Blog #17

Library Assignment

“The battle over trans rights is about power, not science”

In “The battle over trans rights is about power, not science”, doctoral candidate in history Beans Velocci writes about the issue of defining sex in biological terms, specifically as an opposition to transgender rights.  Velocci speaks specifically to how government has used scientific findings of biological differences in nature to justify social hierarchies. “Sex science” has been used to justify maintaining sociopolitical goals such as racial hierarchy, a strong military, or a sexually “normal immigrant population.  Overall, Velocci uses historical examples of how science has “proved” sexual differences to combat the Department of Health and Human Services’s proposal to define sex as binary and clearly distinguishable by science. Velocci presents examples of historical trends of how science has been used incorrectly to justify gender discrimination.  I chose this essay because it is a good example of how using science alone to solve an issue is not enough. Politicians and government officials have for too long catered scientific facts to fit their goals and beliefs. This essay highlights how science, when used in the humanities, is not enough proof for finding solutions. The issue of transgender rights is just one example of how focusing on scientific facts alone is not enough evidence to solve a problem or come to a definite conclusion, especially when facts can be so easily manipulated.

I can use this essay within my own argument in a couple of different ways.  Firstly, I could easily incorporate this essay into my naysayer paragraph. I could also dissect the main points of Ma and write a counter argument against one of his points about art always benefiting science with this essay.  This essay complicates any ideas that Art and Science work harmoniously together, so I can use it to fit a wide range of arguments. I could also incorporate this essay into a body paragraph with another one of the sources to directly support their quotes.  The examples that Velocci uses parallel to the Bohr and Picasso example, where history tells us a lot about what does and doesn’t work.

Beans Velocci is a doctoral candidate in history at Yale University.  The article was published on the Washington Post’s online publication on October 29, 2018.  Since it has been reviewed and put out relatively recently, I can trust that the information has been read over by an editor and meets the standards for what the publication deems as truthful.  Additionally, the Washington Post publishes a select amount of high quality work, not everything thrown their way. A doctoral candidate also has a lot of knowledge and authority in his field. Velocci sights several sources of evidence to prove his point and stays within the confines of an academic essay.  All of these factors about this essay combine to be reasons why it is a trustworthy academic source.