Biocultural considerations of sex, gender, and embodiment

This dissertation challenges the typical analytical framework of biological anthropology, particularly in the context of continued binarizing of sex and gender despite ample biological evidence to contest these categories, in broadly asking how is the particular identity and experience of gender embodied? The dissertation is split into two interconnected parts. The first will include a literature review and textual analysis of biological anthropology’s current discourse around gender and sex (chapter 1). I identify 3 main ways by which biological anthropology research is re/producing sex gender binaries and cis- and heteronormativity. Next, Chapter 2 provides a discussion on how systems of harm, like white supremacy and patriarchy, are recreated not just in our current research discourse but have been historically maintained and reproduced even as dominant scientific paradigms shift. In this case, I examine how both deterministic and plasticity-based research on sex and gender maintain violent systems. Part 2 consists of quantitative analyses exploring variation of two common biomarkers used in studies of embodiment, C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol in a Polish and Polish American sample. For CRP I analyzed potential menstrual cycle effects and compared different samples phenotypes. I found that the Polish and Polish American samples had distinct menstrual cycle CRP phenotypes. The Polish sample did not show any cycle effects. In the Polish American sample, post menses had a negative effect on CRP (estimate -.17, t-value -5.2), and there were increased CRP concentrations during the early follicular phase (median .406, p<.05), specifically the first three days of menstruation (median .466, p<.01). For cortisol, I examined the possible within sample variation and cortisol’s potential relationship with estrogen and progesterone. I found an average cortisol cycle phenotype which varies through the menstrual cycle. However, this obscures within sample variation. I found 3 distinct cortisol phenotypes (p<.05). Progesterone cycle shape was correlated with cortisol cycle shape (r=.64, p<.05) and the cortisol group with the most consistent (e.g., invariable through the cycle) pattern had higher PdG exposure compared to the other groups (p<.01). These analyses were conducted with the purpose of better understanding and incorporating biological variation so that these biomarkers can be used towards a more inclusive research design. Additionally, Chapters 3 and 4 use statistical analysis that do not try to find quantitative difference between groups decided a priori or to define a universal norm but instead examine within and between population variation to show that even bodies we assume are homogenous are incredibly diverse and varied. With these analyses, this dissertation on gender and biological embodiment aims to actively combat the racist, patriarchal, heteronormative, and cisnormative harm inherent in traditional scientific methodology.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Anthropology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Wilson, Meredith

Contributors dc:contributor

• Clancy, Kathryn
• Davis, Jenny
• Malhi, Ripan
• Beauchamp, Toby

• Sex
• Gender
• Embodiment
• C-reactive Protein
• Cortisol
• Biological Anthropology
• Plasticity

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Meredith Wilson

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120094

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F120094