female hormones produced by the pituitary and other locations in the male structure. female genitals form with a shallow vagina, and internal reproductive organs, without the genetic code to guide their development, remain as wisps of undeveloped tissue. The important thing is that almost all of those who experience it develop as stable happy females.

[lastvisiblecanary]

for a "100% female" brain, andogen insensitivity syndrome would probably be the closes fit. One of the primary differences that leads to brain differentiation (in the cortex thickness of the frontal lobes which leads to right/left differences, as well as corpus collosum thickness that leads to inter connectivity of brain function between hemispheres) is the cellular sensitivity to androgens, which is higher xy cells than in xx.

[robbiedeanne]

ok i saw u look like a teen looken dude with long hair to a beatifull looken girl you look like now it blows me away how you changeged in looks im goin thru the same type of metamorphisis.i take plant estrogen im 44 its maken me younger looken.people say i look 26.youve allways inspired me with wat u say n how u changed for the better.i hope to show my progression on here like you did

[LeadFloryDoryGirl]

I found this video to be very well thought out and prepared. It is not the usual U-Tube go off on a tangent. I hope that you post more video's like this.

[ShpinxiLotus23]

when i was in high school, i took a computer programming class and the best student in the class was a girl. she always got A's and everyone always asked her for advice when the teacher wasn't around.

[kindaananomally]

While similar to you, I feel more comfortable and happy living as a female, I understand that there is some social conformity in that image. However, there is also a strong underlying physiological and psychological element that divides us from males and makes us more synonymous with females. Its something that is innately part of us and supersedes any social constructs, and I think is something that people who don't have to go through the struggles we face will never truly understand.

[kottonmouthkings4]

i think your hot

[SamusDrake]

I've been raised more by women than men, and thus find it easier to deal with and relate to women than most men.

However, despite this, I am still a man and proud of it. Its my belief it is a combination of genetics(I'll leave that to the scientists amongst you) and psychology that makes a man want to be a woman.

[mmontes15]

It seems pretty obvious to me that gender identity is a combination of both biological traits and learned behaviors, and I thnk trans people understand this better than anyone, because its echoed back at us everytime we walk into a store to buy clothes or beauty products, etc. We're told that we are to fit into the catagory of male or female and there is really no middle ground. We're marketed to based on gender constructs and society in general is uncomfortable with those that buck these rules

[mmontes15]

I'm basically a non-transitioning transexual, I work in healthcare and have begun to feminize my look a little via dyeing my hair, shaving and adding more feminine colors to my scrubs. Everytime I wear a pink undershirt for example I get reactions. Some positive from women who like to see a man in pink, but I get a few laughs, teasing comments and some look downright uncomfortable with me. Why? Because they've been taught since before birth that pink is for girls and blue is for boys...

[mmontes15]

So societally, there is a VERY strong component to how we feel about gender and the things that most people assume to be concretely true about gender.  In fact, much of it is just social constructs. However, there is obviously biological factors that play a role. I would personally like to see more in the study of fetal development, due to the fact that when I finally (after 24 years) decided to face my gender issues I came to find out that my only brother is physically intersexed..

[mmontes15]

and although there is no real proof of these "hormone wash" theories in relation to GID, because clearly something happened in my mother's womb that caused my brother to be born intersexed and, in my mind, it lends some credibility to the theory of this being the cause for GID as well, due to my own case. Perhaps there was something genetically with my mother and father that predisposed both my brother and myself to be born with our various bigendered conditions.

[SamusDrake]

Knowing little of science, I like the social aspect of this debate.

When a person takes up a lifestyle that is not common, they inevitably end up coming across issues and emotions they did not anticipate - or it was harder than they first thought.

Also, its a learning process for those surrounding that person too. For some in society, its can be a concept or idea that they are forced to accept without enough time to deal with it properly, and thus will lead to "pushing" the problem away.

[SambraveTheWise]

A second note:

I'm always hesitant when people say there are male and female brains. I'm worried that one day someone will meassure my brain anatomy, tell me that it doesn't look like a male brain, and therefor I can't be FtM.

Proof of a gendered brain would be nice, but could also be a new way to restrict access to transition treatment.

So, those are my comments. Thanks for the video. I love your well-thought out and obviously well-read analysis.

[SambraveTheWise]

While radical feminists exist, in general I feel that gender equality is one of the best things that ever happened for transsexuals. If I had not been allowed to live my life as a tomboy and butch outside gender roles before I came out as trans, I probably would have killed myself. (I probably also would have realised that I was trans earlier).

