Biological Sex And Gender Expression

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Biological Sex and Gender Expression

Biological sex indicts from birth whether we are born as a male or female based on our reproductive system. Once we enter the world, we are shaped and influenced by our social environment and culture, and we begin to identify with masculine or feminine roles that form our gender expression. Sociologist Raewyn Connell established a four-fold theory on the structure of gender relations in certain societal structures. This theory includes power relations, production relations, cathexis (emotional relations) and symbolism. This theory shows us the structures within society that have resulted in the development of gender roles. This essay will argue that biological sex develops the foundations of gender, however it is the social environment and culture that heavily influence our gender expression and shape gender into a socially constructed performance.

Biological sex is our catalyst, our starting point. For the first six weeks in the womb we are all the same. We are neither male nor female. From this stage we change and chromosomes that determine our sex form as XX for females and XY for males. Hormones are produced and stimulate the development of a reproductive system, which for a male is a penis and for females is a vagina. Men produce a hormone called testosterone from their testes while women produce estrogen and progesterone from their ovaries. The female reproductive system is mainly internal and provides the ability to give birth. Female are commonly believed to be sensitive and nurturing because of the continuous hormonal changes happening within the female body such as menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Men are commonly known for their physical strength, power and aggression. Whi...

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... had no interest in the toy. In regards to Connells theory of gender relations this is know as Cathexis (emotional relations) where desire and emotion are gendered. Although the young girl engaged with the toy, she felt like she had to play with the toy when she would rather not whereas the boy did not feel this particular desire nor emotion. Adolescences in a New Zealand study show that they were picking courses based on gender ideologies. Gender ideologies are a set of ideas that deems what are appropriate masculine and feminine roles and behaviour within a social environment. Society imposed gender stereotypes upon babies as soon as they are born and these ideologies continue all the way through to adolescences. The particular social environment and culture children grow up in will impact their gender expression, while being shaped by parents, teachers and media.

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