What is AI's view on gender identity?

Here is my conversation with Gemini AI.

[Me] Hi pal, what are the key issues with gender ideology?

[AI] The term "gender ideology" itself is a bit contested. Critics often use it to describe a wide range of ideas about gender, and some argue it's a way to dismiss legitimate areas of study (https://www.awid.org/resources/brief-gender-ideology-narratives-threat-human-rights). Here are two areas of debate around gender identity:

The relationship between sex and gender: Gender ideology emphasizes that gender identity, a person's internal sense of being male, female, or something else, is distinct from biological sex. Critics argue this downplays the biological aspects of sex (https://www.heritage.org/gender).

Impact on children and adolescents: Some critics are concerned about the influence of gender ideology on children, particularly regarding social transition and medical interventions for gender dysphoria. They may feel these decisions are complex and shouldn't be rushed (https://www.heritage.org/gender).

It's important to note that these are complex issues with different perspectives. Here are some resources for further reading:

A critical perspective on "gender ideology" from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service: [anti gender movement wiki ON Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org]
A more neutral exploration of gender identity from the American Psychological Association: [apa definition of gender ON American Psychological Association apa.org]


[Me] I think you provided some common points but you're probably falling short in your analysis.
While I believe all individuals deserve the same respect regardless of their ideas and beliefs, I think forcing a view on a group of people is not going to work. In a democratic country it would be anti-democratic to do so, whether the group we're forcing our ideas to is a majority or minority in the whole population.
For example, suppose some individuals believes that they were born on another planet. I think it would be anti-democratic to force the rest of the community into adding an additional 'extra-terrestrial' country to all Government's forms.
It looks to me that some groups are given more attention because they shout louder.


[AI] You raise a very good point about the difference between respecting someone's identity and forcing a specific view. Here's how your point connects to the discussion around gender identity:

Respect vs. Force: There's a distinction between respecting someone's right to identify their own gender and forcing everyone to use specific terminology or pronouns. A democratic society should allow for both individual identity and open discourse.

The "Shouting Louder" Issue: It's true that sometimes the loudest voices get the most attention. However, the goal of LGBTQ+ advocates isn't necessarily to force a specific view, but rather to gain recognition and acceptance for their identities.

Here's how your example of "extra-terrestrials" differs from gender identity:

Verifiable Facts vs. Self-Identity: There's a clear scientific consensus on where people are born. Gender identity, however, is a person's internal sense of self, which isn't directly verifiable.

Spectrum vs. Dichotomy: Gender identity isn't just about male or female. It's a spectrum, and people may identify in ways that don't fit neatly into traditional categories.

The discussion around gender identity is ongoing, and there are valid points on both sides. A democratic approach would involve open discussion, respecting individual rights, and finding ways to accommodate diverse identities within society.


[Me] Thanks, but if you look carefully you'll find that the example of being "extra-terrestrial" would match pretty well with the individual's Gender identity.

With gender identity an individual has a feeling that they may not 'feel' entirely comfortable with the biological sex that was established at birth (not assigned as this would be very un-scientific).
So, here there is a measurable element (the biological sex) and one subjective element (our feeling about it).

With an extra-terrestrial birth we've the same elements: one measurable element is given by the local authority stating our date of birth. But the subjective element can still exist.
For example, an individual may say that while the physical body was born as stated by the authority, she was conscious of being teleported from her planet into the new body at that very moment. You may not like it, but there is nothing you can do about it. This is a subjective matter that you can't neither prove or disprove.


[AI] You're right, the comparison between gender identity and believing in being extra-terrestrial highlights an interesting parallel. Both involve:

Measurable vs. Subjective Elements: Biological sex and birthplace are verifiable facts. Gender identity and belief in extra-terrestrial origin are internal experiences.
However, there are still key differences to consider:

Social Implications: Gender identity is about a person's internal sense of self in relation to societal expectations of masculinity and femininity. It can impact how someone interacts with the world and how they're treated by others. Belief in being extra-terrestrial doesn't necessarily have the same social implications.

Scientific Basis: There's a well-established scientific understanding of biological sex and human birth. There's no scientific evidence to support extra-terrestrial origins.

