Theoretical Approach in Gender PDF

Republic of the Philippines SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY Engineering – Architecture Department Sorsogon City Campus First Semester, Academic Year 2024-2025 Topic Title...

Republic of the Philippines SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY Engineering – Architecture Department Sorsogon City Campus First Semester, Academic Year 2024-2025 Topic Title : THEORETICAL APPROACH IN GENDER Course Title : Gender and Society Instructor : John Leovic Francis D. Dolosa controls a lot more than sex determination. THEORETICAL In addition, the X carries genes that APPROACH IN GENDER influence intelligence and susceptibility to a range of hereditary conditions. -A second focus of biological theories is the 1. Biological Theory role of hormonal activity in shaping sex- -It offers one explanation for observable related behaviors. Sex hormones affect differences between Women and Men. development of the brain as well as the body. -This approach maintains that the biological For instance, estrogen, the primary female characteristics of the sexes are the basis of hormone, causes women's bodies to gender differences. produce "good" cholesterol and to make their blood vessels more flexible than those -Biologically based theories focuses on how of men. Estrogen strengthens the immune X and Y chromosomes, hormonal activities, system, making women generally less and brain specialization influence a range of susceptible to immune disorders and more individual qualities form body features to resistant to infections and viruses. Estrogen thinking and motor skills. causes fat tissue to form around women's -Most of Males have an XY chromosome hips, which provides cushioning for a fetus structure. Most Female have an XX during pregnancy. And estrogen seems to Chromosome structures. impede liver functioning such that women eliminate alcohol more slowly than men and -Genetic Evidence shows that several genes thus may react more quickly to alcohol controlling intelligence are located only on X consumption chromosomes. This implies that some aspects of male’s intelligence are inherited Male sex hormones, too, have some only from their mothers, whereas females, documented effects as well as some who usually inherent an X chromosome from controversial possible influences. Like each parent, may inherit their intelligence women, men have hormonal cycles that from both parents affect their behavior (Federman & Walford, 2007; Tavris, 1992). -Genetic researchers have also reported that the primary gene responsible for social skills Males who use drugs, engage in violent and is active on the X chromosomes. This abusive behavior, and have behavior explains why women, who have two X problems tend to be at their cycle's peak chromosomes, are generally more adept level of testosterone, the primary male and comfortable than men in many social hormone, Higher levels of testosterone are situations. also linked to jockeying for power, attempts to influence or dominate others, and physical -X and Y chromosome are distinct. The X is expressions of anger (Cowley, 2003; larger than the Y, and the X holds 1,100 Schwartz & Cellini, 1995). genes whereas the Y holds only about 50 genes. In part because of the larger number Additional research indicates that hormones of genes carried on the X chromosomes, it is influence cognitive abilities including more of a multitasker than the Y. decoding nonverbal communication and judging moving objects (Halpern, 1996; -The Y chromosome’s primary function is Kimura, 1999; Saucier & Kimura, 1998). determining that a fertilized egg will evolve Beginning around the age of 30, men's into a male. The X chromosome, however, testosterone level declines. Unlike the acute condition in which the foreskin of the penis hormonal change that women experience interferes with urination. Following doctors' with menopause, men's hormonal change is advice, a year later the parents decided to more gradual with testosterone levels have "normalizing surgery" performed on dropping about 1% a year after age 30 David. His testicles were removed, he was (Federman & Walford, 2007). given hormones to induce female characteristics, and he was renamed Hormones influence skills and tendencies Brenda. Brenda did not take to being a girl. we associate with gender. You sent Research shows that girls favor trucks over dolls if their mothers had atypically high Her preferred toys were trucks and guns; she levels of testosterone during pregnancy, and routinely ripped off the dresses her parents that males who are given estrogen made her wear; and, despite not having a experience declines in spatial skills, which penis, Brenda preferred to urinate standing tend to be greater in males, and increases in up. Even hormonal treatments and verbal skills, which tend to be greater in therapists could not convince Brenda to females (Gurian & Stevens, 2007; Tyre, accept being a girl. Finally, when Brenda 2006). was about 15, her father told her that she had been born a boy. A third focus of biological theories of difference is brain structure and For