...Gender is the basis of our lives. We go through every day not noticing what makes us unique. Gender is such a big part of which we become, that we don’t even notice it. I was able to people watch the other day. See the differences between each gender. It was surprising to see that not everyone fit their gender expectations. It was also surprising to see that some people take on their roles naturally. In this paper I will be talking about the significance of gender roles. I will also be talking about how the people I came across with fit these roles. Every person fits the gender roles in their own specific way. You can usually identify the differences between a man and a woman just by watching their daily activity. I was able to go to Mid...
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...Abigail Gardener Physiology December 3, 2014 Physiology Paper on Gender Dysphoria Gender identity disorder (GID) or gender dysphoria is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe people who experience significant discontent with the sex they were assigned at birth and/or the gender roles associated with that sex. Evidence suggests that people who identify with a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth may do so not just due to psychological or behavioral causes, but also biological ones related to their genetics, the makeup of their brains, or prenatal exposure to hormones. Gender identity disorder is classified as a medical disorder called gender dysphoria. Many transgender people and researchers support declassification of GID because they say the diagnosis pathologies gender variance, reinforces the binary model of gender and can result in reprehension of transgender individuals. The official classification of gender dysphoria as a disorder may help resolve some of these issues, because the term "gender dysphoria" applies only to the discontent experienced by some persons resulting from gender identity issues. The current medical approach to treatment for persons diagnosed with gender identity disorder is to support the individual in physically modifying the body to better match the psychological gender identity. This approach is based on the concept that their experience is based in a medical problem correctable by...
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...2003 and 2004, the Iranian transgender community suddenly experienced a spike in Western press media coverage. The nature of such press often focused on the juxtaposition between Iran’s policies on Iranian trans individuals and their rampantly homophobic sodomy laws. Oftentimes the narrative presented on mainstream television is laced with shock in recognizing the Iranian government’s financial support of sex-reassignment surgery for trans individuals, a right given “after years of petitioning and repeated inquiries [from] Iranian trans woman and advocate, Ms. Maryam Khatoon Molkara.” What typically follows this recognition is some form of anti-Islamic rhetoric stemming from the possibility that gay and lesbian Iranians...
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...Gender Roles How the media has affected the roles and perspectives of the different genders Amanda Luebbert 11 April 2016 Ms. Dudley Sociology People have gone through a lot trying to express themselves and who they feel they are. Having a relationship with someone of the same gender, or wanting to change the gender that a person was born as, was not looked upon with an accepting mind. The media has opened people’s minds to a whole new way of viewing people’s personal feelings and thoughts towards their gender and what gender people should have a relationship with. Media has been an way of inspiring those with different views on certain aspects of genders that many disagreed with. Many people were fully against gay marriage until the media stepped in a made people see it in a different way. Being a transgender was not the most popular thing, but media has made it more acceptable to those that were against it. People should have the right to be whatever gender they feel entitled to whether others think so or not. The media currently has several people that are into the art of makeup. Many of these artists happen to be men. Men are usually not viewed as wearing tons of makeup, but the perspective of these people are positive. People used to be a lot more judge-mental to anyone who wanted to do something that was generally done by the opposite sex. These guys that do fabulous makeup are not looked at as different they...
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...The act of being transgender dates all the way back to Egyptian times when recognized priest who were male bodied individuals that presented themselves as female. Transgender are people whose gender identity, expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth (1).For example, Although they have normal XY genes, normal male genitalia, and are raised as boys, they nevertheless have the gender feelings, body feelings and gender identity of girls(2). The United States in recent years has become more and more accepting and understanding of those that identify themselves as transgender. The story of Ryland Whittington has brought about a tremendous amount of controversy over the past few months. A San Diego native couple Jeff and Hillary gave birth to a baby girl in 2007 and named her Ryland Whittington. Baby Ryland suffered from an earring issue and had to undergo cochlear implant surgery. Shortly after she learned how to hear and speak, the first words to her parents were her expressing to them that she “I am a boy”. At first, Jeff and Hillary Whittington just thought of Ryland referring to her as a boy was a phase that will eventually pass with age. But, in fact it didn’t just pass; Ryland reportedly told her father “When the family dies, I will cut my hair so I could be a boy” and asking “why god made me like is?” .So, from then on they decided to consult professionals and came to realize that what Ryland was feeling and expressing...
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...about violating gender norms: Boys shouldn't look like girls, and girls shouldn't act like boys. Sex roles, 48(9-10), 411-419. Blakemore’s article examines children’s views about violating gender norms as compared to social norms. The understanding of this concept increased with age. The author concluded that generally boys with feminine characteristics were judged more negatively than girls with masculine characteristics. This source is useful in researching how children perform gender and how society enforces the heteronormative ideal. Gagen, E. A. (2000). Performing gender in America’s playgrounds. Children’s geographies: playing, living, learning, 213-229. Gagen’s book focuses on how the playground is a learning environment for performing gender. The author explores the performative nature of gender identity in all ages, and found it is most abundant in children. The placement of a certain gender is not inevitable, but closely managed by authoritative figures. This is a useful source because it explores how the playground teaches children how to perform their predetermined gender by socializing with other children....
