(De)Constructing Sex & Gender

Required Materials:

Please read these short sections from your textbook, Unit 2 “Challenging Binary Systems and Constructions of Difference”:

• "Introduction: Binary Systems"Links to an external site.
• "The Sex/Gender/Sexuality System"Links to an external site.
• "Gender and Sex- Transgender and Intersex"Links to an external site.
• Trans Student Educational Resources, 2015. “The Gender Unicorn.” Download “The Gender Unicorn.”www.transstudent.org/gender.

Notes:

One of the first things to address when studying sex and gender is what these terms actually mean. Although we often use them interchangeably, the reality is that "sex" and "gender" refer to different things. Put simply sex is a biological classification, often assigned at birth, referring to a person's genitals, reproductive organs, chromosomes, and/or hormones. Gender on the other hand is the social and cultural meaning of the appearance, behavior, and social roles we attach to being masculine, feminine, or otherwise "gendered".

So if you have ever been to a "gender reveal party", SURPRISE! It was the sex and not the gender that was being revealed. Of course, our society has created connections between sex and gender so that a baby assigned a male sex is expected to be into sports, while being assigned a female sex means going gaga for ballet. Gender expectations don't end at pink or blue icing before we are born, however. Society tends to gender just about anything and everything so that there are "feminine" and "masculine" ways to sit, stand, walk, and talk. We also have gendered toys, clothes, music and movie taste, jobs, even foods! (think about which gender orders a salad vs. a steak)

All of these gender differences are so embedded in each moment of our lives that we often take them for granted, but the truth is that they are socially constructed, which basically means that something exists because society created it not because it is naturally real. Look at pink and blue for example. A 1918 article from a department store catalogue wrote, “The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” The differences between the way we act according to gender is not natural, it is something we learn through socialization by our families, friends, schools, churches, and the media. 

And it isn't just masculine and feminine gender roles that are socially constructed. The binary of recognizing only two distinct sexes or genders is not universal across societies! As you have hopefully already readLinks to an external site., binaries are seen as two parts that are unchanging opposites of each other with no options in between. When we think about gender though, we see that girls can be into football and boys can be enjoy dancing so we know that gender binaries aren't what they are made out to be and other options DO exist. In fact, there are cultures in every corner of the world that recognize more than two genders. Gender fluidity, or the idea that gender is not fixed, may seem new but in fact has existed likely through all of human history.

Take a look at this short video exploring the spectrum of gender across cultures:

So we can see that gender is socially constructed but what about sex? Well it turns out that even though the binary of male and female makes it seem like there must be two and only two sexes, the truth is that human bodies vary widely and sex is increasingly understood as a social construct as well. Consider intersex individuals who are not strictly biologically male or female. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 100 people are born with biological characteristics that are neither strictly male or female, which might sound very rare but is actually close to the same number of people born with red hair. 

Now you might be wondering about how terms like transgender, nonbinary, and cisgender fit into all of this. Again, be sure to do the readingLinks to an external site. (it's short promise) but here is a quick summary. In our society, to be transgender means that a person's gender identity differs from the sex or gender they were assigned at birth. This does not necessarily mean they identify as "the other" gender because as we've seen gender isn't binary and trans people may be nonbinary, or outside definitions of being exclusively masculine or feminine. If a person's gender identity is the same as as the gender and sex they have been assigned, they are known as cisgender. 

We could honestly spend an entire semester sorting through social construction of sex and gender and analyzing the way we create or "do"gender (And in fact, if a semester like that sounds interesting I recommend taking WGS/SOC 202 Gender & Society!) But these are the basics to start with for this class so that we can dive into women and gender studies. 

Activity & Discussion:

For this week's activity and discussion, spend some time reviewing the material and thinking about the way ideas on gender and sex have impacted you and those around you. Please discuss the following in a paragraph or more:

1. Name some of the gender roles or traits associated with masculinity and femininity. In other words, what are the behaviors expected of men and women? (You don't have to agree with them, just list some of the gender expectations you have observed). 
2. Discuss a specific example or time that you experienced or observed gender socialization on how to "be" a man or woman. How did that experience impact you and how do you feel about it now? (your observation can be real life or from TV/movies etc. You are not required to share personal stories)
3. Now connect what you have discussed with what you have learned from the reading and videos- what is the difference between sex and gender and how do these differences relate to your experiences and observations?

Your discussion should be at least 200 words