# Would you change gender, temporarily, if you had the power? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125 "2004-01-18T17:08:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/1 "2004-01-18T17:08:41Z")
Inspired by this thread, > **[What do you admire / envy about the opposite sex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=235459)** > > Hey, life’s unfair. What’s the greatest perk that the opposite sex possesses and your gender unfairly got the shaft? I was going to suggest not naming which sex so we could guess, but only if posters feel like it. Probably going to be pretty... I was wondering how many people would be curious enough, given the power by a genie in the lamp or something, to change their gender for a short time to see what it’s like. Would you do it? why or why not? ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/2 "2004-01-18T17:16:06Z")
As long as it wasn’t permanent and there wouldn’t be any lasting side effects, sure, I’d try. I’ve always wondered how different it would be. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/3 "2004-01-18T17:23:04Z")
Just long enough to write my name in the snow. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/4 "2004-01-18T17:33:47Z")
Like, for Ladies’ Night at the bar? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/5 "2004-01-18T17:36:56Z")
And on a moment’s reflection, it occurs to me that after several of those free drinks, I’d have to switch back to male to avoid the line at the restroom. Androgynous clothing might be in order. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/6 "2004-01-18T19:18:02Z")
Any male that tells you he’d pass up the chance to have his own private boobies for a few days is lying! ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/7 "2004-01-18T19:39:24Z")
I would, but not for the boobs but the insight. I want to learn the secrets to trick lovely ladies into Daddy’s bed. So I want to change back and I want to remember what it felt like. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/8 "2004-01-18T19:45:07Z")
I would. I want to wake up, stretch, and scratch my :eek::eek:. Just once. I’d just like to know why my husband enjoys that so. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/9 "2004-01-18T19:49:31Z")
I want to find out the attraction of spending extended time on the dunny reading the newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/10 "2004-01-18T20:00:50Z")
I’d do it for a short period of time, just for a day or something. I’d love to see what it was like! ---
**Author:** ![Psalex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Psalex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psalex)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/11 "2004-01-18T20:37:49Z")
Absolutely, **Pablito**. I have always been aware of the standard cultural jokes about the advantages/disadvantages of either sex, but I was surprised by the harshness of some of the responses in the aforementioned thread. I had no idea that such resentment of the perceived “perks” of being female existed. I would like to play on the other team for awhile, if only to better understand what inspires some of those derisive comments. If I could borrow one of common traits you men are known for, it would be that single- minded concentration that allows difficult tasks to be completed consistently and without distraction. Oh, and that heroic way that you men rescue people from burning buildings, lift cars off of crash victims with super-human adrenaline-loaded strength, and the mass cooperation of teams as well as sports fans. Actually, you guys are pretty cool all around. Couldn’t live without you. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/12 "2004-01-18T20:55:23Z")
Just long enough to try peeing standing up and um, jerking off. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/13 "2004-01-18T21:02:28Z")
Absolutely. As I said in that thread if I could change at will I’d go back and forth so often I’d look like a freaking flip book! Why? Why not? There’s a part of me that is male and a part thats female. Besides it would be fun at parties. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/14 "2004-01-18T21:10:16Z")
> [@Psalex](#): > > Actually, you guys are pretty cool all around. Couldn’t live without you. Thanks! We like you too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![non-native](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@non-native](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/non-native)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/15 "2004-01-18T21:13:17Z")
Yeah. I would be hot. And i would sleep around so much. Wow. It’d be great. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/16 "2004-01-18T21:14:20Z")
I’m certain that I’d give it a try. There’s so much that the genders don’t truly understand about one another, and it’s sometimes extremely frustrating to communicate through our various levels of cultural habits and learned responses. I’d love to peek behind the curtain and see the secrets we each hold (and which we may not be aware of ourselves) that get in the way of our relationships. I’d like to tear down some walls of ignorance: you know, the ones built of bricks that say “men never…” and “women always…” and “why can’t they…” In the other thread, I think I’m the one who brought up the one month timeframe. I figure that’s a minimum fair duration; the “men” are guaranteed a monthly visitor and the “ladies” are given a one-month break from it. One day would be _way_ too easy to agree to for most men—for most everyone, I’ll bet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/17 "2004-01-18T21:17:48Z")
Multiple orgasms? You betcha! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/18 "2004-01-18T21:22:00Z")
I was going to say, “been there, done that,” but was afraid it would look like a follow-up to **Ike** ’s post . . . [Poor **Ike** ’s only had _one?_] ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/19 "2004-01-18T21:36:05Z")
…yeah, but it was a really _good_ one. ---
**Author:** ![BraveNewSquirle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@BraveNewSquirle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraveNewSquirle)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125/20 "2004-01-18T22:39:21Z")
No way. I never want to give up the ability to write my name in the snow! But if I was a chick for a day, _everything_ would go down there! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-gender-temporarily-if-you-had-the-power/225125.md?page=2)