Gender & Sexuality Flashcards
Gender
Gender is the cultural meaning that societies attach to sex categories
It consists of the behaviours that society considers normal for a person of a particular sex
- gender denotes a social position
- gender is not binary
- it represents a sliding scale of roles and identities
Sex
Sex refers to the perceived biological differences that distinguish male from female
A matter of averages, not absolutes
Sexuality
Sexuality refers to desire, sexual preference, sexual identity and behaviour
Mobius Strip
(Who + meaning)
Elizabeth Grosz:
“We should view the relationship between sex and gender similar to a mobius strip”
Mobius Strip:
an old math puzzle with one side and one edge
Biological sex = inside of the strip
Social World = outside of the strip
Who was the first person to distinguish sex from gender sociologically?
Ann Oakley
Gender Role
Gender Role: A set of expectations and attitudes concerning behavior related to one’s assigned sex at birth
Intersex
Intersex refers to individuals born with both male and female sexual characteristics
ex. non binary
Transgender
Transgender is a term that reflects western society binary view of sex and gender
- lived identity does not conform with gender role associated with their assigned sex
Transexual
Transexual: someone with the physical characteristics of one sex category and a persistent desire to belong to another
Cisgender
someone who feels affinity with socially constructed sex category they were assigned at birth
Two-Spirit People
term used to describe those who identify with one of the many gender roles beyond male & female
(navajo people recognize more than two genders)
Male vs Female Bodied Two spirit People
Male Bodied
- Nadleehi
Female Bodied
- Dilbaa
Term for Manly Hearted Women
Ninauposkitzipipe
The Nadle
The Nadle:
might be born with ambiguous genitalia or might declare nadle identity later on
perform both masculine & feminine tasks
The Hijras
Hijras = eunuchs, intersex and transgender people
officially recognized as third gender in countries in indian subcontinent
considered neither male nor female
Erving Goffman
Erving Goffman:
Wrote masculine ideal for america is a man who is:
- white
- married
- educated
- decent record in sports
Kristen Barber
Kristen Barber argued:
Metrosexual males who are typically white and wealthy would have been considered feminine in Goffman’s time
Spornosexual (def. + who coined)
Spornosexual:
- Mark Simpson
- tendency towards buffness is a cultural phenomenon
- term denotes men who strive to do sports/porn
