Taking Sex Differences in Personality Seriously (2019)
In the past 12 months I’ve gone from having normal male levels of testosterone and estrogen to having normal female levels of both.<p>It’s truly amazing and wonderful that we can do this, and I’ve learned so much from the experience. It’s hard to describe the changes precisely, but I’m finding that women make more sense to me and are more interesting to talk to, while I have a lower tolerance for men trying to act tough, which before seemed silly but now seems annoying. I’ve also found that I have less interest in action movies and recently I’ve been more interested in romantic comedies and stories of people.<p>At Christmas dinner my dad got really racist and previously I would have gotten very angry and probably tried to set him straight, but instead I just felt sad and upset and I calmly got up from the table and walked away to calm down.<p>I’ve also started experiencing monthly cycles where for about one week a month I feel more tired and weepy like I could cry very easily. I have WAY more sympathy for women who have difficult periods now, because I never actually understood the extent to which it affects them. I think now it’s unfair that we expect women to show up and work every day and perform the same, because for some women their period can be physically disabling.<p>I’ve felt like my emotions have gotten stronger except for anger. My other emotions like love and empathy and sadness have gotten stronger, and I also find more variation in them throughout the monthly cycle. Before, my emotions were pretty much the same every day. I mean I had ups and downs, good days and bad days, but it always sort of stayed within a certain range. Now I feel like I’m a certain way for three weeks, and then for the fourth week I have that aforementioned weepyness and stronger feelings.<p>It’s a real shame that people get so bent out of shape about trans people. I think it’s beautiful that we can do this. It’s helping me understand so much about a world I never quite realized was there. I remember male comedians in the 1990’s complaining about women. It was always a punchline to a cheap joke. But now through hormone therapy individuals can actually cross that line, and experience the  other side. I hope that more people do this and share the experience. Everyone needs to hear this story.<p>Also contrary to what some people would think, I’m no less interested in engineering. I’m still designing and building an open source solar powered farming robot (see my profile) and designing circuit boards and setting up servers for fun. But I’ve also realized that stuff isn’t the only thing I want to do, and I’ve been spending more time sewing and cooking too. I think I’m developing an appreciation for more of the world and becoming a more well rounded person. I wouldn’t say everyone should do this, but it’s definitely the right thing for me. And everyone should have the right to make the same choice if they’d like.