Here’s a bigger bugbear (than the Vulcan question): how does it all work in Ferengi society?
I’ll split order my post by my pre-Rom and post-Rom thoughts.
Pre-Rom:
- Gay (not Lesbian) Ferengi are probably a normal thing.
- Based on DS9 “Profits and Lace” and Nilva’s reaction to the transitioned Quark, it might be possible that male to female transition, while considered very weird, would be considered fine if you make a sufficiently good female by Ferengi standards, if you know what I mean.
- Conversely, female to male transition probably wouldn’t be accepted, based on the reaction to Pel, although Pel didn’t necessarily actually change her gender identity or get her lobes surgically enlarged. It may be possible that some trans Ferengi existed and simply hid that they weren’t cis, although it’d be more difficult considering the mobility limitations on females. There were probably surgeons on the planet who were like “If you’ve got the Latinum, I’ll totally do it.”
- Overall, I think the sentiment would be, “If you’ve got the lobes and you’ve got the Latinum, I don’t care what you do.”
- For instance, if a non-binary Ferengi made lots of profit, they might not be totally respected, but at least not bothered as much.
Post-Rom:
- Lesbian Ferengi are probably legal but still frowned upon.
- Transitioning either way is probably easier, considering the shift in gender roles as seen by 2381 in Lower Decks.
- Generally, with the Federation membership bid, probably a lot more open but still rife with social issues.
Questions:
- Do Ferengi experience dysphoria when their ears are the wrong size? (Very possibly yes, considering the dysphoria humans can experience from other secondary sex characteristics.)
I think those highlights might just be shading. It feels like a bit of a stretch to say the captain is just Mariner-ing her cuffs, though.