What Is Sex

The biological characteristics of maleness of femaleness. Three biological characteristics can be used to identify a person’s sex. Physical Appearance •Genitalia are commonly used at birth, but not without some occasional errors. Hermaphrodite Physical abnormality The Second Biological Characteristic

Hormones •Hormones can also be used, but hormone levels vary greatly between members of the same sex. •Hormone levels are also influenced by physical activity. •Males and females have the same hormones. Estrogen Testosterone The Third Biological Characteristic Chromosomes •Chromosome testing is used to measure the presence of either XX or XY pairs. •Chromosome testing is not frequently done, but when the test is done some errors do occur. •Olympic FEM-testing has been criticized for many years. •Errors are associated with all methods of determining individual sex. Sex Category – is the assigning of a person (or self) to either male or female sex.

What attributes do people use to identify someone's sex? •Hair length? •Physique? •Skin complexion? •Voice? •How often are you wrong???

The concept of Gender •A misunderstood concept that is not synonymous with sex. •The behavior and attitudes that support the masculine or feminine dimensions of the self. •The social conceptions about personality traits and behavior appropriate for males and females. Gender Identity The mixture of masculine and feminine traits that are unique to each person. The specific makeup of each persons gender is highly variable. In fact most sociologists believe that gender differences are greater within the same sex than between the opposite sexes.

What is a person’s sex role? •SEX ROLE – The learned pattern of gender behavior considered appropriate for males and females in a society. •The socialization into sex roles takes place in many ways: Social Learning Theory – People learn their appropriate sex role by watching and participating in social life. 1. Girls games and boys games 2. Cooperative v. competitive 3. Indoor v. outdoor 4. Close v. distant 5. Age homogeneous v. age heterogeneous 6. Television and movies 7. Observing adults behavior Labeling Theory – Successful application of labels leads to the internalization of matching norms and values. 1. The most powerful tool used to socialize females toward femininity and males toward masculinity is homophobia.

2. Homophobia - is the fear that others will think you are a homosexual. 3. The fear of being identified as homosexual. 4. Why would anyone be afraid of homosexual identification? Sex Role Socialization •Males are socialized primarily with prescriptive norms and females are socialized primarily with proscriptive norms.

Male

Female

•Strength •Nurturer •Provider •Protector •Emotional •Leader

MALE SEX ROLE MODELS 1. Mr. Tough 2. Mr. Jock 3. Mr. Playboy 4. Mr. Money 5. Mr. Fearless All male sex role models represent three masculine attributes: Power, Control and Dominance. FEMALE SEX ROLE MODELS 1. Mrs. Mom. 2. Ms. Model. 3. Ms. Professional. 4. Ms. Athlete. 5. Super-Mom. All female sex role models represent three basic feminine attributes: nurture, beauty and duty.

Sexuality is the internalized norms and values that represent a pattern of sexual behavior. •Genetic sexuality? •Choice sexuality? •Critical period conditioned sexuality? •All sexual behavior is acquired (?) behavior.

Sexuality, Gender and Culture •Men are more often the initiators of sexual activity than women, even though the positive response rates are equal. •Men are more permissive about casual sex than women. •Men begin sexual activity at an earlier age than women. •There is more stigma for a women than a man to be sexually promiscuous. PROMISCUITY: variations in definition The Grand Valley Dani 1. Do not begin sexual relations until two years after marriage 2. The population is barely maintained 3. A couple will abstain for sex for 4-6 years after the birth of child 4. Very low extramarital sex 5. No evidence of homosexuality or masturbation PROMISCUITY: variations in definition South Pacific Mangaia 1. Both male and female have considerable premarital sex, with many partners 2. 18 year old males have 3 orgasms a night each night of the week 3. 28 year olds 2 orgasms per night, 5-6 times a week 4. Extramarital relations are common What are the physiological differences between male and female humans? A few of the commonly held beliefs are: 1. Intelligence

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Body Fat Hormones and Chromosomes Pelvic Bone? Muscle Mass Will a female ever be able to run, jump, or lift equal to the male?

Perceived Versus Actual Differences Between Males and Females Sexism is the belief that a persons behavior is the product of their sexual biology.

What behaviors are commonly believed to be female? I. Nurturing? II. Emotional? What behaviors are commonly believed to be male? I. Aggression? II. Hunting? Language reveals much of the sexism that is pervasive in American society I. The language does not creates sexism, but rather reveals the presence in everyday life. II. The common language is a powerful tool in the socialization process of children. III. Language teaches the appropriate behavior, attitudes, and status of males and females in a society. IV. The language ignores the female. V. He and his, mankind, all are supposed to include females. VI. Try reading a story that only has she and see if you can put yourself in the role of the character.

•HISTORY The language defines the status position of females and feminine. Women are defined by losing their name when married.

When possessions are named by men, the possession is named feminine. We often denote that a status typically held by a man with the defining title of LADY surgeon, truck driver, police officer (chick-cop). The language depreciates things that are female or feminine. •The use of -ess or -etts to end the titles of gender neutral status positions is used to devalue the position because a female occupies the status. •For example, actor/actress, waiter/waitress, or the names of teams for sports bobcats/lady bobcats. •There are over 200 swear slang words that refer to female anatomy, but only 20 referring to male anatomy. •What is the worst thing one man can call another? •What is the worst thing a woman can call another? Voice and Gender Tone of voice is often used to identify the gender of others. I. Males end sentences with low tones II. Females end sentences with high tones Tone influences the authority and confidence expressed by the voice I. Males are said to command II. Females are said to request Voice and Gender cont. Tone of voice influences the perception others have of the speaker I. Masculine tone generates a perception of authority and confidence II. Feminine tone generates a perception of insecurity and submissiveness III. One explanation for the “glass ceiling” is the gender differences is voice presentation.