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Ethnicity & Gender (Other)

Gender: Defining and understanding what it means

Gender is a subject that is all too commonly approached incorrectly. People most commonly mistake gender as being of two categories; male and female. This is a misconception. After taking the Sex, Gender, and Race my views of gender have been drastically influenced. Some of my beliefs about the subject have changed. Before taking the course I was unaware of all of the different instances that come into play when gender is the category. Gender is linked with sexuality. Is someone born into a certain gender? If a person is born male or female does that mean he/she has to stay within those gender confines? These are question that the course has brought to my attention.

Upon taking Gender, Sexuality, and Race, I had not been educated properly on all of the different types of gender. I began with the belief that there were two genders; male and female. This view is incorrect. There are so many different categories when gender is the subject. Male and Female are predominant but other genders such as Transgender are also part of the factors that come into play. People are comfortable labeling others. Therefore when someone doesn't quickly fit into either the male or female status at birth or otherwise there is always a question mark there. This shouldn't be the case. The course opened my eyes. I realized that I try to place people in certain categories in order to feel more comfortable. This shouldn't be the case.

It is important to realize that gender is confusing. Some feel that men and women have certain tendencies. For instance; during the course we listened to a special on NPR radio entitled "Sissies". This blurb let us in on some of the factors that we associate with Males. An example; Men have low voices. It is appropriate for them to use these voices accordingly. Having a high pitched voice may make others think differently about him.
After being in the class I realized that gender is not only female or male. Gender can be decided after birth. It is not necessarily external. Surgery takes place in many cases.

Expected behaviors of females and males are not always accurate. Just because you are one gender doesn't mean that your tendencies will always match up with another person of that gender. Everyone is different. No one gender acts a certain way or another. The actions that an individual goes through does not make them one particular gender.

Currently my view is different than what I had originally come into the


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Gender: Defining and understanding what it means

  • 1 of 4

    by Kendall Blair

    Gender is a subject that is all too commonly approached incorrectly. People most commonly mistake gender as being of ... read more

  • 2 of 4

    by Bayla Maya

    What is Gender? The word gender is so often confused with the physical sexual differences of males and female. So... read more

  • 3 of 4

    by Marcelle Grant

    The concept of gender is described by Judith Butler as unstable. Gender is not inherent nor is it something that one ... read more

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    by Travis Hall

    Gender plays an extremely significant role in American society. This is a fact that many Americans do not conscious... read more

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