Opinion: Simon O’Connor
A recent international study led by the University of Otago has been looking at how preventing reproduction in mammals can lead to a longer lifespan. It concluded that castrated males and sterilised women lived longer – again, importantly, this was a study based around mammals in either zoos or aquaria.
In itself, the research is interesting but on reading mainstream media reporting, there is already indications that some people may seek to apply the findings to human beings – to argue that deliberately stopping reproduction by male castration or female sterilisation is a positive choice.
We would suggest that if such a conclusion was read, it would be both profoundly anti-human and anti-life. The conclusions are what they are, and nor are they a surprise. If a normal and natural part of being human is removed – and a part that does involve a lot of human energy and sacrifice – then it makes sense that life could be longer.
For starters, the idea of castrating one’s self would be an act of mutilation. There is no good reason to remove healthy body parts. Associated with this is the motivation which is selfishness. Being a sexual creature is innate to being human, as too having children. The same is true of the animals in the study! Even for those who have not had children or cannot have children, there is still an openness to life whether explicit or implicit. To deliberately cut off this possibility (pun intended!) would be a choice of profound selfishness and isolation.
It would also be an expression of a culture that corrupting; not focused on life but death, on self not relationships. It is profoundly hope-less and an expression of nihilism.
The energy we use being human is selfless and sacrificial. Our work, play, relationships all bring meaning to our lives despite the cost. Raising children, as every parent knows, is a tireless undertaking and yet there is a profound joy in raising the next generation. Those with children will talk about it as the most meaningful and impactful part of their life.
Sadly, there will also be those who will want to utilise this study to support a trans narrative – that is, being transgender and sterilised means you will have a longer life. No mention of course that it is likely to be a very unhappy life, filled with much mental health challenges and endless medicalisation.
Fundamentally, this would just be another expression of what is called trans humanism. This is a belief that we can transcend our humanity – that the very things that make us human can be discarded. In this instance the essence and expression of our creative natures. But it doesn’t stop there. Trans humanism also seeks to undermine any sense of truth, reality, human commonality and instead replace it with the idea that we create ourselves and our beliefs. As with this suggestion that castration is potentially a positive, it is instead a sign of a decaying society intent on destroying itself.
Again, it is important to stress that this study was on, and is about, mammalian species. However, it is easy to see how it’s conclusions would be applied to humans by activists intent on devaluing life and family.
