Gendered Identities

1

Gender, Sexuality Gender, Sexuality and Identityand Identity

2 Clive McGoun: Cultural Identity

Identity and GenderIdentity and Gender

We need to examine the following We need to examine the following two claims:two claims:

1.1. Gender identities are shaped by many Gender identities are shaped by many different factors – individual and different factors – individual and collective: biological and socialcollective: biological and social

2.2. The ways we construct our identities are The ways we construct our identities are strongly influenced by a set of rather strongly influenced by a set of rather stereotypically stereotypically femininefeminine and and masculine masculine characteristics and traits that we often characteristics and traits that we often associate with gender categories.associate with gender categories.


Definitions?Definitions?

SexSex Sex is a biological classificationSex is a biological classification

GenderGender Gender includes the social attributes Gender includes the social attributes

associated with being a man or a woman in associated with being a man or a woman in a particular society.a particular society.

Feminine/masculineFeminine/masculine These are terms applied to the qualities These are terms applied to the qualities

particular societies associate with women particular societies associate with women and men.and men.


UsesUses The homeless were recorded by The homeless were recorded by gendergender and and

whether adult or child, but names were not whether adult or child, but names were not taken. taken. He declined to identify the surgeon , even by He declined to identify the surgeon , even by sexsex. .

We unconditionally reject [birth control] as a We unconditionally reject [birth control] as a means of means of gendergender selection. selection. In the new paradigm of In the new paradigm of sexsex determination that is determination that is emerging, the fetus is roughly female to begin emerging, the fetus is roughly female to begin with. with.

She lifted one leg, saw the She lifted one leg, saw the gendergender of the baby, of the baby, threw the leg down and said the baby was a boy threw the leg down and said the baby was a boy The 38-year-old Couric said the The 38-year-old Couric said the sexsex of the baby of the baby hasn't been determined. hasn't been determined.


The OEDThe OED [[gen-dergen-der] ]

1. Grammar. 1. Grammar. 1. a. A set of two or more 1. a. A set of two or more categories, as masculine, categories, as masculine, feminine, and neuter, into feminine, and neuter, into which words are divided which words are divided according to sex, animation, according to sex, animation, psychological associations, or psychological associations, or some other characteristic, and some other characteristic, and that determine agreement with that determine agreement with or the selection of modifiers, or the selection of modifiers, referents, or grammatical referents, or grammatical forms. forms. 1. b. One category of such a 1. b. One category of such a set. set. 1. c. The classification of a 1. c. The classification of a word or grammatical form in word or grammatical form in such a category. such a category. 1. d. The distinguishing form 1. d. The distinguishing form or forms used. or forms used. 2. Classification of sex. 2. Classification of sex.

[[sexsex] ] 1. a. The property or quality 1. a. The property or quality by which organisms are by which organisms are classified according to their classified according to their reproductive functions. reproductive functions. 1. b. Either of two divisions, 1. b. Either of two divisions, designated male and female, of designated male and female, of this classification. this classification. 2. Males or females 2. Males or females collectively. collectively. 3. The condition or 3. The condition or character of being male or character of being male or female; the physiological, female; the physiological, functional, and psychological functional, and psychological differences that distinguish the differences that distinguish the male and the female. male and the female. 4. The sexual urge or 4. The sexual urge or instinct as it manifests itself in instinct as it manifests itself in behavior. behavior. 5. Sexual intercourse. 5. Sexual intercourse. 6. The genitalia. 6. The genitalia.


PositionsPositions

From a recent medical textFrom a recent medical text Taken as a noun, sex is a biological Taken as a noun, sex is a biological

determinant, while gender carries determinant, while gender carries psychological and sociological implications. psychological and sociological implications. Hence in biological sciences, sex differences Hence in biological sciences, sex differences are innate, chromosomally determined are innate, chromosomally determined characteristics that distinguish between characteristics that distinguish between males and females, while in psychological males and females, while in psychological and sociological sciences gender differences and sociological sciences gender differences refer to male or female traits that result refer to male or female traits that result from learning and social roles. from learning and social roles.


