Gender, Sex, and Gender Roles

Essay Instructions:

Throughout human history the first question parents have asked at the birth of a child has been whether the child is a boy or a girl. The answer to this question impacts the socialization of that child for the rest of his or her life. For example, from birth children are assigned the colors of pink or blue and given specific gender related toys depending on their sex. Think about how you have been socialized in relation to sex and gender. Consider your parents' and media's influence over your life as a male or female as well as the broader impact of society on masculinity and femininity. Write an essay on the concepts of sex, gender and gender roles. First, explain the differences between sex and gender. Next, provide examples of how gender roles relate to your personal life.

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Gender, Sex, and Gender Roles
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Gender, Sex, and Gender Roles Gender Socialization starts at birth and determines how a person behaves according to their assigned gender. Gender socialization specifies how a person behaves, their norms, beliefs, and values as either a male or a female (Williamson, 2006). The effects of gender socialization impact one view on general life matters and intensify as one moves on to adolescent and adulthood. However, the effects of gender socialization are intense during childhood, when the adults guide and instruct the children on how they are expected to behave based on the accepted social norms. Male children are raised to conform to the roles of the male gender in the society, while girls conform to the roles of the female gender. Sex refers to the biological traits or features that distinguish a male and a female. On the other hand, gender is a social-cultural phenomenon. It refers to the category that the society ascribes an individual based on their sex (Clow, 2018). Gender roles refer to attitudes, personality and behavior characteristics that are expected of an individual based on their sex. Each society has different guidelines on the appropriate character of a male or a female. In the American setting, the color blue is associated with a boy, while girls are associated with pink color. The impacts of gender socialization carry on as children grow up (Day, 2016). It is evident in the modern-day education system, where boys are regarded as more analytical, hence expected to excel in subjects such as math and science. Such influences impact on an individual career selection, with boys dominating the sectors that are regarded as “male-dominated sectors” such as engineering. Another example is the nursing field. Although male nurses are becoming more common, the nursing field is regarded as a female sector because females are regarded as more nurturing and compassionate ...

Updated on January 26, 2024

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Gender, Sex, and Gender Roles

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