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Womens Studies

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Submitted By karaoke82
Words 1267
Pages 6
Carie Wright
April 10, 2012
WMST 453
Essay #2

We are born often with a single identity of being male or female. The second we are born, behaviors of others and how we are treated are based on that fact alone. If we are female, we are more likely to be dressed in pink and ruffles. If we are male, we are more likely to be dressed in blue. Being born male or female carries a lot of preconceived notions about how we are supposed to be treated, dressed, and raised. Being feminine is different than being female, just as being male is different from being male. That is Leach’s main point I think. Just because we are male doesn’t mean we are masculine, but in every culture being male comes with its own expectations of being masculine. Men are violent and get rage easily. Men abuse women and rape them. A female murderer is a rare thing to come by, or so we think, because women are peace keepers and they are sweet and kind. Men are the bullies and the mean people. “There was, however, no correlation between testosterone and rated masculinity or attractiveness” (Peters, Simons, and Rhodes, 2008). There is a set of behaviors and rules that one is supposed to follow being a male. Leach also specifies that theories of masculinity must take into account the power roles that come with being masculine, otherwise the theories are incomplete.
“Unlike the biological state of maleness, masculinity is a gender identity constructed socially, historically and politically. It is the cultural interpretation of maleness, learnt through participation in society and its institutions” (Leach, 2009). Chromosomes determine whether or not a person is born a male or female or combination. Society typically views males as the aggressors and bread winners, and we treat them as such. Because of this, the male is forced or pushed toward an identity with masculinity. He begins to believe and is

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