WSTA01H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Sex Assignment, Gender Identity, Dominant Ideology
14 Oct 2018
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Sept 28th 2015
Social and Historical Constructions of Gender
What is gender identity?
Gender identity: one’s internal and individual concept of self as a man(boy), a woman(girl), blend of
both or neither- how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender
identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth. Gender identity can be fixed over a
lifetime or it can be fluid and change.
Cis gender: someone whose gender identity matches their assigned sex
Trans: someone whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex
• How someone feels about themselves
• Personal introspection
• Female = biological
• Feminine = characteristics and expression of person identity
• Woman = personal identity
How is it similar and different from gender expression?
Gender Expression: how one publically presents their gender usually express through behaviour,
clothing, haircut or voice and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviour and
characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine. Gender expression can
remain fixed over a lifetime, or, it can be fluid and change.
• Someone might identify themselves as a gender but may not express themselves as such.
• Gender expression include masculinity and femininity
Hegemonic Masculinity and Hegemonic Femininity
• Ideal gender roles are often described as hegemonic
Key aspects of the theory of cultural hegemony:
• Ruling groups ideology ( beliefs, norm, values, etc.) becomes dominant ideology
• Dominant ideology becomes accepted as cultural norm (accepted as normal and natural)
• Maintains status quo through self-regulation and social regulation
• Multiple forces
• Consequences if you do not abide by cultural norm Ex. Letting your son wear a dress to school,
keeping hair untamed,
