Difference between revisions of "Sex"

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(Fix grammatically the last statement. It had a sentence fragment, and "discrimination on the basis of both" means both need be conjointly true, "either" is the best word here)
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'''Gender''' is the attribute of being either [[male]] or [[female]]. Gender differs from sex in that while sex deals with the biological attributes of male and female, gender may be understood more as a cultural concept and a complex set of learned behaviors that is contingent not only on culture, but also on history. Gender roles and expectations are always in flux and vary from one society to another and one time to another. Thus, the qualities and behaviors expected of [[women]] by a particular society at a particular historical time is called [[femininity]]; [[masculinity]] is what is expected of [[men]] in a particular cultural and historical setting.
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'''Gender''' is the attribute of being either [[male]] or [[female]]. Gender differs from sex in that while sex deals with the biological attributes of male and female, gender may be understood more as a cultural concept and a complex set of learned behaviors that is contingent not only on culture, but also on history. Gender roles and expectations are always in flux and vary from one society to another and one time to another. Thus, the qualities and behaviors expected of [[women]] by a particular society at a particular historical time is called [[femininity]]; [[masculinity]] is what is expected of [[men]] in a particular cultural and historical setting. Some individuals, such as homosexuals, attempt to go against these gender norms, often for attention and with harmful results.
  
 
An organism's sex category reflects its biological reproductive function rather than its sexuality or other behavior. The female sex is defined as the one which produces the larger [[gamete]] (the egg) and which typically bears the offspring. In contrast, the male sex has a smaller gamete (sperm) and rarely bears offspring. In some animals, sex may be assigned to specific structures rather than the entire organism. Earthworms, for example, are normally [[hermaphrodites]].
 
An organism's sex category reflects its biological reproductive function rather than its sexuality or other behavior. The female sex is defined as the one which produces the larger [[gamete]] (the egg) and which typically bears the offspring. In contrast, the male sex has a smaller gamete (sperm) and rarely bears offspring. In some animals, sex may be assigned to specific structures rather than the entire organism. Earthworms, for example, are normally [[hermaphrodites]].
  
Alternatively, "gender" may be defined to be the norm of social conduct, based on sex.  That is, "sex" defines what is biologically present, whereas "gender" defines what society expects of persons of different sexes.  The distinction is important in law, as it tends to forbid discrimination on the basis of either, e.g. effeminate men cannot be fired for not acting according to their "gender". In other areas the distinction is primarily important for more abstracted social and legal arguments, rather than everyday use.
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Alternatively, "gender" may be defined to be the norm of social conduct, based on sex.  That is, "sex" defines what is biologically present, whereas "gender" defines what society expects of persons of different sexes.  The distinction is important in law, as it tends to forbid discrimination on the basis of either, e.g. effeminate men cannot be fired for not acting according to their "gender". On many occasions, however, these laws can get out of hand, creating a "politically correct histeria" where employers and employees are afraid to confront each other over inapropriate behaviour for fear of being labeled predjudice.In other areas the distinction is primarily important for more abstracted social and legal arguments, rather than everyday use.
  
 
[[category:biology]]
 
[[category:biology]]
 
[[category:sociology]]
 
[[category:sociology]]
 
[[Category:Sexuality]]
 
[[Category:Sexuality]]

Revision as of 18:20, January 11, 2008

Gender is the attribute of being either male or female. Gender differs from sex in that while sex deals with the biological attributes of male and female, gender may be understood more as a cultural concept and a complex set of learned behaviors that is contingent not only on culture, but also on history. Gender roles and expectations are always in flux and vary from one society to another and one time to another. Thus, the qualities and behaviors expected of women by a particular society at a particular historical time is called femininity; masculinity is what is expected of men in a particular cultural and historical setting. Some individuals, such as homosexuals, attempt to go against these gender norms, often for attention and with harmful results.

An organism's sex category reflects its biological reproductive function rather than its sexuality or other behavior. The female sex is defined as the one which produces the larger gamete (the egg) and which typically bears the offspring. In contrast, the male sex has a smaller gamete (sperm) and rarely bears offspring. In some animals, sex may be assigned to specific structures rather than the entire organism. Earthworms, for example, are normally hermaphrodites.

Alternatively, "gender" may be defined to be the norm of social conduct, based on sex. That is, "sex" defines what is biologically present, whereas "gender" defines what society expects of persons of different sexes. The distinction is important in law, as it tends to forbid discrimination on the basis of either, e.g. effeminate men cannot be fired for not acting according to their "gender". On many occasions, however, these laws can get out of hand, creating a "politically correct histeria" where employers and employees are afraid to confront each other over inapropriate behaviour for fear of being labeled predjudice.In other areas the distinction is primarily important for more abstracted social and legal arguments, rather than everyday use.