A look at the argument that natural factors play a stronger role in determining sexroles than the influences prescribed by environmental and social factors.
Abstract 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 sexroles.
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)"
Abstract This paper examines how different human societies define romantic love according to specific cultural beliefs about gender-based sexroles and social mores about sexual expression. In particular, it looks at how in the United States (and much of the Western part or the world as opposed to Islamic cultures), these cultural values include a marked difference in the sexual behavior expected of males and females. It discusses how elements of American social psychology promote destructive cultural beliefs about the nature of sex and romantic love that actually undermine human happiness and how gender-based differential sexual socialization virtually guarantees a predatory approach to dating on the part of males, at the expense of fundamental fairness as well as female wellbeing.
Outline:
Introduction
The Western Version of Burkas, Veils, and Forced Female Circumcision
Western Sexual Mores and Fundamental Beliefs about Romantic Love
Conclusion
From the Paper "As early as grade school, boys are encouraged and rewarded socially for popularity with their female counterparts while grade school girls become sensitive to concepts related to being a "slut" even before full sexual maturity or actual sexual experimentation. By the age of puberty, young women wishing merely for confirmation of their physical attractiveness must already be very cognizant of the fine line between attractiveness and insulting pejorative assumptions and crude allegations related to promiscuity. Likewise, by the time young men and women first begin to date, sexual promiscuity is already viewed as a badge of honor in males and a mark of social shame in females. In principle, the psychological motivation for these cultural attitudes is rooted as much in male insecurity as their comparatively extreme Middle Eastern versions employing more overt forms of female suppression. "
Abstract This paper presents a section-by-section review of the anthropology textbook, "Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspectives," compiled by Caroline B. Brettell and Carolyn F. Sargent. The paper provides examples from each chapter of the book. Each section of the book deals with the myriad and diverse studies of gender.
From the Paper "One very interesting angle on the study of man and woman in prehistory is provided by Lila Leibowitz ("Perspectives on the Evolution of Sex Differences"), who provided a detailed account of primates? male-female roles. In the end, after writing an intriguing article, Leibowitz concludes that there is currently a "distorted" collection of evidence as to the gender roles in primates. Her hypothesis is very compelling, and she does not seem to be elitist in the least (which sometimes happens with scholars whose knowledge far surpasses the lay person). She explains that her hypothesis is presented in response ?to a spate of evolutionary theories which stress that our sex-role destiny along with our sexual anatomy was settled a long time ago.? Clearly she does not espouse a rigid view of the evolution of physical differences between men and women, and how sex roles came about. She calls for more study of the existing data."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of non-profit disaster mitigation organization. Specifically, the paper analyzes the American Red Cross including the mission of the organization, its involvement in recent disasters, and funding issues. The paper also examines the Red Cross's relief and disaster efforts.
From the Paper "The American Red Cross has been in existence since the nineteenth century. Organized by nurse Clara Barton, it has grown to be one of the premier disaster mitigation organizations in the country and the world. It is a non-partisan, humanitarian organization responds to all types of local and national emergencies, from families displaced by home fires to war and terrorism victims. Its mission is to step in during any time of disaster and provide food, clothing, shelter, and assistance to any victims of that disaster."
Abstract This paper analyzes the role of behavior in the sexes using Gilmore's study of the Tahitians and Senai peoples as examples of gender roles and sex characteristics.
From the Paper "In the last thirty years, Feminist and Anthropological theory has shifted the role of men and women in cultures towards a more gender-oriented approach. This paper will briefly identify the biological work of sexual difference and its recent implications and go beyond rough western scientism in order to survey the range of cultural roles of sex and gender in non-western societies and how this has been incorporated and explained in a wider debate. "
Abstract This essay uses specific examples from the works of Shelly and Rousseau to prove the hypothesis that these authors view sex as merely a basic desire that needs to be fulfilled on an occasional basis.
Abstract This paper examines the roles of males and females in several cultures. The author focuses primarily on the interaction between the genders in terms of sex, marriage, and reproduction. The paper also looks at the sexes with respect to finances, familial decision-making, and overall power and influence.
From the Paper "Gender relations are most easily characterized through an interpretive analysis of reproduction, production, power, and gender ideologies. These four components of the affinity between men and women in various cultures effectively illustrate the societies? perceptions and understandings of each of the sexes. Subsequently, how each sex demonstrates their core of beliefs and or knowledge is dependent upon these perceptions of their role and contribution to society. Through the application of one or more of these dimensions, each culture defines gender relation. Although one society may rely more heavily on a certain component to provide definition of distinction between gender, anthropologists and sociologists have found numerous similarities between the uses of these dimensions as a tool of definition in dissimilar cultures."
