Doing Gender By West And Zimmerman Analysis

According to the Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences of Monash University, “Gender describes the characteristics that a society or culture delineates as masculine or feminine.” (Nobelius, Ann-Marrie, med.monash.edu.au). Sex, says Ann-Maree,“ refers to biological differences; chromosomes, hormonal profiles, internal and external sex organs” (med.monash.edu.au). Sometimes people use these terms interchangeably. Sex has to do with you being biologically male or female, and gender has to do with being masculine, or feminine and is determined by society depending in the culture. The reason these terms are often mistaken is because, usually, if one is born male they are assigned a masculine role in society, and there is a difference in expectations with the masculine and feminine roles. These genders were created by society. There are cases where neither roles apply for a group of people or individuals. These ideals of gender roles being assigned are being challenged by individuals. For example a family member of mine is one of the individuals whom the

Gender is a complex socially constructed idea. Often people interchangeably use gender to refer to someone’s sex. This is not the case. Sex is the biological characteristics that makes someone a male, female or intersex. Gender however is made up of expression, identity, and sexual orientation. Gender identity is how one views themselves such as a woman, man or transgender. Gender identity does not correspond to the sex of that person. Gender expression is how one expresses their gender identity. This could be through a masculine , feminine or androgynous expression. In Western societies, although there has been a push for change in our gender system, the gender system as been a binary system. This binary system only believes that there are

Similar to race and ethnicity, sex and gender are terms that can sometimes be confused. Sex “refers to physical or physiological differences between males and females” and gender “refers to social or cultural distinctions with being male or female.” A person’s sex relates strictly to biological factors, while a person’s gender relates to characteristics that are identified as masculine or feminine in society.

Gender can sometimes be seen as biological characteristics humans have, when in fact it is the social characteristic ones society deems either masculine or feminine. Sex, on the other hand, is the biological differences in humans, for example, hormones and sex organs. People usually play gender roles in society, otherwise known as gender ideology. Gender ideology is when men and women have certain attitudes regarding their ‘fixed’ roles, responsibilities and rights. Throughout history men and women have been socialized to play these expected roles that have been placed on them due to their sex. In my own personal life I have encountered many instances where I have been socialized in relation to sex and gender.

In the United States of America, genders are organized into two categories, male and female. According to Oxford Dictionary, gender is defined as, “the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones).” The “sex” of a person includes the physical characteristics, like genitals or sex chromosomes. Gender expectations and norms have been taught since birth; the family, the media, peers, and religion are examples of where these beliefs are learned. Another way gender norms are taught is through separated colors, toys, and clothes for male and female. There are specific gender roles for males and females. Men are seen as dominant and in charge,

How one thinks of themselves as a man or woman encompasses the crucial core of gender identity. The terms sex and gender are often used synonymously but have different meanings. Sex refers to a person’s biological traits between men and women. According to the Carolyn Hannan, the biological traits are not mutually exclusive as there are individuals who possess both, but these traits tend to differentiate humans as male and female. In contrast, the concept of gender is a way to identify oneself psychologically and socially. The term gender defined by the APA, American Psychological Association, refers to the “attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex.”. Therefore gender is acquired through psychological, cultural, and social means to help promote and mold gender identity.

Many people confuse the definition of gender and sex. “Gender, on the other hand, refers to the meanings, values, and characteristics that people ascribe to different sexes. Sex is a biological concept, determined on the basis of individual 's primary sex characteristics.” (Blackstone) Society gives social cues on the appropriate behavior for each sex. For example, women are to exert more feminine traits such as dependent, emotional, passive, innocent, nurturing, and/ or self-critical. On the other hand, men are to behave more masculine such as

Firstly, this essay will examine the fundamental concept of gender. According to West and Zimmerman (1987), the concept of doing gender is all about the routine people accomplish in their everyday lives. However, gender is not about what a person is, but it is something a person does in the process of interacting with others. West and Zimmerman (1987) argue that gender is something we do everyday, all the time, and it is an ongoing activity, so we cannot stop doing it. However, people do gender knowing that they will judge by other. By this they have been held accountable for their gender performances. Deutsch (2007) mentioned that doing gender has had an impact on the study of gender relations. However, this concept has social interactions

Sex alludes to an individual's natural status and is commonly ordered as male, female, or intersex (i.e., atypical blends of highlights that as a rule recognize male from female). Intersex refers to an assortment of conditions whereby an individual has attributes of both male and female genders. There are various pointers of organic sex, including sex chromosomes, gonads, interior conceptive organs, and outer genitalia. An individual's sex, as dictated by his or her science, does not generally compare with his or her sexual orientation. Hence, the terms sex and sex are not compatible. Gender alludes to the demeanor, sentiments, and practices that a given society partners with an individual's organic sex. Conduct that is good with social desires

Gender is the social roles based on the sex of the person; “Gender refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person 's biological sex. Behavior that is compatible with cultural

Gender differences are biologically constructed. We are born either as male or female. Without going any further these statements appear normal and one can take the view that this is the general assumption. What then is sex? Is there a difference between sex and gender? Distinctions between sex and gender have been made by social scientists from the feminist movement of 1970’s, when feminists argued that the traditional views of masculinity and femininity often led to the disempowerment of women. Ann Oakley (1972) in particular, set the stage for the socialization explorations of gender identity (Abbott 2005).

Many people confuse the meaning of the words gender and sex. Many believe they mean the same thing, but that is not the case. The word gender refers to the social, cultural, and behavioral characteristic of a female or

In a culture that often uses the terms “sex” and “gender” synonymously, it’s important to recognize the difference between the two. In West and Zimmerman’s article, “Doing Gender,” they make this distinction. Sex is defined as “biology: anatomy, hormones, and physiology,” and gender is “an achieved status: that which is constructed through psychological, cultural, and social means” (West and Zimmerman; 125). Michael Kimmel, the author of The Gendered Society and a sociologist at Stony Brook University in New York, further defines gender as “[referring] to the meanings that are attached to [the differences between men and women] within a culture…’gender’ is masculinity and femininity—what it means to be a man or a woman” (Kimmel; 3). In addition to these definitions of gender, gender also serves to express the universal inequalities between men and women in their respective cultures, such as inequalities in power and access to resources. However, both of these understandings of sex and gender perpetuate the idea that individuals are categorized into binary categories. Sex is divided into being biologically male or biologically female, while gender is divided into being a man or a woman.

“Sex refers to a person 's biological status and is typically categorized as male, female or intersex. There are a number of indicators of biological sex, including sex chromosomes, gonads, internal reproductive organs and external genitalia” (Anon 2012). Sex is typically categorized by either male or female. Your sex is your sex and there isn 't much you can do to change that. We are unable to alter our genetic makeup which has a great deal to do with our sex. Every individual is either a male or a female but your gender is somewhat up to you. Your gender can vary and change over time. It could have a different meaning depending on the culture, a geographic location, or even a specific group of individuals. “Gender refers to the

For the majority of people, it is understood before high school what the difference between sex and gender is. Sex refers to the biological differences at birth amongst males and females, but in today’s society the definition of gender is not so black and white. While the dictionary still incorrectly defines gender as, “the properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles” the current meaning and proper definition of the word gender has evolved (”Gender”). Breaking free from the constraints placed by society and the obsolete dictionary definition, this word has expanded and taken on an entirely new meaning that appropriately corresponds with the way it is presently being used and interpreted. The definition