“We have been very conditioned by the cultures that we come from and are usually very identified with the particular gender that we happen to be a member of.” This quote by Andrew Cohen explains partially how gender identity develops, through the conditioning of our environments. The most influential factor of gender development, however, is still a very controversial issue. An analysis of the gender identification process reveals two main arguments in what factor most greatly contributes to gender development: biology differences (nature) or the environment (nurture). The first main factor that is said to influence gender is biology. “Nature doesn’t give a flea’s hind leg for our social theories, fads, fashions, political ideologies and other nutty ideas with which people preoccupy themselves (*). This quote explains the argument on the side of biology. People who support this ideology believe that the major biological differences between males and females must most greatly influence our gender development because of their numerous studies. One of the major biological differences between males and females are hormones. Hormones that were once thought to only be important for pregnancy and sexual drive are now shown to have profound effects on just about every organ in the body.(*) Some researchers believe that higher exposure to estrogen, in females, or androgens, in males, during fetal development not only causes the sex organs to form but also predisposes the infant to behavior that is typically associated with one gender or the other. (*) For example, girls that were exposed to higher than normal prenatal levels of androgens were more likely than other females to engage in “boy-like” behavior and to play with boy’s toys eve... ... middle of paper ... ...erences-between-mens-and-womens-brains/ 5. Leo, J. (2000). Brain Structure Explains Male/Female Differences. Male/female roles: opposing viewpoints (pp. 32-34). San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press. 6. Reese, C. (2000). Biological Differences Establish Gender Roles. Male/female roles: opposing viewpoints (pp. 18-19). San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press. 7. Rhode, D. (2000). Culture Establishes Gender Roles.Male/female roles: opposing viewpoints (pp. 22-24). San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press 8. Sabbatini, R. (n.d.). Are There Differences between the Brains of Males and Females?. "Brain & Mind" Magazine - WWW Home Page. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n11/mente/eisntein/cerebro-homens.html 9. Sagan, D. (2000). Hormones Determine Gender Traits.Male/female roles: opposing viewpoints (pp. 42-43,46). San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press.
When we discuss gender, the first thing that pops into our minds is the physical dissimilarities between men and women. For the longest time, I never realized that there are a diverse variety of issues involving gender, which are examined in the essay “Gender Blur” written by Deborah Blum. I now understand some of the factors involved, such as biological development, gender identification and behaviors, influences on aggression, and how testosterone affects behaviors and career choice.
...ignificant evidence for my research argument indicates that the nature of gender/sex consists of a wide consensus. The latter is significant to original sex differences in brain structure and the organized role through sex differential prenatal hormone exposures through the term used in the article as (the ‘hardwiring’ paradigm). The article is limited to scientific shortcoming that presents neuroscientific research on sex and gender for it lacks an analysis that goes beyond the observed results. The article is based on neuroscience studies and how it approached gender, yet the article suggests that gender should be examined through social, culture studies, ethnicity and race. This article will not form the foundation of my research but will be used a secondary material. The neuroscience evidences will be used to support my argument and will be used as an example.
Various previous studies found that girl and boys have different type of toys preferences that can be learned through modeling and reinforcement. There are also biological factors that influence the differences between girls and boys. Gonadal hormones highly influence the development of sex differences in terms of behavior and in the brain at different species of animals. There is a unique case where females with genetic disorder congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) –highly exposed to adrenal androgens before birth –shows a more manly behavior and physical energy with higher spatial ability than normal females. Other findings also show similar results caused by masculine hormones by maternal ingestion during pregnancy.
In Mariah Burton Nelson article “I Won. I’m Sorry” she discusses how ingrained the concept of gender roles are within American society. She states how women are expected to be feminine while men are anticipated to be masculine. Nelson’s article highlights how these assumptions cause society to delegate standards of beauty and submission for women to fulfill while assigning standards of dominance and aggression for men to fulfill. In Aaron Devor’s, a professor of sociology, essay “Gender Role Behaviors and Attitudes” he debates that the existence of gender assumptions are not biological but rather a cultural construct. He refers to people who follow this cultural construct of gender as actors;
...socially directed hormonal instructions which specify that females will want to have children and will therefore find themselves relatively helpless and dependent on males for support and protection. The schema claims that males are innately aggressive and competitive and therefore will dominate over females. The social hegemony of this ideology ensures that we are all raised to practice gender roles which will confirm this vision of the nature of the sexes. Fortunately, our training to gender roles is neither complete nor uniform. As a result, it is possible to point to multitudinous exceptions to, and variations on, these themes. Biological evidence is equivocal about the source of gender roles; psychological androgyny is a widely accepted concept. It seems most likely that gender roles are the result of systematic power imbalances based on gender discrimination.9
Yet, she questions how would a little girl understand that she would have to grow up to satisfy the societal expectations that she was supposed to be fit to nurture and care for babies, as that is a woman’s social expectations. Biologically, a woman’s strong estrogen could lead to this desire whereas a high testosterone will focus primarily less on this
Connell: Chapter 4 “Sex Differences & Gendered Bodies”: I found this entire chapter quite intriguing, but I really appreciate the way that Connell approaches the ways in which males and females differ, and yet she also points out how there is no significant difference in brain anatomy and function between sexes. I found the statement by neuroscientist Lesley Rogers incredibly interesting, she states, “The brain does not choose to be wither a female or a male type. In any aspect of brain function that we can measure, there is considerable overlap between females and males” (p.52). This statement when paired with information about the affect social processes have on the body is mind boggling to realize, as Connell states, “biology bends to the hurricane of social discipline” (p.55). It is unnerving to think that I am merely a product of my society.
