ANTHROP 1AA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Judith Butler, American Anthropologist, Margaret Mead

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHROP 1AA3
• Professor: Karen Mc Garry

Document Summary

Refers to biological distinctions such as the chromosomal, hormonal, or physical differences between males and females. In our society, we have historically perceived there to be two sexes. The observable physical characteristics that distinguish the two" kinds of human beings, males and females, required for reproduction. Secondary characteristics - physical differences such as height, voice octaves. Affects 1/500 males (many do not show symptoms. Xxy conditions in which males have an extra x chromosome. Condition where both male and female reproductive organs exist. Culturally constructed form of identity that consists of the roles people are expected to. Clothes, colours, hairstyles, acitivies, earrings/jewelry, body language, occupations, behavior (boys don"t cry). Studied gender in papua new guinea in 1930s among the arapesh, the. First to show that gender is culturally constructed. Uncritical assumptions about the naturalness of gender led to gender-biased research like androcentrism (a common problem in the 1960"s and 1970"s)