Breq says "Seivarden was easy, I knew she was male" but she says it one line after a Nilter has just gendered Seivarden, so it's entirely possible she's referring to picking up the Nilter's cue.
That's how I read it. She mentions listening for the same cues and having to guess if they haven't given her the cue she needs, so it makes sense to me that that's what she's doing then.
you'd only ask "how do you reproduce at all" if you're reading Radchaai as not having males or females AT ALL.
I read that slightly differently, as Strigan trying to catch Breq out. Like, "you silly Radchaai, you THINK gender is entirely relative and not a meaningful or essential distinction, but WHO MAKES THE BABIES, huh?"
I also love that Breq just casually implies that most non-Radchaai humans have access to, and use, the same technology. Because that's exactly the sort of thing that happens with gender!
no subject
That's how I read it. She mentions listening for the same cues and having to guess if they haven't given her the cue she needs, so it makes sense to me that that's what she's doing then.
you'd only ask "how do you reproduce at all" if you're reading Radchaai as not having males or females AT ALL.
I read that slightly differently, as Strigan trying to catch Breq out. Like, "you silly Radchaai, you THINK gender is entirely relative and not a meaningful or essential distinction, but WHO MAKES THE BABIES, huh?"
I also love that Breq just casually implies that most non-Radchaai humans have access to, and use, the same technology. Because that's exactly the sort of thing that happens with gender!
*nodnod*