Sex and Gender: The Sociological Approach

By: Lori Incitti

Thesis

• To differentiate between the terms ‘Sex’ and ‘Gender’ while thoroughly explaining where the underlying confusion which causes the misuse of these terms comes from and how to use them in the proper context.

Sex

• The biological identification of an individual as ‘male’ or ‘female’ depending on their physical traits.• Obvious physical differences between male and female humans.

– Primary sex characteristics• Penis v.s vagina and other internal and external sexual characteristics

– Secondary sex characteristics: not directly related to reproduction• EX: Males-lower voice, more muscles, taller, more body hair• EX: Females-more fatty tissue, wider hips, breasts

Gender

• Refers to masculinity or femininity• Perceived, projected femininity/ masculinity of a

person.• Correlates normally with biological identification

of an individual.• Raised to follow a certain pattern of behavior• Social groups define what is acceptable for a male/female to act like.

Gender Identity and Gender Role

• Gender identity is one’s own sense and conviction of being male or female.

• Is usually controlled by society.• Deviation from one’s biological, corresponding gender

identity is not a norm.• Gender role is conforming socially with expectations for either male or female.– Deviation from these roles is becoming more common

Sex v.s. Gender

Sex• Biological• Can be changed

– Transgender

• Primary sexual characteristics

• Chromosomes, genes, etc.

Gender• Subjective to cultural norms• Psychological• Different expectations• Social• Instilled from young age

– EX: baby boys wrapped in blue, girls in pink.

• Device by which a society controls it’s members

Female v.s. Male (gender)

Female• Femininity• Give birth to and raise

children• No or only part-time job• Lower job status

– Glass Ceiling – Mommy Track

Male• Masculinity• Primary money maker• Provides for family• Receives higher salary• Does better in

predominantly female dominated fields– Glass Elevator

Female v.s. Male (sex)

Female• Enlargement of breasts• Growth of body hair, most prominently

underarm and pubic hair • Vaginal and uterine growth• Widening of hips• Decreased secretions of oil and sweat glands, causing less acne and body odor

Male• Growth of body hair, including

underarm, abdominal, chest, and pubic hair

• Growth of facial hair • Deepening of voice• Increased height• Increased muscle mass and strength • Broadening of shoulders and chest;

shoulders wider than hips• Increased secretions of oil and

sweat glands, often causing acne and body odor

Case Study: Gender-Fair Co-op Practices in Cebu, Philippines

• Established concrete data to prove that women’s participation in co-op leadership has impacted on the co-operative’s operations after a decade of gender intervention in co-ops.

• Co-ops are an association of people who unite voluntarily to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs. A co-op is a democratically run and controlled enterprise.

• Key informants selected as main respondents were women.• Men also included as respondents to validate, confirm and re-

enforce ideas and give comments.• Data indicated that co-ops gained more income with women in

the boardroom.

Sources• “Chapter 11." Sex and Gender. 13 May 2009

<http://www.renderx.com/demos/examples/CH11.pdf >• “Sex and Gender: Same or Different?” University of Hawaii System. 13 May 2009.

<http://www.hawaii.edu/PCSS/online_artcls/intersex/sex_gender.html>• “secondary sex characteristic: Definition from Answers.com.” Answers.com - Online Dictionary,

Encyclopedia and much more. 13 May 2009. <http://www.answers.com/topic/secondary-sex-characteristic>

• “Viewpoint: Sex Versus Gender.” The National Organization for Women (NOW) web site. 13 May 2009. <http://www.now.org/nnt/fall-2001/viewpoint.html>

• “Definition 2.0 » Blog Archive » Gender Roles vs. Sex vs. Gender Identity vs. Sexuality.” Earlbecke.com - The Creative Work of J.R. Earlbecke. 13 May 2009. <http://www.melted-dreams.net/definition/2006/02/16/gender-roles-vs-sex-vs-gender-identity-vs-sexuality/>

• “Sex vs. Gender (Gender, sex, language, political correctness, pc) at Find Quotations.” All philosophy, online opinions - idea reason attitude feeling cool control notion viewpoint . May 13 2009. <http://allphilosophy.com/topic/1282>

• “Project Title: Case Study on Gender-Fair Coop Practices in Cebu, Philippines.” External Collaborator: Visayas Cooperative Development Center (VICTO). May 13 2009.

<http://www.ilo.org/images/empent/static/coop/gender/outlinephillippines.PDF>