Early in the development of the embryo, gender differentiation happens. It happens in that ancient social center of the body -- the pelvic region. This is the region that, in mammals, distributes pheremones. These are chemical calling-cards, which say, "I am a healthy and well-fed human. Stick with me and you might be healthy and well-fed, too."

Every other part of the body is virtually the same in males and females. Everybody can grow breasts, given the right chemical triggers. But, in the pelvis is where the primary differences are manifest.

Along with the physical differences, chemical differences of the brain also often go. Hormones associated with ovaries, that produce breasts, also tend to produce nurturing social tendencies. And testosterone can produce aggressiveness.

Now, nature does not always draw inside the lines. Hermaphrodytes happen. Triple-X-Y's happen. The demarcations aren't always as clean and tidy as society would like to dictate. Sometimes the energy flows in the opposite direction as was intended.

Copyright 2000 Stewart Dickson and Rebecka Dickson