The Muddy Water of Ambiguity

I am busy taking a course on gender at the moment and have found little time for writing, but have been lately exposed to a lot of interesting information regarding gender that got me thinking about ambiguity.

As I understand it, when a fetus is developing in the womb sometimes cell division does not complete its cycle--for whatever reason--and babies are born that are inter-sexed. This means that they may have the chromosomes that would usually mark them for a particular sex (male or female), but with the genitalia of the opposite sex--or some variation on this theme. In the past corrective surgery was routinely done on these babies so that they might live a 'normal' life. 

Studies have shown, however, that many of these people do not feel like the gender that was chosen for them. The tendency to want to neatly compartmentalize life into simple, easily understood categories is understandable, but I think that life, as my anecdote shows, is not always like this.

Ambiguity is everywhere apparent and just as apparent are the attempts to bastardize or minimize the relevance or importance, or value of that which does not neatly fall into accepted, prescribed categories. 
Perhaps it is a question of variety and difference that makes us uncomfortable with that which does not appear to follow the general rule, and that which does not follow the general rule, is often that of which we are most afraid. 

I'm not sure that there is anything to truly be afraid of in difference. Inter-sex people are still PEOPLE. We could just as easily become curious and interested in that which differs from ourselves. That is where learning happens, where understanding is possible. Perhaps we could learn to see that none of us is 'purely' female or male. A lot of what constitutes gender is the result of cultural conditioning. So, what then?

I don't have all the answers, but I do think that an openness to life and a willingness to learn are imperative here. Ambiguity raises its head in all sorts of places other than gender assignment. The question of the existence of God, the search for universal truths, and the quest for moral and ethical certitude are all fraught with a large degree of ambiguity, due to life's perpetual habit of running a concept into its opposite--paradox. Life is dynamic, purity is a human mental construct, not an actual fact and, thus, we would do well to get comfortable with ambiguity.

Getting comfortable with ambiguity requires courage, strength, intelligence and heart. If we are serious about world peace, about loving our neighbour as ourself, we are obligated to learn to navigate the seeming inconsistencies of life by keeping the big picture in mind. 

It seems it is in the nature of things that ambiguity has existence--it is part of the fabric of life. This is why education, in the best sense, is important. It helps to widen our perspectives, stimulates our curiosity, and nurtures our ability to assess with an uncommon degree of openness. I'm not saying this means that we approve anything and everything. I'm saying that as we make assessments, we need to do it with tremendous care and attention to detail, while also keeping the whole in mind. 

That is a tall order, but I myself am very tired of the stupidity that seems to routinely divide people over what are, essentially, the most minor of differences. I think we can do better.