Whats the Difference Between Sex and Gender

How is gender different from sex? According to sociologists, sex is biological, while gender is socially constructed. Sociologists study how gender socialization occurs and have found that people often face strong social pressures to follow societal gender norms. Key Takeaways: Gender and Sex Sociologists make a distinction between sex, which is biologically determined, and gender, which is socially constructed.People are socialized to perform the gender that corresponds with their biological sex (for example, by behaving in ways that are considered typical for their gender).The normative pressures to perform gender can be strong, and individuals who don’t perform gender in expected ways can face bullying and exclusion. Overview From a sociological standpoint, gender is a performance composed of a  set of learned  behaviors that are  associated with  and expected to follow sex category. Sex category, how we classify ones biological sex,  refers to differences in genitalia used to categorize  humans as male, female, or intersex (ambiguous or co-occurring male and female genitalia). Sex  is thus biologically determined, whereas gender is socially constructed. We are socialized to expect that gender category (man/boy or girl/woman) follows sex, and in turn, to infer that sex follows the perceived gender of a person.  However, as the rich diversity of gender identities and expressions makes clear, gender does not necessarily follow sex in the ways we are socialized to expect. In practice, many people, regardless of sex or  gender identity, exude a combination of social characteristics that we consider both masculine and feminine. Gender as a Performance In 1987, sociologists Candace West and Don Zimmerman offered a now widely accepted definition of gender in an article published in the  journal Gender Society. They wrote, â€Å"Gender is the activity of managing situated conduct in light of normative conceptions of attitudes and activities appropriate for one’s sex category. Gender activities emerge from and bolster claims to membership in a sex category.† The authors emphasize here the normative expectation that one’s gender match one’s sex category, claiming, even, that gender is a performance meant to prove one’s sex. They argue that people rely on a variety of resources, like mannerisms, behaviors, and consumer goods to perform gender. (To get a sense of how strong social pressures are to perform a particular gender, consider how many everyday consumer products might be branded as â€Å"for men† and â€Å"for women,† even when there are no substantial differences between the male and female versions of the product.) Yet, it is precisely because gender  is  a performance that one’s gender does not have to â€Å"match† one’s sex category. By adopting certain behaviors, mannerisms, styles of dress, and sometimes body modifications like binding breasts or wearing prostheses, a person can perform any gender of their choosing. Gender and Social Expectations West and Zimmerman write that doing gender is an achievement, or accomplishment, that  is a fundamental part of proving one’s competence as a member of society. Doing gender is part and parcel of how we fit in with communities and groups, and whether we are perceived as normal. Take, for example, the case of gender performance at college parties. A woman student of mine once recounted in a class discussion how her experiment at doing gender â€Å"wrong† resulted in disbelief, confusion, and anger at a campus event. While it is seen as perfectly normal for men to dance with a woman from behind, when this woman student approached men in this manner, her behavior was taken as a joke or as weird by some men, and even as a threat which resulted in hostile behavior by others. By reversing the gender roles of dancing, the woman student made herself appear to fail to understand gender norms, and was shamed and threatened for doing so. The results of the woman student’s micro-experiment demonstrate another aspect of West and Zimmerman’s theory of gender as an interactional achievement — that when we do gender we are held accountable by those around us. The methods by which others hold us accountable to what is perceived as the â€Å"correct† doing of gender vary widely, and include doling out praise for normative gender performances, like compliments on hair or clothing styles, or for â€Å"ladylike† or â€Å"gentlemanly† behavior. When we fail to do gender in the normative fashion, we may be met with subtle cues like confused or upset facial expressions or double takes, or overt cues like verbal challenges, bullying, physical intimidation or assault, and exclusion from social institutions. One area in which gender has been highly politicized and contested has been at educational institutions. In some cases, students have been sent home or excluded from school functions for wearing clothing that is not perceived as normal for their gender, such as when boys attend school in skirts, or girls wear tuxes to prom or for senior yearbook photos. In sum, gender is a socially-situated performance and accomplishment that is framed and directed by social institutions, ideologies, discourse, communities, peer groups, and other individuals in society. Further Reading Prominent social scientists who research and write about gender today include Gloria Anzaldà ºa, Patricia Hill Collins, R.W. Connell, Brittney Cooper, Yen Le Espiritu, Sarah Fenstermaker, Evelyn Nakano Glenn, Arlie Hochschild, Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, Nikki Jones, Michael Messner, Cherrà ­e Moraga, C.J. Pascoe, Cecilia Ridgeway, Victor Rios, Chela Sandoval, Verta Taylor, Hung Cam Thai, and Lisa Wade.