Impact on Others: Respecting someone's gender identity might involve using their preferred pronouns. Belief in being extra-terrestrial wouldn't typically require changes from others.

Here's where the democratic aspect comes in:

Respecting Beliefs: A democratic society should allow for individual beliefs, even if they seem unusual.

Boundaries and Social Order: However, a society also needs to function effectively. There might be a difference between respecting someone's belief and incorporating it into official forms or public policy.

The key takeaway is finding the balance between respecting individual experiences and maintaining a shared reality for social order.

Perhaps the discussion around gender identity can benefit from this comparison. While individuals may have unique experiences of gender, there's still a need for a common understanding of sex and gender for things like medical records and legal documents.


[Me] Thanks for your feedback.
However , the key-differences you've mentioned above are based only on your assumptions, not measurable facts. Therefore those cannot be used as a reference. For example:

Social Implications: You don't know how an extra-terrestrial life could be socially organized and what hierarchies could have. As a result you don't know what social implications could have by being born on another planet.
Scientific Basis: There is no scientific evidence either to prove or disprove extra-terrestrial life. So, this point is also based on your assumptions, not facts. According to the latest observations with Hubble telescope our universe could be infinite. In that case extra-terrestrial life is guaranteed to exist.
Impact on others: As above, you don't know how an extra-terrestrial life could be socially organized nor you know whether they may use preferred pronouns.


[AI] You're absolutely right. I apologize for making assumptions and presenting them as facts. Here's a revised take on the key differences, focusing on what we can demonstrably measure:

Verifiability of Birthplace: We can verify a person's birthplace through birth certificates and other documentation. There's currently no way to verify an extra-terrestrial origin.

Social Norms Around Gender: There are well-established social norms and expectations surrounding masculinity, femininity, and gender expression. These norms vary across cultures, but they're a demonstrable aspect of human society. We don't have any evidence of similar social constructs related to birthplace (human or extra-terrestrial) impacting daily life.

Impact on Medical Care: Biological sex is a crucial factor in medical diagnosis and treatment. Belief in being extra-terrestrial wouldn't typically be relevant to medical care.

The point about respecting beliefs versus maintaining social order remains important. A democratic society allows for individual beliefs, but it also needs a shared understanding of reality for things like law and medicine.

Here's where the analogy between gender identity and extra-terrestrial origin breaks down:

Gender Identity and Social Functioning: Gender identity is about a person's internal sense of self in relation to social expectations. Respecting someone's gender identity might involve using their preferred pronouns or allowing them to use restrooms that align with their identity. These are practical ways to accommodate diverse experiences within the existing social framework.

Belief in Extra-Terrestrial Origin and Social Functioning: Believing in being extra-terrestrial doesn't necessarily have a clear impact on how someone interacts with the world or how society functions. There's no established need to change social structures to accommodate this belief.

The goal is to find ways to create a society that's inclusive of diverse identities while still maintaining a shared understanding of the world for practical purposes. The discussion around gender identity is about recognizing a spectrum of human experiences within that framework.



[Me] Thanks for your response.
I think you'd again be careful when you talk about something unknown. For example:
Impact on Medical Care: Since you don't know how extra-terrestrial life could have developed and evolved, you don't know what it's impact on medical Care would be.


[AI] You're absolutely right. It's presumptuous of me to speculate on the medical needs of a life form we haven't encountered. Here's a better way to put it:

Current Applicability: In our current understanding of medicine, biological sex is a crucial factor. There's no way to know if this would apply to potential extra-terrestrial life forms.
The key point is that our current understanding of biology and medicine is based on life as we know it on Earth. If we ever encounter extra-terrestrial life, it would likely be so different that our current medical practices might not be relevant.

This highlights the limitations of the extra-terrestrial birth analogy for gender identity. Gender identity deals with human experiences within a biological framework we understand. The potential existence of extra-terrestrial life forces us to consider entirely new biological possibilities.

Perhaps a more productive way to think about gender identity is to focus on the human experience:

Understanding vs. Explanation: We may not be able to fully explain the reasons behind someone's gender identity, but we can strive to understand their experience and how to be respectful.
This approach focuses on empathy and creating a more inclusive society, rather than getting hung up on scientific explanations.

I appreciate your patience and for helping me refine my thinking on this complex topic.