I read velma’s comment and I don’t see a connection between the results of a specfic scientific study and TERF behavior or bioessentialism. I mean, experiences of any and all kinds have constant effects on all our brains? Just because a pregnant person’s brain changes during pregnancy doesn’t mean that those specific brain changes are somehow necessary to be a mother or to occupy the space of motherhood.
What I mean is, one truth does not invalidate the other, both can comfortably exist with each other. A pregnant person’s brain goes through specific changes; you don’t have to be a cis woman or biologically connected to your child to be a mother, both true. “Mother” is an archetype that goes way beyond notions of gender while pregnancy is a biological process that can be tested and measured. To me, these are clearly different things and in no way conflated by velma in her comment, especially considering she is not the author of the study etc.
I read velma’s comment and I don’t see a connection between the results of a specfic scientific study and TERF behavior or bioessentialism. I mean, experiences of any and all kinds have constant effects on all our brains? Just because a pregnant person’s brain changes during pregnancy doesn’t mean that those specific brain changes are somehow necessary to be a mother or to occupy the space of motherhood.
What I mean is, one truth does not invalidate the other, both can comfortably exist with each other. A pregnant person’s brain goes through specific changes; you don’t have to be a cis woman or biologically connected to your child to be a mother, both true. “Mother” is an archetype that goes way beyond notions of gender while pregnancy is a biological process that can be tested and measured. To me, these are clearly different things and in no way conflated by velma in her comment, especially considering she is not the author of the study etc.
Edit: missed a word!