The Meanings of Gender and Sexuality
Cultural ideas of what it means to be “male” or “female” have shifted drastically over time, as illustrated by the drastic shifts countries that champion equality have recently made. Hunter-gatherer society is no longer the norm, and women are no longer expected to remain at home while men work. Adding to the discussion, Psychology in Everyday Life’s fourth chapter discusses human gender and sexuality. To start, the chapter begins by stating that cultural ideas about gender have changed over time. A story is recounted from 1972 in which a “bright, warm, enthusiastic woman” who was about to receive her Ph.D. in developmental psychology was rejected from her potential job because the chancellor determined …show more content…
One of these categories, which prevails even before a child is born is the quintessential “boy or girl” question. Anatomy, biological status, chromosomes and sex are factors that most individuals feel defines their gender, which is the cultural expectation of what it means to be male or female. In continuation, the chapter continues by mentioning that men and women share 45/46 chromosomes, and are alike to one another in most ways. Males and females share striking similarities, and the chapter delves into this factor by stating that, “Our ‘opposite’ sex, is, in reality, our very similar sex.” This isn’t, however, to suggest that men and women are the same. Women, for example, are more likely to be verbally abusive, whereas men are more likely to be physically abusive. The chapter continues by discussing that in positions of leadership, men exhibit more directive behavior, whereas women are more democratic and accepting of outside input. Women have a tendency to focus on people, whereas men have a tendency to focus on objectives. When either gender has a desire to be better understood, both will typically seek a female’s assistance. By age 50, however, this gap narrows as men become more empathetic and women become more …show more content…
Gender roles are a cultural factor that suggests men and women should act one way or another based on their biological sex. In some countries, such as India, over 80% of the population believes men should have priority over women when it comes to getting a job during hard times. In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to vote. Children cling to the idea that there are two types of people, and that each “type” has a set of attributes specific to them. Gender roles are not, however, universal, as differing countries and cultures have drastically different ideas as far as gender roles are
Cultural ideas of what it means to be “male” or “female” have shifted drastically over time, as illustrated by the drastic shifts countries that champion equality have recently made. Hunter-gatherer society is no longer the norm, and women are no longer expected to remain at home while men work. Adding to the discussion, Psychology in Everyday Life’s fourth chapter discusses human gender and sexuality. To start, the chapter begins by stating that cultural ideas about gender have changed over time. A story is recounted from 1972 in which a “bright, warm, enthusiastic woman” who was about to receive her Ph.D. in developmental psychology was rejected from her potential job because the chancellor determined …show more content…
One of these categories, which prevails even before a child is born is the quintessential “boy or girl” question. Anatomy, biological status, chromosomes and sex are factors that most individuals feel defines their gender, which is the cultural expectation of what it means to be male or female. In continuation, the chapter continues by mentioning that men and women share 45/46 chromosomes, and are alike to one another in most ways. Males and females share striking similarities, and the chapter delves into this factor by stating that, “Our ‘opposite’ sex, is, in reality, our very similar sex.” This isn’t, however, to suggest that men and women are the same. Women, for example, are more likely to be verbally abusive, whereas men are more likely to be physically abusive. The chapter continues by discussing that in positions of leadership, men exhibit more directive behavior, whereas women are more democratic and accepting of outside input. Women have a tendency to focus on people, whereas men have a tendency to focus on objectives. When either gender has a desire to be better understood, both will typically seek a female’s assistance. By age 50, however, this gap narrows as men become more empathetic and women become more …show more content…
Gender roles are a cultural factor that suggests men and women should act one way or another based on their biological sex. In some countries, such as India, over 80% of the population believes men should have priority over women when it comes to getting a job during hard times. In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to vote. Children cling to the idea that there are two types of people, and that each “type” has a set of attributes specific to them. Gender roles are not, however, universal, as differing countries and cultures have drastically different ideas as far as gender roles are