28: It's More Complicated: Understanding Hormones with Dr. Stacey Ritz

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In this enlightening episode of The Hole Shebang, host Kristen Parise sits down with Dr. Stacey Ritz, Associate Professor at McMaster University, to challenge our understanding of hormones and their roles in health across all bodies. Dr. Ritz shares her expertise on how cultural narratives have shaped our misconceptions about hormones like estrogen and testosterone, and explains why moving beyond binary thinking is essential for both healthcare and scientific research.

Episode Highlights:

• The myth of "male" and "female" hormones and why this framing is scientifically inaccurate
• How testosterone and estrogen function in all bodies, regardless of gender
• The reverse relationship: how behavior can influence hormone levels
• Why hormonal levels vary throughout life stages and aren't as dimorphic as commonly believed
• The complex feedback mechanisms between different hormones
• How gender diversity research enhances our understanding of hormonal health
• Practical approaches to discussing hormones with children without reinforcing stereotypes

Key Takeaways:

• Testosterone and estrogen are present and important in all bodies
• There's significant overlap in hormone levels between different sexes
• The relationship between hormones and behavior is bidirectional
• Cultural narratives often misrepresent the roles of hormones in behavior
• Understanding hormonal complexity helps dismantle harmful stereotypes
• The social and biological aspects of hormones are deeply entangled

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Stacey Ritz and Her Journey 02:50 - The Intersection of Sex, Gender, and Health Research 05:47 - Myths About Hormones: Understanding Testosterone and Estrogen 08:55 - The Reality of Hormones in All Bodies 12:03 - Cultural Narratives and Hormonal Stereotypes 15:11 - Talking to Children About Hormones 18:01 - The Reverse Relationship: Behavior Influencing Hormones 26:53 - Understanding Hormones and Their Interactions 32:30 - The Complexity of Hormonal Balance 36:43 - Hormones and Female Sexual Health 40:37 - Evolving Perspectives on Gender and Hormones 45:42 - The Interplay of Biology and Society 48:31 - Future Directions in Hormonal Research

About Dr. Stacey Ritz:

Dr. Stacey Ritz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at McMaster University. Her research focuses on how sex and gender should be considered in health research, particularly developing approaches that account for the nuance, complexity, diversity, and dynamicism of sex and gender-related factors beyond binary comparisons.

Resources:

• Dr. Ritz's research on hormones associated with gender and sex (HAGS)
• The concept of sex contextualism in biomedical research
• The understanding of hormone receptors and their function across different bodies