SOCL 2001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Millenarianism, Patrilineality, Nuclear Family
Document Summary
Sex refers to our biological makeup and role in reproduction. Gender refers to the expected behaviors and dispositions that society assigns to members of each sex. Although sex is biologically determined, gender is not. Some think that gender is determined, but, it is dictated by traditional societal values. Biological essentialism is attributing all male and female difference in relation to biology or the natural order of things. Examples of this include the stereotypical activities of men hunting, and working while women cook, and take care of children. Archaeological and anthropological studies show that women produced more food than men. With the exception of taking care of infants, nothing is considered as men"s work or women"s work. Others look at testosterone and the role it plays in male and female differences. A resulting fetus has the ability to develop into a male or female. The fetus is determined to develop into a female by default.
