Gender and Gender Inequality

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Gender and Gender Inequality
Gender, what is gender? Where does it come from? How long has it existed? These are all very good question and questions that are asked a lot in today’s modern society. Most people think of gender as the physical features of a man and a woman, but it is not just physical features that define gender. There are obvious biological differences between a man and a woman, but is that what gender is defined by? There are many different theories on gender and how it is defined. How is gender inequality present in today’s world?
Gender vs. Sex these two things are some of the most commonly misunderstood concepts. According to James M. Henslin the author of the book Essentials of Sociology A Down-to-Earth Approach, when we consider how females and males are different, the first thing that usually comes to mind is sex. Sex meaning the biological differences that distinguish males and females, primary sex characteristics consist of a vagina or a penis and other organs related to reproduction. Secondary sex characteristics are the physical distinctions between males and females that are not directly connected with reproduction. Secondary sex characteristics become visible as puberty begins for example; males develop larger muscles, lower voices, more body hair, and greater height, and females for example develop breasts and form more fatty tissue and broader hips. Gender, in contrast to sex, is a social, not a biological, characteristic. Gender consists of whatever behaviors and attitudes a group considers proper for its males and females. Sex refers to male or female, and gender refers to masculinity or femininity. So in basically inherit your sex, but you learn your gender. You learn your gender as you learn th...

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...7). Gender Inequalities in Education. Retrieved Novemeber 9, 2013, from Columbia University ACADEMIC COMMONS: http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/catalog/ac%3A129025
Gender Inequality and Women in the Workplace. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2013, from Harvard Summer School: http://www.summer.harvard.edu/blog-news-events/gender-inequality-women-workplace
Henslin, J. M. (2013). Essentials of Sociology A Down-to-Earth Approach. Pearson Inc. .
Long, R. (2011, August 21). Chapter 9 Gender Inequality. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from Social Problems: http://dmc122011.delmar.edu/socsci/rlong/problems/chap-09.htm
Witt, S. D. (1997). Parental Influence on Children's Socialization to Gender Roles. Akron, Ohio: University of Akron.
Wood, J. T. (n.d.). Gender Media: The Influence of Media on Views of Gender. Department of Communication, Univeresity of North Carolina at Chape.

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