Unit 12- Sex and Gender Roles Flashcards
What is Sex?
typically refers to the biological characteristics that define an individual as male or female. These characteristics are often categorized into two primary components: reproductive anatomy and secondary sexual characteristics.
What is Reproductive anatomy?
includes the physical traits associated with the male and female reproductive systems. In most cases, individuals are born with either male reproductive anatomy, which typically includes the presence of testes and the ability to produce sperm, or female reproductive anatomy, which typically includes the presence of ovaries and the ability to produce eggs.
What is Secondary anatomy?
physical traits that develop during puberty and are associated with being male or female. These traits include features such as body hair, voice pitch, breast development, and facial hair.
Sex on a spectrum
is complex than a straightforward binary classification. Some individuals may be born with intersex variations, which involve differences in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, gonads, or genitalia, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
Understanding sex as a spectrum rather than a strict binary classification is crucial for recognizing and respecting the diversity of human biology.
Sex roles
Sex roles, often referred to as gender roles, are the social, cultural, and behavioral expectations and norms that are associated with being male or female, based on an individual’s biological sex. These roles encompass a wide range of societal expectations, responsibilities, and behaviors that have traditionally been linked to an individual’s biological sex.
History of sex roles
Historically, sex roles have included expectations for men to be assertive, competitive, and the primary providers, while women were often expected to be nurturing, supportive, and responsible for caregiving and domestic duties. These traditional roles have influenced various aspects of individuals’ lives, including family dynamics, work opportunities, and societal expectations.
Efforts to address sex roles
often involve challenging traditional stereotypes, promoting gender equality, and creating opportunities for individuals to pursue their interests and express themselves without being restricted by societal expectations based on their biological sex.
Benefits of addressing sex roles
By recognizing the impact of sex roles and working toward creating more inclusive and equitable social norms, we can foster an environment where individuals are empowered to embrace their unique identities and capabilities, irrespective of traditional gender expectations. Understanding and challenging sex roles is essential for creating a society where individuals of all sexes and gender identities can thrive and contribute fully to their communities.
Gender
refers to the roles, behaviors, activities, expectations, and characteristics that a society considers appropriate for individuals based on their perceived or assigned sex. It is a complex and multifaceted aspect of human identity that encompasses a wide range of experiences and expressions and has been understood within a binary framework, where individuals are categorized as either male or female based on their biological sex. However, it is important to recognize that gender is not limited to this binary understanding, and many cultures and communities recognize non-binary, genderqueer, and other diverse gender identities and expressions.
Importance to educate gender
to embrace a more inclusive and diverse understanding of gender identity. This has led to greater visibility and acceptance of individuals whose gender identity does not conform to traditional binary norms, as well as efforts to create more equitable and inclusive environments for people of all gender identities.
The psychology of sex roles
encompasses the study of the psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence individuals’ perceptions, behaviors, and experiences related to gender and sex roles. This field of study aims to understand how societal expectations, stereotypes, and norms shape individuals’ identities, interactions, and opportunities based on their gender and biological sex.
Psychological research on sex roles examines a wide range of topics
- Gender identity: This focuses on individuals’ internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with the sex assigned to them at birth. Understanding how individuals develop, express, and navigate their gender identities is a central aspect of the psychology of sex roles.
- Gender development: Research in this area explores how children develop an understanding of gender, including the acquisition of gender stereotypes and the impact of socialization on their gender-related beliefs and behaviors.
- Gender roles and stereotypes: This encompasses the study of societal expectations about the roles, behaviors, and traits associated with being male or female. Research examines how these stereotypes influence individuals’ self-concept, attitudes, and behaviors.
- Gender expression and behavior: Psychologists study how individuals express and enact gender through their behaviors, appearance, and social interactions, as well as how societal expectations influence their choices and experiences.
- Gender and sexuality: This area explores the interplay between gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as how societal attitudes toward gender and sexuality impact individuals’ psychological well-being and experiences.
- Gender and mental health: Researchers investigate how gender roles and expectations can influence individuals’ mental health, well-being, and vulnerability to psychological distress, including issues such as body image, self-esteem, and identity development.
- Intersectionality: The psychology of sex roles also considers the intersections of gender with other social identities, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, to understand how multiple dimensions of identity influence individuals’ experiences.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEX ROLES AND GENDER ROLES?
SEX ROLES – identifies the biological make up and the difference between the male and the female.
GENDER ROLES- a set of behavioral norms associated particularly with males and females, in a given social group or system. It can be a form of division of labour by gender.
How is Gender Identity established
GENDER IDENTITY is a continuous and persistent sense of ourselves as masculine or feminine. A person’s inner sense of being male or female usually developed during early childhood as a result of parental rearing practices and societal influences and strengthened during puberty by hormonal changes.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR INFLUENCES ON GENDER IDENTITY AND SEX ROLES?
PARENT INFLUENCES -Parents teach with rewards and discipline. This means that they praise girls and punish or discourage boys for the same thing. This is one way to create gender stereotypes. For example: the mother might praise her daughter when she buys something for her, but she might get upset with her son for doing the same thing. Parents teach by spending time with their children. Children see what their parents do. They learn when they try to imitate their parents. For example: children who watch their father do the dishes many times may think that doing the dishes is a male activity. On the other hand, children in single-parent families see their mother or father all the chores.
SIBLING AND FRIENDS INFLUENCES
Siblings are models. Children often copy their siblings’ actions and comments – especially older siblings. Brothers and sisters often tell each other what to do or what to say. Children with siblings tend to have more gender stereotypes than only children also by acting in certain situations.
MEDIA INFLUENCES
Media use stereotypes. Television, radio, magazines and computers often show men and women in limited roles. They place importance on women’s beauty and men’s strengths. Media encourage stereotypes in commercials. Advertisers make commercials to be of interest to male or female audiences. The target audience is different for different products. For example: beauty products tend to have more women advertising the products and sports equipment tends to be advertised by male actors.