Sociologists and psychologist argue the nature versus nurture debate. Nature being the biological determinism and nurture bing the differential socialization and environment. However, most agree that gender differences begin with biology. (R) Schools are a major agent in gender socialization because children interact with their peers on a daily basis. The first day of school was very nerve-racking but also exciting. I can remember picking out the perfect pink dress and my favourite ballerina shoes along with my new purple gap bag and my matching lunch box. Looking back to this day, I remember everyone holding on to their mom’s until it was time to go. Eventually, the girls drifted to the girls and the boy drifted to the boys. The first thing I said to one of the girls was I like your dress because my mother always taught me to give compliments to other people. Throughout the school years, I learned how to socialize and interact with other children. I learned how to share and a resolve problems when in a argument. On the school playground, only 4 people can play the game four corners, I had to learn how to be patient and wait my turn. Also, throughout these years, a child is introduced to several courses, therefore I was tested on my language skills, as well as my mathematical skills. According to certain studies, an example of stereotype threat that can
Introduction The topic of gender differences must understandably be approached with caution in our modern world. Emotionally charged and fraught with ideas about political correctness, gender can be a difficult subject to address, particularly when discussed in correlation to behavior and social behavior. Throughout history, many people have strove to understand what makes men and women different. Until the modern era, this topic was generally left up to religious leaders and philosophers to discuss. However, with the acquisition of more specialized medical knowledge of human physiology and the advent of anthropology, we now know a great deal more about gender differences than at any other point in history.
personality obtained through the functional profile” (Nostro. 11). The abovementioned scene of a father’s behavior toward his son versus his daughter signifies the distribution of these sex hormones in the body. While many behaviors and personalities performed by both sexes can be signs of stereotypical gender roles, a few of them actually correlate with the way that the brain is structured. Tanya Lewis’ article How Men's Brains provided an informative discussion about the gendered brains and the anatomical framework that is presented in both
Brannon, Linda. "Chapter 7 Gender Stereotypes: Masculinity and Femininity." Gender: Psychological Perspectives. 4th ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2005. 159-83. Print.
There are many different facets to the nature versus nurture argument that has been going on for decades. One of these, the influence of nature and nurture on gender roles and behaviors, is argued well by both Deborah Blum and Aaron Devor, both of whom believe that society plays a large role in determining gender. I, however, have a tendency to agree with Blum that biology and society both share responsibility for these behaviors. The real question is not whether gender expression is a result of nature or nurture, but how much of a role each of these plays.
de Vries, and Forger, (2015), use evidence from animal and human anatomies, and environmental influence, to explore the sex differences between males and females and how processes and events occurring in the body are solely due to gender. Berenbaum, and Beltz, (2011), discuss how the hormones associated with puberty and prenatal stages of life, can change the body biologically and be the main factor for individuals behaviour and out comes in their life. van Anders, and Watson, (2006), discuss in depth, several environmental influences and events in life that can have significant influences on our hormones and our biological processes inside our bodies and comparing these between males and females. There are gender differences associated with pain, with females being more vulnerable to pain.
In “The Gender Blur: Where Does Biology End and Society Take Over?” Deborah Blum states that “gender roles of our culture reflect an underlying biology” (Blum 679). Maasik and Solomon argue that gender codes and behavior “are not the result of some sort of natural or biological destiny, but are instead politically motivated cultural constructions,” (620) raising the question whether gender behavior begins in culture or genetics. Although one may argue that gender roles begin in either nature or nurture, many believe that both culture and biology have an influence on the behavior.
Sexologist are indecisive between gender explanations based on nature and culture. John Money’s he claimed, to divide pre- ad postnatal influences and attribute them to biology and culture respectively, since social influence enter the brain and are therefore also physiology.