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Social Matters: Sex and Gender

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by
Chrs
, March 18th 2012 at 05:18 PM (1040 Views)
I've gotten into a few discussions about this recently so I think I should probably codify my opinion on the issue.

First, definitions:
Sex - Do you have a Y chromosome? If yes, your biological sex is male. Otherwise, your biological sex is female.
Gender - Roughly "femininity" and "masculinity" - refers to traits culturally associated with sexes.
Trait - Something about a person. A personality aspect, skill, physical feature, whatever.

So, what do I believe?
Your biological sex pre-disposes you to certain traits. So do a lot of other things: other genes, your upbringing, environment, what you spend your time doing, surgery, etc. An individual is a sum of a lot of things.

Traits are (to paraphrase an analogy from a blogger I can't credit here because of Tweb decorum ) like a buffet. You have a load of plates with different traits on and you can pick what you want. "Biologically male" and "Likes powertools" is a possible combination but as is having only one or neither. "Sews dresses" and "Likes football" are also not contradictory - you can have both, one or neither.

The ideas of masculinity and femininity are basically a set menu. You turn up and someone directs to your side of the buffet table with "Has short hair", "Likes sports" and "Likes powertools" - you could sneak over to the other table and nab a spoonful of "bakes cakes" or "knits" but people will look at you funny. The issue is enforcement.

Gender enforcement is, roughly speaking: the fact that you're expected - as a biological male or female - to pick traits that "belong" to your sex. A male who likes sewing dresses or having long hair () face stigma and being referred to as a "girly-man." It's fine to be biologically male and like sports, it should also be okay to be biologically male and knit.

Anyway, that's a surface view of my opinion on the issue. Come back later for more "Social Matters!"
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  1. Xru's Avatar
    Well . . . the analogy I understand. But which traits we choose are not exactly a choice IMHO, or buffet. For example, sex or sexual preference is not on my buffet.

    Additionally, there are some traits I choose that not only get me looked at or considered in an odd manner but worse. I am extremely introverted. Introversion and extroversion is not on my buffet either. I could never become extroverted.

    I agree with you that one should be able to pick and choose from the buffet that which agrees with you as one wishes . . . . up to a limit. There are certain items on the "who I choose to be" buffet that are not acceptable either legally or morally . . . (opinions vary as to what these are) but certainly killer another man/woman is on the no no of buffet choices under almost every circumstance.

    So is homosexuality on most Christian buffet tables as are any of the Seven Deadly Sins.

    Honestly, I don't see homosexuality on any greater scale of violation as most sins, but a sin non-the-less and one to be resisted as best as one might although certainly many . . . or most may fail in resisting the temptation at all times. Certainly, I don't see homosexual impulses any barrier to being a Christian at all. There are many repentant Christians who have committed . . . . well need I list all the sins Good Christians have committed.

    Looking forward to more of your thoughts.
  2. Chrs's Avatar
    Not so much choose, it's the closest I could get with an analogy, I said:
    Your biological sex pre-disposes you to certain traits. So do a lot of other things: other genes, your upbringing, environment, what you spend your time doing, surgery, etc.
    I mean, you can change a lot of yourself with applied effort. I'm not saying who you are is chosen (although it partially is) - the main gist of the argument is the bit at the bottom rather than the analogy.

    Additionally, there are some traits I choose that not only get me looked at or considered in an odd manner but worse. I am extremely introverted. Introversion and extroversion is not on my buffet either. I could never become extroverted.
    Introversion and extroversion aren't really considered to be gender-specific (I guess? I don't know) so it's not really relevant to my point.

    I agree with you that one should be able to pick and choose from the buffet that which agrees with you as one wishes . . . . up to a limit. There are certain items on the "who I choose to be" buffet that are not acceptable either legally or morally . . .
    Certainly, but the main point of the post is about gender rather than the limits of what you can choose.

    So is homosexuality...
    Hey, you're allowed to be wrong

    Anyway, this isn't related to homosexuality. Although I might write a post about it at some point, but it'll just be "Hey guys, Homosexuality is a perfectly normal deviation on human sexuality!"
  3. Andius's Avatar
    Subbing. This post is most interesting Chrs, I look forward to the next bit.
  4. princesa's Avatar
    in other words, whatever is not common to gender traits should be acceptable. If I like to use a power saws or know the mechanics of my car I'm a ham but if a man likes to sew and wear pink outfits Mon-Fri it should be just as acceptable. Ok, I'll accept he's still a biological man but not very masculine as it is defined. It's "okay" in that the world is not going to end, sure.
  5. Chrs's Avatar
    in other words, whatever is not common to gender traits should be acceptable.
    Pretty much.

    If I like to use a power saws or know the mechanics of my car I'm a ham
    You're a ham?

    But, basically: It's better for everyone if people don't have to conform to certain traits based on their sex in order to avoid social stigma.

    Wow, I could've just written that.

    Ok, I'll accept he's still a biological man but not very masculine as it is defined.
    He wouldn't conform to this society's view of masculinity. Yeah.

    It's "okay" in that the world is not going to end, sure.
    There's a difference between "Okay in that the world's not going to end" and "Actually acceptable in society" I argue the latter should be acceptable.
  6. Cybelle Hawke's Avatar
    Interesting! Looking forward to you drawing your thoughts and observations into a realm where biological sex and gender feelings/behaviour are (considered to be) totally out of touch/harmony
  7. princesa's Avatar
    There's a difference between "Okay in that the world's not going to end" and "Actually acceptable in society" I argue the latter should be acceptable.

    i look forward to seeing the argument for that. I'm fine with the way things are. If i see men getting excited over knitting as I see them (and i DO see them) get excited over cars and gadgets than i don't know if i'll get all allergic to them the way i am with women. Who's going to be liable if i break out in hives?
  8. Chrs's Avatar
    Your sarcasm would probably come off better if your sentence was better formed, Princesa

    Do you really want to argue that a woman liking, say, racing or a man liking knitting is accepted?
  9. princesa's Avatar
    it's the "i"'s i'm too lazy to capitalize...

    Nowadays, a woman liking racing is accepted. I see women racers on the news quite frequently here. Men liking knitting is not so accepted here in the states, perhaps in another country it would be.