Abstract This paper discusses how the role women play in American society has changed since the beginning of the twentieth century. The writer compares the behavior of men and women a gym environment in order to study whether or not certain stereotypes can be found while both sexes are working out. The author interviews two athletes, one male and one female about their opinions regarding how men and women exercise, what equipment they use and why. This is followed by the author's observation of how hard men and women workout while using the cardio equipment in the gym. The author observes both the level of intensity and the interaction between the sexes in order to reach the conclusions presented in the paper.
From the Paper "Melanctha, Gail Collins? editorial, Lindsey's book on gender roles, and my anthropological study at the gym all suggest that women, in actuality, haven?t done as much in breaking the barriers of gender roles that they perhaps promised to do in the early 20th century. As further evidence for this, one can look at a study conducted by Michael A. Messner in which he extensively interviewed thirty male athletes over a period of two years. He claims that these athletes all claim that their "earliest experiences in sports are stories of an exclusively male world" (1999, p.101). He also claims that, even today, many girls tend to shy away from competitive sports because they "define themselves primarily through connection with others, [and] experience highly competitive situations (whether in organized sports or in other hierarchical institutions) as threats to relationships, and thus to their identities" (1999, p. 106). Thus, my idea that gender roles of women are so stringent that they must even follow them in the gym is not too far fetched. If both magazines and schools tell women that they need to be a certain way, its no wonder that there is so much uproar when a woman tries to get an education or tries to play of sports. Of course, there still are the Lisa Gillises of the world, but these women are still marginal to modern American culture. Yes, they are becoming less so, but these women still have a lot of work to do if they ever want to create a gender equal society."
Abstract This essay examines the emerging trend and, indeed, necessity to distinguish between the two terms "gender" and "sex". It examines the introduction and usage of both terms and the subsequent historical development, including the power benefits that the biological reductionism of "sex theory" encompasses. Through specific reference to sociological schools of thought, such as structural functionalism, feminist critique, role theory, social constructionism and post-structuralist theory, an argument for the need for distinction between "gender" and "sex" is established. With references to Foucault, Derrida, and Judith Butler, this essay examines the need for a biological ("sex") and social ("gender") specificity of sexuality, proposing a conceptually accurate path forward for the future.
From the Paper "The terms ?sex role,? ?sex role socialisation,? ?gender role,? and the term "role" itself, have become so confused and definitionally abstract that it is often inadequate or even incorrect to use such terms. Many individuals do however. The terms "sex" and "gender" are infinitely bandied about, consistently interchanged, and often stand proxy for one another, in every imaginable discourse and social institution. This is because "sex" and "gender" are the foundational concepts upon which society is built. Sex and gender is integral to every social structure, having far-reaching implications that shape individuals? opportunities for safety, employment, education, family, legal access, fecundity, knowledge production and much, much more. However, the challenge here is to understand such implications within a conceptually accurate framework. The development of sex/gender theorising has met this challenge, and the fact that some sociologists today reject the terms "sex roles" and "sex role socialisation" is a reflection of the changing and developing nature of the theoretical framework. It is only through an examination of the history of sex/gender theory however that it is possible to determine how and why these same sociologists have rejected the frameworks that they have."
Tags: biological, critique, feminist, functionalism, gender, post, reductionism, sex, structural, structuralist, theory
An analysis of research on sex-typed behavior in children from a behavior analytic perspective. Reviews a number of studies done on this subject and interprets them using behavior analytic concepts.
Abstract A number of studies on sex-typed behaviors in children are summarized and analyzed using concepts from the psychological perspective of behavior analysis. Specifically, peer reinforcement and punishment of sex-typed behaviors is examined. It is argued that peers are an important factor in the socialization of children into gender-specific roles and that most gender differences are not innate, but rather are formed through the mechanisms of reinforcement and punishment.
From the Paper "The question of how children learn to behave in gender-specific ways is one for which many different explanations have been offered. There are evolutionary psychological, social-cognitive, and numerous other approaches. In this paper, I will address this issue from a behavior analytic perspective. By applying the principals of behaviorism, the processes by which children learn gender-appropriate behavior can be better understood. Specifically, I will investigate how peers reinforce and punish sex-typed behaviors in children, and how different behavior analytic concepts can help explain the results of some of the studies done in this field."
