Gender And Gender Identity And Development - 1303 Words

As kids, one saw the other children as either a girl or a boy. Their conclusion of the â€Å"sex† of their siblings and classmates came from the predetermined characteristics of what a typical male and female are to look like and act like. One’s judgment of this is based on the classic understanding and characteristics that have been repeatedly taught to them throughout the years. However, gender identity and development is something that has been both misunderstood and misconstrued by people for quite some time. The differences between â€Å"gender† and â€Å"sex† is quite vast. According to John Carl: Gender is defined as the personal traits and position in society connected with being male or female. For instance, wearing high heels is associated with the female gender, while wearing combat boots is associated with the male gender. Gender is different from sex because sex refers strictly to the biological makeup of a male or female. To simplify, â€Å"sex† is what we are born as, it is the factor that results from conception and prenatal development. However, â€Å"gender† is what one is able to identify themselves as. One’s gender is how they are developed due to social influences, both from upbringing and society. The idea of gender identity occurs through developmental factors of one’s life. Throughout life, one’s influences, from things such as physical development, play, clothing, family dynamics, and cultural and societal factors, play a major part in how they identify themselves and howShow MoreRelatedInfluence Of Cognitive Development On Gender Identity3129 Words   |  13 PagesAbstract The influence of cognitive development to a modern comprehension of gender identity is examined. Cognitive theories in the context of human development are assessed and examples are presented to provide empirical support. These theories surround early gender development with aspects concentrated specifically during Middle Childhood to illustrate how gender identity is perceived in children ages 5 -11. The process of normal and abnormal gender identity in Middle Childhood are both examinedRead MoreThe Importance of Biological Factors in the Development of Gender Identity766 Words   |  4 PagesThe Importance of Biological Factors in the Development of Gender Identity The biosocial theory suggests that gender identity develops as a result of the obvious biological differences between boys and girls and the hormonal differences between the sexes which can be observed in the foetus from about six weeks (Durkin, 1995). Supporting evidence has been found through animal studies, such as that by Young, Goy and Phoenix (1964) who gave testosterone to pregnant monkeysRead MoreEssay on Impact the Development of Sexual and Gender Identity2122 Words   |  9 PagesImpact the Development of Sexual and Gender Identity Introduction It is hard for me to pinpoint the beginning of my sexual awareness. Throughout my rearing, questions about sex were never brought to my parents. However, my parents, family, media, social/educational, past relationships and religious upbringing had an impacted on the development of my sexual and gender identity. Looking back over my life, I realize my initial ideas and influences about my sexual and gender identity developedRead MoreThe Effects Of Popular Culture Toys On The Development Of A Child s Gender Identity850 Words   |  4 PagesBarbie dolls and ponies. This leads to educator to ponder on the effects popular culture has on the development of a child’s gender identity. Onwards from birth, children are surrounded by and live within environments which are rich in gender stereotyping (Siraj-Blatchford, 2004, p. 24). They are given toys, books and clothes in which the media and society deems applicable to their specific gender. These gendered beliefs and practices are then implemented and shared as a child matures and can seeRead MoreChildren s Gender Identity Development : The Dynamic Negotiation Process Between Conformity And Authenticity1545 Words   |  7 PagesBrinkman, B. G., K. L. Rabenstein, L. A. Rosen, and T. S. Zimmerman. â€Å"Children s Gender Identity Development: The Dynamic Negotiation Process Between Conformity and Authenticity.† Youth Society (2012): 835-52. Print. This article describes the experiment performed by aspiring scientists along with the results of the experiment. In their experiment, the aspiring scientists questioned children of varying ages on how they felt about the sex they were assigned at birth, and the stereotypes thatRead MoreGender Roles Of Early Childhood Development932 Words   |  4 PagesGender Roles in Early Childhood Development In a society filled with gender stereotypes, children often adopt gender roles as they move from childhood to adolescence because of the many factors that influence their views to the point they will deny certain roles because it does not fit the gender bias. During the early years, boys and girls will usually be drawn towards gender specific activities. Playing house for example, they little boy will imitate going to work, while the little girl will imitateRead MoreA Deeper Understanding Of Identity Essay1559 Words   |  7 Pagesand more. But it is the combination of these identities that makes every human complex and unique. A deeper understanding of identity requires organizing identities into two categories: factual and non-factual. Factual identities include features and attributes that could be seen with naked eyes or measured with instruments, such as race and age. Non-factual identities, like gender identity (different from the idea of biological sex) and social identity, are malleable because they depend on actionsRead MoreSocialisation, Personal Identity, Gender Identity And Gender Roles1313 Words   |  6 PagesSocialisation, Personal identity, Gender Identity and Gender Roles: Boundless.com defines ‘Socialisation’ as â€Å"a term used to refer to the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies providing the individual with the skills and habits necessary for precipitating within one’s society, thus the means by which social and cultural continuity are attained† (Boundless.com, 2015). The process of socialisation involves an individual such as an adolescent to have interactionsRead MoreGender Identity : Gender And Masculinity Essay1509 Words   |  7 PagesGender plays an enormous role in every society around the world. There are debates about whether gender is defined by strictly biological characteristics or social attributes. Others argue that gender is a spectrum, rather than the dichotomy of male and female. Masculinity and femininity are sets of attributes, roles and behaviors that are associated with men and boys and girls and women, respectively. Both masculinity and femininity have spe cific traits that are both biologically and socially definedRead MorePhysical Body And Genitali The Biological Perspective1452 Words   |  6 PagesCompare and Contrast Essay Biological Perspective: The biological perspective posits the idea that one’s biological makeup is responsible for determining one’s gender. The idea is that a physical body and genitalia is what mandates the person’s gender. Some researchers have suggested that on top of this biological determinism, genes pass on gender stereotypes like an increased ability for math in people biologically assigned male and maternal instincts in people assigned female at birth. Others have suggested