Reflecting on "Gut Feminism," and how Feminists seem to shy away from biological explanations for gendered differences, I can totally understand this. I too feel myself recoil when a "scientific" study is put in front of me showing how one gender is more something than the other.
My first main attraction to feminism, was that is suddenly brought the light to my eyes (to be totes Platonic) how everything I had ever been told about my innate gender characteristics, could be just socialized norms. This knowledge really empowered me, because suddenly a lot of restrictions were gone as far as who I could be.
As I progress in my studies, it is indeed becoming more difficult to lift the blinders I have put on -- refusing to accept biology as a reason for gender differences. I think that a part of me does not want to relinquish my new-found abilities. As long as gender is still something that is socialized, I still can be whatever I choose. But I am also realizing that some things might be just how they are (given the exception of modern medical marvels).
Another part of me wants to refuse this biology explanation because given an inch, a mile will be taken. For example, there is this study that women can recognize their babies by smell a lot more accurately than men can, given this inch, the mile might be WOMEN ARE BETTER FOR BEING MOMMIES. Then, hey, let's not keep pushing for policies that will support women at work and at home, because hey, they are just better at home anyway. Now this might seem extreme, but almost any biological explanation seems, like it can be taken to this extreme.
And so my question is, how do we navigate such solid scientific reports on gender and biology, while staying focused (both ourselves and policy) on justice and equality? Also, how do we keep the attitude of "I can do and be anything," and should it be changed from despite my gender to because of my gender?
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