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...Throughout U.S. history, women have faced many equality barriers. Today, women have made amazing progress, yet still face some discrimination. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people have also had a rough road to equality, and as like women, are not done. Women and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people faces many of the same issues today and in the past. If you look at gender roles, there may be some explanation of why our society is the way it is. What has been the status of women in the United States throughout history? Throughout U.S. history women have been subject to unfair and unequal treatment in all aspects of life. Women were seen as servants to men, to have children at the man’s request, cook, clean, not to work, not to have independence. Women were not allowed to own property or vote (Women’s Rights, n.d.). Women were not seen as much more than a way to enhance their husband’s status. Things began to change, however, when strong, empowered women started to make their voices heard. What is the status of women in the U.S. today? Women have come so far, even in just the last 50 years. Today it seems as though women are equal to men, but that is not the case. There is still discrimination, especially institutional discrimination against women. Institutional discrimination is denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups that result from normal operations of a society (Schaefer, 2012, pg. 65). Though women...
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...woman, the mother alone” (Charles Finch in the book Echoes of the Old Darkland) then according to Friedrich Engels: societies transited from matriarchy to patriarchy when societies developed from a hunting society to an agricultural society when man realized the role of males from the concept of sprouting seeds, consequently private property was introduced. In other words, the journey of equality between males and females over the history is exactly like pendulum theory of Galileo Galilei in terms of its motions between the two extremes from matriarchy to patriarchy systems and going through equality point. Gender equality varies also between cultures in the same period of time , could it be religion, region, continent, race, society or country, whereas we see in a country like Saudi Arabia, or continent such as Africa and Asia, or a religion such as Islam extreme violations of women’s rights in terms of political rights, economic participation, education, and human rights, we see maximum equality in Scandinavian Countries according to the “Global Gender Gap Report 2013” as they are ranked the top four overall, and Sweden ranked number four. Nowadays we cannot talk about gender equality without mentioning transgender equality, as they have rights of equality too, and this topic is...
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...Every member of society has been affected by the construct of gender. The implication of norms in this system has involved expectations for men and women, which have produced consequences for those that have been forced to fit into a undesirable role. These regulations have not been questioned unanimously, but have often been challenged individually through artistic and poetic expression. Judith Ortiz Cofer’s The Changeling and Stacey Waite’s The Kind of Man I Am at the DMV both explore different perceptions of gender. The authors use a character at the receiving end of the norms to describe how transgressions towards them are often reprimanded and punished. Though there are parallels between the poems with concepts of misunderstanding and social conformity, the elements they implemented individually were very effective, as well. Judith Ortiz Cofer’s The Changeling incorporated a perspective from a young child to convey gender through nurture. In the first stanza, the speaker defined her identity as a female and admitted to cross dressing. She described the action as molding...
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...Gender Identity Kaylene Merchant PSY/265 July 27, 2014 Doris Tolan Gender Identity Gender identity is not a concept that everyone actually gives consideration. For most people, they fall into the role that is recognized by those around them. This role, however, is not always compatible with who they really are. For some, there is confusion about who they are and who they would like to be. To better understand gender identity and the traits of masculinity and femininity, one must first fully understand the factors of each concept, and how they apply to an individual. According to Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus (2011), gender identity is the personal awareness or sense of self that either reflects as male or female. Gender identity should not be confused with sex (gender) assignment, which is the assignment of “boy” or “girl” that is given at birth. Gender identity focuses on the gender that an individual associates with in their own perception. While an individual may become aware of their anatomic sex by the time they are 18 months old, a firm sense of gender identity is not typically grasped until around 36 months old (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011). The definition aside, there are several different factors that are thought to contribute to the determination of gender identity. It is almost always aligned with chromosomal sex, but there are cases where biology does not determine identity. In individuals who are intersexual, meaning that they possess the gonads...
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...Third Genders in Cultural Societies M’Tisha Garnett ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Instructor: Larissa Begley February 3, 2014 In society today should the Hijra and Two Spirit be recognized as gay men in their culture rather than Third Gender? Studies have shown that these Third Gender groups choose not to label themselves as male or female, but prefer a female appearance and male companionship. This way of life has resulted in a high rate of HIV/AIDS in their communities. There are many Third Gender groups in different cultures such as the Fa’afafine in Polynesia, Sworn Virgins from the Balkins and the Hijra’s from South Asia. Hijra who of the Third Gender have since the late 90’s been recognized as a third gender by their county but they are still dealing with acceptance in their society. Although a lot of these Third Gender groups been around for centuries and some hold a spiritual meaning, that is not much of the case today. Third Genders such as Hijra and Two-Spirits are not seen in society as spiritual beings anymore, they are being labeled transsexual, transgender, or gay. Because of their status and lack of money and education they have been forced into prostitution with the same sex, exposing them to HIV and AIDS which is plaguing their community. The hijras are a religious community of men who dress and act like women and whose culture centers on the worship of Bahuchara Mata, one of the many versions of the Mother Goddess worshipped throughout...
