Between science and society – observer

In the heat of the summer of 2018, Law No. 38/2018 of 7 August was approved, marking a milestone in Portuguese legislation, guaranteeing the right to self-determination of gender identity. This law, which allows anyone to change their name and gender in the civil registry, was the result of a long process of struggles and demands by the LGBTQIA+ movement.

But this progress did not go unnoticed, which led us to question the roots of this ideology and its repercussions, especially in light of Order No. 7247/2019, which was later ruled unconstitutional. This article aims to delve into the philosophical foundations, social and educational implications, as well as the scientific and psychological controversy surrounding the doctrine of gender.

On December 15, 2023, the law aimed at implementing gender self-determination rights in schools was approved. Clearly, the approval of this law should be of grave concern to all of us, because it is normative, bureaucratic violence against the fundamental rights of all those who would rather not follow the woke line of thinking.

The origin of gender ideology can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century, with the emergence of feminist and LGBTQIA+ movements, which questioned traditional social gender roles. However, in the 1960s gender ideology began to gain strength, through the work of psychologist John Money.

Money believes that gender is a social construct, not a biological characteristic. He said that gender identity is shaped by experience and socialization, and that children can be raised as any gender, regardless of biological sex.

To prove his theory, Mooney conducted an experiment on twins, David and Brian Reimer. David was born with hypospadias, a condition where the urethra opens at the base of the penis. In 1967, when David was just 8 months old, his parents agreed to have surgery to correct the condition. However, the surgery was unsuccessful, and David lost his penis. The money convinced David's parents to raise the boy as a girl, naming her Brenda. Mooney supervised Brenda's treatment for several years, and reported that she identified as a girl.

However, Brenda never felt comfortable as a girl. She felt different from other girls and had difficulty adjusting to the feminine condition. At the age of 14, Brenda discovered that she was genetically a boy. She felt deceived and traumatized and began to live like David again.

The David/Brenda experience is an example of the negative consequences of gender ideology. She explains that it is dangerous to try to shape a child's gender identity, regardless of his or her biological sex.

The David/Brenda experience is also important because it refutes Mooney's theory that gender is a social construct. Born with a male mind, David has always identified as a boy. This suggests that gender identity is, at least in part, determined by biology.

Despite criticism, gender ideology remains influential in our society. It has been used to justify policies and practices that affect the lives of LGBTQIA+ children and adults.

In this sense, it is gaining strength within the “woke” movement in the United States, where it challenges the traditional foundations of the distinction between biological sex and psychosocial identity. As Jean-François Brownstein points out in his book Woke Religion, this ideology, being the center of the movement, opens the door to broader questions, often compared to the flat-Earther position.

Brownstein highlights how this ideology is not just an isolated theory, but a starting point for other clashes against science and reality. He points out, for example, how gender ideology denies the existence of sexual differences between men and women, reducing them to mere social constructs.

Another important criticism of gender ideology is its relativistic view of truth. For this ideology, truth is not absolute, but socially constructed. This leads to the relativization of morality and ethics, with the risk of opening the way to anti-social and even violent behaviour.

The implementation of this ideology in schools, which was initially intended to promote gender equality, has faced criticism regarding the possibility of social re-education. Bringing up topics, such as citizenship education, that emphasize that gender is a social construct, raises questions about indoctrination and freedom of thought.

While some call for a more inclusive approach in schools, there are concerns about imposing an ideology that does not allow for a diversity of opinions and beliefs. Academics from different fields, such as psychology, sociology and education, share this interest.

For example, the American Association of Pediatricians (AAP) issued a statement warning of the dangers of adopting gender ideology in schools, stating that this approach can generate confusion, anxiety, and even depression, without a solid scientific basis proving its effectiveness.

Scientific studies also question the effectiveness of gender ideology in schools. Research published in the magazine new Atlantis, For example, it warns of potential negative impacts on the mental health of children and young people.

Research highlights that this approach can generate anxiety, depression and even suicidal instincts, especially in children who are still developing. This is because gender ideology can lead these children to question their identity and feel pressure to conform to a particular gender category.

Another study published in the journal natureIt found that gender ideology had no significant effect on reducing prejudice and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people. The study concluded that this approach could actually lead to increased levels of conflict and social polarization.

Given the complexity and differences surrounding gender ideology, I call for deep reflection on the need for educational curricula that respect individuality. This article does not impose a vision, but synthetically seeks to provide a comprehensive overview to promote informed analysis of gender ideology. It is socially necessary to have the courage to conduct a wide-ranging analysis where multiple viewpoints can be taken into account and information sought to contribute to a constructive debate on this topic that is of great importance and influence in our society.

Gender ideology is a complex and controversial topic, raising strong feelings and varying opinions. It is important that this discussion takes place in a respectful and informed manner, and based on evidence.