GENDER VS. SEX
Sex: The biological characteristics that
distinguish male & female
Gender: The social and cultural chars.
that distinguish men & women
Sex is a little fluid (e.g. intersexuals—
people born w/ ambiguous sex organs, sex
reassignment surgery, etc.)
Gender is more fluid (e.g. transgender,
role-challenging, etc.)
* Both sex and gender are socially
constructed.
So How is Gender Constructed?
CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER
Hormonal Influences
 In gestation—9-month development of
fetus inside mother—chromosomes help
determine the release of hormones,
which helps determine sex organs.
 Hormones may also affect brain
development—male & female brains
develop differently
 Hormones may account for 25% of
variation in gendered behavior, at best
CONSTRUCTION, CONT’D
Childhood Social Influences
 Gender Socialization—gender behavior
is based on children learning that they
will be rewarded for the set of behaviors
considered appropriate for their gender
 3 gender socializations:
 Parental socialization—parents treat
boys differently from girls and reward
“gender-appropriate” behavior
 Peer socialization—children seem to
sort themselves into same-gender peer
groups, reinforcing their behavior.
Later on, kids are rewarded in school
for “gender-appropriate” behavior.
 Media socialization—images depicted in
the media reinforce gendered behaviors
CONSTRUCTION, CONT’D…
Adulthood
Interactions
 roles are maintained through our
interactions (Symbolic Interactionism)
Example:
 capable husband cooks a horrible
meal or cleans table poorly
Structures
 social structures around us help
reinforce gender roles
What Structures?
 hierarchies of power (patriarchy—
social order based on dominance of
men over women) and the economy
WHAT ABOUT MEN?
Most of our discussion of gender roles has
focused on women...what about men?
A 1980s movement encouraged men to get
in touch with their “masculinity,”
becoming assertive in their activities.
A countermovement developed that
discouraged male dominance in marriage.
This countermovement also encouraged....
 Multiple masculinities that would allow
for more nurturing and emotion, not
just forcefulness and assertiveness
 Men working in “women’s work?”