I assume an MtF's childhood would also be easier if it was acceptable for biological males to live outside genderroles.

so in general feminism = :)

[disequilibrium0]

That article is also available online. Search by title: Sexual differentiation of the human brain in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation.

[disequilibrium0]

(Continued) 'In this way, our gender identity (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and sexual orientation are programmed into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. However, since sexual differentiation of the genitals takes place in the first two months of pregnancy and sexual differentiation of the brain starts in the second half of pregnancy, these two processes can be influenced independently, which may result in transsexuality.'

[disequilibrium1]

A recent review article (2009) from the journal Functional Neurology, Issue 24, Pages 17-28 summarizes the evidence as it stands. Abstract: 'During the intrauterine period the fetal brain develops in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hormone surge...'

[disequilibrium1]

(Continued) 'Here we show that the volume of the central subdivision of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc), a brain area that is essential for sexual behaviour, is larger in men than in women. A female-sized BSTc was found in male-to-female transsexuals. The size of the BSTc was not influenced by sex hormones in adulthood and was independent of sexual orientation. Our study is the first to show a female brain structure in genetically male transsexuals...'

[disequilibrium1]

For anyone interested in some empirical evidence, here are a few representative examples. First, an early article (1995) from the journal Nature, Issue 378, Pages 68-70, available online by searching by title: A Sex Difference in the Human Brain and its Relation to Transsexuality. Abstract: 'Transsexuals have the strong feeling, often from childhood onwards, of having been born the wrong sex...'

[disequilibrium1]

The idea that feminists, radical or otherwise, hate transsexuals is largely outdated. There is a fairly nuanced discussion of this topic with a diverse array of perspectives over at Feministing (dot) com (slash) archives (slash) 007486 (dot) html. (Read the comments section.)

[sorbuato]

why transexual ask to be accepted if they don't accept them self ( what they where) its silly as wanting to be something the're not, they want it all, well then don't listen to others if you are happy WTF does it matter what others think there is always place for everyone, if you can't be happy with your self, then you might reconsider what you really want. we are what we are, it's not our choice until we realized we can actually choose, some never actually have the chance to realize they can

[shmeel1977]

Why is everyone talking about gender as something that is learned? Gender doesn't exist! If we're talking about physical differences, most of the differences between men and women are caused by the differing testosterone/estrogen levels, in the fetus or after birth. Testosterone and estrogen level fluctuations cause measurable behavioral and physical changes. That is not gender, it's physical changes. As far as TS/IS are concerned, the brain is influenced by our hormones before birth and after.

[baadmaan]

well said all the video but i have question?

an with all respect ofcourse; i read sum whr that men brain is bigger than women brain! U said they are all the same!

i want 2 ask r u IT or basic programmer

[TrannyGirl15]

I'm guessing you haven't watched the video. As far as your question, I'm a Ph.D. student, and I don't believe that many people program in basic anymore.

[appalonia77]

bravo...another wonderful video...i can't say how much i love your channel. it's always a pleasure to watch. :) i agree with what you're saying...as far as the radical feminists go...they're just full of hot air...no one is trying to take their stuff away or make them feel less. i think people are born this way...it's not really a choice...you have all these feelings....and what are you supposed to do with them? people are just trying to be true to themselves.

[gracerendeli]

Your vlogs are always so interesting and intelectualy thought out.... I always look forward to them and they have helped me greatly with my own transition.... Many thanks and much respect xx

[DemeterCanada]

Mapping the 'mind' to the physical anatomical brain is not definitive. While, as you say, there maybe differences in the 'typical' female and male brains, does this necessarily have anything to do with the cognition developed within the mind?

This is a very interesting field of study, but I have not read recently of any true insights and it may be a total red herring to look at brain anatomy to deduce issues of cognition.

[DemeterCanada]

Of course, for many of us dealing with gender dysphoria, it is a validation of our being that our brains may show a more feminine anatomy, but does that really help deal with the condition?

For me it would not really matter whether I could be a male with normal male cognition or a female with normal female cognition - the problem is having the two mixed.

I have yet to be convinced that any of the current theories as to the origin of this condition are understood.

[DemeterCanada]

Gender dysphoria appears in most individuals very early in life - I know for myself I cannot remember a time when I did not feel this way. So presumably, this is caused very early in life or in prenatal growth. Yet not everyone is the same - some show much more feminine intersts in childhood than others yet still identify strongly with the opposite gender than their anatomical one. So, I agree that this is not a binary condition but one of some graduation and may not be attributable to one cause

[YankeeTankee]

Extremely interesting, especially the part where you say that gender identity is on a continuum versus an absolute dichotomy. I had never thought of it that way. I think in general society is more comfortable with perceiving gender (and other things, as well) as black or white with no gray areas. Perhaps we are pushed into that absolutist view (of ourselves and others). This is truly a shame. We end up sublimating parts of ourselves that could be so wonderful, ex. tenderness in a man!