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...Gender Roles and Sexuality Challenges regarding masculinity and femininity play a big role in gender formation and how one is supposed to identify with a specific category. Gender is an identification label with being male or female and it is a socially constructed behavior that may be intentional or unintentional. Overall, gender is formed by how one identifies themself as. The media is a way we view masculinity and femininity because at an early age we are taught that young girls play with baby dolls and boys play with cars; but even prior to that as soon as a child is conceived they are right away put into a specific category where they wear blue if their male and pink if their female. In the video presentation of Frida Kahlo we learn how she was bisexual and see how she would battle with her masculine and feminine side. In a family portrait we get a visual that at a young age Frida dressed in suit and tie when a young lady as herself should be wearing a dress. Furthermore, this would reflect certain themes in her artwork but I believe she tried to conceal her identity by marrying her husband Diego because this is something that was expected of her even though she loved him very much. In regard to sexual imagining; it gives us a way to think of gender structure. This idea argues that it prevents critical analysis of gender formations and a way that gender is an organized institution. Certain theories of gender in sociology require how one person learns to perform and...
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...Berdache and present day Trans individuals, A comparison of Valentine’s & Gutiérrez’s views on establishing gender covenants. In comparing Warfare, homosexuality, gender status among native American Indian men in the southwest by Gutierrez and I know what I am by Valentine one is struck by the apparent differences that both authors have on multiple levels despite their agreement on gender identity as a product of society and culture. Through discrepancies in tone and evidence selection light can be shed on these aforementioned points of contestation. Gutierrez’s main point of: “Gender is a role not a status” (Gutierrez pg 29) Permeates his argument in a strong tonal sense through its fatalistic and impersonal attributes. In presenting the Berdache as defeated warriors enslaved to serve the economic and sexual needs of Native American men living segregated from women(Gutierrez 27), Gutierrez’s tone acquires a causational dimension where stated evidence is deemed irrevocably responsible of the gender role of the Berdache. Notably through the usage of visual representations of Berdache men in ritualistic dances with red paint in between their thighs used as irrefutable proof of Berdache subservience through male rape when others have postulated it could have simulated female menstruation given the Berdache’s mandated feminine appearance (Gutierrez 27). While tonally evocative of the hallmarks of an anthropologist sure of his field, to take such a tone especially...
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...Catherine Jauch Vanno DE Language & Composition 2 November 2012 Pink vs. Blue: the Not-So Subtle Gender Stereotypes of Our Youth From the moment children are born, they are wrapped into pink or blue blankets. Pink is deemed feminine, frilly, and solely for girls. The color blue is far more masculine, so it is assigned to the male gender. Regardless of whether that baby grows up to be, a high school jock, a mall-fiend, a conservative, homosexual, or transgender, he was brought into the world in a blue blanket and she, a pink blanket. These gender roles are enforced from children’s first breaths, and it only signifies what is to come. Yet, why is this? Why is there such a heavy emphasis on stereotypes of our youth? Does the media spark these ideas or are they based upon long-standing evolutionary concepts? Can gender roles ever be subverted? Growing up, I dabbled in both male and female stereotypes, much to the confusion of my peers. I could beat any boy at kickball, and I played it regularly during recess. My favorite color was pink, and I was obsessed with sparkles and Barbies. I’d climb trees in dresses. My classmates thought my behavior was odd because I didn’t fit into their schema of boy or girl. Was I a boy or a girl? Both? Neither? Boys never picked me for their teams simply because I was a girl. How could I be a stronger player than the boys, who they regularly saw play and fight, when I represented something so delicate, meant to nurture baby dolls and quietly...
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...documented the HIjras, who live in India. Hijra is a term used in South Asia to refer to a transsexual or transgender individual. In the film, we first meet a Hijra, named Jyoti. Her parents were disgusted with her so she decided to run away. She continued to live her life the way she wanted to, and after a while decided to get an operation done by the gurus. The gurus will make the binaries stand upright and proceed to chop off the male organ, so that they are left with only the female organ. After the organ is cut off, the gurus pour hot oil on the wound for the next 41 days. There is no medicine or injection used in this procedure, so the Hijras must endure the grueling pain. This is not the only pain they go through, as there is a mental aspect as well. Some of the Eunuch’s family members believe that they have committed some sort of sin for their child to be born like this. There is no doubt that being around that mentality would, in some way, depress the child. The majority of the Hijras want to have a family with kids, but know that there aren’t many options available to them, so they result to prostitution. They want to fit in with society, but it is hard for them because of the margin handed to them. That is also how it relates to our course, because we are discussing gender roles, and what is expected from those genders. The Hijras have happily been accepted as a third gender, which is a great start to their new lives. Hopefully they will continue to strive, as some of them...
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