Sex and Gender: What Do We Know?

A response to "Sex and Gender: What Do We Know?" by Margaret Mooney Marini:

Marini: "Parents treat infant boys and girls differently and grade-school teachers respond differently to male and female students. Thus, even sex differences observed in infancy and early childhood can result from socialization. Sex differences that emerge later can also have a biological basis because physical maturation is associated with hormonal changes that can produce sex differences. It can therefore be argued that sex differences appearing at any age can be a result of socialization, and sex differences that appear only in late childhood and adolescence are not necessarily free of biological influence." (Marini, 102)

 

Gaby P: I agree with Marini’s theory when she states that socialization plays a major role in gender differences in a child. Parents begin to influence a child’s gender from the moment he or she was born. Little boys are treated very differently than little girls, not just by the parents but in all aspects of their upbringing such as from teachers or fellow students. However, there can also be a biological influence in the child’s gender. I agree with Marini that the biological factor would not fully come in to play until the child reaches their adolescence and puberty occurs because this is when the secondary sexual characteristics begin to appear. I believe that socialization will affect a person’s gender and behavior for their entire lives and the biological factors will also play a role but mainly during a person’s late childhood as a result of hormonal changes. Therefore, culture and society play the major role in shaping a person’s gender.

 

Marini: “Studies of the evaluation of qualifications and the attribution of causes of performances in high-level male-typed jobs indicate that physically attractive women tend to be disadvantaged by their appearance, whereas physically attractive men are advantaged. This difference arises because physically attractive women are perceived to be more feminine and therefore less likely to possess the masculine traits required for success in male-typed jobs. However, display of certain ‘male’ traits such as aggression and competitiveness can cause women to be disliked and ostracized since this behavior violates gender role expectations and is not perceived as legitimate for women. By comparison, competitive status enhancement is legitimate for men since it is consistent with gender role expectations.” (Marini, 111)

 

Gaby P: Reading this passage deeply disturbed me. Why is it that women are treated so unfairly in the business world? And what exactly is a male-typed job; what makes a job more male than female? Although this study troubled me, I know that there is a little truth to it. Unfortunately, women are treated unfairly and unequally in the business world. Very often when a women tries to climb the corporate ladder she must be seen as independent and aggressive, which are usually seen as more masculine characteristics. As a result, that woman will be perceived as weird or not normal for not following the social norm and behaving more femininely. However, it is perfectly normal for a man to be aggressive when trying to qualify for a position because it is seen as natural for a man to be more masculine.

Marini, Margaret Mooney. "Sex and Gender: What Do We Know?." Sociological Forum. Vol 5, No. 1. Mar 1990, pp. 95-120

Response to "Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender" by Aaron H. Devor

“We acquire gender roles so early in life and so thoroughly that it’s hard to see them as the result of lessons taught and learned. Maleness and femaleness seem ‘natural,’ not the product of socialization.” (Devor, 424)

            Gender roles are taught at such an early age that it’s very difficult to even see them as a lesson. It feels like that’s all there is and there isn’t anymore. You’re either a boy or a girl and that’s how your parents raised you. Your gender role as a male or female is just the “natural” way of doing things. If anyone diverges from their assigned role it is considered unnatural and even immoral by many. I agree with Devor’s opinion that gender roles are taught at such an early age before the child can even realized that they don’t have to follow these societal norms. I’m not saying that a person should be able to chose if they are male or female, you should just accept who you are and what gender you were born with. My point is that you should be able to chose your behavior as a male or female. Individuals should be able to decide for themselves if they want to be more masculine or feminine regardless of theirs gender. In addition, their parents should be supportive of their choices despite of what seems “natural” according to society.

 

 

“Children learn that they are both as they see themselves and as others see them…This ‘generalized other’ functions as a sort of monitoring or measuring device with which individuals may judge their own actions against those of their generalized conceptions of how members of society are expected to act… In this way, people can monitor their own behavioral impulses and censor actions which might earn them social disapproval or scorn.” (Devor, 426-427)

            I strongly agree with Devor’s point. Children often base their behavior and personality on their observations of those around them. Children can compare their behavior to see if they are acting “normally,” or at least what society considers as the norm. They will then adjust their behavior to fit those around them in order not to be ridiculed by others.  This is how children learn what is the proper way to behave; we’ve all done it. I can even admit to it. When you’re a little kid you look up to others to show you what’s the proper way to do things. This theory can also be applied to an individual’s gender role in society. A child learns how to behave appropriately according to their gender from others around them. Children learn to control their actions in order to avoid being made fun of or being left out in the playground.