#beccaelainepuddentane

[gender-fluidproblems]

Hello, I'm sorry if this is a silly question or makes no sense or whatever, but I was wondering if there is evidence for a biological basis to gender identity? I understand that gender roles and how we label ourselves and each other is socially constructed and based on culture, but I'm talking about an innate understanding of oneself (1/many [sorry, don't know actual # right now])

I guess I'm sort of confused about it all, because perhaps if there were no gender roles or the concept itself, perhaps we would just be all individuals with varying personality traits and likes and dislikes, but I also think that there is probably some biology involved with gender identity, because it makes sense that there is a internal "blueprint" of oneself from a very early age, if not from birth.(2/3?)

But, I also don't want to fall into the neurosexism trap because most studies show very slight insignificant differences in brain matter and neurochemistry between men and women, but there are also studies showing that literally gender identity maybe a scatter plot chart/spectrum within the brain that we all fall individually on somewhere. Anyway, this was a really long ask and I'm sorry it was so dense and rambly. (3/definitely 4)

If you know a better blog to ask these questions, please tell me, because I am not sure where to look. Thank you for taking the time to look at this. (4/4 - the end)

I think it’s a valid question because it’s one that has answers that are constantly in flux. Unfortunately I can’t do my usual rooting around for sources because I’m on leave meaning that my database access has been shut down for the semester.

There have been multiple biological “proofs” of the gender binary that have since been debunked (re: genitalia and chromosomes wrt the existence of intersex people) and yes, there is usually some biology involved in informing our sense of gender identity, but ultimately the general consensus from the research I’ve done studying gender in a variety of disciplines including psychology, anthropology, history, biology, theology, and sociology is that there is a distinct possibility that there will be no consensus without further critical study, especially given the hostile sociopolitical climate we’re facing.

Gender is one of those areas where experts of all disciplines are still arguing over where the ratios really stand with nature vs. nurture. Because gender is so intimately ingrained into us from birth and because assumed gender is often so integral to how a person is raised it’s difficult to separate these extremely early social cues and interactions and study gender in a nurture-less void.

It makes sense to think that we have some form of a “blueprint” of ourselves just by virtue of being human beings but especially at very young ages so much of who we are and how we interact with the world is shaped so strongly by what we’re taught to say and do that it’s still something that people find difficult to tackle.

This answer ended up about as dense and rambly so no need to apologize for that oops

[beanwitchling]

Are you a vegetarian/vegan? What are your thoughts on vegetarianism/veganism?

Again, apologies if this has sat in my inbox for a while, Tumblr never notifies me of new msgs anymore!

Certified omnivore here. I get my irons and other nutriments from some animals, and I love heavy creams and yogurts and ice cream way too much to ever give ‘em up. I totes respect my friends who are vege’s / vegans for having way more self-discipline than I do. As a point of personal conduct, I currently exercise the privilege of spending extra money to get products from animals who are treated decently. However, I think it’s missing the big picture to harp on individual “choices” when it comes to food. So many people’s food access is compromised by shitty government practices and long-standing effects of poverty & discrimination. No single person is free of constraints placed on them by the dominant culture, the state, and the economic situation where they live. Because of that, I don’t think it’s productive to shame anyone for what they choose to eat or not eat. I don’t think freegans who break into suburban Whole Foods dumpsters have any moral superiority over a single parent who manages to stretch a few packs of lunch meat & some pasta into kids’ meals for a week.

Honestly I think these are potentially radical and transforming practices, but unfortunately the public image of vegetarianism / veganism has been co-opted so heavily by liberal North Americans with disposable income... like, my knee-jerk reaction to someone identifying themselves as such is very similar to when someone volunteers that they’re Christian. Are they a church-choir-and-charity-towards-the-poor Christian, or the type who’ll try to exorcise the devil from me when they find out just how gay I am? Are they a community-gardening-and-support-for-families-living-in-food-deserts vegetarian, or the type of vegan who will have a toxic melt-down if they discover there’s cheese in my fridge & try to convince me organic plant foods cure all cancer? It’s a toss-up. That said, I applaud the folks who try to engage people with an awareness of the difference between individual action and collective change. Vegetarians & vegans have brought forth a lot of valid criticisms against Western agri-business, and they’re right to interrogate the way certain nations (like the U.S.) teach our citizens to think or NOT to think about food production and distribution (why does our government maintain such wasteful corporate farming & food vending practices? Why is food security not a universal right? Why do we continue to buy into the idea that only people with money deserve nourishment? We made up money, it’s a shitty game we created for ourselves and now we’re saying you either play or you die of starvation, that’s kind of shit actually.)

