Gender Identity: Biologically Inevitable or Sociologically Imposed?
Today in society, gender identity is becoming a prominent topic of discussion. Many people believe that the attributes associated with a specific gender are deep rooted and established prematurely. From the time that a child is born their gender roles and personalities in life are predestined just by the term, “It’s a ___!” There are two major theories that have explanations for this phenomenon. In “The Early Development of Gender Differences,” Matthew H. McIntyre and Carolyn Pope Edwards present a biological perspective to explain the inevitability of gender identity. Contrarily, Mari Mikkola explains how it is sociologically imposed in her article, “Feminist Perspectives …show more content…
Here, Mikkola presents her implication of feminism. From her explanation of gender identity as a parent the reader can conclude that parental care is a product of nurture. Mikkola implies that the role of the women as the primary caretaker is developed by gender personalities, not biology. Since women stereotypically show more emotion, they supposedly find “it difficult to distinguish their own interests and wellbeing from the interests and wellbeing of their children and partners.” (Mikkola). In contrast, McIntyre and Edwards explain that parental care is initiated by the endocrine system (nature). Although McIntyre and Edwards primarily build their justification of gender identities through facts and their credibility as psychologists, they also discuss empathy. They state, “Parental care has been linked to psychometric construct of empathy, and reduced empathy in men has been linked, in turn, to lower thresholds aggression.” (McIntyre). This means testosterone reduces empathy; therefore, primitive biological factors determine which gender is the care giver- …show more content…
Mikkola states that, “children identify with the same-sex parent,” therefore, “because mothers are more likely to identify with their daughters than their sons. This unconsciously prompts the mother to encourage her son to psychologically individuate himself from her thereby prompting him to develop well defined and rigid ego.” (Mikkola). This ego is what cause males to “prioritize their own needs and interests sometimes at the expense of others ' needs and interests” which inversely affects their ability to be the primary care take giver, not their testosterone levels (Mikkola).
In conclusion, while McIntyre and Edwards focused on ethical review of scientific research, Mikkola presented the logical association of social factors to justify gender roles. Both varying approaches sufficiently supported their claims by providing the reader with substantial evidence on the issue. Whether is it biologically inevitable or sociologically imposed, it is clear from both perspectives that gender identity is present in
Today in society, gender identity is becoming a prominent topic of discussion. Many people believe that the attributes associated with a specific gender are deep rooted and established prematurely. From the time that a child is born their gender roles and personalities in life are predestined just by the term, “It’s a ___!” There are two major theories that have explanations for this phenomenon. In “The Early Development of Gender Differences,” Matthew H. McIntyre and Carolyn Pope Edwards present a biological perspective to explain the inevitability of gender identity. Contrarily, Mari Mikkola explains how it is sociologically imposed in her article, “Feminist Perspectives …show more content…
Here, Mikkola presents her implication of feminism. From her explanation of gender identity as a parent the reader can conclude that parental care is a product of nurture. Mikkola implies that the role of the women as the primary caretaker is developed by gender personalities, not biology. Since women stereotypically show more emotion, they supposedly find “it difficult to distinguish their own interests and wellbeing from the interests and wellbeing of their children and partners.” (Mikkola). In contrast, McIntyre and Edwards explain that parental care is initiated by the endocrine system (nature). Although McIntyre and Edwards primarily build their justification of gender identities through facts and their credibility as psychologists, they also discuss empathy. They state, “Parental care has been linked to psychometric construct of empathy, and reduced empathy in men has been linked, in turn, to lower thresholds aggression.” (McIntyre). This means testosterone reduces empathy; therefore, primitive biological factors determine which gender is the care giver- …show more content…
Mikkola states that, “children identify with the same-sex parent,” therefore, “because mothers are more likely to identify with their daughters than their sons. This unconsciously prompts the mother to encourage her son to psychologically individuate himself from her thereby prompting him to develop well defined and rigid ego.” (Mikkola). This ego is what cause males to “prioritize their own needs and interests sometimes at the expense of others ' needs and interests” which inversely affects their ability to be the primary care take giver, not their testosterone levels (Mikkola).
In conclusion, while McIntyre and Edwards focused on ethical review of scientific research, Mikkola presented the logical association of social factors to justify gender roles. Both varying approaches sufficiently supported their claims by providing the reader with substantial evidence on the issue. Whether is it biologically inevitable or sociologically imposed, it is clear from both perspectives that gender identity is present in