Sociology SOC-R 320 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Gender Variance, Gender Role, Femininity
27 Apr 2016
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People believe gender is based on genitals (but we can"t usually see others" genitals, so we rely on secondary sex characteristics) Can be tough from distance, so rely on other clues. Culture: dress (if emphasizes or exaggerates secondary sex characteristics, it"s usually female in our culture) Sex: biologically male or female, based on genetic and anatomical sex. Genetic sex: chromosomal and hormonal sex characteristics (xx, xy; mostly estrogen or testosterone) Anatomical sex: physical sex (gonads, uterus, vulva, vagina, penis) Gender: relates to femininity or masculinity (social/cultural characteristics associated with biological sex) Assigned gender: gender given by others, usually at birth. Gender identity: person"s internal sense of being male or female. Gender roles: attitudes, behaviors, rights, and responsibilities that culture associates with each sex. Gender-role stereotype: rigidly held, oversimplified, overgeneralized belief about how each gender should behave. Gender-role attitude: beliefs a person has about him/herself and others regarding appropriate male/female personality traits and activities.
