Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Student Seminar Recap
On April 1, students gathered in the 20th Street Seminar Room for a timely and thought-provoking seminar led by Tomás Bogardus: What Are Sex and Gender, and Why Do They Matter? The session addressed one of the most widely discussed and often misunderstood topics in contemporary culture.
Bogardus began by clarifying key terms such as sex, gender, male, female, man, and woman, highlighting how differing definitions can lead to confusion and unproductive debate. Students explored the idea that “gender” is used in multiple ways across academic, social, and cultural contexts, making careful definition essential for meaningful conversation.
The seminar examined Bogardus’ argument in favor of understanding sex as based on how biologists understand it—the production of smaller and larger gametes.
Discussion was respectful, rigorous, and highly engaged, with students asking thoughtful questions and considering multiple viewpoints. The seminar encouraged participants to think critically about how language shapes understanding and why these distinctions carry significant cultural, ethical, and philosophical implications.
Overall, the event provided a valuable opportunity for students to engage deeply with a complex and often polarizing topic in a structured and intellectually serious environment, equipping them with clearer concepts and stronger reasoning skills for navigating ongoing cultural conversations.
Speaker: Tomás Bogardus
Tomás Bogardus earned his BS in biology at UC San Diego, his MA in philosophy at Biola University, and his PhD in philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. He works mainly in metaphysics and epistemology, and is most interested in the mind-body problem, the rationality of religious belief, and the nature of gender.