Gender and Sexuality
Introduction
Cross cultural constructions of gender
suggest that it is not rooted in biology,
but is rather a social construction
Topics of Discussion
Distinction between “sex” and
“gender”
Third Genders
Beauty Standards
Gender Stratification
“Sex” versus “Gender”
“Sex” refers to the biological fact
of being male or female
“Sex” is related to the reproductive
organs an individual has
“Gender” refers to the cultural
significance a given society places on
the biological facts of sex
Some feminists question even the
biological distinction and the notion
that there are two (and only two)
distinct sexes
Intersexuality
Sex/Gender and Status
Anthropologists first became
interested in this question with the rise
of feminist thought in anthropology
They sought to challenge the notion
that women are “naturally” inferior to
men
“Third Genders”