Difference between revisions of "Sex"
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| − | Gender is the attribute of being either [[male]] or [[female]]. | + | 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 expecatations 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. |
Revision as of 01:16, April 10, 2007
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 expecatations 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.