Constructionism And Gender

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Q1. What does the "sex/gender" distinction refer to?

The sex/gender distinction refers to how sex refers to a person’s biological make-up, like their sex chromosomes, while gender refers to a set of characteristics given to them that are culturally defined. There are also the terms masculine and feminine that are used to indicate one’s gender, as well as their patterns of behavior and sexuality. Squire also mentions that the sex and gender distinction also coincides well with the nature versus nurture debate, where sex is biological determined and gender being socially constructed.

Q2. Squires presents constructionism as one set of explanations for the origins of "gender." Explain constructionism. It might help to offer a concrete, specific example of constructionism. …show more content…

Constructionism is where the idea of the sex/gender distinction comes from. Constructionism looks at gender not as something that is biologically determined like sex, but instead as something that is socially constructed; a “product of socialization” (pg.56). When they are being raised, boys and girls are exposed to different characteristics and traits that are labelled masculine and feminine, and are expected to exhibit the traits that are supposed to correspond with their sex. So, based on constructionism, gender distinctions between males and females are determined by what a specific society determines to be markers of gender. An example of constructionism is boys from a young age being socialized into doing rough and tumble play, as that is what society expects boys to do, while girls are encouraged to instead play less actives games, like dolls. Both girls and boys can play with dolls or do rough and tumble play, but instead each became an identifier of masculinity and feminity in youth, which is a belief that society has and not an actual

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