Brenda/David, things now made sense. development, which appear to be linked to David had his breasts removed and a penis sex. Although there are some constructed using muscle tissue and inconsistencies in research findings, the cartilage, took male hormone shots, and majority of research indicates that, although began to live as a male. At age 25, David both women and men use both lobes of the married a woman with children, and he brain, each sex tends to specialize in one helped raise his three stepchildren. In June of 2004, at age 38 Men's brains generally have better- developed left lobes, which control linear David took his own life thinking, sequential information, spatial You sent skills, and abstract, analytic reasoning (Andersen, 2006; Mealy, 2000). Specializing In summary, biological theories of gender in the right lobe, women tend to have greater attribute masculine and feminine qualities aptitude for imaginative and artistic activity, and abilities to genetics and biology. for holistic, intuitive thinking, and for some Specifically, it appears that chromosomes, visual and spatial tasks (Joseph, 2000; hormones, and brain structure may affect Mealy, 2000). physiology, thinking, and behavior, Biological theory is valuable in informing us Research indicates that women tend to use about. both sides of their brains to perform language tasks, whereas men are more 2. Interpersonal Theories of Gender likely to use only or primarilv the left sides of their brains (Begley, 1995). In women, the prefrontal cortex, which restrains Psychodynamic Theories of Gender aggression, is larger and develops earlier than in men (Brizendine, 2007; Tyre, 2006), Development and the insula, which affects intuition and Psychodynamic Theorists think that infants empathy, is larger (Brizendine, 2007; Tyre & develop a sense of self and a gender identity Scelfo, 2007). In men, the amygdala, which as they internalize the views of other people is the center of emotions such as anger and around them during the early years So, for fear, is larger, which may explain why men example, are more likely than women to engage in more risky and aggressive behavior infants who are lovingly nurtured by parents (Brizendine, 2007). tend to internalize the parents' views that they are valuable and lovable. In addition, When David was eight months old, a parents' tendencies to nurture, compete, surgeon mistakenly amputated his penis cooperate, express affection, and so forth during surgery to correct phimosis, a are internalized so that the child develops  these capacities as part of herself or himself. and DVDs, as well as the communication of Internalizing others is not merely acquiring parents, teachers, siblings, and others. roles; it creates the basic structure of the You sent psyche--the core self. You may have noticed that social learning Psychodynamic theory explains the theory views children as relatively passive in the development of masculine or feminine learning process. It suggests that they more or identity as the result of different kinds of less absorb a gender identity in response to relationships that typically exist between external stimuli such as rewards and mothers and children of each sex. punishments from parents and other people in According to Nancy Chodorow(1989), a their world. Social learning theory also suggests prominent psychodynamic theorist, the key that the reinforcement process continues to understanding how family throughout life with messages that reinforce psychodynamics create gender lies in femininity in women and masculinity in men. realizing that most of us are nurtured by Cognitive Theory mothers because "women”rather than men have primary parenting responsibilities" in This theory also focuses on how individuals Western society (p. 6). Because the mother learn from interaction with others to define herself is gendered, she may act differently themselves, including their gender. Unlike social toward sons and daughters. Consequently, learning theory, however, cognitive male and female infants follow distinct development theory assumes that children play developmental paths that reflect sons" and active roles in developing their gender identities. daughters' distinct relationships with their Researchers claim that children pick models to mothers. teach themselves competency in masculine or feminine behavior. How do most young boys formulate a masculine gender identity? Because they Gender constancy is a person's understanding cannot define it through the relationship with that he or she is a male or female and this will their mothers, as daughters typically do, not change, Gender constancy appears to boys tend to pursue a different path. To develop by age three or earlier (Dubois, Serbin, establish his independent identity, a boy & Derbyshire, 1998; Warm, 2000). Once gender must differentiate himself from his mother- constancy is established, children become he must declare that he is not like her. motivated to learn how to be competent in the Whether a boy rejects his mother or merely sex and gender assigned to them (Levy, 1998). differentiates himself from her, defining Boys