Event Report: Body Seminar "Sexual Differentiation and Transgender"
Event Date
Event Venue
2022/10/25
As part of the "Support for the Female Body—Breeze Project," we held the Body Seminar "Sexual Differentiation and Transgender" on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
This event, the 6th in the Body Seminar series, featured a mini-lecture on "disorders of sex development" from a medical perspective by Dr. Tomonobu Hasegawa, Vice Hospital Director of Keio University Hospital and Director of the Center for Sex Differentiation Disorders, and a mini-lecture on the state of gender recognition in society and the reality of gender transition by Ms. Junko Mitsuhashi, a transgender researcher of the social and cultural history of gender.
In the latter half of the event, a fruitful exchange of views took place on topics such as the need to improve the environment at the university, while the speakers answered questions from the audience.
Mini-Lectures
■ Dr. Tomonobu Hasegawa (Vice Hospital Director, Keio University Hospital; Director, Center for Sex Differentiation Disorders; Professor, School of Medicine)
Mini-Lecture
"Thinking about Human Sex by Breaking It Down into Components—Have You Heard of Disorders of Sex Development?"
When we think about human sex, it may be easier to understand if we break it down into four components: chromosomes, body, mind, and legal gender. Disorders of sex development are congenital conditions in which either the chromosomal or physical sex is atypical. Furthermore, there is diversity not only in chromosomal and physical sex but also in gender identity (the sex of the mind). Considering these four components, it could be said that there is no one else in the world with the exact same sex as you.
■ Ms. Junko Mitsuhashi (Researcher of the Social and Cultural History of Gender)
Actively engaged in a wide range of activities, including research, writing, and lecturing on the social and cultural history of transgender people (gender crossing). The first transgender university faculty member in Japan. MTFTG (Male to Female Transgender).
Mini-Lecture
"Gender Transition and Social Adaptation"
Ms. Junko Mitsuhashi, a transgender researcher of the social and cultural history of gender, will speak about gender recognition in society, physical self-determination, and the reality of physical transition from the perspective of social adaptation.
Here are some comments from the participants:
● The speakers' talks were fascinating, as I learned many things for the first time. It was very informative to hear answers to a single question from two different perspectives.
● Understanding socially marginalized people can be difficult on one's own, and there are things that can only be understood by hearing accurate information from people in specialized positions. That's why I wanted to listen to the talks to learn and understand more.
● Because I was able to hear the voices of medical professionals and those directly involved, learning about perspectives on gender that I had never known before.
● The mini-lectures were well-balanced, with one being theoretical and academic and the other being practical and from a personal perspective. I was also able to hear about things I couldn't hear elsewhere, such as costs.
● I was able to gain various perspectives on sexual differentiation.
● I was very impressed by Dr. Hasegawa's statement that "there is diversity even within the majority." I believe that if people were aware of this perspective, discrimination and bullying would be less likely to occur. To realize Ms. Mitsuhashi's idea that "the four years of university life should be a period of preparation and training for life in society," I felt that we should deepen our understanding as an entire organization.
An archived video of this event will be released at a later date (limited to Keio-affiliated personnel). It will be posted in the news section of the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion website, and we encourage those who are interested to watch it.
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