Are gender and sex the same thing? Explain why or why not? Gender is basically the state of being either male or female, masculine or feminine. Sex biologically means the categorization of whether an organism is male or female, of having parts of the male reproductive system or female reproductive system. Although gender and sex have very similar meaning, generally they usually differ where majority relate reproductive traits to sex than gender.
Outline and evaluate the Biological approach to gender development The biological approach to gender development tells us that sex determines if an individual is genetically a male or female but that gender determines your own feelings about who you are as a person, either masculine or feminine, and this is due to the differences in their brains. This usually is due to the chromosomes a person has or hormonal differences. Every individual has 23 pairs of chromosomes. Women have 2 X chromosomes while men have an X and a Y chromosome. As an embryo, a male’s Y chromosome starts to produce testosterone and other male sex hormones.
Bem argued that such individuals are more adaptable in different situations, have higher self-esteem and a greater awareness sense of emotional well being. Bem stressed that androgynous men and women have a different cognitive style from traditionally sexed- typed people because an androgynous person when faced with a decision about how to behave responds independently of any gender concept whereas a traditionally sex-typed person determines what would be appropriate from their gender using gender schemas. Supporting the idea that there is a link between androgyny and flexibility, Bem found that masculine and androgynous individuals showed lower levels of conformity than feminine women. However, these findings are not really surprising. The Male scale on the BSRI measure assertiveness and resisting pressures to conform, and the Female scale measures femininity in terms of nurturance and expressive traits.
Michael Rucker sates in his article “9 Differenced Between the Male and Female Brain” that “Many men are sharply left-brain dominant, while women tend to be more evenly balanced between left and right-brain processing. Women are therefore thought to be slightly more intuitive, and sometimes better communicators. Men are often less socially adept, and are more task-oriented thinkers than females.” (Rucker). Young boys can be rough because of testosterone but they tend to overthink their actions and decide on the “‘fight or flight’” reaction and coming from someone who is young, I can vouch for this. Females, on the other hand, follow their gut feelings and their “female intuition” and employ the “‘tend or befriend’” strategy.
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.
R.Evrard was raised having both parents, but that didn't last his whole childhood life. As the interview went on he explained his life struggles and how his parents later got divorced, "that's when my whole view on genders changed." he said. He explained that while his parents were together his views on gender would have been just like any other typical man’s mentality. But as he grew he seen and went through struggles with his mother being a single parent.
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. There are different opinions as to whether observed gender differences in behavior and personality characteristics are, at least in part, due to cultural or social factors, and therefore, the product of socialization experiences, or they are due to biological and physiological differences. Views on gender-based differentiation in the workplace and in interpersonal relationships have often undergone profound changes as a result of feminist and/or economic influences, but there are still considerable differences in gender roles in almost all societies. It is also true that in times of necessity, such as during a war or other emergency, women are permitted to perform functions which in "normal" times would be considered a male role, or vice versa. Gender is used to describe those
Gender is the sex-role identity used by humans to emphasise the distinction between males and females.1 Being born male or female, in a given culture, leads one to acquire and adopt the distinct roles, duties, rights and values that particular culture considers appropriate to ones sex.2 These gender differences can sometimes be discriminatory, empowering one gender to the detriment of the other resulting in inequities in areas such as finance, education, politics and health.3 Gender inequity in relation to health therefore does not look at unequal mortality rates between males and female, but rather, the unnecessary, avoidable and often unjust gender differences that lead to discrepancies in health status and the accessibility to essential health care.4 A prime example of how gender differences can result in inequities that may adversely affect the health of one gender group is the situation of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.5 Current data from UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) shows that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over 75% of the 37 million HIV/AIDS cases world wide.5 This means that over 28 million Africans are currently infected with HIV/AIDS, almost 60% of whom are women.6 In certain countries in Africa including Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the disparity is even more apparent where the ratio between girls and boys of the ages 15 to 19 infected with HIV/AIDS is 6:1.5 These discrepancies can be attributed to two things, to a small degree, the physiology of the female reproductive makes her more susceptible to infection, but more importantly, due to the gender inequities which arose as a result of social upbringing, stereotypical roles, poverty and stigma.7 From an early age, African women have been taught to be obedient and submissive to the men around them.5 The African woman is expected to please her
What are gender stereotypes and how are they conveyed in our society? According to Mior and Jessel (1989), gender refers to the socially constructed roles of, and relations between, men and women, while 'Sex' refers to biological characteristics which define humans as female or male. These biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive however, as there are individuals who possess both. This definition is also shared by the website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender. A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals.
GENDER AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT The term "gender" refers to the male and female roles shaped by a society, learned indi¬vidually and re-negotiated by each new gene¬ration. Male/female roles are determined pri¬marily by the social, cultural and economic organisation of a society, and by the prevailing religious, moral and legal perceptions. Female and male roles and scope for action are not static, but are subject to constant change. They can vary enormously from one society to another, and even within any one society there can be significant differences depending on social class, family status, and ethnic or reli¬gious background. These roles are not neutral but characterised by different possibilities for making choices, and different rights and deci¬sion-making powers; generally to the disad¬vantage of women.