A. Why Study Gender and Society?

What it means to be a 'man' or a 'woman.'- Simone de Beauvoir

Some people tend to perceive gender as exclusively affecting women,
the reason why most people stay away from participating in discussions
concerning gender studies (www. jica.go). Gender is a social, psychological,
and cultural construct that develops during the socialization process. As a
result, different civilizations and cultures may have different viewpoints
about what constitutes "masculine" or "feminine" behavior (Council of
Europe, 2020).
A social theory called social constructionism explains how meaning
develops through social interaction, or through the things we do and say
with other people. This idea demonstrates that gender is not a constant or
innate reality but rather varies throughout time and space. Gender, like all
social identities, is socially constructed ( https://othersociologist.com)
Gender-related norms and expectations are created by societies, and
people learn about them throughout their lives, including in the home, at
school, and through the media. All these elements enforce specific roles and
behavioral patterns on every member of society. While gender norms,
which are frequently restricted to ideas of masculinity and femininity,
change throughout time, they are typically founded on a heteronormative
order, which holds that there are two sexes (or genders) and that these two
groups of people are attracted to one another. People who don't seem to fit
this rigid gender conception often encounter violence, discrimination, and
marginalization (Council of Europe, 2020).
Gender Studies offers multidisciplinary courses that examine how
gender, specifically femininity and masculinity, are created and understood
across historical, cultural, and social formations. Human decisions,
circumstances, and experiences are influenced by gender. Systems of law,
politics, economy, culture, and kinship are all strongly gender-based. In
many domains, a thorough grasp of gender dynamics, patterns, and biases
can improve scope and accuracy. Gender awareness is advantageous to
people, groups, and organizations(University of Northern Colorado, 2022).
Everything is gendered, starting with the items of clothing we wear, the
places where we live, the occupations we have, and the languages we use.
Our sociocultural and economic position in society is greatly influenced by
this incorporation of our daily activities and habits. Therefore, gender
studies is a study of the production, reproduction, and resistance to social
norms that result in inequalities based on gender ( Bois State University,
n.d).
The study of gender and society aims to understand how society and
culture influence our idea of what it means to be a man or a woman in
various contexts (Fort Hays State University, 2022). It explores how the
norms around femininity and masculinity are created and enforced by those
in power — and how they affect how we view ourselves and each other
(Fort Hays State University, 2022)
B. What is sex?
The terms "sex" and "gender" are frequently used interchangeably in
everyday conversation. But there is a distinction between these two
phrases (Perzanowski, et al., 2020).
Sex refers to “the different biological and physiological characteristics
of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes,
hormones, etc.” (World Health Organization/WHO, n.d).
Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define
humans as female or male. These sets of biological characteristics are not
mutually exclusive, as there are individuals who possess both, but these
characteristics tend to differentiate humans as females or males.” (Council
of Europe, n.d).
A person’s sex refers to their physical characteristics, such as male,
female, and intersex. Gender is a separate concept that refers to their
personal gender identity — for example, whether they identify as a man or a
woman. While some people’s gender identity matches their sex, this isn’t
always the case. If a person’s gender identity doesn’t align with their sex,
they might identify as nonbinary or transgender.
Sex refers to the biological aspects of maleness and femaleness. This is
determined by your hormones and secondary sex characteristics, like your
genitals. The genes on your chromosomes determine your physical
characteristics. Sex labels are assigned at birth based on how doctors have
historically labeled specific characteristics.
 Sex is a biological categorization based primarily on reproductive
potential, whereas gender is the social elaboration of biological sex.
We tend to think of sex as biological or the result of nature and gender
as social or the result of nurture.
Three main categories of sex:
1. Male: a person with XY chromosomes and male genitalia
2. Female: a person with XX chromosomes and female genitalia
3. Intersex: a person with differences in sexual development, meaning they
have natural variations in typically male and female characteristics, such as
hormones, genitals, and chromosomes. Millions of people have sexual
characteristics that don’t neatly fit into society’s understanding of “male” or
“female,” including people who were assigned male or female at birth.
C. What do we mean by gender?
Gender refers to "the socially constructed characteristics of women and
men – such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of
women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed.
.” (World Health Organization/WHO, n.d).
Gender refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with
being female and male and to the relationships between women and men
and girls and boys, as well as to the relations between women and those
between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially
constructed and are learned through socialization processes. (Council of
Europe, n.d).
Gender is a personal identity. It refers to the roles, norms, and relationships
associated with masculinity and femininity. Gender expectations vary
between societies and can change over time. Many people feel that their
sex and gender are aligned — for example, when someone who was
assigned female at birth (AFAB) identifies as a woman. People who feel their
sex doesn’t align with their gender may identify as transgender (trans for
short) or nonbinary.
Gender builds on biological sex, but it exaggerates biological difference, and
it carries biological difference into domains in which it is completely
irrelevant. Ex. why women should have red toenails and men should not.
D. The difference between sex and gender:
Gender is the social elaboration of biological sex, whereas sex is a
biological classification that is based primarily on reproductive capacity. It is
not that surprising that gender is strongly entwined with social norms for
heterosexual marriage and the upbringing of any offspring. Gender draws
on biological sex and exaggerates biological differences. For instance, there
is no biological justification for why males shouldn't have red toenails and
women shouldn't (https://web.stanford.edu).
Other definitions and general differences between the terms ( Council of
Europe 2016)
SEX GENDER

· refers to biological
· is a social, psychological and cultural
differences between males
construct and it is developed in the process of
and females (e.g. gonads,
socialization.
sexual organs,
chromosomes, hormones). · Societies create norms and expectations
related to gender, and these are learned in the
· Women can menstruate
family, at school, through the media.
while men cannot.
· Gender is both an analytical category – a
· Men have testicles while
way of thinking about how identities are
women do not.
constructed – and a political idea which
· Women have developed addresses the distribution of power in society.
breasts that are usually
· is not necessarily defined by biological sex:
capable of lactating
a person’s gender may or may not correspond
(producing milk) while men
to their biological sex.
have not.
· Gender is more about identity and how we
· Men generally have bigger
feel about ourselves. People may self-identify
bones than women.
as male, female, transgender, other or none
· is usually assigned at (indeterminate/unspecified).
birth (there are examples
· Gender is deeply personal to every
when it is assigned later,
individual: some people recognize their gender
when sex characteristics do
identity early in childhood, and some only later
not clearly indicate the sex
on.
of the baby, for example in
the case of ‘intersex’
· Gender is something we express (gender
people).
expression), sometimes intentionally, and
· can be changed: in the sometimes without thinking. We communicate
case of transsexual people, our gender in a number of ways, for example
who are born with the sex by the way we dress, the way we move, our
characteristics of one sex hair style, and the way we interact with others.
and gender identity of the
· In most countries, women earn significantly
other, sex reassignment
less than men.
surgeries are performed.
This includes a change of · In some countries, the tobacco industry
sex organs and the targets women by “feminizing” cigarettes
administration of hormones. packaging for certain brands (small “purse”
packs that resemble cosmetics and evoke
slimness, the use of “feminine” colors, such as
pink).
· In most countries of the world, women do
more housework than men.
· In some countries, the law allows people to
marry a partner of the same sex; in other
countries this is not allowed.