Sex and Gender?

Question

Sex refers to the biological differences between Male and Female.
Gender to the way in which cultures utilize these differences to construct masculine and feminine people.
In other words, sex is given by nature,
so does gender arises from nuture?.
your opinions......

Answer 1

Does it arise from nurture? Interesting question, but I believe you may have given yourself the answer within your question. As you state, Cultures utilize the sexual context as a guide to determining gender recognition. Throughout history male and female persons have occasionally had to struggle with gender issues: she's a tomboy, he's a sissy. Each of these is gender bending by use of cultural dictates. If a society creates a specific gender list if you will, and one meets the list pre-conditions, then society dictates Masculine and Feminine. Consider a woman who enjoyed sports in the early 1900's. Society, having no other way of identifying or explaining this, would have labelled her a tomboy or in some cases worse. Fast forward to today, where a young woman would no more be called a tomboy or any other gender bending name simply for playing sports. Gender, I believe, is to a degree, fluid. The definition is changing as culture changes. Attitudes towards women and men and their gender specific roles are changing and continue to evolve. I apologize for the long answer, but simply put, yes, I believe to a degree that gender is subjective.

Cheers

Answer 2

There is pretty good evidence against Nurture as a reason for Gender dysphoria. One is that the use of a certain hormone (DiethylStilbistrole) prescribed to women back in the 40's and 50's resulted in 30% of the male offspring being Gender Dyphoric.

Also there are cases where an accident during circumcision resulted in a baby that was raised female - and the person knew they felt male for most of their life.

Nurture has been fairly successfully discounted as the sole, or even major determinate of gender identity.

Answer 3

Absolutely. I'm living proof!
I'm a transsexual female-to-male. My sex at birth was female, and for about 24 years, I lived as one. During that time, I was treated by society as a female. I was expected to do "female" things and behave in a "female" way. It was accepted if I didn't know the answer to something, or needed help from someone, or became emotional. Having a kind, gentle nature was considered "normal", because of how society viewed me as female.

Now, as a male, these things aren't acceptable by society. Men are expected to not ask for directions, not ask for help, know the answer to everything (you'd be surprised at the things people ask me now). Guys will talk to me more freely now than they EVER did when I was a female. (You guys can get pretty graphic with your sexual escapades and bodily functions by the way). Those types of things they'd never say in front of a girl. I'm expected now that I'm a male to have also acquired some sort of great strength as well. I'm expected to be able to open pickle jars, or lift heavy boxes, and things. Also, I'm apparently supposed to have gotten taller as well (you don't get taller from taking hormones, hate to break it to ya). I'm only 5'1", but because I'm a "male" now, I'm expected to reach things on high shelves and things of that nature.

As a female, I was talkative and funny. As a male, if I'm talkative, friendly, funny and smile a lot, people think I'm a gay man.

*sighs* So, yes...it's very much all about societal conditioning.

Answer 4

Gender is a complete socializiation, in my mind. Sex-linked differences exist, but they are so small and insignificant that it's no excuse to say that gender arises from nature. It's definitely nurture- that's why so many people can completely screw with gender in their lives, but not ever feel transsexual (born in the wrong body). Just my opinion, though!

Answer 5

I can't really say what is the right answer to this one but that you must feel comfortable with yourself and to feel okay that you do what is right for yourself. If you look at someone and that someone looks at you the same way then fine and if you feel that it is right then do it. I am a straight and very much engaged to a women and this is what I like so if you find yourself questioning your thoughts then find out the true answer before you make any decisions.

Answer 6

To me, sex and gender are the same thing. They're about the way your body is made; souls are neuter. I never could fathom how people come up with things like "psychological gender", "emotional gender", etc. It's all arbitrary, random, and never made sense to me.

Answer 7

gender is
part nature
part environment
part mental,
part learnt,
part taught,
we all seem to be born and
a boy is dressed in a blue
a girl in pink
a boy is taught to be big and strong with muscle sporty manly and not to cry
a girl is taught to be petite and pretty, caring soft week
but nature gives us hormones that also make us who we are in the gender world
relationships with our parents help us to be who we are
we look for some one who we live our life by and we look up at that person like and idol
some of us it can be see as a rebellion to society to be different
but for me my gender is decided by my mine
i know i am a female on the inside
i am changing the out side for my inside to get stronger

Answer 8

One could argue nature v. nurture for years and not arrive at a conclusive answer. The only thing that truly matters is how one perceives them self.

Answer 9

It could. I act and present myself as straight but I'm not. There for to look at my gender you would think my preference was on the upper percentile. Note I didn't say normal.

Answer 10

I Wish such things were all made up so i could get it on with u you Hottie!