A Star Trek worldbuilding issue that I have been pondering

[clearspira]

Y'know these explorers that we are following the lives of? These people who are on a mission to explore space, reality and the human condition each week? They're remarkably unadventurous people when it comes to their own lives aren't they?

Here's my train of thought over my evening cup of tea: This is a universe where plastic surgery and gender reassignment surgery can be performed on an out-patient basis. Do you want to look like a Klingon today? Wave a light over your face and then done. Want to change your sex today? A couple of hours both ways according to Profit and Lace with no ill side-effects apart from a small hormone imbalance.

Now, just for second, imagine this existing in real life. EVERYONE would be doing it. It would be a trillion dollar industry. You'd have people getting drunk one night and waking up as a woman. You wouldn't even need to have gender dysphoria, you would be doing it just to see what it is like. People would spend Spring Break as a man or a woman or something in-between for fun. People would be trying out different races, different identities, whole different species (in the case of Star Trek) to try and find yourself. It would be just a natural part of growing up. It would also go a long way towards eliminating racism, sexism and transphobia because once you can be anything then basically all barriers are broken down.

And in-universe, what an interesting character type this would be. It would be annoying if everyone did that but not if it is only one or two characters. And it could easily be performed by make-up and basic CGI so I do not even buy it as a budget issue. One episode they will be a Vulcan, the next Ferengi, the next an ethic minority human etc. I'm sorry but what better way to show that they live in a future without bigotry by having someone who is literally everyone and being accepted for it? And I think it is worth noting that Bashir gave Quark gender reassignment surgery on a whim so that he could pull off a zany scheme. Clearly there isn't much safeguarding over the procedure.

Maybe it is because I am a much bigger fan of The Culture books than I am of Star Trek nowadays but the people of this universe are just so... dull. Especially for people who live on a bloody ship of adventure! They can be anything and yet they all choose to spend 100-150 years as exactly the same person. We've said it often on here but it bears repeating: the Federation is the most socially conservative liberal utopia in fiction.

[Thebestoftherest]

that not an unfair critique.

[McAvoy]

Our one example is Quark who let's be honest looks exactly what it is, Quark in drag. The medical technology of Star Trek you would think they could do a better job of turning a male into a female. The amount of ass pulls Star Trek does with transporters and other medical miracles, you would think they should be able to.

That being said, the way Gene Roddenberry described the future, transphobia would be a thing of the past. But that being said, I do wonder if transforming yourself into an alien by still be a threshold they are still working on. At least in some parts of the Federation.

[Thebestoftherest]

Would some people see that like space black face?

[McAvoy]

Would some people see that like space black face?

No. Historically black face was done as a very racist caricature of the actual black community. Intentionally or not. That and there was no real intention of making the black face look like a real black person's face either.

The best comparison of what clearspira was saying in the real word would be of let's say a white woman taking up all of the characteristics of a black woman. Darkening her skin, styling her hair, talking as the same as a black woman. In the real world, this does happen and it's due to the local society she grew up in.

Or a black woman who has all of the mannerisms, speech and habits that of a white woman. Again, where she grew up in.

I know what I said above could sound offensive but right now I can't really articulate it more diplomatically.

[McAvoy]

Actually there was a episode on Alien Nation that dealt with this. If I recall it dealt with humans taking up the customs of the Newcomers and I think even took up the appearance of them too. Been awhile.

Wish they make a new show on that. Lots and lots of potential especially in today's environment. But might be called too woke.

[hammerofglass]

I think most people who tried it when they didn't have gender dysphoria would start having gender dysphoria symptoms almost immediately afterwards. Especially when the hormones different from what their brain is wired for hit, which in my personal subjective experience is by far the worst part. Although I guess with Star Trek technology the hormone stuff is something you could test for and engineer around.

You'd still expect it to be a "everyone tries it for a while at least once to see what they prefer" situation, though.

Actually come to think of it you'd expect a lot of humans giving themselves prehensile tails or cat ears or vampire fangs or such too. Starfleet is full of STEM professionals, there's gonna be furries.

[stryke]

I suspect this is one of those things that's just not available easily unless you've got immediate access to a Starfleet doctor like Quark did.

The Federation may not have currency but they've got something going on. People keep their land, see Picard with his vine yard, and there's likely limits on resources as when we see the average citizen on earth there's no conspicuous displays they have the amount of stuff that full access to a replicator would allow. People seem to live pretty frugally. Perhaps there's a social constract about only using a fair share, and while I'm sure healthcare is pretty decent there's got to be only so many medical staff available at any one time on the planet, so more elective procedures would have waiting lists or perhaps require a period of consultation before hand.

[ProfessorDetective]

I think most people who tried it when they didn't have gender dysphoria would start having gender dysphoria symptoms almost immediately afterwards. Especially when the hormones different from what their brain is wired for hit, which in my personal subjective experience is by far the worst part. Although I guess with Star Trek technology the hormone stuff is something you could test for and engineer around.

You'd still expect it to be a "everyone tries it for a while at least once to see what they prefer" situation, though.

Actually come to think of it you'd expect a lot of humans giving themselves prehensile tails or cat ears or vampire fangs or such too. Starfleet is full of STEM professionals, there's gonna be furries.

You KNOW the Ren Faire planet Billups is from would have "elves" and "orcs", if the tech was there.

[Durandal_1707]

Actually come to think of it you'd expect a lot of humans giving themselves prehensile tails or cat ears or vampire fangs or such too. Starfleet is full of STEM professionals, there's gonna be furries.

That would probably end up running into those stupid anti-Augment laws though.