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Gender and Relationships Gender and Relationships Malissa DeNae Martin Georgia Southern University An important topic in psychology is gender and relationships and how they basically go hand in hand, with each other. Gender is a set of traits that are given to a male or female. Many people use the words masculine and feminine to characterize male and females. Relationships are a close association between two or more people that can last from a short period to a long period of time. There are different types of relationships as, well. A few of them are loved based, business, friendships, and more. This paper will analyze how gender effects relationships. Gender development has many different theories that have been …show more content…
Once gender constancy is achieved whatever they have learned is believed and what they begin to live by. Gender constancy is the belief that their own gender is fixed and irreversible (Bussey & Bandura, 1999). Research shows, that there is no relationship between a child’s understanding of constancy and the reason for same sex peers, gender activities, so on (Bussey &Bandura, 1999). The Gender Schema Theory begins when children are able to label themselves as male or female. After they have developed that, they are expected to behave by the norms of society and their gender roles. Biological Theories are more of a scientific approach to gender differentiation. Here is where you can really see gender differences and the effects it has on relationships in a male and female view. Naturally men have less responsibility sexually, so they are able to mate with how many females they choose, as well as not be too picky about who they decide to mate with. However, women have to carry the fetus for nine months, deliver, and care for the child for the rest of their life. Women have adapted to this by having less sex partners and they look for men who would be good providers for the child and themselves. Women have the parent role, whereas men are known as the aggressors and the
In the stage of gender stability children are able to indicate that a gender remains the same throughout time and therefore, children start to realise that they will be male or female for the rest of their lives. Nevertheless, their understanding of gender i...
In order to explore the origins of how gender roles are learned, a solid definition of gender versus sex must be developed. Sex is completely biological, and the physical sex organs one is born with are determined by nature. Gender, on the other hand, is not biological in any sense—it is in fact something that is decided and dictated by societal and parental influence. What it means to be male or female is something that we are taught. Contrary to popular belief, it is clearly not something that comes preprogrammed into our brains. The American Psychological Association defines gender as “…the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for boys and men or girls and women. These influence the ways that people act, interact, and feel about themselves.” This definition confirms that gender is learned, rather than inherited. As psych...
As the Classical World began to emerge, the relation between men and women start to change. During the Greek and Roman Empire, men continuing to be powerful in the society, and were the ones who trained for oncoming battles. As well woman rights were emerging slowly during the period. Women started as a possession of the men, and ended with own rights and choices of profession. The civilization of Greece had two main cities, Sparta and Athens. Men and women in Sparta were strong, they started training together, and at the age of twelve were separate. Then boys were sent to the barracks, were the military training continued, and girls keep with their trained to became worthy of a good male. Spartan women were free, they could ran businesses
From a young age , many individuals worldwide are socialized according to their gender and what is appropriate for males and females. Socializing according to ones gender starts from the moment you are born when the nurses give you either a blue or pink blanket to wrap the child in. This allows society to known whether the child is a male or female. The double standard for gender occurs within many areas of development for instance the clothes one wears, the toys that are placed with, the jobs and careers one chooses in their later life. Attachment given by a child's parent reinforces an individual to be socialized and children can also contribute how their parents treat and see them , these are social constructs within parenting (Ambert,2012). All of these things can be gender separated and still are in today's society. Another area where males and females are socialized differently is in the area of sexuality and what is acceptable for males is not always for the female gender. Gender specific norms govern the appropriate amount of partners , when it is acceptable to engage in sexual activity and what motivates ones behavior (Kreager &Staff, 2009). This shows society individuals are socialized according to their gender because males are socialized into behaving a different way than girls but it still be accepted as a norm. Women are taught that it is okay to have sexual relationships but they need a reason, example being in a committed relationship, where as men just need a place. This is a common perception based on ones gender , formed from a western conservative view point ( Fugere et.al, 2008). Gender socialization is a process where boys are seen to be given wings and girls are to be given roots (Myers, Spencer, Jordan...
Gender Schema can be simply described as a child’s general understanding of society’s definition of male and female. The ideas of gender, that our culture has set up, effects children tremendously. Children categorize certain things and ideas as for boys or girls, there is really no in between. Younger girls tend to wear pink or colors that are considered “girly” simply because that is what they have been taught. It’s the same things for boys. Younger boys are taught to that they have to act tough and that they cannot be sensitive. Sandra Bem covers this a lot in her article “Gender Schema Theroy”. “Children are being taught sex-appropriate skills, personality attributes, behaviors and much more.”(Gender Schema Theory para. 1) We must realize that these things are taught not only by parents but by our society.
