eth125_r8_gender_sex

Associate Program Material                              

 

Gender and Sex Worksheet

 

Answer the following questions in 50 to 150 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use.

 

·         What is gender? What is sex in biological terms? Are gender and sex the same thing? Explain why or why not?

 

There is a difference between gender and sex. Gender is how a person identifies there self (i.e. man or woman). Sex is what is actually on the body (i.e. penis or vagina). If there is a transsexual who has a penis but identifies their self as a woman, their gender is woman, but their sex is a man.

 

·         How do gender and sex contribute to the concepts and constructions of masculinity and femininity?

 

I think that as a guy, the media portrays that we need to be tough, act tough, not cry, and dress a certain way. I see lots of guys doing this because they think that's what they need to do. I also see girls being high-maintenance, and dressing a certain way. I think that a transsexual may have a hard time being masculine or feminine depending on how they identify themselves.

 

·         Do our concepts of gender and sex contribute to the ways we embrace gender and sex in diversity?

 

Yes our concepts of gender and sex contribute to the ways we embrace gender and sex in diversity. There are many things that guys do that girls don't and vice versa. For example, guys are expected to as a girl out, not the other way around. Girls go to the bathroom together, but if guys did that it might seem weird. Girls and guys act a certain way in society depending on how they identify across all cultures.

 

·         Do our concepts of gender and sex contribute to our understanding of sexual orientation? Explain.

 

We are raised in a society where a guy marries a girl, not two guys or two girls getting married. We are also raised to think that homosexuals act or look a certain way. These concepts are portrayed to us through the media and other people. They are not always true because everybody is different and everybody is their own person. A gay guy doesn't have to have gelled hair and wear tight pants, he can a biker, construction worker, or anything, so I think our concepts on sexual orientation can be a little skewed at times.