Gender Development: Social or Biological

In a variety of contexts, the word "gender" is used to describe "the masculinity or femininity of words, persons, characteristics, or non-human organisms" (Wikipedia, 2006). More specific to psychology, gender role is a term used to describe the normal behavior associated with a given gender status. Those that do not follow this customary role given to their particular gender are said to have an atypical gender role. "A person who has normal male genitalia and identifies himself as a man will usually take up a masculine gender role, a role in society that will be viewed by the other people in his society as a normal thing for a male to do. A person who has normal female genitalia and identifies herself as a woman will probably do things that other people in her society will regard as appropriate to women" (Wikipedia, 2006). Some examples of the opposite of this, or of atypical gender roles are bisexual males or females, lesbians, or even just a male who has a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or alto voice produced by castration of the singer before puberty. Then there is the term "sex," which many people believe means the same as gender. These terms, although similar, have different meanings. The term sex refers to "male and female duality of biology and reproduction", while gender has more to do with identity (Wikipedia, 2006). The reason why this distinction is important in theories of gender roles is due to the fact that when looking at the roles individuals play within their specific gender, both biological factors and indentity factors must be included. As seen in the John/ Joan article by John Colapinto, there is a huge controversy between biological and socio-cultural theories of gender role development. Those who believe that gender role development is socio-cultural, think that a child can be born of one sex, and raised as the opposite, and can function normal socioally, and physically if the child is reared towards their new gender. On the other hand, those who

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