CHAPTER 1: SEXUALITY AND GENDER Lesson 1 Sex, Gender and Gender Roles INTRODUCTION) ‘AS we grow older, we identify ourselves and each other as boys and girls, as women and men. In American culture. gender isthe most salient feature of one’s identity It shapes our attitudes, our behaviour, our experiences, our beliefs about ourseives and about others. Gender is so central to our perception of social reality that we often are not even conscious of how it shapes our behaviour and our social interactions. In this chapter, we will discuss the differences between sex and gender, along with issues like gender identity and sexuality. What does it mean to "have" @ gender in our society? What does it mean to "have" a sexuality? We will also explore various theoretical perspectives on the subjects of gender and sexuality. In this module, the students will lear about 4. Sex and gender 2. Sexual orientation 3. Gender identity a. Cisgender b. Transgender ¢. Transsexual 4. Gender Roles At the end of the module, you should be able to: 1. Differentiate sex and gender; 2. Define transgender, transsexual, and cisgender; 3. Appreciate the influence of one’s culture in the development of one’s identity; and 4, Give examples based on their observations about gender roles. 1 CaLesson 4 @ [ ‘Sex, Gender and Gender Roles (&) MAIN CONTENT ‘A person's sex, as determined by his or her biology, does not always correspond with his or her (gender, Therefore, the terms sex and gender are not interchangeable, A baby boy who is bom with male genitalia will be identified as male. As he grows, however, he may identify with the feminine aspects of his culture, Since the term sex refers to biological or physical distinctions, charactenstics of sex will not vary significantly betwaen different human saciaties. Generally, parsons of the female sex, regarciass of culture, wil eventually menstruate and develdp breasts that can lactate; Characteristics of gender, on the other hand, may vary greatly between different societies. For example, in U.S. culture, itis considered feminine (or a trait of the female gender) to wear a dress or skirt. However, in many Middle Eastem, Asian, and Atrican cultures, dresses or skirts (often referred to as sarongs, robes or gowns) are considered masculine. The kit wom by @ Scottish male does not make him appear feminine in his culture, ‘The dichotomous view of gender (the notion that someone is either male or female) Is specific to certain cultures and is not universal. In some cultures, gender is viewed as fluid. In the past, some anthropologists used the {erm berdache to refer to individuals who occasionally or permanenily crossed and lived as a different gender, The practice has been noted among certain Native American tribes (Jacobs, Thomas, and Lang 1997). Samoan culture accepts what Samoans refer to a5 a “third gender." Fa'afafine, which translates as “the way of the worran,” isa term used to desoribe individuals who are bom biologically male but embody both masculine and feminine traits. Fa‘afafines tt pep wipe ey, a =f it fi 28450134 fotosearch.com cultures may mislabel them as homosexuals because fa/atafines have a vaned Sexual fe that may include men and women (Poasa 1992). Tne terms sex and gender have not always been diferentiated in the English language. Itwas not Lunt the 1950s that U.S. and British psychologists and other professionals working with intersex and transsexual patients forrally began distinguishing between sex and gender, Since then, psychological and physiological professionals nave increasingly used the term gender (Mol 2005). By the end of ihe twenty- first century. expanding the proper usage of the term gender to everyday language became more challenging—paricualy where legal language is concerned. in af effort to clarity usage of the terms sex ‘and gender, U.S, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrate in a 1984 briefing, “The word gender has ‘2cquired the new and useful connotation of cultural or attudinal characteristics (as opposed to physical characteristics) distinctive to the sexes. That is to say, gender is to sex as feminine is to female and masculine is to malo” (J.B. v. Alabama, 144 S, Ct. 1436 [1994)). Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a different take, however. Viewing the words as synonymous, she freely swapped them in her briefings 80.38 to avoid having the word “sex” pop up too often. tis thought that her secretary supported this practice by suggestions to Ginsberg that “hose nine men* (the other Supreme Court justices), “near that word and their frst association is not the way you want ther to be thinking” (Case 1995). This aneodote reveds that both sex and gender are actually socially defined variables whose definitions change overtime. 5 «(haaLesson 1 Sex, Gender and Gender Roles Sex “Sart refers to physctogice differences found among male, female, and various intersex bodies. ‘Sexincludes bath primary sex charactenstics (those related to the reproductive system) and secondary sex characteristics (those that are not drectly related to the reproductive system, such as breasts and facial hain), in humans, the biological sex ot & chit Is determined at birth based on several factors. including chrormasames, gonads, Normonas, inkwmal reproductive ANaLMY, and gorvtaia. Biological sox haK weciionsly ben conceptualized as a binexy in Westeen Medicina, typically diviced into male anc femes, Howaver, anywure from 1.0 10 1.7% of chikdren sraomn intersex, havitig 8 varation in sex characteristics (including chromosomes, gonacs. or gentais) that do not alow tem to be distnctyidentiied as male or female. Due to the existence af multisie forms of intersex condions fwhich ere more prevent than researches ones toughl), many viEW sax as exésting along & spectrum, rather Man simply two Maslually enclusive categories. {In general terms, "sex" refers to ie biolagical dtferences between males and females, such as the (genitalia and genatic diferences, Gender “Genter” is more diffe to deine, bur it can refer to the role of & male oF fens in sockty, known 2s a pender fol, or an inderidua's concept ot memselves, or gender icentity. A porsan's sex, as determined by his or her bislagy, does nal always correspond with ther (pancr; thereto, the tats “sax and “gina” are hot infarchangeable, “Gans” is. Kat that refs to soci oF cultural distinctions suseciated with being male, female, oF intorwox. Typicay, babies born with male Sex characteristics (Sex) are assigned as boys (gender|; babes born with female sex charectiristios (x) are assigned 8 gris [gsndec). Because cur society operalis in & binary system when it comes to gender (in other words, seeing gender as only having fea opbors), many chikires Who are born intarses Gee forcibly assigned as either a boy or a it and even Surgical “comecti 19 fit 8 particuse gender. Scholars generally regard gender a6 a social coms¥uct—meaning that it does ‘rot exist naturally, but instead & concept tat is crested by outured and sochetsy marms. Gender deity is a person's sense of self as a member of a particular gender, Individuals who Icey with 2 role that comespands to the sex assigned! to hem at bith (for example, they were bom with mala 36x Characteristics, were assigned 35 & boy, and identily today = a boy or man) are Gisgender. Those who identity wits role hat diferent from their Biologics! sax (lor expla, they wate born with male sex characteristics, went assigned as a boy, bul identify today as a gi, woman fr some ther gender altogether) are often referred Io as managender. The term “iransgender” encompasses @ wide range of possible identities, including agender, genderfukd, gencorceer, two pint (tor many indigenous peopie), androgynous, and many others. Moreover, those people wero Icentity themselves with a gender other than the sex they were bom with and have undergone a sex change (\ranssexual shoud nol be mrislaken with Wansveslile, & parson who sometimes weers clothes tvactionsly wom by and associsted with the other sex) is called transsenvel B=) «6esson Sex, Gender and Gender Roles A person's sexual orientation & his or her physical, mental, emotional, and semial attraction to a particular sex (male or female). Sexual ofientation is typically divided into four categories: heterosexuality. the attraction to individuals of the other sex: homosexuality. the attraction to individuals of the sare sex, bisexuality, the attraction to individuals of either sex, or asenualty, no attracton to either sei Heterosexual and homosexuals may also be referred to informally ae “straight” and “gay," tespecively. The United States is a heteronomative society, Meaning ft assumes sexual onentaton ss biologically determined and unambiguous. Conskier that homosextals ate often askad, "When did you know you wore gay?" but heterssimuals are rarely asked, “When did you know that you ware straight?” (Ryle 2011). ‘According 10 