[walkerindarkness]

there is conclusive research showing there are differences of internal organs between males and females. The middle or inner ear is one. Also a fetus requires large dose of certain hormones at the right times to cause permanent male/female circuits to develop in the brain. People can use this knowledge to reliably cause a female brain in a male body, or the vs.

[ErikaFTH]

People seem to think that children are blank slates and that all behavior is learned, when in reality a great deal of our behavior is biological. Environment and upbringing account for some of our behavior, but not all of it.

[PokeSimful]

How is your father now? Did he transition after you were born? Was he extra supportive when you decided too because he knew what it was like?

[LP26148]

Outstanding. It was certainly worth the 20+ minutes to view it. Thanks, ♥♥♥ Gloria ♥♥♥

[laman4tv]

the obvious logical flaw in the Radical Feminist argument against the nature of transsexual women ..is that if gender is a construct there is no reason for feminism

Go to love absolutest.. they do have great entertainment value

[Lauren3332]

I didn't mean to sound like I was busting your butt, I just get really prickly when the subject of nature vs nurture comes up. I don't like to have destined behaviors. If I have something about me that is not good, I want to be able to change it. I did not always believe I was a girl and somehow my transgenderedness developed over time. Your videos are always cool and you and have fun look to yourself. Keep up the good work.

[SummerBreeze2009]

This video so much kept my attention, your opinions, and thoughts about gender identity and how one is not just 100% male or female, and the "circuit" in the brain that wires us to be the way we feel about ourselves is sound. I support you 100% as always.

~Summerbreeze

[Lauren3332]

I don't mean to totally discount biology, but I think a lot of crap is put into people's heads by TV and whatever. People read things and think "oh that sounds a lot like me, that must mean I have X problem" when you actually don't. Transgenderedism in any is different. No one sees crossdressing or SRS advertised and goes, "maybe that is me." Maybe you could have a curiosity about gender and realize that you are transgendered.

[Lauren3332]

I think that there are differences between the genders but I think that people take them to extremes to try to prove why X gender has a certain behavior. I don't give in to the "boys will be boys" attitude. Not every man wants sex all the time and not every woman wants to settle. What about people that do not have a sexuality, who do not need sex as a component to love? Too many things today are blamed on biology. While biology is important, it does not excuse anyone's behavior.

[tobyr3]

Well done as always.

Its been widely reported, in the YT FTM community, that once HRT is begun the ability to cry is inhibited. Most of the radical feminist that you mentioned have assumed that the crying difference between the sexes is a learned behavior.

In Russia a large proportion of the doctors are female.

[alphanumeric1971]

Go look up "The Amazing Athiests" video on on Radical Feminists. He makes some salient point about them.

I like how he basically claims that they're little more than laughing stock and are no longer taken seriously by society at large.

[alphanumeric1971]

I was referring to "The Amazing Atheist" who definitely identifies as male :)

[marvincontendo]

Being ZJemptv an atheist I thought you were talking about her . sorry, my mistake.

[Chlhlr0]

if you are refering to the little boy, that was raised as a girl...well, he was all the time a "he" ;-)

[miharakamikazi]

I really like your videos, but I disagree with many liines you cite as evidence for your claim of biologically-determined gender. At 3:18, for instance, you say that "men..have penises;" however, a :man"is a social category while a "male" s the biological one. So, a "male" has a penis, and a "man" has a masculine gender identity.

Moreover, though, I think you failed to mention the importance of neuroplasticity, the ability of the human brain to change its shape and functioning based...

[miharakamikazi]

...on what it learns, You cite that men and women have different brains - which, to some degree - they do. However, are those brains different at birth, or do they become different through what they are taught? Modern neuropsychology argues the latter, For instance, feral children do not have "gender." What distinguishes them from other people is that they are socialized outside human contexts, which suggests that gender is learned, not biologial.

...

[miharakamikazi]

I think many transsexual people are fearful of this notion of neuroplasticity because their detractors might attempt to use it to "disprove" transsexualism. Their argument is something like "Well, if they can learn it, they can un-learn it." However, this assertion overflates neuroplasticity; after age eight, it doesn't change that rapidly any more. Subsequently, a trans gender identity seems to be learned in the very early stages of life, and, like laterality, cannot be changed.

...

