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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

différentiel sexuel

English translation:

male-female imbalance

Added to glossary by Sheila Wilson
Apr 2, 2007 09:48
17 yrs ago
French term

différentiel sexuel

French to English Other Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
In text condemning IVF and cryopreservation :
Après la pilule qui permettait la sexualité sans procréation, la fécondation "in vitro" (FIV) a permis la procréation sans sexualité. "La cryoconservation, elle, introduit une autre discontinuité, temporelle celle là, et non moins vertigineuse". Ainsi, deux frères jumeaux peuvent naître avec plusieurs années de différence. "Après le différentiel sexuel, c'est la succession des générations qui est fragilisée, et avec elle le lien de filiation",
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 sex-ratio selection
4 +12 sex or gender differential
4 +2 discussion
2 +3 sexual separation OR separation of sex and conception
3 sexual differentiation

Discussion

Sheila Wilson Apr 4, 2007:
I think it's best to call a spade a spade, Fiona, so that everyone knows what you're talking about. But it seems we've overlooked your own suggestion - why not male/female imbalance, or maybe m/f selection to show intent rather than natural?
Bourth (X) Apr 2, 2007:
term refers 2 the gender differential, or gender imbalance, if U will, introduced by in vitro fertilization that enables parents 2 choose the genders of their children. Like the sex, the logical link has been left out! Very much a matter of interpreta tho
Bourth (X) Apr 2, 2007:
Looking at your text again, I realize it is - or appears to be - a series of editorial comments interspersed with quotes (or vice versa). Precisely the sort of situation where inattentive editors introduce non sequiturs. I therefore now think your problem
Sheila Wilson Apr 2, 2007:
Glad there's someone else who doesn't know what on earth "sex differential" means - didn't want to show my ignorance as it was proposed by someone in the medical field, but then maybe your readers aren't in that field either.
Fiona McBrearty (asker) Apr 2, 2007:
If you translate the term by "sex differential", what are you actually saying in plain English? (I have no info from my client btw)
Fiona McBrearty (asker) Apr 2, 2007:
I think that as this is a critique of human assisted reproduction in general, the comment about "différentiel sexuel" has to do with "interfering with nature" as such and the natural male-female balance, i.e. human interference in reproductive techniques has allowed situations like in China or India, for example, where there are now not enough female partners for men. "différentiel sexuel" is used in other contexts to refer to wage inequalities based on gender so I think the idea of imbalance is good here. How about male-female imbalance?

Proposed translations

+1
32 mins
Selected

sex-ratio selection

I think it could well be referring to the selection of a baby by sex, causing imbalances in the current generation
Note from asker:
Yes, I tend to agree with this take, especially as the text is very rabidly anti any form of interference in human reproduction, with a real scaremonger tone. For me, "sex differential" does not say much (but then again, neither does "différentiel sexuel") and I do have an English craving for clarity and succinctness...
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I think this is a different issue again, and not the one being referred to here
14 mins
You may well be right Tony, it just seems to me to fit in context with the future generations part of the sentence.
agree Istvan Nagy
2 hrs
Thanks
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Or male-female imbalance, I think. Thanks to all!"
+3
19 mins

sexual separation OR separation of sex and conception

Looks to me like they're just using "différentiel" to avoid repeating "discontinuité" but I may be wrong.
Peer comment(s):
agree Bourth (X) : That's what it means. Definitely sex/sexual (the act), nothing to do with gender. Maybe even "sexual irrelevance" (since it becomes so!).
24 mins
Thanks Bourth
agree Tony M
26 mins
Thanks Tony
agree Istvan Nagy
2 hrs
Thanks Istvan
Something went wrong...
20 mins

sexual differentiation

I beleive this is what is meant here: instead of letting zygotes develop into males or females, people interfere with the course of nature by choosing the gender of their children.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2007-04-02 10:09:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

believe of course
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I think this is a different issue again, and not the one being referred to here
25 mins
Something went wrong...
+2
50 mins

discussion

I am having second thoughts about my first reactions in which I associated "différentiel sexuel" with the first part of your quote, in which sex (the act) is described as being dissociated from procreation, in the positive and negative senses, so there is a "differential" between having (or not having) sex and producing (or not producing) babies.

However, your context may make it clear that what precedes is but an "aside", and that by "différentiel sexuel" they are indeed talking about playing sorceror's apprentice with gender ratios.

Do you have any information that will swing the balance?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 51 mins (2007-04-02 10:40:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

IOW, is the first part of your quote (ir)relevant to your question?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 53 mins (2007-04-02 10:42:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Cryoconservation (of embryos, whose gender can be determined) would indeed enable meddling with the gender ratio. But your quote does not mention that.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jacqui Audouy : I'm more with you here than on your earlier contribution
2 hrs
agree Patrice : Yes. There was the pill, then IVF, then freezing of genetic material, and then there is sexual selection, or maybe here, playing with the gender balance
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
+12
25 mins

sex or gender differential

Hello this can be fairly literally translated as the meaning in the direct translation; is, I believe, clear, and as a former nurse this translation appears to fit the context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2007-04-02 21:14:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Fiona, in response to your question I'd suggest that "sex differential" means "differing or varying according to circumstances or relevant factors" which is my dictionary in-depth explanation for "differential" & this seems to fit here
Peer comment(s):
agree Mercuri@ : Seems we were thinking alike. I'll drop mine, you were first.
4 mins
thanks Ysav!
agree writeaway : including both is a good idea
6 mins
I actually meant you could use the words "sex" or "gender" but yes looking at it it looks better to leave them both in, thanks
agree Bourth (X) : Sex, not gender./ "stick to the 'sex', and avoid the 'gender' issue" - not sure I'd put it like that. I prefer my sex with one gender only ... er, with one other than my own, that is ;-)
20 mins
agree Tony M : Like Bourth, I think it's important to stick to the 'sex', and avoid the 'gender' issue
22 mins
agree Julie Barber
54 mins
agree cjohnstone
1 hr
agree Swatchka
1 hr
agree Istvan Nagy : mbe that's the way of saying it
2 hrs
agree Jacqui Audouy : Definitely
2 hrs
agree kironne : Good call, Jenny.
13 hrs
agree Raymonde Gagnier : Yes, "écart entre les sexes" is also used in the same context.
18 hrs
agree Conor McAuley
1 day 21 mins
Something went wrong...
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