Comments on: Scientists Confirm: Blood Test Can Tell A Fetus’s Sex at Seven Weeks

By: mopoco

mopoco — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:31:09 +0000

@anon: “In fact, I personally don’t quite think fetuses can be gendered.”

What does that mean? Gender used as a verb means the same as engender = “1. To bring into existence; give rise to. 2. To procreate; propagate.”, in which case, fetuses not only can, but MUST be ‘gendered’.

By: bicay

bicay — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:08:44 +0000

I don’t know why we have to go so far off topic here. Gender is not defined only as an individual’s mental association. When the author writes about ‘gender’ in this article he is not referring to grammar, which is the first definition in most dictionaries. The author is not using the word to refer to the non-widely used cultural situation of sexual preference, which is the second or third definition in most dictionaries. He is talking about the biological sex of a human fetus, which is a valid definition of the word gender, and the only one that makes sense in this article. Can’t we just leave it at that? See the note on usage below:

Usage Note: Traditionally, gender has been used primarily to refer to the grammatical categories of “masculine,” “feminine,” and “neuter,” but in recent years the word has become well established in its use to refer to sex-based categories, as in phrases such as gender gap and the politics of gender. This usage is supported by the practice of many anthropologists, who reserve sex for reference to biological categories, while using gender to refer to social or cultural categories. According to this rule, one would say The effectiveness of the medication appears to depend on the sex (not gender) of the patient, but In peasant societies, gender (not sex) roles are likely to be more clearly defined. This distinction is useful in principle, but it is by no means widely observed, and considerable variation in usage occurs at all levels.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:29:21 +0000

No, the article is correct. Gender is defined as an individual’s mental association with one sex or the other – e.g. masculine or feminine. The actual sex itself is male or female.

By: IW

IW — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:35:59 +0000

You mean a blood test can tell a fetus’s gender at seven weeks, don’t you? Contrary to Whoah’s suggestive suggestion, fetuses don’t have sex at seven weeks. At least I sure don’t recall it…. And if ‘anon’ is referring to sexual orientation, then I’d agree that he or she (or it?!) is correct, too.

By: anon

anon — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:48:04 +0000

Interesting article. Just a slight correction, that “gender” and “sex” are different concepts, and so while it may be possible to accurately determine a fetus’s “sex”, it’s less likely to determine the “gender.” In fact, I personally don’t quite think fetuses can be gendered.

By: Whoah

Whoah — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:27:59 +0000

Wait, a 7 week old fetus can have sex with another fetus? I want in on this!