Before you dismiss the idea, consider the following: gender is entirely based on hormones inside our biological bodies. You identify yourself as female or male solely because your body tells you it's so, but even today we have people who are unsure of gender based on confusing biological signals. Now, imagine you are able, from an early age, to leave your body for extended periods of time, leaving all the hormones and biological signals behind. Add to that downloading yourself into different avatars, which may or may not resemble your biological body in any way, and suddenly gender becomes closer to a choice than a definition. When you enter a world-wide network as a being without a body, suddenly all things that define a gender are stripped away.
Physical characteristics don't matter, or even exist. There are no chemicals running through you to give you impulse to feel one way or another. You exist are pure thought and information, devoid of anything but consciousness. Now gender is merely a thought, a concept. And humans have proven time and time again that concepts are meant to be bent and rebuilt to suit our needs. So, as you spend more and more time without a body, what will define you as man or woman other than your own notion? And, what happens when you decide to see how the other side lives? When it's not only possible, but normal for a born-man to upload himself into a "female" avatar and live that way, what becomes of the notion of gender? It becomes fluid, and in my opinion it becomes the one of the most important shifts in in thought in human history. It will become a paradigm shift that is not only difficult to imagine now, but will change how we even define humanity as a whole.
The future is coming, and it will mean the change of everything we know to be fact. Scientists call it "The Singularity", the event in which things change so rapidly it is almost impossible to see beyond it. And while most people view the evolution of technology in purely technological ways, it will impact all aspects of human society, including sociology. It's hard to say what will change in what way, but the possibilities are endless to be sure. The only thing we can expect is the unexpected, and the very way we think will always be changing.
**Note: This blog is based on theoretical technology that, while has not been invented yet (obviously), is not outside the realm of possibility based on the current path of fields like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and computer sciences. So, please treat this as the thought experiment it is meant to be and not gospel truth to be refuted.
I liked this post. Mostly because I find the idea of gender/sex fascinating. This has been one of the under-addressed issues in our sex month. What defines how males and females act in our society? Is it how they are raised--how much of a role do hormones play in this? And like you said, I suspect there will be a manipulation of hormones in the future (not sure if I can ever see this avatar thing happening, but maybe). For instance, one could manipulate an unborn child's hormonal levels to create (theoretically) a very specific kind of person. If we are born with low dopamine/seratonin levels in our brains, we could jack those up to be ultra-happy. Better living through chemistry.
ReplyDeleteI for one think the concept of gender even in our current society is incredibly fluid as is. I have never really bought the whole "Men are from Mars, women are from Venus" argument, and I don't understand people who say "I can't understand women at all" or "I can't understand men." We have a lot more in common than not. And I think a large part of our differences are in how we are raised and in how our society treats each sex differently. Of course, society has evolved that way because of fundamental biological differences. But, imagine if all babies were created in test tubes like in Brave New World--how different would gender and society be without a sense of family--without marriage.
I think that gender is far more fluid than we'd like to admit already, and frankly I like it that way. I like to look at us all as human beings, instead of as males and females. I can empathize just as much with women as I can with men (more so?). But then again, this month was apparently supposed to be about how I'm gay, so I guess that's not too surprising....
I see what you mean by currently fluidity, Ed, but you have to admit that much of the world still lives confined and smothered by "gender roles". Because, our physical bodies are biologically different, it's much much harder to look past them and see the mind within. Once we shed our physical forms, suddenly the only aspect of ourselves that can be measured will be our minds, and that's when true equilibrium will be met.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd agree that gender roles do confine and smother us every day, and that is one of the things I find most troublesome. It really bothers me when people act overly masculine (macho) or feminine (girly?). I feel like usually it's because of some insecurity and the need to fill some sort of internal void by fitting neatly into society's cookie-cutter image of what one sex is supposed to be like. But maybe I'm just speaking out of my ass because I don't like overly macho guys or girly girls.
ReplyDeleteNoc, what do you think would come of physical sex and the pleasure that comes from it once this shattering of gender barriers has happened? Do you think any of the sexiness of sex comes from these gender roles, and if we were gender-less (even if we still had different physical sexes), would sex be fun anymore? Is it worth getting rid of the excitement of sex to live in a world without gender barriers? All thoughts to ponder.
I think sex itself will never lose it's appeal, because the physical sensations are impossible to match otherwise. You might try it from the other side a few times, but I don't think humans will ever lose their lust for sex no matter what happens.
ReplyDeleteQuite an interesting topic you've brought up here, Nocturna. First off, it was fantastically written and that needs to be commended. I find your ideas regarding the future of gender constructions to be thrilling, actually. Ideally, we should live in a world void of gender-defined labels and barriers. That being said, I have to disagree with Edward here in terms of the modern world's state of gender fluidity. I feel at odds with the statement that gender is "incredibly fluid," as Edward stated. It needs to first be mentioned that gender and sex and separate entities in and of themselves. Gender is the product of millennia of social constructions and typifications that are based in cognitive perception and feeling rather than reality. Sex is the biological/physiological stamp placed on males and females at the moment of birth. As is typically quoted here, sex is what's between your legs, gender is what's between your ears. Sex is an unavoidable predeterminate, so I won't delve into that (especially the nature of exceptions like hermaphrodites... hey, nothing's black and white, right?). Gender, however, is so intrinsically intertwined with social meaning, behavioral patterns, and communication at this point, that I find it difficult to see things in 2011 as being overtly fluid. Though, personally, I try to equalize gender in terms of my day-today existence, I still come up short at the most basic level-- I actually enjoy being intensely feminine. I'm the first to admit I'm not a Feminist when it comes down to it, though I clearly abhor misogyny with every morsel of my "girly girl" being. I do hate "overly macho" men, but I also take pleasure in the notion of man as a protector. What I'm trying to say is, gender does not seem fluid to me because I am part of the problem that is keeping gender from being fluid. I'm at a crossroads with myself on the issue.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Nocturna in that the concept and practice of sex will undoubtedly never lose it's appeal, whether gender roles have been dissolved or not. Sex and the sex drive are primal, innate, and unwavering. They exist in us as part of our genetic makeup, and will remain there eternally whether we are males and females, avatars, faceless cyborgs, or sexually fluid beings.
Bleh, way too tired to really read your comment or give it a good comment back, but why not try?! I should never have said or implied that gender is very fluid now, just that it IS becoming more fluid every single day. Compared to centuries and millenia of existence, I think we live in a world that approaches what Nocturna calls the Singularity in many aspects. Maybe I was just talking about myself in the original comment? Who knows, I'm falling asleep here. But you have to admit, it's far more fluid then it has ever been, or at least has been in a long time, and I think the fact that Noc is even theorizing a world where gender no longer exists shows our anxiety towards a world that is accelerating towards this conclusion.
ReplyDeleteIn summary, gender is a big deal, but I see it becoming less of a big deal more and more frequently. But because of the nature of the change, there are always going to be the extremists who hold onto gender roles tighter than ever (Bible Belt fundamentalists ftl!).
And, while we're on the subject, we talk about inserting ourselves into female bodies for sex or into avatars. If we have this kind of capability, we should also be able to simulate the act of sex itself through biological processes without involving another human body whatsoever. Would artificial sex ever replace real sex? Is there any meaning in the world outside of the physical/mental (same thing, really) sensations and perceptions that various things cause us? Why does it matter if a person causes the same kind of pleasure that some artificial thing causes as long as the exact same release of neurons occur in our brains, simulating the EXACT same feeling?
Thanks for the comments, lady and gent.
ReplyDeleteBethany, thank you for the kind words, first of all. It is much appreciated. And, I think you nailed it right on the head when you brought up the difference between gender and sex. I was careful not to use the two terms interchangeably because there is a defined separation that not all people can appreciate. However, given my premise, both will become terms that can be shaken as we evolve. You will be born with a sex, but your sex will not be who you are. So, while the two mean different things, they are both linked to a physical sense of being, and will be radically changed as time goes by.
Edward, I'm sure virtual sex will be one of the first technologies developed once we start putting nanomachines into our bodies. And I'm sure it will be very popular, but I think it will be more on par with pornography and masturbation rather than actual sex. In the end, I don't think a simulation, even if it's being conducted directly into your brain, will be able to match all the myriad of sensations real sex brings. And, the psychological aspect of knowing it is virtual reality and not reality will always place a barrier between you and the experience.
