What I Learned In Women & Gender Studies Class

Explain the difference between sex and gender

Gender and sex are two very distinct concepts that people often use to describe the same thing however individually hold different meanings. Sex is the biological genitals that differ from men and women.Gender is defined as the social norms you assign yourself into depending on how you identify. You can have male genitalia and present feminine and so on.

Masculinity and femininity define gender.

In the film “Tough Guise” it talks about the context of gender representation. Sex is determined by reproductive organs and chromosomes. Sex is typically categorized as male or female based on the presence of XY or XX chromosomes. On the other hand gender is a social construct in which people act in the behaviors, roles, expectations, of the gender they perceive themselves as. Gender is fluid unlike sex and varies across cultures. Gender is not a fixed identity but a fluid phenomenon. "Tough Guise," is a documentary by Jackson Katz, which gets into the construction of masculinity in a contemporary society. Jackson argues that often masculinity is equated with dominance, aggression, and violence.

These but very accurate stereotypes are perpetuated through media, pop culture, and societal expectations. The film shows how the traits of toxic masculinity are presented and exposes how the traditional notions of masculinity contribute to a culture of violence, misogyny, and homophobia. The film challenges viewers to see the ways in which gender normatives are constructed and advocates for a more inclusive and nonviolent understanding of masculinity.

The distinction between sex and gender lies at the core of understanding human identity and social dynamics. While sex pertains to biological attributes, gender encomes the multiple roles and behaviors assigned to individuals based on societal norms. Additionally, films like "Tough Guise" bring into light the detrimental effects of gender roles, mainly men. How we should advocate for a more equal and nonviolent conception of masculinity. Understanding traditional gender norms are crucial steps towards creating a more inclusive society.

༻༺━━━━⁎∗.*.∗⁎━━━━༻༺

What are marked and unmarked identities?

When talking about surrounding identity, the concepts of marked and unmarked identities play a significant role in the understanding of individual groups. Marked identities are identities that are labeled as more or less than normal and usually carry a negative value. Marked and unmarked identities are a default setting within society. These identities are singled out due to their difference from the dominant or unmarked identities. On the other hand unmarked identities are considered more default or the normative standard. Some examples of marked identities in society are race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status. These identities are subject to stereotypes, discrimination and systemic inequalities due to their separation from societal norms.

༻༺━━━━⁎∗.*.∗⁎━━━━༻༺

   Unmarked identities have characteristics such as whiteness, cisgender identity, heterosexuality, able-bodiedness, and economic privilege, which are often the default or norm within mainstream society. When an identity is marked, it implies that individuals who possess that identity are more vulnerable to acts of hate crime, discrimination, or marginalization based on their deviation from societal norms. Marked identities are often subject to prejudice and systemic barriers that limit their opportunities. Individuals with marked identities may experience a bigger sense of self-awareness and consciousness regarding their identity.

༻༺━━━━⁎∗.*.∗⁎━━━━༻༺

Unmarked identities come off as more universal and objective of significance due to their alignment with dominant societal norms.

The tendency to view unmarked identities as a default human experience, leads to more of the erasure of those who do not meet societal norms. Unmarked identities are privileged and have more advantages and are not subject to the same level of discrimination as marked identities.

༻༺━━━━⁎∗.*.∗⁎━━━━༻༺

Marked and unmarked identities are crucial concepts in understanding the complexities of human identity and social dynamics. Marked identities represent deviations from societal norms and are often subject to discrimination and marginalization, while unmarked identities align with dominant expectations and enjoy societal privilege. Recognizing and challenging the assumptions underlying unmarked identities is essential for fostering inclusivity, equity, and social justice in our communities.

༻༺━━━━⁎∗.*.∗⁎━━━━༻༺

Intersectionality:

Intersectionality acknowledges the various social identities. For instance race, gender, class, sexuality, and ability. These social identities all interact with each other, which create unique experiences of privilege and discrimination. This term was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the late 1980s. Some highlights of intersectionality are that individuals can experience multiple forms of oppression or privilege at the same time. These intersecting identities shape experiences and perspectives in society. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the interconnected nature of social inequalities.

Biological determinism:

Biological determinism is the characteristics determined by their biological or genetic makeup which are that of an individual's behavior, abilities, and characteristics. This suggests that hormones and evolutionary processes influence human traits and behavior. Biological determinism suggests that aspects such as intelligence and personality are predetermined by biology, with room for environmental influence. This viewpoint has been criticized for oversimplifying complex human behavior and ignoring the significant impact of social, cultural, and environmental factors on individual development and societal outcomes.

Gender Socialization:

Gender socialization is the process through which we learn and internalize the cultural normatives, expectations, behaviors, and roles associated with their gender identity. Gender socialization occurs through various channels such as family, peers, education, media, and society at large, and it plays a significant role in the construction and maintenance of gender roles and stereotypes within a given culture or society.

Racism:

Racism is the systematic beliefs, practices and attitudes that discriminate against individuals based on the color of their skin or ethnic background. Often rooted in the non oppressed race to feel as if they are superior to the others. This inferiority leads to oppression, marginalization and unjust treatment.

Intersexed:

Intersex is a term used to describe individuals who are born with variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. These variations can involve chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitalia.

༻༺━━━━⁎∗.*.∗⁎━━━━༻༺