Abstract This paper examines a number of issues concerning same-sex relationships. The paper focuses on same-sex relationships in Western history and discusses public perceptions of such relationships, looks at the role that the Gay and Lesbian movement has had in influencing public perception, discusses some of the conflicts seen between old and new gay groups. and discusses the harassment that gays and lesbians are often subjected to. The paper also looks at the move to legalize same-sex marriages and the issue of AIDS.
From the Paper "Over the last five decades the gay and lesbian movement has been instrumental in reshaping public perceptions towards same-sex relationships in the US. Essentially, it is impossible to study public perceptions towards same-sex relationships without considering the role of the gay and lesbian movement. For gay and lesbian individuals this movement has enabled individuals who had previously been ostracized and stigmatized from mainstream social networks to carve a niche and feel a sense of belonging in alternative communities. Even more significantly the gay and lesbian movement..."
Tags: Same-sex, relationships, in, Western, history
Abstract This paper explains that, in order to implement effective campaigns to increase safe-sex practices in teenagers, education efforts must be directed to combating the false notion of "invincibility", safety, and problem-solving skills must be taught. The author specifies that youth must be introduced to strategies for introducing condom use when the situation presents itself. The paper relates that, to reduce the cognitive dissonance between the teenagers" stated intentions and their actual behavior, new methods of influencing behavior change include actively recruiting students to spread the safe-sex message to their peers.
From the Paper "For the purposes of the first goal of a HIV/AIDS campaign aimed at youth, the education component would ideally be administered in schools. This could be incorporated as part of the curriculum and would reach most teenagers in question. However, education campaigns to date have fallen short of their goals and would need some changes to be more effective. A more accurate assessment of the risks associated with unsafe sex should be included so teens appreciate the data that supports the message. Different delivery media have also proven to be effective. Videos that inform and encourage situational coping skills have been shown to work."
Abstract This article provides an analysis of how the concepts of sex and gender are essential in understanding human nature and society. In this paper, the effect of the socialization process on gender roles and norms is examined.
From the Paper "The concepts of sex and gender are essential to understanding human nature and society, primarily because gender roles and norms often result as the outcome of the socialization process. Both psychologists and sociologists have argued that personality formation is inherently linked to gender by the forces of both nature or genetics and biology and nurture or the conditions of the environment as they directly impact upon males and females. From birth, infants of both sexes are conditioned by parental and other adult responses to ... "
Tags: males, females, socialization, social institutions, education, norms, roles, behavior
Abstract This paper analyzes the television series "Sex and the City" on several different levels. First the paper describes various methods of audience analysis. Then it examines moral issues of television, such as role models for youth. "Sex in the City" is further described as appealing to the young, beautiful, and fabulous crowd that ranges in age from the early twenties to the mid-thirties, thus expressing the ideals of society's dominant culture. The author illustrates how the show can be analyzed from the coded and encoded messages it contains. The author concludes that the series had a long life due to its ability to tackle relevant social issues and to create conflict and controversy.
From the Paper " Stuart hall was a major research figure at the Birmingham School. He felt that the mass media was an important element of capitalist culture, because it allowed a structure for organization of society's experience (Tomlinson, 1991). Hall viewed media messages as open to having multiple meanings and interpretations by the audience. The message received by the audience, "is influenced by the context and culture of the receivers" (McQuail, 2000, p. 56). The encoding/decoding model views the audience as an active participant in the message, rather than a passive recipient of knowledge. "
Tags:Sex, and, the, City, television, audience, HBO
Abstract The paper maintains that Stott's book, "The Cross of Christ," is an important book. For those Christians who want to further explore the meaning behind the Cross and behind Christ's death, it is a thought-provoking resource. The paper explains how Stott makes a very good case for the Cross being more than simply important, but rather that it is a vital part of Christianity. Without the Cross, Stott argues that Christianity as we know it would not exist. The paper is of the opinion that after reading this book, it is difficult to argue with this perspective.
From the Paper "John R. W. Stott takes the position that the Cross is essential to Christianity. He makes his convincing argument by dividing the discussion into four parts, discussing the Cross as a symbol, the need for forgiveness, the spiritual benefits that the Cross has provided to believers and finally, on the practical and earthly teachings that the Cross can offer. Stott does not have all the answers on the subject of Christ's Cross. However, the book is a thoughtful and complex study offering suggestions on the subject of the Cross upon which Christ died. The Cross is important, Stott states, because it performs more than the single function of being the method of execution favored by the Romans."
