Sex and Gender Concepts Paper Example

Introduction

Sex and gender are concepts that can be easily confused because they overlap in so many ways yet they are distinct from each other. Psychologists have formulated various theoretical approaches that help in distinguishing between the biological aspects of sex and the perception of identities given to the different genders. Both biologists and psychologists view sex-typing from different perspectives because the former see it as a procedure that determines an individual's sex; while the latter deem it to be the stereotyping of people's appearances and behavior in accordance to the societal perceptions associated with their respective biological sex. This essay will look at the psychological theories used to explain both sex-typing and gender identity while making a clear distinction between the two; besides also expounding on how the biological theory of sex-typing contributes to nature versus nurture debate.

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Theories of Sex-Typing

The biological and social learning theories are two theoretical approaches in psychology that are used to explain the concept of sex-typing. As such, the biological theory takes the scientific route in explaining sex-typing because it asserts that an X chromosome-bearing egg is normally fertilized by another egg with either another X chromosome or Y chromosome to form a girl or a boy respectively (Fausto-Sterling 2012). This biological process is not assured because sometimes it can deviate and result in an unusual combination of the chromosomes leading to three possible outcomes. One of the possible outcomes is hermaphroditism in which the individual ends up having chromosomes that have boy and girl features. Then there is the Turner's syndrome whereby the individual will have 45 cromosomes, which is one less than the usual number of 46 chromosomes (Fausto-Sterling 2012). Lastly, the unusual combination of the chromosomes may also result in the Klinefelter's syndrome where the person ends up having an extra X chromosome. As per the biological theory of sex-typing, individuals bearing either the normal XX or XY chromosomes possess hormonal and innate genetic variations between the boys and girls. It is these distinct variations that to contribute to the different characteristics between the two sexes. That is why the XY carrying boys will prefer rough outdoor games while the girls will opt for the serene games with their dolls (Fausto-Sterling 2012). The biological theory points towards this scientific approach in explaining sex-typing.

The other theoretical approach that psychologists have tried to explain the concept of sex-typing is through the social learning theory. The theory states that the issue of sex-typing is learned by individuals in the society starting from their childhood The theory, conceptualized by Bandura, underlines the importance of children learning from their care givers through modeling and observation of the emotional reactions, attitude, and behavior of those around them (Helgeson 2016). The majority of human behavior is acquired through modeling where one observes how others behave, and much later they utilize the information coded in their minds as a guide to acting or behaving as they have observed. Telling a child whether something is wrong or right is not as effective as the behavior, attitude, and emotional responses that they observe from adults. The social learning theory, as per the environment of upbringing, espouses human behavior that is mirrored from other individuals from an individual's tender age. The theory also explains how sex-typing or gender perceptions are developed from the observation of gender-related behavior. This was termed as self-efficacy by Bandura who used the term to refer to the feeling of appropriateness and competence about the behavior and potential ability of children (Helgeson 2016).

The Difference Between Theories of Sex and (Gender) Identity

There are fundamental differences that help distinguish between sex and gender identity theories. The social learning theory explains sex and gender identity by examining the social factors that lead individuals to learn the things they know and behave like they do (Helgeson 2016). The biological theory takes a scientific approach in explaining the behavior of typical genders as either male or female through the use of chromosomes. The biological theory classifies individuals as either male or female based on the external biological genitalia and how individuals are formed before their birth. The gender identity if such individuals will be largely determined by the social labeling of their sexes and not how they feel. The biological theory negates the social environment in which an individual grows while the social learning theory takes this into account in the explanation of sex and gender identity.

The social learning theory, on its part, ignores how people are biologically made but it takes into account the surrounding environment and people around us impact our upbringing and form perceptions based on sex and gender identity. The gender roles assigned to either males or females are contextually independent and static according to the biological theory while the social learning theory espouses that both males and females can select their gender identity meaning that their gender identities are voluntary. Psychologists deem both psychological theories to be credible since they provide concrete evidence in their findings that help in arguing their talking points.

