Gender And Sexuality : What The Standards Of Public Education?

Gender can be defined as “sex roles” which are conditions that one considers to be for men or women. People tends to mistake it with sex or thinks that they are both the same. We discussed about the patterns of gender which how the authors of The Kaleidoscope of Gender describes it as “regularized, prepackaged ways of thinking, feeling, and acting” (Spade and Valentino,2017). It becomes an identity for us. We believe that there is and can only be two genders, being masculine for men and feminine for women. These roles has been forced onto us since birth: blue for boys, and pink for girls. You can see the roles being push onto a person throughout one’s life, but we don’t notice it since it’s “normal” to us.

This week’s materials have many commonalities found throughout the text, which challenges the representation of gender identity in last week’s materials. One of the similarities found throughout this week’s materials is that gender is complex. Professor Davis’s lecture “Sex & Gender – It’s Complicated” defines “Binary gender: man or women, female or male, and masculine and feminine. Two distinct categories” (slide 5). The Western society mostly see gender as binary, black and white. However, Baird writes in “Transgender: ‘as the stars in the sky’” that “most of us are culturally heavily conditioned to categorize sex and gender in this binary, dimorphic way. But actually, life and nature are a lot more complex than that” (pg 113). Professor Davis exemplifies binary gender in the Western culture using public restroom as an example. She explains that an “individual must identify themselves with a stick figure either with a dress or pants as female or male.” However, Baird statistically illustrates the biological complexity of gender. For example, Baird states “Intersexual, popularly referred to as ‘hermaphrodites,’ are usually born with genitals somewhere between male and female – rarely with two complete sets as in myth. The number of such birth is more common than most people realize, with the highest estimates in the US at four percent of births. That’s some ten million children, annually” (pg 117). Professor Davis concludes the example of public restroom as a clear cut

The stereotypical labeling of genders can determine one person’s outlook on life. The judgment can make one feel like there is a set rubric to follow in order to remain in the lines regarding which gender they belong to. Such influences from peers or partners can alter

The concept of gender is not as cut and dry as you might think. The term gender is often used incorrectly as a synonym for our biological sex. Gender is more of a predetermined set of ideas and characteristics used in identifying socially acceptable behaviors and appearances for the sexes. It is not determined by the biological sex of the person. From an early age we begin to develop ideas of what it means to be male or female by observing others. Gender falls on a spectrum from masculine to feminine with many combinations in between. Gender expression and gender identity are also not the same thing. Gender expression is not related directly to how a person perceives their gender,

This paper examines the social aspects of the sexual identity in America, illustrating how sexual identities have progressed, evolved, and transformed. Social categories have been created as a tool used for social divide and control, inadvertently creating stereotypical facts and discriminatory opinions on sexes; while also helping create social and welcoming communities, whose goals are to diminish ideals such as those. Concluding, this paper will have explained the dichotomous categories of different sexualities and the divides within them. The already established sexual divide leaves no room for those stuck in the in between of today's society, especially one as progressive as America’s. Derived from the examples giving, this paper argues

Sex and gender play a big part in american society today and are often misconstrued. These two topics have become progressive as people are starting to express their gender and sexuality in ways other than what is and has been considered the norm. Many people believe that sexuality and gender are synonymous with one another. Gender is socially constructed while sex is biologically determined. In society’s past, Americans often strayed away from discussing controversial topics, but with the rise of different ways of addressing people, it is deemed more important to understand. Along with the blurred lines of gender and sex comes sexuality, who someone is attracted to sexually. When people stray from society’s heteronormative mindset, they are often faced with many more challenges than the average hetero man or woman. People often have the preconceived notion that if something does not concern them, then they should not be involved in it. A person who could be your neighbor, co worker, or even child, may have to deal with the troubles of people confusing their gender identity with their sex. While also facing challenges that deal with the sex of the person they choose to love. Learning the difference between gender and sexuality will open the eyes of many people and see how the two are different but relate to one another very much.

Traditionally speaking, most people view sex and gender as interchangeable, synonymous, and biological. As more studies and research are done, more professionals are realizing the vital difference between the two terms. Sex, according to sociologist Doctor Zuleyka Zevallos, is the “biological traits that societies use to assign people into the category of either male or female, whether it be through a focus on chromosomes, genitalia, or some other physical ascription”. She goes on to say that the definition of gender is “the cultural meanings attached to men and women’s roles; and how individuals understand their identities including, but not limited to, being a man, woman, transgender, intersex, gender queer, and other gender identities” (Zeyallos, 2014). We see sex as something we are assigned at birth due to the body parts we are born with, and we see gender as the way one identifies with their assigned sex. In the majority of cases, assigned sex and gender identity line up, but less often it does not. In these cases, we see individuals who are transgender, gender queer, gender fluid, and more. More people are coming forward about these different ways they are experiencing gender, so many people assume these ways of experiencing gender are new.

When England came out of the Middle Ages and entered the Early Modern era, the change served as a revival for the country. With a woman now on England’s throne, the ability to play with the idea of gender was a necessity, and thus influenced society as a whole. Like many aspects of the period, the presentation of gender and sexuality began to change with the rest of England’s Early Modern era. Conversely, gender play, and even cross-dressing, in this era were both considered alternatives that had to be contained for it disrupted England’s to social standards. Therefore, the structure of gender roles was concrete and strict, for its intention was used to keep the social order to remain in balanced and keep the general public functioning as it had for many years prior to the time.

