Sex reassignment. A controversial topic of ethics. The question is, is it really okay? I don't think so. How can you just "change" someone's gender? It just doesn't work that way.
- Dangers of surgery. Any adjustments to your body can be hazardous. Why would you cosmetically change something if your body is physically healthy? Sure, if you ask a person how they feel right after they have surgery, they'll say they feel and look great. The reason is because they don't know what health factors or symptoms could occur in the future. Sex reassignment is only a recent trend. It hasn't been around for decades and decades for people to know EXACTLY what's going to happen. Things could start happening. Issues and problems could arise.
- Socially acceptable? According to an article on Faqs.org, gender change "requires unique social, legal, and hormonal involvement." It takes time to transition. Also, when you get a sex change, you can't COMPLETELY change a girl into a guy or vice versa. You can't change a skinny girl into big, buff dude. Also, the voice. Despite changing the looks, you can't change the voice. It makes people socially UNacceptable, which could lead to emotional stress/alienation.
- Sex change doesn't exist. You can't REALLY "change" someone's gender. It's all cosmetics. All you're doing is changing someone's body from the outside.What happened to the saying, "What matters is in the inside"? Why do people have to go so far as to change their body? You don't HAVE to get surgery. Couldn't you just make yourself feel like the other sex without having surgery? One more question. Why go see a plastic surgeon when you could see a counselor or psychologist? Wouldn't you rather just accept who you are from the inside, than just change yourself from the outside?
- According to The Straight Dope, gender change may give people an advantage in sports, more specifically the Olympics. Statistically, men develop muscles faster than women, so therefore are more physically able than women. So men who have had sex reassignment could have an edge in sports, which would be unfair.
- People can change. People may look back a few years later and ask, "Why did I do this?" They might regret having a sex change. For example, a family member of mine got surgery on her breasts a couple of years ago. But now, she regrets having them done because of all the complications.
Reflection: I think that I did a good job presenting my stance on my topic in my debate on sex gender change. In the debate, I was against sex reassignment while my opponent, Tala Khatib, was for sex reassignment. She mentioned that many strong, pro points that had me biting my nails, like the GID syndrome. After our debate was over, we had many constructive and great comments that led to a class discussion all around. Thus, I thought the debate went well in the end and that it was pretty fun to do, although I was a bit nervous, but I think everyone was.
Sites/sources used:
http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/64/Sex-change-surgery.html
Human Genetics (pg. 119) Sex reassignment: Making a Biological "He" into a Social "She"
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2782/switch-hitter
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2782/switch-hitter
I think you had some great thought-out argument points (I don't think I would've thought of the Olympics point), and your presentation went well, too. However, it would've been nice to have a conclusion.
ReplyDeleteHey, Tin. I'll be honest, I'm pro-sex change; therefore, naturally, I was biased against your argument to begin with. However, your points made a lot of sense to me, and I can now understand the other side of the argument more thoroughly. As Marina said above this, the Olympics comment made a lot of sense, and I've certainly never considered it. This is one of the examples that I thought really contributed to your argument. I'm not in your science class, so I cannot really comment on your actual debate (speaking, knowledge of subject, etc.), but if I had to base my opinion off of this blog, I would say that you made a good speech with many persuasive points, and I'm sure that you gave Tala a real challenge in her rebuttal. Good work!
ReplyDeleteTin,
ReplyDeleteWell,I think the debate went pretty well! You were a good opponent, and it was quite difficult for me to rebuttal seeing that I am truly against the sex reassignment operation. Moreover, you had some really good points, although I am pretty sure you can change your sex externally and internally if you go for the more expensive operation.
Great work in all!
Tala~
Well the whole Olympic thing was actually an issue with some runner... thing who had a sex change from a man to a woman. Anyways...
ReplyDeleteGood job with your sources and points. I commend you on your argument. Saw some comic relief too. And it sounded enthusiastic and like you were into it just by reading. Nice bruh.