Anyway it’s the time of night where I could go on a really long rant about economic exploitation and resistance, so I’m gonna make myself end here and go to bed.

[animalwelfarists]

Hello, I have another question. So, my bf grew up in a household where if a dog did something bad it could get bopped on the nose, so a few times he has done it to our 1 ½ year old shepherd, especially when he has bitten one of us very hard (he has a mouthing problem). I felt uncomfortable about the bopping so I asked my bf to stop, and he agreed he would. I guess I just wanted to know what you thought of bopping on the nose as a way of grabbing a dog’s attention or reprimanding them.

Bopping on the nose is unnecessary and ineffective as is all forms of physical aversion. Your dog needs to learn bite inhibition. Usually this is learned during the period of time a puppy is with it’s mother and litter mates, but when puppies are removed from that environment before they can learn these things, it’s up to people to teach them.

Here’s some resources:

Teaching Bite Inhibition  More On Bite Inhibition (Because It's So Important) Bite Inhibition Training  Teaching Bite Inhibition: How to develop and maintain your dog’s “bite inhibition.” - Dark

[kirinjaegeste]

Are you a vegetarian/vegan? What are your thoughts on vegetarianism/veganism?

I am not, sorry.  I think it is a very healthy lifestyle though.

[shadowstep-of-bast]

*SCREAMS OF HORROR* OHNO OH NO OH NO SOMEONE THINKS IM MAD AT THEM NO NO NOOOOOOOOOO I AM MAD AT NO ONE OKAY I LOVE YOU TO PIECES PLEASE DONT THINK IM MAD AT YOU EVER OKAY PLEEEAAAASE THIS IS VERY DISTRESSING I WISH TO REASSURE YOU THAT I AM INDEED NOT EVEN REMOTELY ANGRY AT YOU OKAY ILU *HUGS U AND BURIES U UNDER BLANKETS AND KITTENS*

[theocdfeminist-blog]

beccaelainepuddentane replied to your post: anonymous asked:Just letting you ...

Perfectionism is a big part of my OCD. It is kind of part of a feed back loop: I think it is partly symptomatic of my OCD but also my OCD makes my perfectionist tendencies worse.

See, this is what had me confused, because I seemed like Anon was talking about an actual illness, rather than just the personality trait. Personality traits can totally interact with your mental illness, and with OCD perfectionism is likely to do that, just in the way you said. OCD often requires perfection, and if you often require it of yourself as well, it can become that much harder to stop an obsession or a compulsion. 

But perfectionism for other people isn't necessarily a source of anxiety---for many it's a source of motivation or pride, that can sometimes cause frustration or stress, but is ultimately something they admire about themselves. And people with OCD may be the farthest from perfection it's possible to be (example A right here--I never even edited my papers in college, just trusted the heart of the cards and whatnot). I even got an ask a while back from someone whose OCD was triggered by perfection--their OCD wanted things to be somewhat messed up and perfection was bad! 

So it's really all over the board, because while your natural personality interacts with any mental illness you might have, OCD itself isn't a personality disorder, so personality only feeds into it on an individual basis, you know?

[souyoz]

Did you celebrate thanksgiving? With family? Friends? #sleepover Saturday

yeah! it was more of a homecoming party since ive been gone from home since i was in uni until break.We had 2 turkeys, and moms homecooked food. I got to bake the most perfect upside down pineapple cake ive ever done too :3c it was all bueno <3 My older brothers, their families, and my father (who isnt commonly around) and mother where all here.then dad and i went to a bar to meet another brother of mine and his family and we saw a car explode in flames next door. it was rad

[shadowstep-of-bast]

Do you have compulsive skin picking as well?

Yes T.T it sucks so bad. I end up with little red marks and pinches on my face, chest, breasts, and shoulders. I hate it so bad but i dont know how to stop :/