current scientiic understanding, individuals are © csusty aware of thew sexual onentation between middle childhood end eo early adolescence (American Psychological Association 2008}. They do ot have to paricipate in sexual sctvity to be Sware of thaga emotional romantic, and physical attractions; people can be cefbate and stil recognize thei sexual orientation. Homosexual women (alsa referred to as lesbians), homosexual men (also referred to as gays), and bisexuals eo °@ of both genders may have very different experiences of discoverng and accepting ther sexual orientation. At the point of puberty, some may be ‘Sexual Orientation able to announce their sexual orientations, while athers may be unready or unwiling 1 make ther homosexuality or bisexuality known since ft goes agains! US. society's historical noms (APA 2008). Gonder Roles. ‘As we grow, we jaar how to behave from those around us. in this socialization process, chidren are introduced to certain roles thal are typically linked to their biological sex. The term ‘gender role refers to society's concept of how men and women are expected to look and how they should behave. These roles ate based on norms, oF standards, created by seciety. In U.S. culture, masculine roles sre usually associsted with strength, sggression, and dominance, while feminine roles are usually associated with passivity, nurturing, and subordination, Role learning starts wih socialization st birth. Evan today, our society is quick to outfit msle infants in blue and Girls in pink, even applying these color-coded gender labels wha a baby is in the womb, ‘On way chikiren leem gender roles is through play. Parents typically supply boys with trucks, toy quns, and superhero paraphernalia, which are active toys that promote motor skills, aggression, and solitary play. Daughters are often given dolls and dress-up apparel that foster nurturing, social proximity, and role play. Studies have shown that children will most licely choose to play with “gender appropriate" toys (or same-gender toys) even when cross-gender toys are 7 «Lesson 1 ‘Sex, Gender and Gender Roles available because parents give children positive feedback (in the form of praise, involvement, and physical closeness) for gender normative behaviour (Caldera, Huston, and O'Brien 1998). The drive to adhere to masculine and feminine gender roles continues later in life. Men tend to outnumber women in professions such as law enforcement, the military, and politics, Women tend to outnumber men in care-related occupations such as childcare, healthcare (even though the term “doctor* still conjures the image of a man), and social work, These occupational Toles are examples of typical U.S. male and female behavior, derived from our culture's traditions. Adherence to them demonstrates fulfillment of social expectations but not necessarily personal preference (Diamond 2002). 8Less , Gender and Gender Roles COURSE/YEAR:. SCORE: ~” Direction: Discuss the following questions. Use the space provided below in writing your answer. 1, What are the differences between gender and sex? 2. In what way you can say that a person es aed is a transgender, transsexual and — cisgender. 3. What do you 0 think would be the reasons that cause people to be transgendered? 9Lesson 1 Sex, Gender and Gender Roles @ APPLICATION 2)». Direction, Based on what you have leamed and observed, give your opinion about the following pictures below. Fee NAME:, COURSE/YEAR:. DATE: SCORE:Lesson 1 Sex, Gender and Gender Roles GLOSSARY The following terms used in this module are defined as follows: Sex ‘A term that denotes the presence of physical or physiological differences between males and females Gender A term that refers to social or cultural distinctions of behaviors that are considered male or female Gender Identity” | An individual's sense of being either masculine or feminine Gender Role Society's concept of how men and women should behave ‘Transsexuals Transgendered individuals who alter their bodies through medical interventions such as surgery and hormonal therapy | Cisgender People who identify themselves as the sex they were born with Transgender People who identify themselves with a gender other than the sex they were bom with. httos://opentextbe. fintroductiontosociology/chapter/chapter12 pender-sex-and-sexualit i i hapter/i \der-and. 1s://www.medicainews! ticles /23236: https://courses lumenlearning.com/atd-bmee-sociology/chapter/sex-and-gender/ un «