Calling ALL feminists (and others) about gender...?

Question

I want to make absolutely sure I have some good evidence of the general feminist approach to gender.

This question is relatively simple: Is gender more of a result of biology or socialization?

All answers are welcome. No flaming, please.

To clarify...

Which of the two (biology and socialization) do you think influences gender MORE?

It can only be one or the other. (Equal impact simply doesn't make any sense)

Alright, carrie. I'm pretty sure most analysts of gender would take the fact that it is impacted by socialization (even to the point where something can be assumed to be natural when it may not be) into account.

It doesn't matter, furthermore, if what feminists think is right or not- the point of this question is to understand AT LEAST what feminists on this board think.

So now you presume to speak for ALL educated feminists, Yaggy?

That's a generalization you can't afford to make.

Answer 1

It's both. There's no simply choosing. As others have said, it is very difficult to determine what the "ratio" may be...but one can simply observe that many differences are biological, and many others are socially driven. This seems so obvious to me, that I can't even fathom where the argument comes from.

Answer 2

Robinson, you know D*** well that all human behavior, including society and culture are the result of beginning Darwinian processes! Cultural " evolution " ( if there is such a thing strictly defined ) may now outstrip genetic evolution, but the reach of the genes are very long. You also know D*** well that all human behavior is under a normal curve of distribution, thus negating any such fuzzy social science category, such as they call " gender role " Do you feel that your life is the life of one constrained by " acting in a play ",or having the tails of normal distribution thrown up in your face as if they were not three standard deviations from the mean and living under this environmental determinism that the social scientists promote. Or, would you rather bow to the evidence and know that you are an evolved animal with a long evolutionary history; yourself, and not the "download of society and culture ".

PS " Merely theories "? I thought only creationists were confused about scientific theory. I guess I was wrong. Any one ever heard of this mere theory? " The theory of gravity ".

Answer 3

I support what others have said and that it is not completely quantifiable at this time as evidence moves back and forth btwn biology and socialization. But my personal leanings are this that there are some inherent things (physiologically and behaviorally etc) that set the sexes apart enough biologically to distinguish gender and that human societies then create a negative duality between these differences aiming at valuing one over another. Good question btw.

Answer 4

There is no "mean' average on this question. Everyone has slightly different experiences that have effected Their attitude towards members of the other gender with whom They must interact. I hate My Mother because She deserted Us so that She could run off with Her 16 yr old Girlfriend. That does not mean that I am a misogynist, merely a victim, and yet I aman advocate of Women's Rights, I work with Women (Nursing) and even live with Them. See My point?

Answer 5

As an educated feminist, I have to agree with Baba and Carrie. In case you have been living under a rock, the jury on the gender question is STILL OUT. No intelligent person is going to go against all scientific research and expert opinion by saying it is one or the other, unless they've made some breakthrough. In that case, they need to come forward. Otherwise, they need to shut up and do their research like the rest of us.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Many factors influence gender. One is born with a sex and then many forces are at work shaping the individual to conform to the social prescriptions. This can be historical, political, environmental,etc. Women were much more voluptuous in body shape after the Second WW which suggests that at this time wide hips and large breasts meant more ability to carry and birth children. This would be a direct result of the attrition during the campaign of war and the need to repopulate.

Answer 8

While both biology and socialization have a direct impact on gender, the greater emphasis comes from socialization.

Answer 9

Luckily for you, I'm (supposed to be) studying for my exam, so here's an explanation from my sociology textbook. It blabbers on and on, so there is more, but in a nutshell:

"...presenting the possibility of a truly social inquiry as well as suggesting that human actions have been and continue to be subject to historical forces and, thus, to change.... social construction calls attention to the paradox between the historically variable ways in which culture and society constuct seemingly stable reality and experience: here, the ways in which the prevailing sexual system seems natural and inevitable to its natives, and for many individuals some deeply felt essence. To explain how reality is constructed does not imply that it is not real for the persons living it... though it is also true that the insight of construction, when absorbed by the natives (that is, us) has the potential to subvert the natural status of the sexual system and cause us to question and rethink our experience of essential identity."

Keep in mind that social construction theory also takes into account the body's functions and physiology, and does not disembody sexuality.

Here is an anecdote to explain further, again, from my textbook:

"Power is also evident in day to day situations, such as when a woman becomes the object of sexual innuendo or leering by her male classmates, co-workers, or even strangers. In our society, such behaviour is considered 'normal'; it draws on conceptualizations of 'femininity' or 'masculinity' that define women as 'sexy' or 'available' and men as sexual aggressors.... in short, she cannot prevent unwanted attention that arises from the social meanings attached to her biological sex."

Answer 10

I think the hardline belief by feminist is that it's environment. I believe it's both.