We live in a world that is hard for many people to understand. They don’t get they/them pronouns or what non-binary even means.
Five years ago, I had no idea about any of things either. Marty and I get it now and know many people who identify as such, especially at the farmers market. This post wasn’t meant to be about people; it was supposed to be about bell peppers.
The way I always described bell peppers to my culinary kids at school and adults in my cooking class is now incorrect.
Bell peppers were once easily identified as male and female. Peppers with 2-3 bumps or lobes on the bottom were males, and peppers with four or more were females. Boom.
There is a difference between the two varieties of peppers. Male peppers are more bitter and are better for cooking, while female bell peppers have a sweeter taste and are better for eating raw.
Male and female bell peppers affect the taste and color of the bell peppers. Male or female green peppers are still more bitter than red or yellow varieties. This being said female green peppers are still sweeter than males. Confusing right?
The confusing part for me is bell peppers are no longer identified as male and female. They are gender-neutral, a term we hear or read about every day. I needed to read a bunch of scientistic and farming articles to try to figure out what in fucks name it all meant.
The information I read implies there is no such thing as male and female peppers. Basically, it comes down to seeds, flowers, pollination, and the fruit itself. I am probably not good at science because my right-handed brain just doesn’t understand it. This is perhaps why someone used laymen’s terminology for dumb or creative people like me.
As I mentioned, peppers are a fruit since the peppers contain seeds. That I already knew, by the way, tomatoes are also a fruit. This used to surprise my students. This hasn’t changed. Furthermore, “female” peppers have more seeds than “males” and grow baby peppers.
Fact-checkers are making sure people realize this terminology mistake and have claimed there is no difference in gender. It never used to be a big deal; no one gave two shits about it before. See how this is hard for me to understand?
In closing, what does this all mean? It means people can identify as whatever they want. They should try to be patient and not be offended by people still trying to wrap their heads around it all.
While it makes perfect sense to many, it’s harder for some people to understand. Now that I know people who identify as something different, I do my best to use the pronoun of their choice. It was hard to do at; first, I have to admit. It was harder for Marty, so he stopped using pronouns altogether.
Regarding bell peppers, if you want a good cooking pepper, choose ones with 2-3 bumps. If you want a bell pepper to put in salads, on a dip platter, or to snack on, pick ones with four or more bumps. As far as the color goes, that is left up to you and how sweet you like your peppers.
At the end of the day, the gender and color of the peppers doest matter; they are all bell peppers. Period. Just like people. Period. That I can understand.
Ok, I didn’t expect this new information about bell peppers after I spoke about them with our friends David and Arthur last week.
It was interesting doing the research for this piece. Before I knew it, the writer in me couldn’t help making the connection between bell peppers and people in today’s world.
By the way, while editing this piece, the grammar program I use had a big issue with using the word layman and scolded me because I was insensitive. I guess the politically correct term is a layperson.
I didn’t change it, just like I don’t change the curse words I use on a regular basis. That’s why this blog is about how I live my life.
While I try to be sensitive to people, I am trying the best I can; however, I can’t worry 24/7 about offending people with every word I say or write.
I am already a nut job; doing so would make me even more fucked up. In some cases, I have to do me, and you do you. Thanks for your understanding and support. Support can be beautiful.
I hope you find the information useful and the next time you are at a supermarket or farm stand, you think of me. If you ever need a bell pepper recipe, hit me up. Have a great day!