Nature over Nurture in Sex Roles

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the idea that men are more aggressive and dominant and women are more passive, and have the will to nurture others because of their biological predispositions. It examines how social factors can influence the gender role of an individual to a certain extent whereas biological factors still serve as the stronger influence, overall. It looks at how socialization such as allowing women to serve in the armed service, the kibbutz experience where women are treated like men and the concept of equal opportunities in the work place, have failed to prove that nurture does not surpass the role of biology in the determination of sex roles.

From the Paper:

"Let us stipulate that socialization is an inadequate explanation for the key determination for sex roles in society. According to such logic society has the ability to influence boys and girls to act in a specific manner. However, one should be skeptical. Why is society so effective at getting males and females to act in the way that it wants them to when it has so much trouble obtaining compliance with its other desires? To be more specific let us use the words of Browne. She states in her book, Biology at Work, ?Parents attempt by instruction and example to cause their children to clean their room, eat their vegetables, close the door, do their homework, and cooperate with their siblings. To the grief of many a parent, however, these lessons often do not easily take.? (Browne, 100)"

More papers on Nature over Nurture in Sex Roles:

• Analytical Essay # 2601 : "Nature vs. Nurture in Gender Development"
• Term Paper # 120720 : "Nature vs. Nurture"
• Analytical Essay # 128814 : "Interactions Between Hormones and Gender Identity"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: