There are two genders

I'm listening to Vivek Ramaswamy's newest book Truths: The Future of America First and am currently in the chapter where he mentions a rare "third sex" that isn't strictly XX or XY. There's a simpler way to address this anomaly without accounting for every chromosomal variation and resorting to the non-existent "third sex". Please consider the framing below.

The two sexes

Biologically, there are two sexes defined by the presence or absence of the Y chromosome:

• Male: Individuals who have a Y chromosome.

• Female: Individuals who do not have a Y chromosome.

If we adopt the idea that the key biological distinction between males and females stems from the presence of the Y chromosome, rather than the specific combinations of X and Y chromosomes, then rare chromosomal variations like XXY or XXX do not constitute third or fourth sexes. Instead, they simply represent males and females with certain genetic conditions.

Biblical definition of the two sexes

On a tangential note, the Bible defines the two sexes in terms of their purposes and roles in relation to each other:

• Man is called "Adam," meaning "earth" or "ground," highlighting his foundational role.

• Woman is called "Chavah" (Eve), meaning "to live" or "to give life," emphasizing her life-giving purpose.

• The Hebrew words for man and woman, "ish" and "ishah," where "ishah" means "from man," underscore their intrinsic connection.

These terms define "man" and "woman" by their purposes rather than solely by their biological makeup. While many may reject the idea that men and women have inherent purposes, perhaps those of us on the political right should emphasize the distinct roles and purposes of men and women when defining the two genders.

On gender

Gender refers to the direct, typical behavioral expression of one's biological sex. Since there are two biological sexes—male and female—there are correspondingly two genders.

Just as there is variation in physical characteristics among individuals of the same sex, there is also variation in gender expression. A woman who doesn't conform to traditional feminine norms—whether in physical traits or personal interests—is still a woman. For instance, a woman who is more "thing"-oriented, enjoys coding, or prefers shooting sports over traditional caregiving roles remains a woman.

These variations do not change her gender; they simply reflect the diversity of gender expression, which is as vast as the diversity in women's physical characteristics. Here, "expression" is descriptive, indicating how gender is manifested naturally, not prescriptive or obligatory, indicating how a man or woman chooses to express themselves through fashion or other means.

Conclusion

Even when considering chromosomal anomalies, the fundamental biological categories remain based on the presence or absence of the Y chromosome—-it's that simple. While individuals with atypical chromosomal patterns may experience certain medical conditions, this does not constitute a separate sex or gender category.

There are only two sexes and two genders, and we should not consider XXY or XXX as rare third or fourth sexes.