Friday 11 April 2014

Red Hair, Docs & Polka Dots | Gender & Genetics


Dresses are both from Bonne Chance | Cherries c/o Sarsparilly | shoes are thrifted | picnic basket is thrifted | socks are from a market stall |  Lime Crime Velvetines (red velvet) on our lips

Even though it was raining non-stop yesterday, Katie and I had very important plans to take outfit photos, and neither the rain nor the fact that it made our hair mega-frizzster could stop us!

I dressed both myself and Katie up in my new dresses from Bonne Chance collections - and I had way too much fun doing this because Katie is basically like a porcelain doll (with the ridiculously pretty long hair to match). These Bonne Chance dresses are an absolute dream - though I have to say that if you're any bustier than I am (which isn't very difficult), size up! They're also very short - which for me, means that I get to wear my super cute lace bloomers underneath, hooray! Both of our shoes are thrifted authentic Dr Martens - and both pairs were less than $10, I am proud to say. I got these Mary Jane airwaves for $4 just last week - it was one of those op-shops finds that you make where you start hyperventilating in the middle of the store because you can't believe your good luck (um, other people do that, right? Or is it just me?)

Hop along to Katie's blog to see more photos!

As has been the mission on my blog for a good year, I want to dismantle the stereotype that you can't be interested in fashion and be smart at the same time! In the same vein, while you can get together with your friends and spend the day dressing up, taking photos and talking about dresses, you shouldn't have to hide the fact that you're also passionately interested in physics/geology/politics/feminism/food photography/statistics or whatever else floats your boat! So not only are Katie and I collaborating on our outfits today, we're also collaborating on our general nerdiness ;)
While I'm a biology/genetics major, Katie is a gender studies major, so I think that this is fitting to talk about today: there was a discussion going down on real scientists this morning which encapsulated both (and read through all the tweets if you have time/are procrastinating, it was a fascinating discussion!)

Science, especially where genetics is concerned, often makes the mistake of using the words "sex" and "gender" interchangeably, when they're both actually two very different things. Science is also littered with gendered language. For instance, in scientific textbooks, the Y chromosome is often referred to as the "male" chromosome.
While sex is, traditionally and from a genetic point of view, determined by the chromosomes you are born with (and in no way restricts you to being either female or male), gender is something that exists on a continuum, that is fluid and informed by individual identity and culture.

This discussion led me to this article, which is what I want to share with you all:

This research done last year shows that even the chromosomes you are born with does not determine your sex - a father with XY chromosomes can have a daughter with XY chromosomes - and additionally that the "switch" that turns on male characteristics in a developing foetus is actually not a very strong switch at all, and very small environmental factors or mutations can stop that switch from flipping. Whereas the development of vitally important organs like the heart, brain or lungs have many genetic safeguards to prevent something like a small environmental change affecting their growth, sex determination is not under the same pressure. It has been theorized that this "weak switch" is helpful for spreading genetic diversity - it's beneficial to the population to have individuals who defy traditional sex binaries. Or, it might just be a random accident.
But whatever its cause, through our genetic makeup, sex is evolutionarily designed to be fluid, and "biological sex" might reflect the spectrum of genders more than was ever thought.







Bloglovin' | Youtube | Facebook | Twitter |  Instagram | Chictopia | Lookbook | Tumblr

16 comments:

  1. You both look super cute- I so do that hyperventilating act when I see something thrifted I want. I get a little flappy armed too.
    Thank you for the article, you're right sex and gender is so easily thrown about and I can't wait to read the discussion
    X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahahaha yep! I totally get all flappy-armed, I'm so glad I'm not the only one :)

      Delete
  2. So glad you both got together to that these photos, regardless of the weather. Your outfits compliment each other and you both look so cute! Love the picnic basket too!

    Also, interesting discussion on sex vs gender. I love how you combine your love of fashion with your love for science in this blog, it makes for a great read!

    Technicolour Dreamer

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aaaaw you both look adorable, what a lovely dresses <3!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is too cute to handle! Love your looks passionately. The lovely picnic vibe, the Dr Martens... And those tights, where are they from? You girls look precious. So adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  5. this is so cute. I love the dresses!

    http://roseandvintage.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. i really love the dresses! so cute! :)
    Irene Wibowo

    ReplyDelete
  7. You two are just too cute. Such darling photos and dresses <3

    I'm loving the science/gender discussion in this post too. I think its fantastic to bring that sides of yourselves and your interest in to your blog c:

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey! This is the person who bought your Faith and Lola dress. I just wanted to let you know that it arrived safe and sound and it is perfect! I love it! :) The spotty paper you wrapped it in is going to be recycled into craft projects :)

    And this is a completely random question but... have you ever shopped at a store called Daiso? They're a cute little Japanese shop that I discovered a few months ago. I was on their website the other day and I saw that they have stores in NSW, and it made me think of you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhh yay!! That makes me so happy :D I'm glad you love it!

      HAVE I SHOPPED AT DAISO? You better believe I have shopped at Daiso. It's magical :) :)

      Delete
    2. Haha, good! :D I just had to make sure you knew about it, because it would be really sad if you didn't!

      Delete
  9. I love every single thing about this post :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. You two look beautiful! I love Bonne Chance's dresses, but I have to agree wholeheartedly with you on their sizing. I have a few dresses from them, but unfortunately, most of them are not even comfortable for me to wear because their sizing is so off! It's really a shame. :\ But you guys look adorable.

    xox Sammi
    www.thesoubrettebrunette.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Firs tof all, you guys are adorable! I want to wear bloomers under a dress! I definitely hyperventilate in stores when I make a killer find, you are not alone on that one.
    That discussion is extremely interesting. We are always taught in school that only males can be XY, but in one fell swoop that article proves otherwise. Also the fact that sex is fluid is interesting. I like the comment about gender and sex not being interchangeable terms as well.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think this article goes hand-in-hand with your post. I thought it was too cool, maybe you will too!
    http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/17/5617766/scientists-discover-insect-with-female-penis

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww man, that is so frickeeeen cool. I think I may have to talk about this on my blog very soon :) Thank you so much!!

      Delete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a message! I read every single one. Don't forget to check back for a reply if you leave a question! ♥

Related Posts with Thumbnails