SOCIOL 1Z03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Binary Opposition, Sex Organ, Cisgender

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCIOL 1Z03
• Professor: Lina Samuel

Document Summary

Sex and gender: sex is rooted in biology that is, the term refers to our physical bodies, whereby we distinguish between female and male. Gender, then, refers to the socially constructed characteristics associated with girls and boys, women and men what we call masculinity and femininity sex is understood as a binary opposition between male and female, gender is understood as a binary opposition between masculinity and femininity. Sex and gender are not distinct; rather, they are intertwined. Our beliefs about gender affect what kinds of knowledge scientists produce about sex in the first place . As a result, while there may be dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, in reality there are multiple masculinities and femininities. Emphasized femininity: emphasized femininity is based on women"s compliance with their subordination to men and is oriented to obliging men"s interests and desires, characteristics associated with emphasized femininity include supportiveness, enthusiasm and sexual attractiveness .