An Insight

[bloodyrosemccoy]

Another sign that my science-fiction-writing brain has been destroyed by the internet:

While trying to figure out a culturally-constructed gender role dichotomy for my arhode aliens that was not just some kind of variation on the common human provider/nurturer one,* I realized that the roles I did come up with still fit a dichotomy known to humans.

That’s right, apparently my aliens’ gender roles can be defined in terms of pirate vs. ninja.

I leave you to guess which is male and which is female.


*This is actually rather hard, what with my 23 years of cultural conditioning. I can see why writers default to Crazy Backwards Land where cultural norms dictate men are nurturers and women are providers. At least then you still have your bearings.

Comments

[kittikattie.livejournal.com]

That? Is AWESOME.

[mathsnerd]

DUH! Ninjas are female. Hygiene and fashionable black, anyone?

[renshai.livejournal.com]

but.....what about Robot and Cowboy?

: P

[nixve.livejournal.com]

eeee! I want to read this!

Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot!

[cougarfang.livejournal.com]

If they follow Earth-evolution-style sexual selection, I'd guess males are pirates and females are ninjas. :3

[sofish-sasha.livejournal.com]

Aha! Sea horses are aliens!

[lookingforwater.livejournal.com]

Well, having one sex be primarily responsible for caretaking makes sense from a purely biological perspective in a species that cares for its young. This is the problem. In a species where the young is not cared for, there would probably just not be a gender division, or any real concept of gender. That is my logic, anyway.

[caprine.livejournal.com]

This is made of win.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

BTW metaquoted!

[elliemurasaki.livejournal.com]

*pops in from metaquotes to applaud*

[fayanora.livejournal.com]

What about ninja pirates?

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for someone to use a trisexual system where congress between any two sexes results in the child being of the third sex.

One way it could work biologically is for the DNA-equivalent to use a three-part chemical structure for each of its A, B and C variants, where a full pattern with all three parts is semi-neutralised because it's locked to itself instead of having free bonds available.

Individual 1 would be type A and have chromosomes AABBBCCC. The B and C structures would not become involved in the growth of the individual. They would physically express the A characteristics and their gametes would be constructed as AABC.

Likewise, #2 would have AAABBCCC, express B, and have gametes ABBC, and #3 would have AAABBBCC, express C, and have gametes ABCC.

Combining any two four-chromosome gametes would result in the relevant eight-chromosome building block for the child of the third type.

The physical characteristics of the three forms, the actual fertilisation process, and any carrying to term, could be symmetrical in all directions or wildly asymmetrical. A and B might mate and childbear like mammals, A and C might lay eggs, and B and C might spawn like fish or coral.

[shirenomad]

Here from metaquotes and amused by the idea.

But also, on the topic, one other variant I've seen: an alien species that is always born male, and then at about their equivalent of 30 goes through a metamorphosis and comes out female. Thus the female role is that of the elder authority, while the male is that of the student.

A particular ship dominated by these aliens had a single human crewmember as well. Biologically male, but because of his age and experience, they all called him a "her." The females on the crew were also, I believe, totally unattracted to "her" because culturally they liked the brash immaturity of their own species' men. I don't remember if any of their males were attracted to the level-headed human.

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

my aliens’ gender roles can be defined in terms of pirate vs. ninja Man, I hope somebody metaquoted that. You are muchly awesome, as usual. I personally think of pirate as decidedly more male than ninja. But then, I've got some cultural conditioning too, unusual as it may be.

[gethenian.livejournal.com]

Found via metaquotes. Late to the party, rather, but felt obligated to comment, as a journal named after other literary genderbending aliens, and someone who is currently also writing an original story involving gender-weirded characters (robots, though -- not aliens).

So like hi! :D