Is biology destiny? While biology does determine the group a person is segregated into, society has the ultimate power to establish the way we are perceived as ‘gender’. By comparing the views of social biologists and social constructionists, I intend to put forth the idea that biology is in fact, not destiny. Sex is a biological term where as gender is a cultural one. Socio- biologists argue that biology, meaning our genetic make up; shapes the behavior of the individual and in turn also determines social in-equalities such as gender inequalities present in society.
Our perception of sex-roles could be either liberal or conservative. Those who hold conservative views concerning sex-roles believe that there are obvious delineations in the roles played by men and women, while those who hold liberal views do not ascribe roles according to sex (Konrad & Harris, 2002). Therefore, a traditionalist would say that men should be more directive while women should be more nurturing, while a liberal would approve of a more androgynous role for both sexes. One example of the extent to which advertisements are gender-stereotyped can be seen in televised images of men and women. According to a survey on the U. S., an average television viewer watches six hours of
In very few instances, say projects covering solely the supply of materials and equip¬ment, can projects adopt a non-gender-differen¬tiated procedure. Gender Imbalance in Project Management Recruitment Though more women are now getting involved, project management it is still dominated by men. Is this because of sexist attitudes of recruiters, or is it because of some other reasons? Female Project Managers, who had established themselves in project management in spite of their gender sometimes express real feelings of intimidation as part of their early experiences when they stepped into this predominantly male discipline.
There are many theories to explain the existence of gender division in employment. Underpinning explanation of gender segregation in the labor market are issues concerning male power and gender assumptions of the division of labor (Bagilhole, 1994; Crompton, 1999). Gender segregation in employment is of concern for two measures quite aside from the facts of quality of opportunity: segregation into different areas of work remains a key issue that contributes to the gender in earnings (Forth, 2002). Later, the studies focus on the issue of masculinity which has been a re-occurrent topic in most debates. Masculinity is a subjective term, and in most cases it is influenced by one's perception and culture (Cullins, V.2012).
GENDER AND GENDER ROLES Gender has several definitions and the following are some of them: • World Health Organization defines gender as the characteristics, roles and responsibilities of women and men, boys and girls, which are socially constructed. Gender is related to how we are perceived and expected to think and act as women and men because of the way society is organized, not because of our biological differences. • Health Canada refers to gender as the array of socially constructed roles and relationships, personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, values, relative power and influence that society ascribes to the two sexes on a differential basis. Gender is relational - gender roles and characteristics do not exist in isolation, but are defined in relation to one another and through the relationships between women and men, girls and boys. Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral rules that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures.
Kit Ting Lai Professor Lewis Eng 1A 3/18/2011 Where can we see gender inequality? Our gender identities are constructed by our inborn biological characteristics and sociological factors. In terms of biological factors, men are generally more muscular than women. People may presume that men are stronger than women and tend to discriminate against women due to their physical differences. As a result, women may have a sense of inferiority due to the physical differences between the two, which serve as the basis of gender inequality.
Gender Identity Gender identity is something that most people overlook because the obvious difference between male and female. “Gender identity is the psychological awareness or sense of being male or being female, and it is one of the most obvious and important aspects of ones self concepts.” (Rathus, 2011). Gender identity goes way beyond just being male or female, but can also be determined by chromosomal sex, as well as both biology and environmental factors. There are many factors that can determine gender identity. For example, masculinity femininity and the male and female anatomy are factors that determine gender identity.
Anthony Ornelas Ornelas 1 Sociology 440 6/10/2013 Professor Inoue Gender Inequality The tendency of society to favor males and their masculinity has been a recurring theme throughout history and culture. As a result of these ideas, to be masculine is synonymous with dominance, while femininity directly correlates to weakness. These attitudes are responsible for the belief that women should stay at home and out of the way while men rule the world and control the money and society. That males enjoy social privilege is apparent even in American culture, though males do not often realize their own biases against women or the male privilege that they regularly enjoy and manipulate. Since claiming their role in society as capable human beings, women have been treated unfairly in the society when they haven’t been directly excluded from various fields that are socially less “suitable” for a woman.
Cross Cultural Studies of Gender Roles Cross cultural studies are important as they help us to explain the nature / nurture debate. The nature side of the gender argument focuses on the biological explanations of gender roles stating that gender differences result from innate differences between males and females. The nurture side of the argument, on the other hand, focuses on social explanations stating gender differences result from our life experiences as we grow up. There is also an interactionist approach which is often more realistic as it takes both of these factors into account stating that gender differences are caused by innate tendencies which are modified by environmental factors, e.g. The biosocial theory.
Across the centuries women were repudiated entitlements equal to men and due the assembly of gender, men were given higher power above women. This has managed to disparate arguments of what is indeed the act of the woman in a gendered area and clashing for the credit of a female species (Rosenstand, 2009: 586). 3 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SEX AND GENDER Liberal feminists squabble that both boys and girls across origin are born the alike merely the area will craft them on how ought to a man and a woman behave in a gender crafted society. Sex could be described as biological contrasts both inner and external organs. Gender could denote to communal institutionalization of sexual differences; they believed gender is utilized by those who comprehend not merely sexual inequality but far of sexual contrasts to be communal craft were by men and women are crafted to behave in precise methods that could be categorized as feminine of masculine (Okin, 1989: 116).