This gender identity acts as a basis in the formation of gender self-schemas that may be brought forward to adulthood as children relate their behaviours to their sex and gender-relevant information. For example, a woman may develop a gender self-schema and believe that her gender determines her actions and treatment from others. Self-schemas generally developed by men encompasses roles, norms, values and belief that are associated with masculinity and career roles whilst that of women are associated with femininity and family roles. These core schemas are then regularly augmented by early socialization encounters (Markus & Oyserman, 1989). Although, it is untrue to state that all men and women will develop gender self-schema (Markus et al.,
Gender structure is learned by gender socialization, as people are pushed into different avenues of life, leading to different attitudes and behaviors. Most people in their life think, behave, and feel certain ways to follow the guidelines or what is considered to be the norm in their culture regarding men and women. This can be in relation to gender social institutions, whither it be from race, religion, culture, peers, or one’s surroundings. Gender structure is made up by how one acts, dresses, and their demeanor. Roles of men and women can be learned from childhood. According to Henslin (2017) the gender roles that we learn during childhood become part of our basic orientations to life. Gender orientation is part of our everyday life, so parents generally teach what is expected of each gender, without even being aware that they are doing it. This relates to names, color of clothing, and toys. For boys it is generally ok for them to get dirty, be defiant, and play tougher. Girls are made to be dainty and compliant. In gender structure the norm is for men to be more masculine and women to be more feminine. According to Risman (2004) as long as women and men see themselves as different kinds of people, then women will be unlikely to compare their life options to those of men. This is all reinforced by one’s social
There is no doubt that men and women are influenced by biological factors. The question is are gender roles based on nature, nurture or both? When discussing human sexuality, drives and desires hormones play a substantial role in our behaviors. The physiological differences externally in males and females are obvious. For example, when aroused, males become erect, whereas females become lubricated instead of a clitoral erection. In the article, “Biological Aspects of Sexual Orientation and Identity” Milton Diamond Ph.D. claims “These differences obviously pertain to copulation, but many other mechanisms exist that are less related to coitus but very much related to sexual expression and childbearing. Muscle mass, body and skeletal articulation, enzyme and endocrine production, and other physiological features and reflexes are additional distinctions. The endocrine system of males is relatively tonic in operation, while the female system is basically cyclic during the reproductive years.” Some of these biological factors are thought to shape gender differences due to hormones and brain function. According to “Biological Theories of Gender” Saul McLeod claims that, “The biological approach suggests that there is no distinction between sex and gender, thus biological sex creates gendered behavior.” This theory
The relationship between sex and gender can be argued in many different lights. All of which complicated lights. Each individual beholds a sexual identity and a gender identity, with the argument of perceiving these identities however way they wish to perceive them. However, the impact of gender on our identities and on our bodies and how they play out is often taken for granted in various ways. Gender issues continue to be a hugely important topic within contemporary modern society. I intend to help the reader understand that femininities and masculinities is a social constructed concept and whether the binary categories of “male” and “female” are adequate concepts for understanding and organising contemporary social life with discussing the experiences of individuals and groups who have resisted these labels and forged new identities.
Gender will be examined, and it will tell what correlate with gender identity. Gender difference and their development will be discussed in the paper. It will explain what is psychoanalytic and systems perspective and how it takes a part in gender difference. It will show how gender difference could affect a person's life, later down the line. There are several issues or problems that are dealing with identity, gender and it's causes problems. The biggest problem would be our environment, we hang on. We will examine some theories that interact with psychoanalytic and system perspective approach and how it is related to identity gender and what responds we will witness. In the paper it will introduce two theories which are behaviorism and social
The gender issues in today’s society are issues to discuss because they are tainting the lives of people from an early age. This is important because girls and boys are showing increasing levels of insecurities that are arising due to fundamental gender issues in society. The masculine stereotype is one the most prevailing causes of gender issues in society, especially the issue of sexism. Our society must address this issue because the cycle of sexism only feeds into peoples’ insecurities. Men should not feel obligated to objectify women to feel masculine and women should not feel like they must be sensual and beautiful to have value. The stereotypes that are being placed on men and young boys effect the attitudes of the women around them and creates a cycle of hypersexualization and sexism, leaving the relationships between genders tainted and women feeling less confident in themselves. By changing the way people think men and women are supposed to be, we can change the way our society values one another and in turn, become a more equal and respectful society.
Gender And Sexuality: Productive and Non Productive Aspects Gender carries a more social tone. It refers to socially constructed differences between the sexes and to the social relationships between women and men. These differences between the sexes are shaped over the history of social relations and change over time and across cultures. Gender identity depends on the circumstances in which women and men live and includes economic, cultural, historical, ideological, and religious factors. Gender relations also vary according to the economic and social conditions of the society and differ between social and ethnic groups. The definition of sexuality can encompass many things. This can mean the feelings we have about ourselves as sexual beings, the ways in which we choose to express these feelings with ourselves and others, and the physical capability each of us has to give and experience sexual pleasure. Sex is the total sum of physical characteristics that distinguish males and females from each other. The most distinctive difference in characteristics is that man and women have different reproductive organs. This is pretty obvious and so are other traits like facial hair, deep voices, and muscular builds. Current Scenario: If you are questioning your sexual orientation or gender identity, you probably have already figured out that society is telling you what it wants you to be. Families, religions, and different cultural and ethnic institutions communicate expectations to us, both in direct and indirect ways, about how to be. Often as children queer people get a sense that they don't fit with society's codes. It may not be completely clear to some individuals at first in what way they don't fit; instead they feel a vague sense o...
Does changing gender role affect family relationship or will it be beneficial. Gender as a social construction has become one of the most mentioned topic in today’s society. In fact, gender as a social construction has given a lot of disadvantages too many women, men, and families. With it rigid definition create by traditional cultures that state what it means to be a man and women or the perfect gender role that a father and mother should have. This conversation has cause a controversy in many marital relationship, families and community. As this argument keep growing amount generation and generation we should fight to end stereotypes by eliminating gender roles totalitarian perception by allowing father to take a role in house shores
The last theory of social cognitive theory of gender I can recall as in my early childhood. When I was 4, almost 5 years old, I gained a sibling. It was super exciting for me! I wanted to be a part of everything to prepare for the new baby brother; pick a name out, change diapers, read to him, etc. My mom encouraged and praised me for wanted to be involved and help out. As I think about this, if I was a 4-year-old boy, would she have been as encouraging to me to change the baby’s diaper, probably not. My mom was teaching me to be responsible and how to care for
Outline and assess the view that patriarchy is the main cause of gender inequality (40 marks)