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Gender Identity and Social Structures Essay examples

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Gender Identity and Social Structures

What is meant by identity? Firstly this essay is going to explore what is meant by identity. Identity is made up of individual characteristics by which a person is known. Internal factors such as physical appearance, personality, mental ability and sex would have an effect on a person’s identity. Then there are the external factors such as family, class, religion, culture, occupation and nationality which would influence one’s identity. Then, even beyond all these personal and social structures, societal opinions about gender, race, culture, ethnicity and nationality must have an impact on identity.

Many attributes of identity are formed from childhood experience, adolescence, early …show more content…

It is still very rare to find men wearing make-up unless they are cross dressing.

There is also genetic evidence which can be used to differentiate between men and women. This is done with a DNA test, which in women would present two X chromosomes and in men one X and one Y chromosome. Generally people would only have two sex chromosomes, but on the rare occasion there have been people with more than two, and in these cases they could be defined either way, male or female.

There are many aspects to identity, and there are several dimensions to each of these aspects. Culturally, where we come from, different religions, beliefs and values that we may have. Class, our economic background, education and the lifestyle we have. Occupation and Income. Life experience and upbringing. Change. Biology and Genetics. Society. All the factors that make up a person’s identity are so complex and often intertwined, it is impossible to any one of them, but all are ever changing and always developing, which is why the identity of a person is always changing and forming.

In what ways can occupation and employment affect identity?

Occupation plays a great role in who we are. In earlier times it was men who went out to work and were the sole breadwinners, while women stayed at home to care for their children and the home. In more recent times, although men are generally the primary breadwinners, there are a significant number of women who are in paid employment. Many women go

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