The vast pace and majority of changes that are happening in the modern world regarding gender norms and sexuality change the role of a teacher; it becomes more difficult and complex, but it also makes the role of the teacher something more rewarding to become involved in (Malaguzzi, 1994, p. 2). In an educational setting, a teacher needs to remain value neutral. She cannot let her own opinions and beliefs about sexuality and gender norms influence her pedagogy, instead, a teacher needs to perceive the world through the eyes of a child and create a quality, impartial and inclusive environment where students can practice a state of emotional wellbeing and find their identity in a safe space (Robson, 2004, p. 214; Siraj-Blatchford & Clarke, 2004, p. 25).

During this study I have had the privilege of looking into a student's life on the University of Northern Colorado campus and their overall reaction to the political climate on campus and the social interactions with the Gender and Sexuality Center that is located on campus. One of the main people that I have focused on is named Sergio Munoz who identifies as Gay in the spectrum of sexuality and also as a student of color. His experiences is a fresh breath of air that can be too much to take, along side with him is his friend Michelle Jackson who in this journey gives an interesting point of view when it comes to being straight, but interacting solely inside

Over the last two decades or so, the idea of queerness is one that has been utilized and considered by individuals and communities of marginalized sexualities and genders. The concept is one that has attempted to broaden and deconstruct traditional notions of gender and sexuality in order to include all of their incarnations as valid experiences and identities. Queerness endeavors to include all of those who feel they are a part of it yet, seemingly, not everyone can be queer without changing the very nature of queerness. Or can they? Queerness is a concept which resists borders and structure yet it seems as though there must be certain commonalities among all queer

The United States has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’S) compared to other developed countries (Darroch, Singh, Frost, 2001). There are several arguments when it comes to sexual education being taught in school systems. Many parents fear their student will learn too much at young age and won’t know how often sexual education is being discussed. Children in today’s society are going through puberty at young ages and obviously waiting years to become married. According to Health News (2009), students in the United States 12 years of age had already participated in vaginal intercourse by 12%, 7.9% of 12 year old students participated in oral sex, and 6.5% participated in anal sex. The statistics just mentioned are very startling! Teenagers becoming sexually active by age 14 are at a higher risk of having multiple sex partners throughout their lifetime. A study found about 8 in 10 males and 7 in 10 females had become sexually active by age 19 (Guttmacher, 1981). Another survey proved 64% of males and 44% of females were sexually active by their 19th birthday. By 15 years of age, 7 in 10 males and 5 in 10 females reported having sexual intercourse (Masserman & Uribe, 1989). Proper condom use is important to be taught to students. Many sexually active teens don’t know how to properly use condoms. Proper condom application will prevent the risk of unwanted teenage pregnancy, spread of sexually

I never take part in an open discussion about gay, transgender, and other types of sexual orientation. The only public discussion about this matter that I am used to is the unpleasant comment of my parents ' or my Pastor’s comments. I remember thinking that is going to be so strange to talk about sexual orientation in class. However, I cannot deny that I learn a lot from the subject in class. I receive a kind of knowledge that I didn 't expect. Being part of the class discussions and reading a book by Lauren Myracle open my eyes in many ways, which I will explain later on. I was surprised to find out that the world is not so much black and white anymore. Of course, I am not saying that I didn 't know about lesbian and gay people before. I am saying that other types of families are becoming more and more popular around the world. Believe me, I know that homosexual people are everywhere and they are normal people like us. They are people with a quest to make the world know that they are “normal” like every on else. Let me explain what I learn.

In “Hookers at the Point,” the issues of gender and sexuality clearly play an important role in prostitution. Prostitution is one of the most controversial and complex subjects in many parts of the world. Some feminist theorists believe that prostitution is a form of violence against females and others believe is a way for females to be in control of their sexuality. According to sociologist Susie Jacobs, who explores the link between sexuality and gender control, “women’s sexuality is regulated in most or all societies and regulation is maintained through the legal sphere, social constraints and punishments” (Jacobs, 2014). Thus, the idea of selling sex is considered linked to a system of male power that represents “the absolute embodiment of patriarchal man privilege” (Kesler, 2002). This cultural stereotype of prostitutes is complicated because the motivation behind prostitution varies.

Before I was born into this hectic society, I was assigned the specific gender of “female” based solely on the genitals I possessed. From then on, I was instructed and socialized by the ones I love and trust how to dress, love, carry myself, and act amongst others solely based off my gender assignment. My family was always trying to put me in cute dresses and put all sorts of bows in my hair. I remember them telling me, “You are going to make a man very happy one day,” or “Just wait till you get married to the man of your dreams.” This type of heterosexual enforcement continued to be encouraged in church and throughout the media by socializing and teaching me to believe that one day I would find one man that I would marry and continue to pass on the cycle of heterosexual socialization to my children. Due to all of this exposure, heterosexuality became natural and thus, normal to me; however, this type of heterosexual socialization and heteronormativity is often unrealistic to those who desire a different relationship or family, causing them to feel excluded by a majority of society. This kind of exclusion has made people realize that this type of socialization is dangerous because it makes those who do not fit into this idealistic society feel trapped. It is also seen as unnecessary due to the immense amount of pressure it creates on everyone to live up to society’s expectations and is simply inconsistent with today’s diverse social and familial formations that people