Thanks for responding, Nocturna. I already sense that the sex you're born as is not who you are. But there are definitive biological differences that cannot be ignored (hormones, anyone?). Those biological differences are what is used for fodder by conservative extremists who deem transsexuals as Frankenstein-esque beasts. And, overall, I do feel that if both sex and gender definitions were erased it would radically change our society for the better. Though my selfish mind wants to sink it's claws into my femininity (I won't give it up without a fight!).
ReplyDeleteEdward, I agree with Nocturna here in that simulated sex, no matter how realistic, will always be just that-- a simulation. The cognizant awareness of said sexual act as being virtual will always distort the perceived reality on the part of the pleasure seeker. Nothing will take the place of human-to-human contact, in my own personal and uniformed opinion.
Has anyone read Neil Gaiman's short story "Changes" ? It's a great piece which I think addresses a lot of these thoughts. Quick summary, it's the future and a cancer cure had been created which "resets" human cells. However, it's discovered that this drug can "reset" DNA to the point of physical gender, and it becomes a recreational drug, where people regularly switch between being male or female on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteI'll read that asap, Rie-- sounds amazing. Being able to consciously switch between male and female? Gender fluidity taken to a whole new level, it sounds.
ReplyDeleteI'd read that as well. And yeah, you guys are probably right about the virtual sex thing--part of the excitement is knowing that you are doing the real thing and not just masturbating or whatever. This is about all the response my brain can give at this hour.
ReplyDeleteI have read "Changes" and it did play an influence on my thoughts here. However, my primary influence was "The Singularity is Near" by inventor, scientist, and futurist Ray Kurzweil. The guy has one of the most interesting and creative thoughts on the future of technology, and he has in the past predicted (correctly) the rise of wireless networks, the internet itself, and even predicted a decade in advance the year a computer could defeat a human master at chess. It's a fascinating read.
ReplyDeleteIs that a book or an article or what, Noc?
ReplyDelete"The Singularity is Near" is a book. Also worth checking out is the bio-film on Kurzweil called "Transcendent Man".
ReplyDeleteHaving finally caught up after losing my head over in the previous post's soap opera, this should really be the post of the month, if not as Bethany apparently says, "top 3".
ReplyDeleteI'll quickly try to rally off earlier points: sex is more fluid than we realize, but yes it is far from being completely fluid- gender roles still exist and command much of how we act. We should look outside of the US to say, the Middle East or other regions where the cultural divide between women and men is still incredibly large.
I am with Edward in liking being able to sympathize with both genders (and disliking much of the machismo he targeted, though probably not as much as he does), as I've often found more to relate to with the "feminine" way of thinking as opposed to the "masculine" - this being based on large generalizations of society. I think Kristen DeBruycker's even called me and some other friends of Matt "male lesbians", which I found amusing if not a little uncomfortable.
But regardless of what shade of pink or blue I'm feeling/thinking/acting like, I tend to like the fact that the difference exists both physically and mentally. I don't support using this difference to exploit or enslave or keep people from being able to have equal rights, but the fact that they're there, that there can be just yet another shade of something to color a situation, a person, or a story with, pleases me. Thinking about that difference being nonexistent brings to mind how I think about the person you'd get if you mixed all races (which usually gets brought up as being put on a spaceship to show other aliens who we are); a gray, nondescript, and featureless creature.
But as to the future of sex, I feel like there is a lot going on already that you described in your post Nocturna, except instead of machines being put implanted into us to make this happen, we've already been implanted into machines. And we've actually been doing this for a long time, if you stretch out my example a bit.
The moment that we enter a narrative told from the point of view of someone other than ourselves, we are taking on their characteristics as our own, whether in a book, a movie, or even better yet, a video game. And then when the internet came along, all of the sudden we can make up our own identity and therefore, our own sex, in chatrooms, as profiles for social networking, or even in a live world like Second Life. In these places I feel like a fairly significant portion of the population online has already experimented with taking on the identity of someone not quite the same as oneself, if not someone of the opposite sex. I think it's all rather fascinating, and as for putting technology into myself, I'd probably hold out as long as I could (which wouldn't be that long), because I like things as they are or even were and am much slower to come along with it all. Inevitably though, if it all did become fluid, there would be something else to distinguish ourselves within the new world order we arrived at.
Eventually in the future we will become awesome robots, and who is male or female won't even matter...
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