[miharakamikazi]

As a trans ally, I am a little worried by your argument for biological and evolutionary determinism, for, if these sources were true, trans people certainly would have been bred out of human populations. Though your argument is well-said, I think its highly reductive.

[marvincontendo]

i suppose both.

the impression i get is that the human brain is mainly pre manufactured as either male or female, while parts of it may be

re programmed by pure social gender convention.

[michelleinthefuture]

Please continue making videos!

[michelleinthefuture]

I also think that there is a genetic component to the TS/TG. Many people in my family, male and female, tend to be gender variant. I have a theory that many women early in pregnancy don't realize that they are pregnant and start,or continue, to take birth control pills. I wonder how this might affect the male fetus. I believe that predudice against TS people will remain long after gays and lesbians have been accepted by society. Gender change is too much for some people to handle. Unfortunately.

[DemeterCanada]

Some of us pre-date birth control, so it would not be the only cause. Also, presumably, the placenta must inhibit the transference of the mother's hormones to a male fetus.

[MsFlexxy]

I gues in the case of radical femenists its mostly hatred but also ingnorance by only looking at the things that disaprove of transsexuality and dismissing proof that counters it to justify their hatred wich makes them narrowminded and short sighted and not open to other posibilities to accept transsexuals as woman, but see us as spies as you said. In their eyes we are men and are unable to broaden their views to accept us as woman and look past their hatred for men.

[Hanna640]

great video ^^ it's amazing

[MsFlexxy]

I wish some people were not so narrow minded and took it to themself to broaden their views past that what they see as being right. Not everything is the way it seems and not all that is written is right. So to all who are narrowminded, try to broaden your views and study things before questioning them coz without knowing enough about them you cant really have an opinion. Love the videos you make : ) You really have a lot to tell and doing a great job sharing it and helping people. Thank you !

[MsFlexxy]

I have been raised as male.... been told things i shouldnt do coz they were feminine and encouraged to do male things and show male behaviour. I never completely understood why i couldnt find myself in these things coz transgender was not something we were exposed to at the time so it has been really hard to live with.Even after being raised to be masculin it never changed that my gender identity is female and not male no matter how hard i tried to fit in. Great video once again : )

[ProjectBrooke]

Cool great vid! This Should shut up these So called "Radical Feminises" hehe :)

[TrannyGirl15]

I don't think so. It seems to me that their discourse is fueled by hatred rather than true logical arguments.

[ProjectBrooke]

Aw oh well! ..ya cant reason with stupidity lols. its not like they have any kind of power or authority anyway. soo no worrys :) ...Thanks for the plug! hehe :)

[darliegoddess]

Ask a lesbian why they all look the same if they aren't trying to fit into the construct of a lesbian. Ask them why they accept FTM's but not FTM's ? And finally ask them why when they were socialized as heterosexual women why they chose to be lesbians .

[HEIBAOSHEN]

Spy's huh, some people have some sort of craving to be limited by own rules and contrived reasons for hating.

[cmk7]

You make a good argument for nature over nurture. A Harvard University president was forced to resign for basically saying the same thing.

[TheSpuck]

more women in med school but eventually there are more men who`ll have a doctor title in med... at least in my country it`s like that...

[soni408]

wow, great video.

[roseblossoms00]

i love this video its so amamazing

[IChoseTheRedPill]

outstanding video...

[AiyaBlush]

Your so on topic in analysis...

[tonypiecuzpan]

Yeah. I hate those people that have a cookie cutter view of life. Most of those assholes would have a problem with you using the fact of evolution in your arguement. Gotta love theists. Just by there being people born with both male and female genitals should be enough evidence.

[CapitalCruz]

TOTALLY TRUE!!!

[Rockyourassed]

In the place where i lived some familys called Wallisians or tahitians , educat their last child , a boy for example as a girl . It's really hard for them , because a lot doesn't feel good in their skins . It's because of these people , i'm not really agree with that...

[mia8293]

I love your attention to detail :)

[coolkelly42]

interesting

[Eopyk]

Cont in more eastern cultures like Japan the infamous math gap is much smaller or does not exist in the same way at least for one easter girls from Asia and eastern Europe beat American boys in math in many cases.

I gotta go anyway all love from me Jasmine so not more time to say anything more

[naimaTS]

hurmm.... good info..

[Eopyk]

Part 1: A study done here showed that women commit most violance crimes when there testostrone is at it's higher that in inbeetwen cycels.

I have studied history and culture a whole lot I think there is mix of both cultural and chemnical and biological in general diffrence but one most also take in the great diversity that exist within the groups. And also sometimes the average can vary somewhat depending on cultural where about for an example