How would your life be different if you were born a different sex?
Gender is one of the social constructs we learn from an early age and we often take it for granted. Nearly everyone is born biologically with a sex (that is male or female) and a sexuality (that is a sexual attraction such as heterosexual or homosexual). Most researchers who study people such as doctors, biologists, psychologists, sociologists will say that all of the research shows that people are born with their sex and sexuality. These are part of our biological makeup, our nature.
However, gender is learned. Gender is how you react to your sex and sexuality. Think about how you answered that question at the top of this post. Most of the ways your life would have been different are examples of treating people different based on their sex (and sexuality). This constructs a certain way of being. So, for example, if I am a heterosexual male, how should I act? What colors should I like? What clothes should I wear? How should I talk? What sports should I play? Is it okay for me to cry? To be rough? To like violence? To be sensitive? And so on...These are all our gender and they are all learned reactions.
Sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity is all fluid on a continuum:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sex (biological; physical body, chemical makeup) Male intersex Female
Sexual Orientation (attraction) Hetero Bisexual Lesbian or Gay
Gender (expectations about how to act) Masculine Neutral/Queer/Fluid Feminine
Gender Identity
Here is a terrific program about gender from National Geographic.
Gender Identity
Here is a terrific program about gender from National Geographic.
However, our culture boxes people in to two very narrow ways of being. It doesn't allow for any expression of sex, sexuality, or gender along the continuum.
Look at the handout called "Socialization of Gender Roles."
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