...Children express their outlook towards gender roles everywhere: at school, at home, and even at the store. Surveys provide evidence that children subconsciously group specific roles and jobs by assigning them to only one gender. Gender stereotyping in children not only exists but also teaches them only one way of thinking. The limited outlook that children have on gender roles is an issue in society as it prevents them from opening their minds and thinking in a way that is not pressured by society. However, gender discrimination is not the children’s fault, rather children are ways with subconsciously with this way of thinking which introduces a form of involuntary memory. Although individuals support that children do not discriminate between...
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...second method that females attempt to use for constructing their gender identities is related to the biological aspect of their bodies. Females start employing their bodies as a signifier for their female identities by forming their personal awareness of their gender abilities and their sexual orientations. The biological manifestations that are ascribed to body allow human beings to shape their gender identities; they become aware of their gender roles and abilities that their bodies have including their sexualities. Human body in a certain way achieves a coherent unit of human identity. The body can be used as a tool for constructing gender roles and thus gender identities. For example, females at early age reveal their awareness of their...
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...Racialized gender identity is a sociological concept that refers to the critical analysis of the simultaneous effects of race and gender processes on individuals (Ali, 2012). The study conducted by Ali (2012) focuses on the influence of socialization practices on the individual. Social environments such as the family, communities, and institutions provide the frame in which experience is interpreted and communicated and the self (e.g., identity) is defined in relation to difference. According to Ali (2012), the family is the primary site for the socialization of gender identity. For this reason, scholars like Kubota (2003), Ali (2012), Asghar (2013) have focused on the extent to which ethnic families have performed traditional gender norms...
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...Abstract There has been an ongoing debate over what affects gender identity more, nature or nurture. One’s gender is decided at the time of conception. Gender identity is defined as a personal belief of what it means to be a boy or a girl (Ghosh, 2013). As children grow and develop they are exposed to ideas, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that aid in the development of their sense of self (Witt, 1997). It is impossible for a child to grow to adulthood without experiencing some form of gender bias, such as boys should not wear pink and girls should not play sports. The gender stereotypes they experience at home is reinforced by additional ones they are exposed to in school and from friends (Witt, 1997). Most times children will develop a gender identity that matches his or her genitalia but sometimes this is not the case. So the question remains, what affects an individual’s gender identity more, nature or nurture? Gender Identity Gender identity is defined as a “complex system of beliefs about the subjective self in relation to masculinity and femininity” (Ault & Brzuzy, 2009, p. 187). Gender roles, maleness, and femaleness, have been argued to be a factor of environmental influences, the nurture aspect of child development, and nature, the biological aspect. “Gender identity presents itself in how people outwardly express masculinity and femininity in everyday life and how others respond to this expression” (Ault & Brzuzy, 2009, p. 187)...
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...Gender Identity Kaylene Merchant PSY/265 July 27, 2014 Doris Tolan Gender Identity Gender identity is not a concept that everyone actually gives consideration. For most people, they fall into the role that is recognized by those around them. This role, however, is not always compatible with who they really are. For some, there is confusion about who they are and who they would like to be. To better understand gender identity and the traits of masculinity and femininity, one must first fully understand the factors of each concept, and how they apply to an individual. According to Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus (2011), gender identity is the personal awareness or sense of self that either reflects as male or female. Gender identity should not be confused with sex (gender) assignment, which is the assignment of “boy” or “girl” that is given at birth. Gender identity focuses on the gender that an individual associates with in their own perception. While an individual may become aware of their anatomic sex by the time they are 18 months old, a firm sense of gender identity is not typically grasped until around 36 months old (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011). The definition aside, there are several different factors that are thought to contribute to the determination of gender identity. It is almost always aligned with chromosomal sex, but there are cases where biology does not determine identity. In individuals who are intersexual, meaning that they possess the gonads...
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...traditional social gender roles, to the modern gender roles that were developing. Writers during this time would portray men and women roles, as they saw it in society. As the Western culture progressed societies view changed as well with gender roles. In the early stages of the twentieth century, playwrights such as Strindberg, Ibsen, and Lorca, wrote characters such as men and women in gender roles that fit to the societal norms during that time. Plays like Trifles by Susan Glaspell, gave the appearance of the common societal gender roles in Western cultures. The play shows the controversy of men having the power and wisdom over women. Glaspell shows through...
