#1218 Edward Hagen: Is Sex Binary?
RECORDED ON NOVEMBER 24th 2025.
Dr. Edward Hagen is Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Washington State University. His research takes an evolutionary approach to non-infectious diseases, with a focus on mental health.
In this episode, we talk about Dr. Agustín Fuentes’ book Sex Is a Spectrum, and we discuss whether sex is binary. We start by discussing his main argument, and then talk about the evolution of sex and anisogamy, how to define “male” and “female”, the ratio of males to females, Thomas Laqueur’s account of Western ideas about sex, the use of the terms “3G males” and “3G females”, and the Bateman gradient. We also talk about sexual selection, behavioral sex differences, and the sexual division of labor. We discuss the idea of humans as a biocultural species, and the distinction between sex and gender. We talk about intersex people, trans people, and human rights. We discuss what science would be giving up if it ditched the binary sex concept, and whether the sex binary can be harmful. Finally, we discuss whether the idea that sex is a spectrum is pseudoscience.
Time Links:
Intro
Fuentes’ main argument
The evolution of sex and anisogamy
Defining “male” and “female”
The ratio of males to females
Thomas Laqueur’s account of Western ideas about sex
“3G males” and “3G females”
The Bateman gradient
Sexual selection, behavioral sex differences, and the sexual division of labor
Humans as a biocultural species, and the distinction between sex and gender
Intersex people, trans people, and human rights
What would science be giving up if it ditched the binary sex concept?
Can the sex binary be harmful?
Is the idea that sex is a spectrum pseudoscience?
Follow Dr. Hagen’s work!
Follow Dr. Hagen’s work:
Faculty Page: http://bit.ly/30t9d91
WSU Homepage: http://bit.ly/2Y2YW1U
ResearchGate profile: http://bit.ly/35SNgSd
Review of Sex Is a Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/2dp4k7ys
Twitter handle: @ed_hagen