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Monday, November 8, 2010

THE NATURE AND NURTURE OF GENDER

Nature -
Males and females differ biologically due to the sex chromosomes and concentrations of sex hormones present in them. The chromosomes obtained by people determines their genders and the hormones in their bodies affect their behavioral and physical characteristics. An example is testosterone which, when available in large amounts, may cause females to act more aggressively and display masculine traits.
Nurture -
Depending on where someone is raised, an example being an agricultural society, he or she may fit into a gender role. These are the traditional expectations of how both men and women should behave in society. Varying between different cultures, women often find their rights restricted more than men do. However, gender roles enhance a person’s gender identity and they may socially put people at ease. In our society, men normally perform things such as initiating dates and working while women care for the children and labor within the household. Children often become gender-typed which is when boys strongly display masculine traits and girls act feminine. The social learning theory states that children learn their associated behaviors through observance.

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