Skip to main content

star trek - Do the Borg selectively assimilate only men, or are drones de-sexed?


In Star Trek, nearly all the adult Borg we see appear to be male. While there might be some reason out of universe for this, in universe this doesn't make much sense. When a culture is assimilated all members of the population not killed in the attack are injected with nanites and sent to the assimilation chamber; men, women and children.


There have been a few exceptions on the shows and First Contact (most notably Seven and the Queen), but by and large this is how 98% of the Borg drones we see appear:


Borg from First Contact Borg from Unimatrix Zero



Does the Queen hoard all the female drones somewhere, or are they more valuable in some way that keeps them from being used as shock troops and front line workers? Or is there some other in universe explanation for why female drones are so rarely seen?



Answer




"Interesting, isn't it? Not a he, not a she, not like anything you've ever seen before." - Q to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (TNG: "Q Who")



Technically speaking no Borg drone has a gender, this may be what makes it difficult to distinguish the former genders of the drones, but there are more drones that were once female than you think:


enter image description hereenter image description hereenter image description here


I could continue.


The middle one appears male but was played by an actress called Lynn Slater. This highlights the issue in trying to determine the gender of a Borg.


Regardless, after assimilation any physiological difference between the two genders would be nullified by the action of nanobots and implants equalling any differences in speed, strength endurance etc.



So yes, drones are de-sexed, with some overt sexual characteristics showing (face shapes etc) but other than that they are genderless.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

tolkiens legendarium - Did Gandalf wear his Ring of Power throughout the trilogy?

After Gandalf discovered that Sauron was back and sent Frodo on his quest to Rivendell, did he continue to wear Narya (one of the Three Rings)? It seems like a huge risk to continue to wear it after the Nazgûl (Ringwraiths) started to try and reclaim the One Ring; if they managed to get the ring to Sauron, couldn't he be corrupted by his power? Whatever powers Narya bestows upon him couldn't possibly be worth the huge risk, could it? Answer When Sauron forged the one ring and put it on his finger, the other ring bearers were immediately aware of him and his intentions and removed their own rings. There is no reason why they couldn't merely do so again. As soon as Sauron set the One Ring upon his finger they were aware of him; and they knew him, and preceived that he would be master of them, and of all they wrought. Then in anger and fear they took off their rings. "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," Silmarillion
Post a Comment
Read more