CNN has a story today about the "pregnant man". The headline of the story quotes his wife as saying "We are a normal couple". It reflects a Larry King interview where they described the pregnanacy and the process, etc.
So, here's the question. What is "normal"? The husband was born a female and has had alterations that include chest reconstruction and hormones. It has not included surgery "down there". The wife injected the male contribution (they had shipped to their house) into the female part of the husband, making conception possible. Wait a minute. The female part of the husband?
He is listed on the birth certificate first as father, then changed to mother, then back to father. Makes sense...because whatever he is she isn't and whatever he isn't she is. Normally.
In the end, they are listed as "parents". That's fair. It is too hard to decide, because the father is normally not the one giving birth nor is a female. So, in this case, neither fit the "normal" or "standard" definition.
What is normal? What differentiates a man from a woman?
Seems kind of basic, and a little obvious, that one of the distinguishing features of a woman over a man is the biological construction enabling childbirth.
And if we choose to make those changes to live the way we want, we are free to do so. But,
What is normal? Who decides?
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I watched the Barbara Walters special on this Friday night - and it was astounding to me. Facing a hysterectomy I want to know that the uterus itself does not make me a woman - nor do other parts of the female anatomy. Know quite a few women who've had mastectomies and don't consider them any less female. It is just interesting. Thomas seems happy enough - but he is really in limbo - he/she really hasn't made a choice. But is that his/her prerogative. Very complex indeed.
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