Safety, Health, and Security in the Work Place Essay examples

A general debate of each of these ideas of employee health, safety and security are the affiliations of safety, health, and security are closely related. Normally, safety communicates to defending the physical safety of individuals. The most important purpose of active safety programs in establishments is to prevent work-related injuries and accidents. The extensive term is health, which discusses a common state of physical, mental, and emotional well-being of persons in health managing practices. The purpose of security is defending workers, patients, or occupants, customers, guests, and physical facilities. By means of the progression of work violence, security at work has become an even larger concern for healthcare employers and†¦show more content†¦For example, the businesses can look for the least hazardous equipment or material. They can separate workers from specific known hazards, by protective clothing and equipment or architectural features. They can provide satis factory air circulation to protect against gases. They can legislate rules and procedures that endorse safe practices. For example, a place of work safety instructions are having too many keys, or not an adequate amount of can leave your place of work at jeopardy. Safeguarding the not dangerous protection and defense of workers, records, tools and accommodations is a main concern of business proprietors and supervisors. For example, Alarm and Surveillance Systems can invest in a good security system that will be cautious of the governing programs in the event of a break-in. Make the password available only to those with a valid reason for withholding it normally check all windows and doors before closing your office. Install video surveillance systems at entrances and exits as well as in hallways, staircases, garages and service counters where financial transactions take place. In concluding, by means of the progression of work violence, security at work has become an even larger concern for healthcare employers and workers in a similar way. Safety, health and security in the workplace is important to workers and to the general self-esteem of the employees of a business. A general objective of providing a safe,Show MoreRelatedM1- Asses the Implications of Health and Safety and Security Legislation and Regulations for a Business Role in a Work Place.966 Words   |  4 PagesM1- Asses the implications of health and safety and security legislation and regulations for a business role in a work place. This covers different roles with Super Group, I will be looking at the health, safety and security legislation and regulation have different implications. 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Slave Culture- African or American Free Essays

Despite the abduction of millions of blacks from their homeland, slaves developed a strong familial camaraderie in America, retaining their African traditions as seen through dance, language, clothing and hairstyle. Although kinship ties were usually broken during the slavery process, blacks living on the same plantation created a strong-knit community that took part in festivals that highlighted the vibrant music and dancing of the African culture. Additionally, blacks expressed the individuality and uniqueness of their African tribe through their clothing and distinct hairstyles. We will write a custom essay sample on Slave Culture- African or American or any similar topic only for you Order Now The constant influx of black slaves into America guaranteed the survival of the African culture, as more and more generations of slaves replenished the African heritage (Yacavone 570). Although most evidence suggests slave culture was rooted in Africa, slave advocacy in adopting Christianity supports the theory of their assimilation into American culture. In dealing with the hardships of slavery, blacks endeavored in numerous efforts of rebellion and escape to avoid assimilation into the American culture. Nat Turner’s revolt embodied African resistance towards American tradition, as Turner sought to free his fellow slaves from oppression and achieve a sense of equality, as seen through the eyes of God (eblackstudies. org). As a result of enslavement, blacks became united in times of resistance, as their â€Å"ethnic heritage bonded and emboldened them and underlay their New World identity as ‘Africans,’ forged in their common struggle (Rucker 285). Similar to the tightly bonded African extended family, slaves exhibited strong camaraderie during times of escape, as it was common for Africans to leave in bands of six or more people (Couvares 290). Slave participation in communal festivals each year promoted the existence of the lively African culture, as they congregated by the hundreds to perform rituals, sing, and dance. The Pinkster festival featured a mass assembly of blacks that would dance to the â€Å"hollow Sound of a Drum, made of the Trunk of a hollow Tree†¦the grating rattling Noise of Pebles [sic] or Shells in a small Basket† (White 8). Music along with dancing took various shapes and forms as the Jonkonnu festival reflected the African importance of nature, as it was accompanied with â€Å"songs strange, monotonous cadences† (Warren 9). Slaves were also successful in maintaining their African dialects, which â€Å"not only allowed them to endure the collective tragedy of slavery, but to bequeath a notable and enduring heritage to generations to come (Joyner 280). Slaves also exhibited their allegiance to the African culture through their clothing and hairstyle. Hair was regarded as one of the most important parts of the body for Africans as â€Å"elaborate hair designs reflect[ed] tribal affiliation, status, sex, age, [and] occupation† (White 49). In addition, hairstyles conveyed different messages to society and nature, as people of the Yoruba culture braided their hair to send messages to the gods (Wiki). Similarly, African-American women made cloth that incorporated the West African ideals of design, using radiant colors to embody the highly spirited culture (Thompson 170). Although blacks maintained several traditions of their past African culture, many slaves gave up their pagan beliefs and adopted Christianity in order to gain a sense of belonging in the new American culture. Christianity became an Americanizing force on slaves not only because it served an opportunity for them to escape the white encroachment towards their African religion, but it also â€Å"fit into West African ideas about the deities, the universe, and rebirth (Frey 282). Likewise, blacks were so quick to adopt Christianity because it acculturated them into American society with a feeling of equality among their white counterparts (Raboteau 283). Despite many blacks retaining their past cultural traditions, the goal in converting slaves to Christianity was successful as â€Å"slaves turned not to traditional African sources of wisdom and solace but to Christianity for a useful and restorative understanding of daily life† (Couvares 283). How to cite Slave Culture- African or American, Essay examples