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...Annotated Bibliography & Outline for Gender Identity Paper Outline I. Introduction II. What is gender Identity? III. Gender Discrimination A. Male B. Female IV. Appearance V. Gender and Interpersonal VI. Development a. Sex role stereotypes VII. Environmental factors VIII. Conclusion Introduction Throughout this paper I will be talking about gender identity which I have done a research. I will be using different several articles that researched on gender identity and will share the information I got out of the articles. Gender identity is something that most of the time goes unnoticed and lot of people are afraid to be who they are. What is gender identity? Gender Identity (1988) Social Psychology Quarterly, Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stables/2786925 This article talks about gender identity, self-esteem, physical and sexual abuse in dating relationships. The article gives important information about gender identity. The researchers had examined the roles of gender identity and self-esteem in both physical and sexual abuse in dating relationships. Gender Discrimination Race and Gender Discrimination, (2009). Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2118176 This article focuses on gender discrimination and race on buying cars. The information presented in the article goes depth into highlighting how sellers sometimes can use race or gender to sell cars to their buyers. Example could be male via...
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...Gender Identity Every sexual thought, attraction,preference, development, feeling, memory, fantasy, and choice stem from complex brain activity. A complex genetic code determines body type; but that type does not always dictate sexual identity. Sexual identity is an even more complex development that encompasses hormone levels, social learning, individual perception, and attraction. Humans are born genetically male or female; but that does not necessarily control which sexual identity the individual will discover. Planned Parenthood (2012) defines gender identity as how a person feels about and expresses his or her gender; despite genetic or natural gender assignment. Some humans are genetically male or female and identify with the traditional gender roles; but others may find that the traditional cultural norms do not match their feelings or thoughts. Sexual identity is the sexual part of human expression that does not include ideas like sexual orientation, sexual preference, physical gender, or body type. If an individual considers his or her gender as female and is at ease with referring to his or her individual sexual characteristics in feminine terms, his or her gender identity is female. Gender identity has nothing to do with the physical characteristics of gender; but focuses on how the individual thinks (either masculine or feminine) and how he or she expresses those feelings. Ghosh (2012) explains gender identity as “self-identified, as a result of a combination...
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...Dameka Towner PSYC 340 07/29/13 The effects of Hormones and behavior on gender identity Gender development begins when a baby is conceived, which why most women want to know the sex of their child as soon as possible. Boys and girl are treated different from the day they are born, causing the environment- nurture to affect gender development. Although nurture has a major influence on gender development, biological factors-nature also play a major part in the effects of gender development. In this paper the discussion that will address is the interaction between hormones and behavior and how they affect gender identity, also how the argument of how nature and nurture is the main affect gender identity. Biological factors play a huge role in children’s growth development. For example, boys and girls develop with a significantly different sex organs, and they also become more different when the onset of puberty sets in. Puberty is when the chemical messenger called hormones start to help with the formation of appearance from the physical changes occurring inside the body of an adolescent. According to Oswalt & Dombeck (2013), some researchers introduced the thought of same sex hormones that make sex organs differentiation in the uterus, which later triggers puberty. Naturally, human bodies go through the stage of puberty, and hormones have a lot to do with the development of the individual body during the onset of puberty. Hormones are leading players in the body’s...
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...CLT 209 Final Essay Discuss the impact of media on gender identity. Madalen Smith 11473441 Who are we? Who do we want to be? These are questions that have plagued people globally since the beginning of time. Our whole life is dedicated to developing our identity- one that we are happy with and feel reflects whom we are inside. But what influences our identity? And to what extent? We are constantly interacting with media. Subsequently we are continuously absorbing meaning and information whether we realise it or not. This essay focuses on gender identity and the impact the media can have on it. As individuals grow and seek to cultivate and define their identity, is media influencing their thoughts and views? This essay seeks to show that whilst media does in fact play a vital role in how individuals and society view gender the final decision regarding ones gender identity, is something that comes from within. Media both presents ideas and reflects societies already held values. Media does impact on what we view as acceptable for each gender, and what an individual may feel is the norm for their gender, but only to a certain extent. Ultimately gender is something that is felt within the individual and cannot be manipulated by outside things. Media plays a significant role in contemporary societies everyday life. The rapid technological developments that have taken place during the twentieth century has resulted in media becoming prevalent in almost all daily aspects of...
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...This paper will discuss the roles of biological factors—nature—and environmental influences—nurture—on sexual differentiation and gender identity. The paper will also determine which has the greater influence on gender identity: nature or nurture. Lastly, the paper will discuss the current arguments about sexual identity and how evidence from biopsychology may help resolve the argument. Biological Factors on Sexual Differentiation and Gender Identity Gender identity is being either male or female. Gender identity is the element that helps make up an individual's sense of self. Before a baby is born their gender is form to either a boy or girl. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human body and it is known that the ova and sperm cells contains part of that number (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011). When a sperm cell fertilizes an ovum, the zygote ends up having the whole 23 pairs of chromosomes, one is from the father and one is from the mother (Pinel, 2009). When a sperm fertilizes an egg, the development of the zygote in the male or female will depend on whether the sperm is carrying an X or Y sex chromosome (Pinel, 2009). Female ova contain only an X sex chromosome and needs the sperm to provide a Y sex chromosome, which develops a male and if it X sex chromosome the zygote will develop a female. In the case of hormones males and females have different levels of hormones. Hormones that influence an individual’s behavior can produce either masculine or feminine...
