Sasha and Stella welcome evolutionary biologist, Dr. Colin Wright for a long overdue discussion going deep into the intersection of biology, psychology, and social factors in shaping our understanding of sex, gender, and sexuality.
Dr. Colin Wright is an evolutionary biology PhD, Manhattan Institute Fellow, Academic Advisor for the Society for Evidence based Gender Medicine, and a member of Genspect’s new think tank, The Killarney Group. Wright began writing publicly about issues of sex and gender in 2018. His articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, The Times, New York Post, Newsweek, City Journal, Quillette, and other major news outlets, as well as peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. He has been a guest on many popular TV shows and podcasts, such as The Joe Rogan Experience, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Triggernometry, and others.
Early in the episode Sasha, Stella and Colin tackle the concept of transgender as an umbrella term, encompassing various identities beyond traditional gender dysphoria. They discuss how societal institutions and mainstream definitions contribute to the increasing number of individuals identifying as transgender. It is a discussion advocating for the imperative distinction between sex and gender, critiquing the trend of conflating sex and gender in legal and social contexts - emphasizing the importance of clarity and precision in language.
In the wake of ideological shifts within the academic community, Colin highlights the need for robust scientific discourse and critical thinking to counteract ideological biases in both academic research and public discourse. Sasha and Stella join him in his frustration at the growing lack of foundational understanding of basic biological concepts among some academics and medical professionals. The trio share a laugh in reference to Colin’s widely acclaimed 'Political Journey' cartoon that humorously illustrates the evolution of political ideologies over time and has garnered significant attention for its insightful commentary on societal trends.
The conversation also gets into the impact of hormonal and surgical interventions on sexual attraction and behavior in regards to modified sex signaling, including anecdotal evidence suggesting shifts in preferences.
Sasha and Stella offer praise in celebration of Colin’s work, underscoring the importance of upholding established knowledge and resisting unnecessary complexity in scientific discourse. They reflect on Colin's presentation at the Genspect Conference where he offered the analogy comparing the understanding of biological sex to the heliocentric model of planetary orbits. This presentation received recognition from renowned scientist Richard Dawkins (Colin’s “big time hero”).
There is no denying that Colin's expertise and clarity of thought contribute to a nuanced discussion surrounding sex and gender, aiming to foster understanding and critical thinking.
Resources & Links
Reality’s Last Stand, Holding the line on free speech, science, and reality.
@SwipeWright on X(Twitter)
The Transgender Umbrella Casts Its Shadow Over Gender Nonconformity: Why are we pretending we don’t know why kids think they’re trans?
Elon Musk Tweeted My Cartoon: Commentators on the left set about debunking my ‘lived experience’ with charts and abstractions. (tweet linked here)
Why The Sex Binary Matters - Dr. Colin Wright, Genspect Conference 2024 - Denver, CO
The Sex Binary vs. Sexual Dimorphism: These related concepts must never be conflated
Alice Dreger vs. Colin Wright, “Biological sex is real, immutable, and binary.”
Keira Bell: My Story: As a teen, she transitioned to male but came to regret it. Here’s how it felt to enter history in the trans debate. @KLBfax on X(Twitter)
Detransition: A Group Discussion | from Genspect's Bigger Picture Conference, 2024 - Killarny, Ireland
The Poetry of Reality: hosted by world renowned evolutionary biologist and best-selling author, Professor
, celebrated by intellectuals and scientists everywhere for his honest critique of religion and his push for critical thinking.with @RichardDawkins on X(Twitter)The Selfish Gene, by Richard Dawkins
I suggest reading "Different" by Frans de Waal, the famous primatologist.