The Science of Sexuality, Monday
Ah, Monday once more. Aren’t you all just so terribly pleased to be here?
“Today we’ll be discussing the physicalities of gender,” Sherlock informed the class from his seat behind the teacher’s desk. Because he couldn’t be arsed to stand up for you all it seemed. “Male and female. If you find yourself uncomfortable--” he paused, thinking it over. “--perhaps you shouldn’t look down next time you shower.”
Helpful, Sherlock. Very helpful.
“We’re all born with a set of primary sexual characteristics,” John Watson chirped. He was slightly more helpful. “Then as we age and move on into puberty, our secondary sexual characteristics appear. As... most of you are probably dealing with at the moment.”
“With males, this comes in the form of body hair through the increase in testosterone. Though this may eventually lead to a loss in the hair on your head as the DHT your skin converts the hormone to in order for this ‘miraculous joy’ to occur,” Sherlock continued. “The larynx increases in size, giving the male a distinctive ‘Adam’s Apple’ and the voice deepens and lowers.”
Yes, said the man with the Alan Rickman-esc voice.
“Bone and muscle structure increase in mass for the, on average, larger stature as compared to the average female. Shoulders are broader in comparison to the hips and waist in order to further differentiate from the female form. And, of course, the hormones racing through your little bodies also increase the oil secretion in the skin causing acne and an increase in body odor.” A beat. “Although, the last part also applies to females.”
“As, again, most of you have likely noticed,” John said, kindly. “Women going through puberty will find their breasts growing, as well as their body hair, though chiefly in the armpits and around the sexual organs. The hips widen, and most of the fat shifts towards them, as well as the thighs and buttocks.” The more you know! “Meanwhile, primary sexual characteristics are the ones we receive at birth, such as the genitalia both on the inside and the out.”
He offered them all a brief smile. "And now we're going to talk about that." Nathan, he was watching you.