SOCA02H3 Lecture : SOCA02
Document Summary
Intersexed: babies born with ambiguous genitals due to hormone imbalance in the womb or other causes. Babies 1st develop vague sense of gender at the age 1. Once social learning of the gender takes hold it is very difficult to undo. Theories of gender: essentialism: sociologists views gender as a part of the nature vs essence of a person"s genetic makeup. Gender differences are viewed as a reflection of biological differences between the sexes: social constructionism: feminists, conflict and symbolic interactionists see gender differences as a reflection of the difference social positions held by men and women. It views gender as constructed by social structure and culture. She rejects her mother for thinking that she had cut off her penis and desires her father. She identifies with her mother when she realizes she"ll never have a penis. Wish for penis is translated into the desire to have children.