Serious question of the day -- Why do we constantly have to indicate our gender?

[Connonym]

Why does my drivers license have to say that I'm female? Why should my gender matter if I get a speeding ticket or have to show an ID to write a check. Isn't my photo enough proof that I'm who I say I am? Is it a systemic attempt to lump us into categories? Isn't the point of an ID to prove individuality? Is it sexism?

This question brought to you by a USA Today article "Next year, San Francisco will issue municipal identification cards showing the usual name, birthdate and photo.

What the card won't include: gender. "

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071121/a_id21.art.htm

[crim son]

1. I imagine, only because it isn't always obvious.

Your question might rather be, what freaking difference does it make whether we are male or female? I wonder too.

[Connonym]

3. yeah I guess that really is my question

[sarge43]

23. Good question

Unless you're planning to reproduce, another person's gender shouldn't be an issue.

[SeattleGirl]

2. Well, sometimes, knowing gender can be helpful.

I mean, if I (a female) robbed someone (and I haven't), then it might be a good idea to know that I'm female. Just a thought.

[Connonym]

5. what if you were transgendered and someone only *thought* you were a woman

and identified you as such but you were really a man. Would that exonerate you falsely?

[SeattleGirl]

6. Good question.

And I apologize, but it's late for me, so I'm not able to come up with a good answer for you.

But it's definitely a good thing to think about. You have a great point.

[CreekDog]

7. you aren't that big hooker are you? (nt)

[SeattleGirl]

9. Haw haw.

:P

[CreekDog]

12. I have a blue bike

dare ya to steal it :P

[SeattleGirl]

16. Nah, got my own bike.

:P

[CreekDog]

19. but i am not a customer

nor am i reluctant

gad, no wonder this doesn't work on women!

[Heidi]

4. I suspect it's for identification purposes, same as eye color, height, weight, etc. (nt)

[Breeze54]

8. Because insurance companies make money off of it and

Looks can be deceiving.

How would an EMT figure out who you were, just by a picture, if you died in a car accident?

:shrug:

[LSdemocrat]

10. I suppose so that law enforcement could run your info on a machine that doesn't have images

I have no idea if law enforcement databases bring up a picture of your license nowadays, but I'd guess up until a few years ago most probably didn't. I'm guessing that having gender in the system would be useful if the person's name alone could possibly go with either gender.

[Connonym]

15. In the absence of a photo, I can see where it could be used as a documenting factor

not necessarily an adequate one unless someone intends to look at your genitals but if my photo is right there, on my passport, on my drivers license, why does it need to say that I'm a woman. Shouldn't it just be concerned about me looking like my picture?

[Breeze54]

18. Yes they do!

Right on the police cars computers.

[crim son]

11. Women have children, maybe. Perhaps there are demographical

questions which apply only to women. I dunnno but you have me thinking.

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. Dunno, dude

:shrug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. The cops need to be sure some guy in drag doesn't try to blame his erratic driving on PMS

Because we do that all the time.

"Red light? What red light, officer? Oh dear...my PMS must have made me color blind again."

[Connonym]

17. ooh that's a trick question because isn't color blindedness a gender specific disease?

or is it a fallacy that only men are color blind?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

30. It's exceptionally rare in females...

Unless they have PMS. (kidding!!!)

[Breeze54]

20. Erratic driving on PMS?

WTF?

More men have accidents and cause them, than women!

-----------


'Women drivers? They’re safer than men

Road risk analysis shatters stereotypes about traffic terrors'

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16698153/

Jan. 20, 2007

WASHINGTON -

That age-old stereotype about dangerous women drivers is shattered in a big new traffic analysis:

Male drivers have a 77 percent higher risk of dying in a car accident than women, based on miles driven.

More....

[GoddessOfGuinness]

29. Sorry...Forgot my sarcasm smilie...

:rofl:

[WHAT]

21. I know a woman with a twin brother, same driver's license...

info except for a designated letter on the end of the number. So, in cases like that, a distinction might be helpful. Otherwise, it does seem "funny" the way so many things are distinguished by gender without need.

[leftofthedial]

22. because we wear clothes

that obscure the naughty bits

[coffee_strong]

24. well they also

include height, race, eye color etc, i see gender as no different. I've never really thought anything of it.

[DarkTirade]

25. Because we live in a society where gender roles still exist.

Whether we like it or not, and whether we fit those roles or not.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. in medicine it might be necessary but i think we largely do it to emphasize gender

i think sex differences are much less than people make it out to be

[IndianaJones]

27. so they know what jail to put you in...so they know whether a female officer is...

necessary to perform a search.

[Orrex]

28. Show us your X-Chromosomes!

Put'em on the glass!

[mockmonkey]

31. It's for when

the Police arrest you, they need to know whether you belong in the Pink cell or the Blue cell. j/k O8)