Sociology of Gender
Miller 01
Sociology of Gender: Studying the Relationship between Gender and Society
Meredith Miller
Sociology 101
September 30, 2013
Miller 02 Gender differences exist in nearly every social phenomena. From the moment of birth,
gender expectations (by the parents) influence how boys and girls are treated. Gender
expectations begin before birth as parents and as other relatives pick out different colored clothes
and toys and decorate the baby’s room with stereotyped gender colors. Also, since the first day
of a baby’s life, research shows that girls are handled more gently than boys. Girls are expected
to be sweet and want to cuddle whereas boys are handled more roughly and are given greater
independence.
Sociologists make a clear distinction between the terms sex and gender. Sex refers to one’s
identity of being male or female while gender refers to the socially learned expectations and
behaviors associated with being male or female. Sex is biologically assigned while gender is
culturally learned. The sex roles of our society have been changing since the beginning of time.
What society feels to be acceptable in the eyes of the sexes, has now changed due to the media,
technological advances, and what a society as a whole feels necessary to survive and
provide in everyday life. In the United States, the sex roles have changed from what was
perceived as acceptable in the 1950's, to the present day America. Society shifted from a family
oriented way of living to a more loose fitting definition of family.
The cultural origin of gender becomes quite obvious when we look at other cultures. In the
United States, people tend to think of masculinity and femininity in terms of men and women
different and opposite. Other cultures, however, challenge this assumption; as though it was not
a priority and have
Sociology of Gender: Studying the Relationship between Gender and Society
Meredith Miller
Sociology 101
September 30, 2013
Miller 02 Gender differences exist in nearly every social phenomena. From the moment of birth,
gender expectations (by the parents) influence how boys and girls are treated. Gender
expectations begin before birth as parents and as other relatives pick out different colored clothes
and toys and decorate the baby’s room with stereotyped gender colors. Also, since the first day
of a baby’s life, research shows that girls are handled more gently than boys. Girls are expected
to be sweet and want to cuddle whereas boys are handled more roughly and are given greater
independence.
Sociologists make a clear distinction between the terms sex and gender. Sex refers to one’s
identity of being male or female while gender refers to the socially learned expectations and
behaviors associated with being male or female. Sex is biologically assigned while gender is
culturally learned. The sex roles of our society have been changing since the beginning of time.
What society feels to be acceptable in the eyes of the sexes, has now changed due to the media,
technological advances, and what a society as a whole feels necessary to survive and
provide in everyday life. In the United States, the sex roles have changed from what was
perceived as acceptable in the 1950's, to the present day America. Society shifted from a family
oriented way of living to a more loose fitting definition of family.
The cultural origin of gender becomes quite obvious when we look at other cultures. In the
United States, people tend to think of masculinity and femininity in terms of men and women
different and opposite. Other cultures, however, challenge this assumption; as though it was not
a priority and have