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...Gender Roles and the Identities of Women During the late nineteenth century, there were many stereotypical attitudes regarding the roles of gender and the identity of women. Men were usually portrayed as the “breadwinners,” as well as the well-educated and the sole foundation of the family. Men had to show their masculinity by being the very upper-hand of the family. Women are portrayed as sensitive, sweet, caring, faithful, moody, naïve, etc. As a way to complete them as a whole, women needed men in their lives. However, women held the least power of the family and believed that they only had a purpose of being housewives. The ideal images of gender roles between men and women, and the identities of women can lead to stereotypes that are associated with Kate Chopin’s short story “Desiree’s Baby.” In “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, gender played a big role in the life Desiree as well as Armand Aubigny. Desiree was described as “beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere— the idol of Valmonde” (1). Desiree was illustrated as if she was down to earth and had a very warm personality. At first she was nameless, like most women when they are first named by their primary families and renamed when they get married. Desiree nameless when she was first found by the Valmonde family, and then they took her in as their own and she adopted their family name. Desiree undergoes another name change when she later marries a wealthy man by the name of Armand and inherited the...
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...Gender Identity Disorder The psychological diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) describes an individual who experiences a strong identification with the opposite sex. This cross-gender identification refers to the desire to be, or the insistence that one is, of the other sex, often results in the individual experiencing high levels of discomfort and distress. Many key terms are commonly misunderstood and are often assumed to be synonymous when referring to Gender Identity Disorder. Thus, it is important to differentiate these terms. First, the term “sex” refers to an individual’s biological reproductive structures. Whereas, gender refers to the psychosocial, expected behaviours and rules an individual attributes to. Gender identity refers to the individual’s subjective feelings towards the particular gender they identify with. Lastly, gender role is another important concept that should be properly defined. It refers to the behaviours, attitudes, and schemas that a society deems acceptable and designates as either masculine or feminine (Dragpwski, Scharron-del Rio & Sandigorsky, 2011). The DSM-IV-TR defines two important components of Gender Identity Disorder. The first is the presence of strong and persistent cross-gender identification (Criterion A) (DSM-IV-TR, 2010). In children, the problem must lie within 4 of the 5 following behavioural characteristics: (a) repeatedly stated desire to be, or insistence that he or she is, the other sex; (b) in boys, preference...
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...Gender Identity Shelley Sanchez PSY265 September 2, 2011 Lauren Lappe Gender Identity In this assignment the factors that determine gender identity will be discussed. How is an individual’s masculine or feminine traits described using the continuum of masculinity- femininity. First we need to identify the meaning of the term gender identity. Gender identity is the psychological state of mind in which a person identifies with being male or female. A person’s anatomic sex does not always match with how they perceive themself as a sexual being. Hence, an anatomic male may feel as though he is a female trapped in a male’s body. Determining gender identity is one of the most obvious and important aspects in the development of self-concepts (Rathus, Nevid, Fichner-Rathus, 2011). The three factors that have been utilized in my own life to determine my personal gender identity will be detailed as well as the masculine and feminine traits using the continuum of masculinity-femininity that I attribute to my gender. The factors that are included in determining gender identity are; genetic, environmental, and psychological as well as levels of sex hormones. At the point of the fertilization from the sperm and the ovum the chromosomal combination of 23 provided by the male along with the 23 provided by the female create the beginning of life called the zygote. Although this life form is only 1/175 of an inch its unique characteristics have been determined, the color of hair, eyes...
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...|Gender Identity | |Hormonal and Behavioral Interactions Affect Determination of Gender Identity | |To explain how hormones affect gender identity and sexual behavior or examine how the interaction between hormones and behavior can be | |somewhat complicated. It would be easier to explain if we could say that behavior is caused unequivocally by hormones in the body. What | |has been established though is that elevated levels of hormones increase the chance of certain behaviors, and certain behaviors increase | |the likelihood of change in hormones. What also has been established is that hormones carry messages and that they can affect facets of | |the body at different times (Kalat, 2001). When the body requires a certain process to be done or needs a certain protein made, the | |brain emits a signal to make a certain type of hormone. Those signals are sent through other kinds of hormones that are also in the body.| |Puberty is the time when hormones disperse and levels rise. The testosterone levels in males are usually higher than the estrogen levels | |and that’s when tissue and muscle growth give rise to masculinity. In females, the estrogen levels predominate resulting in femininity. | |At any rate, the lessened or heightened amount of either of these hormones in the...
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