PositionsPositions Another quote, from a book entitled Another quote, from a book entitled Gender VoicesGender Voices: : The opening words of Simone de Beauvoir's historic The opening words of Simone de Beauvoir's historic

book book The Second SexThe Second Sex capture the essential capture the essential characteristic of gender: 'One is not born, but rather characteristic of gender: 'One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.' Gender is a socially rather than becomes, a woman.' Gender is a socially rather than a biologically constructed attribute -- people are not a biologically constructed attribute -- people are not born with but rather learn the behaviours and born with but rather learn the behaviours and attitudes appropriate to their sex. During the last attitudes appropriate to their sex. During the last decade of research, it has become clear that gender decade of research, it has become clear that gender is a very complex category. Theories are still being is a very complex category. Theories are still being developed which try to grapple with the complexity developed which try to grapple with the complexity but they share the idea that gender, unlike sex, is a but they share the idea that gender, unlike sex, is a continuous variable. A person can be more or less continuous variable. A person can be more or less 'feminine' and more or less 'masculine.' Furthermore, 'feminine' and more or less 'masculine.' Furthermore, a man can display 'feminine' characteristics just as a a man can display 'feminine' characteristics just as a woman may demonstrate 'masculine' ones. woman may demonstrate 'masculine' ones.


Table 1Table 1

tall tender arrogant lucky active jealous humane proud individualistic tactful modest commanding athletic intuitive unpretentious weak kind passive benevolent decisive conventional assertive unfriendly strong irresponsible tidy co-operative perceptive playful robust anxious unemotional responsive gentle informal flexible vulnerable calm acute dignified vigorous cheerful crude faithful timid

Table 1 contains 45 terms which might be used to categorise people. Which, if any, of these words would you use to describe yourself?


Table 2Table 2

Feminine characteristics Masculine characteristics Neutral characteristics anxious active acute co-operative arrogant benevolent faithful assertive calm gentle athletic cheerful humane commanding conventional intuitive crude dignified kind decisive flexible passive individualistic informal perceptive irresponsible jealous responsible proud lucky tactful robust modest tender strong playful tidy tall unfriendly timid unemotional unpretentious vulnerable vigorous weak

Table 2: Typically feminine and typically masculine characteristics. (Woodward, 2000)


Gender Identity and Self-Gender Identity and Self-CategorisationCategorisation

Interpellation Interpellation (Althusser, 1971)(Althusser, 1971) A process whereby A process whereby

people recognise people recognise themselves in a themselves in a particular identity and particular identity and think ‘that’s me’.think ‘that’s me’.

Interpellation links the Interpellation links the personal to the social.personal to the social.

It may work It may work consciously or consciously or unconsciouslyunconsciously





Self-categorisation (Turner Self-categorisation (Turner et. al. et. al. 1987)1987)

1.1. We see people as members of social We see people as members of social categoriescategories

2.2. We also see ourselves as members of We also see ourselves as members of social categoriessocial categories

3.3. We take on identities appropriate to We take on identities appropriate to the social categories with which we the social categories with which we identify.identify.



What happens when What happens when a child is born? a child is born? What category, What category, male male or or female female will will be written on the be written on the birth certificate?birth certificate?

What factors, What factors, biological or social, biological or social, influence this influence this categorisation?categorisation?



Gender as socially Gender as socially constructed?constructed?

Are we free to Are we free to change our gender change our gender identity?identity?

Gender Gender stereotypesstereotypes

Masculinities and Masculinities and femininitiesfemininities


Gender Identity and Self-Gender Identity and Self-Categorisation: Bem (1995)Categorisation: Bem (1995)

Feminine

Femininity

Undifferentiated

Masculinity

Masculine

Androgynous


Summary Summary

BIOLOGICAL SOCIAL FACTORS FACTORS

genetic anatomical categories and make-up differences stereotypes

GENDERED IDENTITIES

Date post:	07-Dec-2014
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Gendered Identities

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