Cultural Variants in Theories of Sex/Gender Identity

Cultural variants and practices are integral to influencing sex and gender identity. The cultural context is closely linked to the characteristics of gender identity because of the wider society that aids an individual in identifying themselves as either feminine or masculine. Different cultures around the globe have a set of practice that set the standard for people to their gender roles and conforms with the society psychologically. That is why cross-sex typing is deemed both harmful and deviant because it means that an individual of given biological sex behaves in the characteristics of the opposite gender not assigned to their sex.

The psychological concept of gender schema was formulated to explain certain behaviors and attitudes within the cultural society are connected to either the male or female gender (Fausto-Sterling 2012). Children from different cultural backgrounds around the world will eventually form distinct perceptions on what it means to be either a boy or a girl, and the level at which they identify with either gender will vary according to the masculine or feminine perceptions held in their culture. The adherence to the gender norms for the children from the different socio-cultural backgrounds ends up creating a strong reliance on sex and gender identity of their respective cultures.

Basic Ideas Within Nature/Nurture Debate

Nature versus nurture debate seeks to make a further comprehension on how sex and gender identities form among individuals since they are at a young age. They are both explained from a biological and social perspective respectively. Nature mainly consists of the hereditary influences that an individual derives from their biological sex determined by their reproductive organs. Elsewhere, nurture is seen as more of the environmental influences that affect an individual. The environmental factors at play include the surroundings within which an individual is brought up as well as the people around the person who play a substantial role in influencing their sex and gender perceptions (Lippa 2014). Psychologists have embraced both nature and nurture influences on individuals together with their perceptions of sex-typing because both elements are mutually influential as well as essential in the field of psychology.

Nature and nurture debate is an intricate one because, for instance, how a child responds to the parenting style that they have been brought up with is influenced by the temperament of the child in question and other natural characteristics that they have inherited (Lippa 2014). It is worth noting that the style of parenting is an environmental influence that revolves around nurture. The inherited characteristics that are naturally expressed and developed in the child also affected by nurture in which they are subjected to the influences of the environment. A case in point could be the height of an individual which is a natural characteristic inherited from the parents but can also be acquired through medical care and improved nutrition.

Contributions to Nature/Nurture Debate

Both the biological and social learning theories of sex-typing have an instrumental contribution to make in nature and nurture debate. This is because the biological theory leans towards nature due to the hereditary traits that an individual inherits from their parents while the social learning theory has more to do with nurture as it entails the upbringing of an individual in a specific environmental setting and surrounded by people who influence their sex and gender identity perceptions (Helgeson 2016). The debate seeks to understand how natural or biological factors interact with the environmental factors surrounding the concept of nurture to lead to the development of an individual.

The contribution of both theories may be explained from either the biological or socialization perspectives. Gender identity is a perception that is biologically induced and can be seen in the inherent or natural levels of aggression in both the male and female sexes. Biological and socio-cultural factors are always in conflict with each other in nature-nurture debate because nature outweighs the environmental nurture in most cases (Lippa 2014). Nature brings about sex and gender identity differences since the biological approach uses genetics to assign the distinctions. The formation of personal qualities and behavior are influenced by nature in the form of reinforcement of perceptions on gender identity.

Conclusion

According to psychological theoretical perspectives, both the biological components and the society in which they are brought up in are significant aspects that lead to the formation of sex and gender identities. Both the biological and social learning theories play an instrumental role in the formation of perceptions on sex and gender as reinforced through nature and nurture debate. It is essential for psychologists to grasp these fundamental differences and discard the stereotyping associated with either sex or gender and allow for both to thrive without any discrimination. The reality remains that both concepts are intertwined as they play a role in the creation of perceptions within individuals on sex and gender identities (Fausto-Sterling 2012). However, the biological theory acts as a foundation that establishes sex differences between boys and girls while the social learning theory takes over from this basis by assigning each sex its gender roles within the society.

References

Fausto-Sterling, A 2012, Sex/gender: Biology in a social world, Routledge.

Helgeson, VS 2016, Psychology of gender, Fifth Ed, Routledge.

Lippa, RA 2014, Gender, nature, and nurture, Psychology Press.