🚻Intro to Gender Studies Unit 2 – Gender: Biology, Culture, and Society

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people
• Sex is a label (male or female) that you're assigned by a doctor at birth based on the genitals you're born with and the chromosomes you have
• Gender identity is a person's inner sense of being a man, woman, neither, or other gender(s)
• Gender expression includes the ways a person communicates their gender through behavior, clothing, haircut, voice, and other forms of presentation
• Gender roles are the set of socially defined roles and behaviors expected of individuals based on their assigned sex
• Gender stereotypes are widely held and oversimplified ideas about the characteristics, behaviors, and roles of men and women
• Cisgender describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth
• Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth

Biological Aspects of Gender

• Sex chromosomes (XX for females and XY for males) determine the biological sex of an individual
• Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone play a role in the development of secondary sex characteristics
• Biological factors such as genes, hormones, and brain structure may influence gender identity, but the extent of their role is not fully understood
• Intersex individuals are born with sex characteristics (genitals, gonads, chromosomes) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies
  • Intersex conditions can involve variations in chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy
  • Historically, intersex individuals have often been subjected to non-consensual medical interventions to "normalize" their bodies
• While biology plays a role in sex differences, it does not solely determine gender identity or expression
• The binary view of sex and gender as strictly male/female is an oversimplification that fails to capture the full spectrum of human diversity

Gender as a Social Construct

• Gender is largely a social construct, meaning it is created and reinforced by society and culture rather than being solely determined by biology
• Socialization is the process by which individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, and expectations of their culture, including those related to gender
  • Family, peers, schools, media, and other social institutions shape our understanding and expression of gender from a young age
• Gender norms and expectations vary across cultures and historical periods, demonstrating the socially constructed nature of gender
• The social construction of gender creates and maintains power imbalances and inequalities between men and women
  • Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property
• Challenging the notion of gender as a fixed binary tied to biological sex allows for greater diversity and fluidity in gender identities and expressions
• The social constructionist view of gender highlights how gender is learned, performed, and reinforced through social interactions and institutions

Cultural Variations in Gender Roles

• Gender roles and expectations vary widely across different cultures and societies
• In some cultures, gender roles are rigidly defined and enforced, while others allow for more flexibility and fluidity
• Examples of cultural variations in gender roles:
  • In the Aka tribe of central Africa, fathers spend more time in close contact with their infants than in any other known society
  • In the Chambri tribe of Papua New Guinea, women are dominant and aggressive while men are submissive and passive
• Cultural practices such as division of labor, marriage customs, and religious beliefs shape and reinforce gender roles within a society
• Globalization and cultural exchange can lead to changes and shifts in traditional gender roles over time
• Understanding cultural variations in gender roles highlights the diversity of human experience and challenges the notion of universal or "natural" gender norms

Gender Identity and Expression

• Gender identity is a person's internal sense of being male, female, neither, or other gender(s)
• Gender expression refers to how a person presents their gender through appearance, behavior, and other external characteristics
• Individuals may identify with a gender that differs from their assigned sex at birth (transgender) or with no gender at all (agender)
• Some people identify as non-binary, meaning their gender identity falls outside the categories of man and woman
  • Non-binary identities can include genderqueer, genderfluid, bigender, and others
• Gender identity and expression can be fluid and may change over the course of a person's lifetime
• Misgendering, or referring to someone using a gender that does not align with their identity, can be hurtful and disrespectful
• Respecting a person's gender identity and using their preferred name and pronouns is an important aspect of creating an inclusive environment

Intersectionality and Gender

• Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how multiple social identities (such as race, class, and gender) intersect and create unique experiences of privilege and oppression
• Gender does not exist in isolation but interacts with other aspects of identity to shape an individual's lived experiences
  • For example, the experiences of a white woman and a woman of color may differ significantly due to the intersection of gender and race
• Intersectionality highlights how systems of power and oppression, such as sexism and racism, are interconnected and mutually reinforcing
• An intersectional approach to gender recognizes the diversity within gender categories and avoids treating all members of a gender as a homogenous group
• Intersectionality is important for understanding and addressing the complex ways in which gender inequality manifests and impacts different groups

Gender in Media and Pop Culture

• Media and popular culture play a significant role in shaping and reinforcing gender norms and stereotypes
• Representation of gender in media is often limited and stereotypical, with men and women portrayed in narrow, traditional roles
  • Women are often sexualized, objectified, or portrayed as passive and dependent on men
  • Men are often portrayed as aggressive, emotionless, and dominant
• Underrepresentation and misrepresentation of diverse gender identities in media can contribute to marginalization and invisibility of non-binary and transgender individuals
• Media can also challenge and subvert traditional gender norms through representation of diverse and non-stereotypical gender roles and identities
• Critical media literacy involves analyzing and questioning the gender messages and ideologies embedded in media texts
• Representation matters - seeing diverse gender identities and expressions in media can validate and empower individuals who may not conform to traditional gender norms

Current Issues and Debates

• The #MeToo movement has brought widespread attention to the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, particularly in the workplace
• Transgender rights, including access to healthcare, legal recognition, and protection from discrimination, are a key area of advocacy and debate
  • Controversial legislation, such as "bathroom bills" restricting transgender individuals' access to public restrooms, highlights ongoing challenges and backlash
• The gender pay gap, or the difference in average earnings between men and women, remains a persistent issue in many countries
  • Factors contributing to the pay gap include occupational segregation, discrimination, and the unequal distribution of unpaid care work
• Reproductive rights, including access to contraception and abortion, are a contentious and politicized issue in many societies
• Toxic masculinity refers to the harmful, stereotypical norms and expectations associated with traditional masculinity, such as aggression, emotional suppression, and dominance
  • Challenging toxic masculinity and promoting healthy, diverse expressions of masculinity is an important aspect of gender equality
• Intersectional feminism acknowledges the diverse experiences of women and the ways in which gender intersects with other systems of oppression, such as racism and classism