and girls now devote themselves to himself as different from her is central to the identifying behaviors and attitudes that others initial development of a masculine identity consider masculine and feminine and to (Kaschak, 1992). learning to enact them. Keep in mind that we're discussing general Same-sex models become extremely important but not universal -patterns of developing as gauges by which young children figure out gender identities. Maggie reminds us that what behaviors, attitudes, and feelings go with not everyone follows the general pattern. their gender. For young girls, mothers may be the primary source of information about 3. Psychological Theories of Gender femininity. Likewise, little boys study their Psychological theories also focus on the fathers and other important males in their world interpersonal bases of gender, but they do not to learn what counts as masculine (Tyre, 2006). emphasize intrapsychic processes as do the In summary, psychological theories emphasize psychodynamic explanations. Instead, the power of others' communication to teach psycholog theories of gender highlight the lessons about gender and to provide models of influence of communication on gender. masculinity and femininity. Once gender Social Learning Theory constancy is established, most children strive to develop communication, attitudes, goals, and Social learning theory claims that individuals self-presentations consistent with the gender learn to be masculine and feminine primarily by they consider theirs. imitating others and getting responses from others to their behaviors. Children imitate the communication they see on television, films.  4. Cultural Theories of Gender When young boys carry in packages after shopping, parents often praise them by saying, A third group of theories focuses on "You're such a strong little man." This links understanding gender from a cultural or cross- strength with being male. cultural perspective. Cultural scholars do not necessarily dispute biological and interpersonal factors, but they do assume that these are An important contribution to a cultural theory of qualified by the influence of culture. Because it gender is the concept of role specifically, roles incorporates other theories, the cultural for women and men. A role is a set of expected perspective is a particularly comprehensive behaviors and the values associated with them. approach to understanding what gender means in any society at a specific time (Davis & Gergen, 1997;Deaux & LaFrance, 1998; Unger, Roles are external to individuals because a 1998). society defines roles in general ways that transcend particular individuals. Roles are assigned to individuals by the society as a Anthropology whole. Thus, for each of us there are certain Anyone who has been outside the United States roles that society expects us to fulfil because of knows that traveling prompts you to learn not society's definition of us. only about other countries but also about your own. A second important dimension of role is that it is When confronted with different values and ways internalized. For social specifications of of doing things in a foreign culture, you see the behaviors to be effective, individuals must norms of your own society in a new and usually internalize them. At very young ages, girls clearer light. This holds true of gender. understand that they are supposed to be nice, Our views of gender in twenty-first-century put others' needs ahead of their own, and be nurturing, whereas boys understand that they America are clarified by considering what it are supposed to take command and assert means elsewhere how other cultures view themselves. gender and how women and men in other cultures express gendered identities. Perhaps the most important lesson we can draw Cultural theories broaden our understandings from anthropological studies is that cultures by showing how social expectations and values profoundly shape gender identity. Whatever about the sexes are systematically taught to genetic influences exist, it is the society we are individuals. socialized in that shapes our genetic Cultural views of gender include two related endowments. For instance, boys as well as girls research traditions. From anthropology, we gain in most cultures show tendencies to nurture and insight into the arbitrary and variable nature of to be aggressive. What differs is the extent to gender by seeing the different views of men and which particular cultures encourage these women held in diverse cultures. Symbolic qualities in children of each sex. interactionist theory offers an understanding of the key role of communication in socializing new members into the understandings and values of Symbolic Interactionism a given culture. Symbolic interactionism claims that through communication with others we learn who we are and what that means in our culture. Learning gender occurs as others define children by sex and link sex to social expectations of gender. "You are Mommy's helper in the kitchen,' mothers may say to daughters, telling young girls it is appropriate for them to be involved in domestic activities.