Gender is a social gender that determines a person’s behavior in society and how this behavior is perceived. These are those aspects of masculine and feminine that are set primarily by society as a kind of social standard. Sometimes the concept of «gender» is used as a synonym for the concepts of «male and female», implying any mental or behavioral properties associated with masculinity and femininity and supposedly distinguish men from women. With this approach, there are always two genders — male and female, and it is in this sense that they talk about the psychological characteristics of men and women.
In a narrower and more precise sense, “gender” is a certain standard of male or female behavior set by society, and with this approach, there are not two genders, but much more. There is a standard of male and female in general, and at the same time there are specific standards of behavior (gender) within male and female behavior. In particular, five genders are recognized in Thailand, including katoy (men who have changed their gender to female) and two genders of lesbians, distinguished by masculinity and femininity. Until the end of the XNUMXth century, the Chukchi distinguished between heterosexual men, heterosexual men who wore women’s clothes, homosexual men who wore women’s clothes, heterosexual women and women who wore men’s clothes. All these are different genders.
When starting a conversation about male and female gender, it is important to emphasize that it is not uncommon to meet a woman with a male gender (“a man in a skirt”) and a man with a female gender: not strong-willed, soft, prone to feelings.
Gender and biology
Gender is a social gender that is set by society, but are there biological roots behind these social norms?
There is. Boys and girls initially, in their genetics and biology, differ in interests, abilities and style. Male and female brains differ in size and function. Differences between male and female are visible from early childhood: boys love to play with cars and fight, girls play with dolls and slander — and this happens in addition to the forces of social influences, it is “sewn in” biologically. It cannot be denied that the behavior of males and females is a consequence of their socialization and upbringing in accordance with society’s ideas about the role of men and women. However, the question arises: why did mankind form such ideas? And why, despite the change of historical and economic eras, they still remain fundamentally unshakable? Most likely, because they are based on folk wisdom, which takes into account the biological capabilities of men and women.
On the other hand, many biological characteristics of men and women seem to have been shaped by evolution in connection with the life functions that were distributed by culture between women and men. If men took on the function of hunting, they learned spatial thinking, the ability to negotiate at a distance, distinguish between right and left, learned to beat and fight boldly. If women took on the function of sitting with children and taking care of the cave (house), they developed the ability to feel children and other people close to them, the ability to negotiate in direct communication, take care of safety and attract the attention of men who could take care of them. see →
Gender and culture
Whatever the biological basis, gender differences are largely the result of learning. Boys and girls are brought up as boys and girls, according to the normative notions of the culture: «Boys don’t cry!» «A girl can’t be dirtier!» This upbringing takes place in every family with the help of others, and sometimes the state.
In religious communities across the United States, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Latter Day Saints, women are forced into traditional gender roles under threat of excommunication. And in some Protestant communities, women who doubt the need for blind submission to men are visited by a categorically minded pastor who dissuades them by showing passages in the Bible confirming the subordination of women.
The punishment for refusing to follow gender roles can be severe. Ayatollah Khomeini, the ruler of Iran from 1979 to the mid-1980s, repealed all laws giving women any rights and sentenced to death a total of 20 women who did not follow strict rules governing their dress and behavior (French, 1992).
At the same time, it is wrong to say that gender attitudes are “imposed” by society, and people resist them: no, gender standards for the most part meet with widespread support. Women usually want to marry not just a male being, but a real man. Similarly, men need not just a female doll, but a sweet and beautiful woman. To make this happen, caring parents raise boys as men and girls as women. If this happens, parents are proud of their children, and grown-up children are proud of themselves and thank their parents.
Gender standards are one of the foundations of modern civilization. At the same time, it seems useful that women do not close themselves in a narrow circle of «women’s affairs» and household duties, so that they can choose for themselves those activities that interest them and master them. Similarly, if men add to themselves those abilities and talents that women usually possess, this will also enrich them.