It's Not Balls All the Way Down

I was thinking about how when I was very young, I learnt in science about solids, liquids and gases. Three states of matter. Sorted. Physics: completed.

When I was a bit older, I learnt about atoms and how they were like little balls that made up all the stuff. How they joined together with each other, on sticks, to make molecules. Like Meccano or K’Nex, but smaller.

Then I learnt that those balls weren't balls at all. They were more like little solar systems with more petite balls - neutrons, protons and electrons - whizzing around in neat orbits. Like a tiny orrery. How quaint that seems now.

Then I learnt that electrons weren't in orbits at all, but existed as probability clouds of where they might be if you bothered to look. And that the protons and neutrons weren't fundamental particles either, but were themselves made of quarks. Which may or may not be made of strings. Or something. At this point the physicists themselves essentially shrugged and started making shit up.

At each stage, I was taught something that was straightforwardly wrong, but useful enough to build on. Each new layer revealed that the previous model was a comfortable lie we tell children (and undergraduates). Educational gaslighting, if you will.

Anyway. This is a post about the complex biology of gender.

#transrights #lgbtq #transgender #trans #pride #lgbt #transrightsarehumanrights #nonbinary #queer #gay #lgbtqia #loveislove #transpride #transisbeautiful #gayrights #equality #lesbian #bisexual #transgirl #transwoman #transvisibility #lgbtpride #mtf #transbeauty #genderfluid #pridemonth #translivesmatter #like #ftm #feminism